What I Sacrificed As an Entrepreneur

While starting your own business, you will probably have to give up a lot of things. You will have to put aside some of your more intangible luxuries, like your job, for the sake of your business. However, these sacrifices will be worth it when you look back and realize the benefits of your newfound success. The benefits will last longer than you'd ever expected.


Job security
As an entrepreneur, I have sacrificed many things, but the one thing I would never trade for the ability to work for myself is job security. Being an employee means putting yourself in a position of subservience. The worst part is that you can be cut off from your income at any time by your superiors. This is why so many people become entrepreneurs. While it may not be easy, job security is one of the most important aspects of entrepreneurship.

Social life
As an entrepreneur, it's inevitable that you'll have to give up some things in your social life. You'll cut down your pub visits and become more selective about what you do with your social life. You'll likely have to relegate some of your social events to weekends and even a few evenings out with friends. While these things may seem trivial now, they will likely come back to haunt you as you grow more successful.

Sleep
When you run a business, you have to make sacrifices - including sleep. You might pull all-nighters to finish a proposal. Or you might get up early and do things before deciding to hit the sack. You might even lie awake at night, worrying about how your company will fare. But one thing that successful entrepreneurs share in common is their sacrifice of sleep. They know it is not necessary to be productive all the time.


If you've ever had a business and had to cut corners, you've probably seen entrepreneurs sacrifice their sleep. But sleep is essential for cognitive function and is something you can't replace with extra caffeine. When you don't get enough sleep, your brain's reaction time is delayed. If you've been up all night, you've probably experienced how your performance dwindles and your decisions are less informed.