About 12 years ago I found myself stepping off the plane in Osaka, Japan, not knowing where my life would take me.
I had finished college a year earlier and was eager to get started.
I ended up working at a local English school and found it rewarding both financially and educationally but I found myself limited and after 2 years there I decided that it was time to move on.
In November of 2000 I opened my first school and I learned very quickly both the joy, and pain, of having your own company.
Fast forward 10 years and my school is still going strong which is more than I can say for many other schools, restaurants and companies.
Amazingly 50% of new companies fail within the first two years.
80% fail within 5 years. And a whopping 96% fail within 10 years.
Deciding to start your own company is no joke and not for the weak-hearted.
Starting your own company requires
- Courage
- Knowledge
- Money
- Management
- Marketing
- Hard work
- And above all, a good plan
Five years ago a friend of mine introduced me to the book, “Before You Quit Your Job,” by Robert Kiyosaki and it’s one that I think everyone who is thinking of leaving the corporate world behind should read.
It might not be Kiyosaki’s best book but it’s well worth investing in.
Adrian Shepherd
Running a company is a mixture of many factors.
My father had run a small company for about 40 years. Over the years, he naturally had many good experiences, but also some bitter experiences, too. He was good at planning ahead but some problems occured and it was hard to manage on his own. Running a company is not easy. However, if people believe that they have enough managerial and behavioral abilities to run their own companies, they should try it. It could very well give them both great satisfaction and joy.