What has been the biggest influence?

[10Yetis]

All,

Wow... the forum is packed at the moment, and I am trying to put together a few media stories to get membership even higher.

Can you let me know what you would say has been the one most influential thing that made you start your own business (ok... I will let you say two things).

No long rambles, just short-sharp-interesting answers.... obviously, the better the quote you give the more chance you have of getting your company a namecheck in the press release!

 

[RockLinks]

It has to be the challenge for me!

 

[gary]

I would say the main reason for me is the excitement and rewards of striving to be my own success, followed by an intense dislike of 9-5-ism!

 

[Jodimyatt]

Getting assaulted and set on fire was the reason I started my own business, researching and developed a better form of CCTV as the pictures where not good enough to prosecute the people who did it.
So I guess deterimation not to let something like that drag me down.
T
he 8 weeks in hospital unable to move also allowed me to plan what I wanted to do.

 

[Deleted member 3454]

I am a stay at home mum who was thinking about starting a business. My dad knew that and asked me to quote for a job - I got the job and the business was born.

 

[annethedonn]

I hate working for other people for little or no thanks!

 

[RockLinks]

Getting assaulted and set on fire was the reason I started my own business, researching and developed a better form of CCTV as the pictures where not good enough to prosecute the people who did it.
So I guess deterimation not to let something like that drag me down.
T
he 8 weeks in hospital unable to move also allowed me to plan what I wanted to do.

Yowsa!

 

[Desmond Brambley]

Two things really -

1) I was fed up with doing all the work for someone who then took most of the cash and all of the kudos

2) I love the flexiblity of the work and my workday options

 

[Ozzy]

When I first decided to start my own business I left a well paid senior job, but had got as far as I could get in that company. I just wanted to be my own boss and "get rich quick".
At the time I was very nieve and thought it would be so easy and I'd be rich - that was a steap learning curve!

I started my second company, Quick, with a whole host of different reasons. One was the same as before, and that is I wanted to be my own boss, but a new more important reason was that I wanted to be around my 6 month old daughter as she was growing up. I missed the first 6 months of her life because she was asleep when I left for work in the morning, and asleep in bed when I got him - at the weekends she didn't even recognise me or want to be comforted by me.
Now she is almost 3 she is a right Daddy's Girl and I have a great relationship with her. I feel honoured to have the sort of closs relationship with my child that many working parents miss out on.

Work is important because we all have bills to pay, and providing a roof over my families head and food on the table is what motivates me. I want the best for my family, but above all else being with my family (and second child a few weeks away) is what is important to me and what motivates me to make a success of my business.

 

[philjeffs]

The main reason was to be in control of my life, rather than have someone control it for me!

Phil

 

Doing something I enjoy and being my own boss

 

[SillyJokes]

Money was my first influence. I only wanted to earn a few quid a week by selling the odd fart machine but ended up with a business which turns over hundreds of thousands because winning was my second influence.

I like to succeed. It's addictive.

 

[bikersbits]

Seeing a hole in the market that just needed to be filled plus the opportunity to turn a hobby and passion into a proper paying job.
just awesome!
Roberta
www.bikersbits.com

 

[UKRobin]

As a disabled person that has struggled greatly to get satisfying and meaningful employment the single one factor has to be ‘Pride’ in building a business where companies large and small respect and trust your judgments with the second factor being ‘Satisfaction’ when those companies now thank you by recommending you to others.

Robin

 

[Kay]

I like the freedom to live where I want (in a hut). Work when I want (I'm fairly nocturnal). Wear what I want (not much). And take time off when I feel like it. Money isn't important as long as there's enough to pay the bills. Freedom, creativity, and autonomy are important.

 

[Webstuff]

I simply don't believe other people can be trusted to behave sensibly with their own money B)

To be honest though, I simply like managing business, and seeing people pleased with various services I have offered. Its all about delivering a better service than people would usually expect, for me.

 

[Pilfo]

The success of taking my very own invention right through from conception to where it is now, all by myself.

I also enjoy the challenge of managing the company and all that goes with it.

 

[ian69]

Sheer disgust at some of my bosses made me vow never to work for anyone again. As well as their individual failings (and we all have those), collective incompetence or new technologies can make thousands unemployed at the stroke of a pen, the good, the bad, the dedicated and the lazy. I'd rather stand or fall by myself.

 

[Johill]

This business is my bid for freedom from a 9-5 regime!

The creative control and challenge of running a small business gives me a real buzz. Also the experience of starting up a business has taught me more than all my education put together.

Jo

 

[FICBA]

I always wanted to be my own boss, and since moving to a new area and finding a hole in the market - it seemed the right step to take.

 

[lisastorey]

To reasons really..

A. To work hard for my benefit rather than for some faceless shareholders who have far too much money already

B. To enable me to spend more time with my son.

(in no particular order !!!)

 

[ian69]

This business is my bid for freedom from a 9-5 regime!

Jo

Hahaha. So you'd rather work 6 - 6?

 

[Ozzy]

So you are only a part timer then Ian69

It never ceases to amaze me when people assume that as you work for yourself you must have an "easy life", or those who want to start their own business to "have more free time". These may be true after a few years of hard work, but in the early days you find yourself working harder than you have ever worked in your life

 

[bikersbits]

free time? easy life? Am I missing something? what are they?
Richard, you are so right, I wrote them off for the next few years, just hope it's not too many years...
Still, although it's not an easy life at least is a much nicer one
Roberta

 

[ian69]

Actually our shop is open 6am to 7pm, then there's restocking etc. I just wanted to be nice

Plus we're opening another shop in the summer. I must be bloody mad. Although really it's just a defensive move to occupy the (currently) only vacant shopfront in the village. Last thing I need is any competition.

 

[KGP]

well i am saying the same stuff all the time:

my biggest influence is that nothing remains constant.... which is also my biggest drawback

 

[TargetTesting]

I only wanted to earn a few quid a week by selling the odd fart machine

You'll never know how much that made me laugh :lol:

I started so that I could be more in control of my future and to build something worthwhile

Regards
Bill

 

[kyber]

What's odd about a fart machine?

 

[Jose]

It had to be the realisation that I have only 28 years to go before I retire, and there is no way on earth that the present job would cater for my extravagant lifestyle.

Plus I wanted to improve my golf handicap by spending more time at the club, sadly as you know this is a paradox.

Jose

 

[smirch]

one of my influences was to get away from sitting in front of a PC 9-5 coding and doing web stuff ....

hmmm ... now i seem to be doing it 9am - 9pm

doh :roll:

 

[Liz_Biz]

Starting my own business began with the ending of a long, pointless work day for a company in which I was merely another number. I had enough and I wanted more!

 

[redjim]

By accident really.

I wanted a 'paying' hobby. I set up as a self employed sub-contractor but all my work was between 1 - 2 hours commute; which swallowed the pay up.Set up intending to work weekends and it took off from there.

My previous job was well paid but I was hamstrung by not having a degree and the pay structure reflected that so the chance to do my own thing was temptation enough

 

[sparklyscotty]

I don't like working for other people. I amn't a good team player
I also wanted to work from home, and on my own hours.

 

[kyber]

My wife runs her own business because she hates working in typical corporate or office environments (she has worked for Scottish Widows, the Inland Revenue, and in a fancy fabric store in the past) and she also likes being able to work from home being around for our kids.

I don't (own and run my own business) now because I get bored very very easily and enjoy the challenge and variety I get in the large corporate world especially as a consultant so I work as a wage slave but invest in small companies (being a Director needs special arrangements with my employer - the alternative approaches are fun though) and help them out. Especially my wife's of course.

It is worth noting that I admire tremendously the people in the companies I have invested in (some are on this forum) and the many members of this forum who have the determination to work so hard to build their own businesses. I like getting them off the ground, but prefer to get someone else to run them. I have made mistakes in the past and been badly hurt a couple of times. This forum is brilliant because it helps so many avoid mistakes or at least work their way out of them with the minimum of pain.

Stuart

 

[Jose]

Stuart,

We are currently looking for a sponsor. I hope that you play golf, badly like most of us!!

Have a look at our website, register and try....

Give me a shout if you are interested

Jose :?:

 

[Fab1]

Hi Andy

These 2 things for me were:

1- The people I use to work for made me redundant.
2- I believe I can do better than them.

Regards

Fred

 

[maddyminx]

Despite the challenges of bringing up my 2 children for several years, I missed the spontaneity of being in the workplace but couldn't bear the thought of trying to rebuild my career working for someone else! (worked in recruitment for 7 years before becoming a mum!).

The other reason is that I've got a lazy hubby who needs a good kick up the backside :shock: - seriously though, I've given myself a challenge and im determined to suceed!

Maddy

x

 

I want more control, freedom, money and excitement. I also want the satisfaction of setting something up and seeing it grow and develop.

 

[free0870numbers.co.uk]

Why make someone else rich, when you can have a go doing it for yourself. - Snappy enough?

 

[WordDoc]

>>>Can you let me know what you would say has been the one most influential thing that made you start your own business (ok... I will let you say two things). <<<

My bonkers Border Collie! If I worked away from home he'd eat my house...Really.

Also, office politics. Could never get my head around the whining and griping.

Cheers

Tracey