The Entrepreneurship Litmus Test

A quick way of knowing whether you are destined for entrepreneurship and whether you would even be suited to it on a fundamental level is to ask yourself this question:

If you absolutely had to choose, which would you pick: freedom or security?

This question is a very rough test because entrepreneurship doesn't mean you do what you want, nor does it mean you have the freedom to work however and whenever you want.

However, a large part of an entrepreneur's reasoning and 'why' is to eventually have that freedom - not just over their time, but also in how they work and what they work on. They want to create a life where they create their own agenda and set their own vision - and to realise that vision on their own terms.

They are also fundamentally risk-takers - as such security is a 'nice to have' but they can sacrifice it for freedom. They are prepared to live on a shoe string, without a guarantee, without a pay cheque, in order to have a chance at attaining the freedom above.

This is extremely scary for many people who value security. However, entrepreneurship is by nature a path of risk. You can limit that to an extent, but not completely and you can never guarantee what you will earn at any time.

If you value security and certainty higher than freedom, you may be best working for someone. There is nothing wrong with either choice. It's just a matter of different strokes for different folks.