(Or: Don’t Believe All the Hype)

Going into business for yourself can be extremely rewarding. There is no question about it.

It offers freedom, flexibility, creativity, and the satisfaction of building something that is truly your own.

For many, it is one of the most fulfilling decisions they will ever make.

However—don’t kid yourself.

Much of what is being promoted today about self-employment is superficial hype. You are told it’s easy.

That you can make quick money. That success comes fast if you just follow someone else’s formula.

Most of that messaging is fluff, designed to pull you into someone else’s system, program, or promise.

The reality is this: going into business for yourself is work.

It requires sacrifice, discipline, focus, consistency, and personal responsibility.

You answer to yourself—and that is often harder than answering to a boss.

There are seasons of uncertainty, pressure, and learning curves that no advertisement ever mentions.

Yes, it can be a lot of fun. Yes, the rewards can be significant.

But those rewards come to those who enter self-employment with the right mindset, the right expectations, and the right understanding.

King Solomon, regarded as the wisest man who ever lived, said, “My people perish for lack of knowledge.”

But he went further when he said, “In all your getting, get understanding.”

Knowledge alone is not enough. Information without understanding leads to poor decisions and misplaced expectations.

That principle applies directly to business ownership.

You must truly understand what it means to be self-employed—to manage time, money, risk, relationships, and long-term vision.

When you do, you stop chasing hype and start building something real.

That is the heart behind my books Lift Your Vision High and Your Time, Your Rules.

They are not about shortcuts. They are about clarity, perspective, discipline, and purpose.

If you approach business ownership with understanding—and you are willing to do the work—then lifting your vision high can lead to a deeply rewarding journey.

Just make sure you go into it with your eyes open, your expectations grounded, and your vision clear.