Others would rather be self-employed or run their own business. And others who work for a boss. Would you prefer to be self employed, work for someone else or own a business? Support your answer using specific reasons.

Others would rather be self-employed or run their own business. And others who work for a boss. Would you prefer to be self employed, work for someone else or own a business? Support your answer using specific reasons.

For every working person, figuring whether to begin their own self employment or become an entrepreneur and run a business or simply take the salary route is never an easy question. These different pathways have their own pros and cons based on your personality, finances, and career goals. After weighing all three scenarios through over the years, I would pick my own boss — which arguably offers the best financial upside mixed with personal freedom as well as a way to really give back to society.

The simplest reason is the unparalleled level of autonomy that comes with business ownership. Unlike the employees of their enterprise, on the other hand owners are those privileged few that can dictate the organisational culture, carve out a strategic direction and make decisions according to the wishes of their own hearts instead of an faceless higher corporate powers. The sense of ownership, over what your career looks like, is for me intrinsically motivating in a way that neither salaried employment nor purely solo self-employment manages to fulfill. A self-employed person has the same freedom, but usually does so alone — without the synergy, creative spark and diverse skill sets of a properly assembled team.

On top of that, being a business owner provides financial opportunities that paid employment at its core simply cannot. Yet a salary, however large, is a cap — an absolute payment dictated by other people. Conversely, in a theory-fueled world, a competent business in the hands of an entrepreneur can return scalable returns — commensurate with passion, innovation and market conditions. That is not to say that entrepreneurship does not entail economic risk, the rates of failure for new businesses are well established and should certainly not be downplayed. I maintain that a well-researched calculated risk is a more honest and ultimately more fruitful interaction with uncertainty than an illusory comfort blanket of employment in times where corporations restructure themselves constantly, while technology turns itself upside down every few years.

There is also a social contribution aspect to business ownership that appeals most to me. A thriving business drives jobs, adds value to local economies and delivers goods or services of sincere need, but can meaningfully foster community development when led with ethical intent. The thought of constructing something that continues after one’s direct involvement has ended, that provides new paths for others to thrive on and which somehow benefits those around us, offers a depth of meaning that developing a career trajectory or job promotion cannot touch.

I get the legitimate allure of having a salary — especially for individuals with families to support, as it provides predictable income, career structure, and simply less overhead than running a business on its own entails. If you are the kind of person who prefers clearly defined roles and place great value on stability, this is a perfectly rational pathway. And like self-employment fits around people who want total autonomy and don t mind taking all these risks themselves.

But for the challenge-driven, purpose-motivated beyond mere self-interest and able to accept thoughtfully determined risk, owning your own business is the opportunity of a lifetime.

At the end of the day, I like business more than individual systems because it reflects my values: autonomy, making an impact, and building something bigger than myself. It is the hardest of the three pathways, without a doubt, but in my opinion, also the most rewarding — professionally, financially and personally.