IT Startup as a Career Goal? Examining the Pros and Cons
As you progress your career in the IT industry, you come across many people who have decided to go it alone and start up their own IT businesses. It becomes apparent that this can be a fulfilling route to take. However, an IT startup is not necessarily the right path for everyone.
Consider the top four pros and cons that I think you need to consider prior to making that decision:
The Benefits of Starting Your Own IT Business
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You can create an income for yourself that goes beyond any income cap that you may have hit within the corporate world.
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In many cases, you can start up an IT business with very little capital. You just need to ensure that you have enough savings to cover your initial costs and living expenses until you have another income stream.
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Your efforts are for your own benefit. You’re building your own IT startup and not someone else’s.
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You’re able to pursue a business in a specialization that interests you and you're passionate about—and you'll need to be.
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In a difficult economy, you need to be even surer that you have a viable proposition that companies are willing to spend their budgets on.
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You need to be able to rely on yourself and to motivate yourself on a daily basis. You have to be tenacious and driven enough to keep going even when things do not immediately go your way.
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There is nowhere to hide. If things go wrong, you are responsible and have to step up to the plate. You have to resolve every issue as it comes up.
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Your working hours will be longer than you could imagine. Your personal life will slide, and your IT startup will invade every moment of your life.
The Negatives of Starting Your Own IT Business
In my opinion, the benefits outweigh the negatives a hundred times over, but you have to enter the process with your eyes wide open. There is nothing more satisfying than building a business from the ground up. You won’t care that you are working harder than ever, because you’ll be working on something that you are passionate about.
Starting my own business is one of the most rewarding things that I’ve ever done. Leaving the corporate world was a culture shock at first, but I’ve never looked back. Best decision I ever made.
Are you making plans for your own IT startup? If so, what are your concerns? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
And to follow-through on the concepts introduced in this short post, be sure to download your free special report on How to Start a Computer Consulting Business: 6 Proven Ways to Build Your Initial Client Base.
Creative Commons Image Source: flickr Serge Melki