The following is an article “There Is A ‘Me’ In SME” by Marc Primo.
If your work experience to date has been spent either climbing the corporate ladder or building a reputation as a trusted freelancer, remember that there is a third option you might want to consider—and that is to set up your own business.
Making the leap of faith
Starting your own business and taking the plunge into the world of small to medium enterprises, or SMEs, is considered by many to be the holy grail of one’s professional life. It is only when you become an entrepreneur that you truly become your own boss, no longer reporting to the higher ups of a company, or clients who pay you for your services as an independent consultant.
But as with all things in life, such desirable privileges must be earned. Setting up your own SME requires considerable work experience, business acumen, and tireless perseverance. But if you are confident that you are prepared to make these factors work in your favor, then now is as good a time as any to walk the talk and finally make that business idea you’ve been dreaming about become a reality.
Reasons to believe there is a ‘me’ in SME
It’s normal to have anxieties about setting up shop, especially when a large chunk of your hard-earned money is on the line. But with a sound business plan and a positive attitude in place, there’s no reason why keeping your eye on the prize shouldn’t pay off in the long run. Keep the following in mind to inspire you as you make that life-changing shift from employee to business owner:
Up close and personal - Unlike large corporations with hundred to thousands of employees, SMEs operate with just a handful of key people. And unlike big companies where CEOs are shielded from having to face customers, SME owners deal directly with their clientele, giving them a first-hand understanding of their needs and enabling them to provide a more intimate, customized overall consumer experience.
Fewer cooks in the kitchen - Large enterprises are notorious for bureaucracy and red tape, with even the simplest of decisions having to go through an entire chain of command which can be time-consuming. With SMEs, decisions are made by just one or a few persons alone—the owner/s. This also means quicker turnaround times for SMEs in the service industry, wherein more hours are spent doing actual business than being wasted on unnecessary meetings---a staple in any large company.
Your way or the highway - The problem with working for most companies or freelancing for some clients is the mentality that since they are paying you, you must abide by their rules. Rank and file employees with college degrees end up being treated like glorified servants, and prolific freelance writers who aren’t given any creative license might as well be typists. As the owner of a SME, there is no highway—just your way. Once you’ve had a taste of that, you wouldn’t want it any other way.