REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, By. Brandon Chia*

Many times, I hear that people want to start their own business because they find that their current income levels do not allow them to enjoy the kind of lifestyle that they want. Things become more critical when they have a family. After all, all parents want the best for their children. It is heart breaking not to be able to give their loved ones what they want or need. Hence the constant search for an opportunity that they feel would be able to fulfil their growing needs.

But what if I told you that majority of the people I’ve come across don’t really know what they want from a business other than more money? To put it simply, a desire for more money is not sufficient enough as a motivator to running your own business. There is a key disconnect when people often think this way. Focussing on money as an end goal usually prevents people from taking the long term view towards business, which is instrumental in its success. After all, there is a reason why 9 out of 10 businesses usually end up in failure. I’ve seen countless of people gather around to talk about how friends of theirs have gotten rich from speculation or investing in opportunities. But no one likes to talk about those who failed. Even if they do, they take solace in pointing out the mistakes of others which they feel they could have adverted. So this fuels a very short term view towards business, and that money can be made very easily, if they so decided to take the plunge.

Let me say things out straight. Running a business takes a lot more commitment than just turning up at work and getting your pay check at the end of the month. Running a business is a marathon, not a sprint. You constantly have to work to make things better. A lot of times, people are not prepared with the time and effort it takes to get something off the ground and moving. There will be many stumbles and falls along the way and most people will falter at the first hurdle. That is why the attrition rate for start-ups are always so high. People just end up giving up after a while.

So if you are really keen on starting your own business, what would give you a higher chance of success? For me, the easiest way to look at succeeding in a business is to view it the same way as having a family. It requires an extraordinary amount of drive, passion, love, patience, maintaining relationships, dealing with unforeseen matters and a long term view in order to build a stable family unit. These values are also applicable when we talk about a business.  You can’t just give up on family, just like you can’t give up on your business. If you’re committed, you should see it through to the end.

So if you truly want to provide the best for your family, then you need to understand that sacrifices will have to be made. The road towards a successful business is a long and rocky path.  But just like having a family, the rewards are immeasurable if you are able to power though the obstacles. You will gain knowledge, satisfaction and most of all, personal growth. And one day, when you look back, you will realise that it’s no longer just your family that is depending on your business, but the families of your employees as well, and that is really something really worth cherishing.

*Brandon Chia is chairman of HDI Group of companies. He can be reached on Twitter @brandonhdi

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