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Guest post by: Stephen Blakesley Become an Author

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Small business, in America, contributes most of the new jobs to the economy and is responsible for at least half of the annual GDP. But most people do not become Entrepreneurs for those reason. Their reasons are more personal. Over the years and after interviewing many of these unique individuals, I have found that there are really only five major reasons people expose themselves to the risk of Entrepreneurship. Those five reasons are:

• For the Money
• For the Control
• For theSecurity
• For the Perks
• For the Satisfaction

For the Money - Most Entrepreneurs I have talked to are interested in making money and isn't that exactly what an Entrepreneur does;Take an idea and make money with it? Or at least, that is the goal. Sometimes we lose money but that is part of the equation and part of the challenge, the risk of it all.

But more importantly, most have had a dream or a goal that they were determined to reach or achieve. I know I did. When I was 35 and employed as an Engineer for a large Energy service organization, I had a dream of being a millionaire by the time I was 40. Having looked at my paycheck many times and at my goal of being a millionaire, in just 5 years, I knew something would have to change if I was to reach my goal.

At that moment I became an Entrepreneur! Oh, by the way, I achieved my goal.

For the Control - Some people are fanatical about having control of their lives and the outcome of their lives. I am one of those people. From the time I was 12, I was determined to create my future. My mother used to tell me that she knew me better than I knew myself and that was such a motivator, for me. How could anyone, other than myself know what I was about, I thought. I did not know how I would succeed, at 12, but I wascertain, I would. As it turned out, my mother did know me quite well, maybe not better than I knew myself but pretty darn good. Sheknew that I would be successful, as I did, but she, like myself,wasn't sure how.

The "how" was sheer determination and commitment ot being in control of the outcome of my life and building that outcome, one day at a time. Entrepreneurship puts you in a position to control your future.

For the Security - When I was nine, I had a Lemonade stand as most young kids do at one time or another. We always sold half of the the Lemonade and drank the other half, but at the end of the day all the Lemonade was gone. When the Lemonade was gone, the money stopped coming in. I was always fascinated by the prospect of the money continuing to come in. What could I do to keep the money coming in? That was the question.

As I got older the answer to that question continued to elude me, until I saw that the key to security was to create something that would keep the money coming in even when I was not going to work. For me that was Security. Entrepreneurs are adept at creating annuities and equity. Both those translate into Security.

For the Perks - I did not know it at 12 but being a small business owner had many perks. Transportation costs, C,orate loans without any qualifications except you owning the business,and Providing jobs for family and friends. There are many, many more but if there were none other than these, that would be enough for me.

For the Satisfaction - There is nothing more satisfying than achieving your dreams. Everyday I go to work another dream is fulfilled. Nothing gives me more satisfaction than seeing that I am contributing not just consuming. I am building something that will continue when I am gone. Everyday I thank God that he placed in me a will to build, I thank my wife for the support and partnership through the years, and I thank my family, many of which, are in the business or have been from time to time and benefited from it.

So, why would anyone want to become and Entrepreneur, let me count the ways.

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