Would you rather be an employee or a businessman?

Philippines
July 27, 2007 8:40pm CST
This is what I've learned from the book I've read.We've been programmed since we were kids that we have to study hard to get good grades so we can land a good job. We thought that having a job gives us security til we retire. But in this information age, having a good job doesnt really give us the security we thought we'll have til we retire. And our salary gets deducted even before we can start enjoying it. And whatever position is in the corporate ladder, we can only get up as much because the top of the ladder is already filled...by the owner. Whereas, if we have our own business we are our own boss, we make all the decisions, we can run it as we see fit, we have a total control of it, so our potential of becoming rich is greater than when we are an employee. In addition, which I think is very important...in business, you get taxed after you have deducted your expenses, whereas when you're an employee you get taxed even before you get to spend it for your expenses. So, what do you think? Would you rather climb the corporate ladder or... own the ladder?
3 people like this
14 responses
@ansmart (41)
• Philippines
5 Aug 07
If i were to choose on which one? I would prefer being a businesswoman because you are the boss of your company so you can manage your business and you hold your own time.
• Philippines
28 Jul 07
Since I was a kid I always dreamed of having my own company.. Believe it or not I never applied for any company I always look for anything that I can do myself.. when I graduated highschool I worked as a freelance artist where in I accept bookings on kiddie parties and thats how I graduated college.. and now, I own a computer shop at the age of 21 and an office for web development.. both are just small business but still I can call my own.. I NEVER experienced working with a boss.... :) thats what my late dad had taught me all his life... By the way I have another forum which like myLot you will earn by posting topics like this and replying to discussions.. you may like it.. http://www.4newbiesforum.com/index.php?referrerid=1353 thanks! takecare! happy posting!
• United States
28 Jul 07
I would to be a businesswoman, but I really would not know where to get started.
@pelo26 (1552)
• Philippines
28 Jul 07
Of course owning the ladder is the better way to go but one must admit that not everybody is blessed with the capital and the start-up expenses to start and maintain a sustainable business. Most of us would have to start from scratch and landing a good job might be the only way for us to start accumulating a decent capital. Owning a business has its risks also... and mind you, its a lot greater than those of being an employee. It's not simple running a business. Its a 24 hour job and its not only your money you lose, but you have to take care of those who work under you. Cheers!
@sandwedge (1339)
• Malaysia
28 Jul 07
if you are an 'employee' you will have to worry about work 9 to 5. 5 days per week. plus you get holidays where you do not think about work at all. if you are a business person, you must worry about work 24 hours a day, seven days a week all year round. and think about work wherever you go,.
• China
28 Jul 07
I think that it is a very relate to our daily life.May be some people like to be an employee in a big company.They think that the wage change very little. everyone has his own idea. I want to be a businessman. I admire BillGate,lijiacheng,we can learn a lot from them.The spire of making their own busineess is very persich... I believe I would to be a sucessful businessman sooner or later.
• Philippines
28 Jul 07
i think i would like to become an employee first and then learn the ropes of how it is to run a business, when i'm planning to be big in the future because what i learned is that you have to go back to basics, learn from the beginning in order when you go straight to the top.. you know already how to run the business.
@sukumar794 (5040)
• Thiruvananthapuram, India
28 Jul 07
I tried hard being at business,but failed miserably with huge financial loss. I no more wish to be an employer, rather I would very much be satisfied with what I get being an employee to someone. LOL.
@juliefaye (1214)
• Philippines
28 Jul 07
you're right! we were raised to have a good education to land in a good job. But this time, i was telling my kids that they should study hard to put up some business which they will manage. I'm not into asking them what job they want when they grow up as i have already experience being a subordinate and a corporate slave. Chinese parents send their kids to western school for them to learn how to manage their business and this attitude gave them the freedom to control most businesses here. It's high time that we filipinos learn to be an entrepreneur.
@coolmailraj (2460)
• India
28 Jul 07
Hi. Very rightly you have differentiated the atmosphere of working under someone or being your ow boss. AS far as the matter of getting rich goes, I have my own theory on how someone can really make real money. I believe that no matter what you are capable of, you can not be rich until and unless there are people who works for you. I mean if you don't have worker making money for you, you can't be rich.
@vivienna (582)
• Venezuela
28 Jul 07
I think the real question isn't between being a corporate man or a businessman of his own, the real question is to work according to one's vocation. As to the external circunstances: the employee's salary gets deducted and from the businessman's income he must pay taxes -afterwards or before doesn't matter-, assurance, security, interests, etc. As to the position on the corporate's ladder: you may be Division Manager in a 99,000 people company or be chief to your spouse and children. As the first your decisions would affect the wellbeing of thousands, as the last perhaps the destiny of three or four. As to personal realization: you may be happy being chief of your own service station for bikes, if this is what you like to do, and unhappy being vicepresident at General Motors. But also you may curse everyday you have to take attend your clients as responsible proprietor of your software engineering business instead of programming happily as part of Apple. Really, this cannot be generalized. :)
@kilayko (170)
• Philippines
28 Jul 07
well to be a businessman and an employee is a good job..it depends on how you handle the situation..sometimes in business you are on top of the wheel and sometimes you are in the bottom..while being an employee on the other hand,if you are in a higher position you can avail a good salary and benefits and if you are just an ordinary employee, well you will earn not that much of what in higher position is earning..but for me if i will be given a chance to go into business i would rather go into business..in business you must have the 3 m's of management,money,manpower and materials..actually i was a running a 10 hectare rice field in our home town and i was managing our rice mill at the same time..the problem is that i have the manpower and the materials needed for the farm,i am insufficient of money which i could hardly gain a good harvest for my crops..this is the downfall of most businessman in the country..the government does'nt give full support to the farmers which we are the food provider of the country.
• China
28 Jul 07
In my opinion,you will be a employee or a businessman which decidee by your capability.For an instance ,if you want to be l businessman ,but you don not have a strong skill to do your business,at last ,just be a employee. So I think that if you want to do a great thing,firstly,you should continuously enhance your capability,knowledge,and do your utmost .
@kimyat24 (42)
• Philippines
28 Jul 07
yup, you are right, good jobs doesn't guarantee one's future, i had learned a lot about it reading the book, " rich dad, poor dad "... but still, doin business is a lot of risk! but theres noharm in trying...