For most of us, entrepreneurship isn’t a choice. It’s more like…destiny.

Take me, for example. Entrepreneurship is literally in my blood. I grew up in a household with a trophy entrepreneur at the helm (read: my dad has run his own business over 20 years). And as a daddy’s girl, I knew I wanted to “be the boss,” too.

And then it kinda-sorta happened. In 1998, it became quite clear I was destined to create my own career. That was the blissful year my parents bought AOL + I realized there was an entire buffet of information at my fingertips (even if said information was written in Comic Sans font against a starry black background – eek).

I already labeled myself a writer, but the Internet opened up a whole new world for me + a whole new way for me to create – and write. I would stay up until the wee hours of the night feverishly writing + researching. And later that year, I birthed my first e-zine – which I sent through AOL’s shitty mail servers to over 2,000 people – about fashion + beauty (which, at the time, included haphazardly written reviews of Candy Kisses lip gloss + Urban Decay nailpolish, natch).

And I fell in love. I got such a rush from bringing my creations to life + receiving feedback on my writing + ideas from tweens around the globe. I even pitched a national glossy + was contracted to write a full-page article on how other kids could create their own ezines + share their passion for whatever-the-heck they loved.

I was 11.

Yep. Entrepreneurship was clearly my path. Creating on my own terms was my one true love.

Unfortch, my ezine folded in 1999 (which I’m pretty sure is the actual term I used at the time even though I proooobably had no clue what it meant), when boys + middle school drama became more important than writing articles about how to give yourself an at-home facial with just a big bowl of steaming water (this was revolutionary stuff, you guys).

Once ‘real life’ set in, I simply couldn’t keep up.

And that’s the thing about entrepreneurship. Being “the boss” of something is helluva lot of hard work – and it doesn’t stop when life starts.

If you wanna “make it” as an entrepreneur, you have to live + breathe entrepreneurship day in + day out. You’ve gotta put a ring on it.

I know most of us get into business for ourselves to be ‘da boss. Sometimes it’s ’cause we’re too wild for the office, sometimes it’s because what we’re great at is a career we have to invent ourselves.

Whatever it is, though…a lot of us are drawn to the freedom entrepreneurship promises.

But there are downsides to this do-what-you-want lifestyle that a lot of people don’t talk about. Mainly? It’s work!

You don’t just quit your job, launch a business and then throw yourself a little party ’cause you’re done.
(Although I do recommend working in your sexiest party dress, always.)

Running a business takes consistent effort on the daily. And just like any other long term relationship, it’s going to have its pitfalls.

Sometimes this means you have to face client meetings + deadlines the morning after a devastating fight with your boyfriend that had you up til 4am with mascara dripping down your face.

Sometimes it means that bills sit untouched in your cutesy “Inbox” desktop organizer for far too long because they simply can’t get paid right now.

Sometimes it means you’re sick for two weeks with the flu + nothing gets done (especially if you haven’t scaled your business in a way that allows you to make passive income).

Sometimes it means you’re buried under a darkening cloud of depression or debilitating anxiety – and yet if you want to bring home the bacon (literally and figuratively), you have to smile + pretend it’s all gravy when really you’d rather do anything but explain your refund policy to another potential client ever again.

You’ve got to commit to be there for your business everyday. Sickness + health. Richer + poorer. You know, alla that.

Now. I do not mean you have to run yourself down + put your self care or your health on the back burner to sustain your business. (Read my old post, “Are You Being Codependent In Your Business?” to find out why that’s a horrible idea.) What I do mean is that you have to accept your life is not going to stop just because you have your own business – and that having a business “launch” isn’t the end of your work. It’s just the beginning, babe.

So, the number one thing you gotta know before you start a business? You have to want it every day + not just when things are easy.

Sound familiar? Well, it was inspired by this quote, from one of the most famous love stories of our modern age: “So it’s not gonna be easy. It’s going to be really hard; we’re gonna have to work at this everyday, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, everyday. You and me… everyday.” – The Notebook

So tell us: Do you want your business bad enough?

Your Turn! //

What’s ONE THING you’ve done in your business that proves you’re in for the long haul? Plop a comment below + tell us about your commitment to your business. Make it official, yo. Then, be sure to SHARE + LIKE this article to let others know you’re in it to win it!