PART OF THE REASON someone starts a business is because they want to be free of corporate work.

That’s wonderful, but then you find that you’re even MORE constrained by what it means to run a company. And, of course, you’re the last one to get paid.

Here’s the funny thing: the freedom is all in your own mind. How so?

I find that most people with corporate jobs impose more constraints on themselves than their boss does. Sure, your boss tells you what the job is and how success is measured. But you still have freedom to decide how good a job you’ll do.

And how you choose to feel about your situation.

When you’re running a business, you have the demands of customers, employees, investors, suppliers, landlords, …. The list seems endless.

But you actually have many degrees of freedom. In each case, you get to choose how much to please them and how to prioritize things. Sure, there will be impact on the company’s success, but you still have choice.

But, most importantly, you have the freedom to assume the attitude you want. You can think of it as a drudgery and go home and yell at your kids. Or you can choose to look for the opportunities and display optimism to those around you.

Which do you think will make you happier?