Why you need your own company

归属：所有者权益

Why you need your own company
2009-06-10
We all need a place to play.
Kids need playgrounds and sandboxes. Musicians need an instrument. Mad scientists need a laboratory.
Those of us with business ideas? We need a company.
Not for the money, but because it’s our place to experiment, create, and turn thoughts into reality. We need to pursue our intrinsic motivation.
We have so many interesting ideas and theories. We need to try them!
The happiest people are not lounging on beaches. They’re engaged in interesting work!
Following curiosity is much more fun than being idle. Even if you never have to work a day in your life.
That’s the best reason to have a company. It’s your playground, your instrument, your laboratory. It’s your place to play!
Get the ideas out of your head and into the world.

Your thoughts? Please leave a reply:
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Comments

Chris Opperman (2009-06-10) #That’s why I’m a composer! I love playing with notes and finding new combinations and seeing how people react to them, preferably in a deeply emotional way. 
NIXX (2009-06-10) #I feel I have an obligation to organize what others cannot. 
Dean Whitbread (2009-06-10) #Agreed. 
Hughie (2009-06-10) #Spot on, Derek. I’ve always been the same – though without the company. i tend to just do stuff anyway and see what happens … 
KSE (2009-06-10) #Owning your own business is a lot like golf:   Proper Practice Golf:   Practice = lower scores  Business:  Incremental daily improvements = Freedom  Summary: You are responsible for your success … no one else. 
lynn JULIAN (2009-06-11) #Yours is the only BLOG I read almost daily… and learn from each time, without exception. You are inspirational, in the truest sense of the word… THANK YOU. smile 
Dan Niswander (2009-06-11) #This is a great post. Thank you so much for sharing. I am now seriously working on financial independence and my goal is to be a full-time entertainer and entrepreneur focusing primarily on music recording and performing and the think tank Greater Good United for the purpose of bringing people together (philanthropists, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, etc.) to share ideas, resources, and help those in need, help to create jobs, etc. I also want to promote great health and wellness as well as charitable causes that are important to the service of ‘the greater good.’ 
Donna Greene (2009-06-11) #Yeah, I think we’re all addicting to ‘playing’ and you make a good point, that we need that resource to make it happen. Thanks once again! 
Deborah (2009-06-11) #You made some great points. Collaboration is a natural process for any musician. I am literally at the edge of my seat waiting to see how your ‘projects’ pan out. I love having you as a resource and ‘virtual’ partner. 
Tom (2009-06-11) #Just put in my notice to leave a government job so I’d have more time to be on the “playground”.  Haddox Sound Consulting will launch within 11 days.  Thanks for keeping us posted. I find you inspiring and wise beyond your years.  Tom 
Darryl (2009-06-11) #You embody the Buddha Nature so well. You’re a success because you don’t look for success. You understand emptiness and wisdom. 
Quang Ly (2009-06-11) #This is so true. The true value of starting my own businesses was learning and growing as a person. Money comes and goes but knowledge, wisdom, and experiences lasts forever. 
gaston monescu (2009-06-11) #wow, bro.  great post 
John Albert Thomas (2009-06-11) #i just started doing this myself. creativity is boundless when you control the clock, the money, and take the time to care for neither of them. 
Pedro Assuncao (2009-06-11) #Very interesting reading indeed, but you have to have resources in order to start your own company. In your case, you already had one; that’s why you can afford (literally) to start all of those you mention.  Any tips for people who want to start a company but lack the initial investment? :)  It doesn’t need to cost any money to start a company. I started CD Baby with $500, never took investors, and did it in my spare time for the first year until it grew. Things are a little slower and a little more difficult with no money, but that shouldn’t stop you if you’ve got an idea you need to make happen. Just start. — Derek 
frank katzer | 1klang.de internetagentur / fulda petersberg (2009-06-11) #thanks for letting me participate on your thoughts. a very healthy attitude towards life… 
Atul from DonkeyBox (2009-06-11) #Fantastic idea, it is the entrepreneurs obvious secret..i.e start up a whole load of projects and companies and the one that works out…well that one makes you famous! 
PierreSmack (2009-06-11) #Inspirational! After 10 years in the workforce I recently came to the conclusion that everyone should own a microbusiness, even if they have a day job. I recently started a microbusiness and just earned my first $100 in revenue. On to the next hundred! 
Jeff McLeod (2009-06-14) #So true… before starting nicetoga.com and working at a big corp I had little in the way of a creative business outlet. Ideas often hit road blocks, politics, and took forever to implement if you could make it that far (very unentrepreneurial). You can see why as a company grows it looses its entrepreneurial spirit. Now having my own business my only limits are myself, money, and time. I can quickly take ideas and make them real, which is one of the best feelings there is… creation. 
David Helton (2009-06-14) #The last company I started was a cdr duplication co. It didn’t last long. I had 3 jobs in 6 mos. and 1 returning customer. On top of that it was boring. It was something that was recommended to me by some music business teachers as a “solid” business. Whatever. My last business before that was a 5 piece Rock band that I worked on with 1 partner and a revolving cast of characters for 3 years. It ended up being a money pit and a big headache but for awhile it was fun. My lessons learned, I am now putting together my latest venture, a 2 piece Rock N Roll band for which I’ve been writing material and doing research for 5 years, starting around the time my Dad died. Right now I’m making the 1st album on credit at my friends’ studio, having done my preproduction at home on my four track. I think this business will be a lot of fun, and as it consists of the fewest number of moving parts( myself and 1 sideman) it has a lot less potential to break down and cause stress. It also is a very economically sound project, costing so little to maintain, there is a good potential for profit. All that said, I must admit I don’t really care if it makes any money. I’m putting together this venture to satisfy other needs. I write songs and I want other people to hear them- that’s why I’m making a record, that’s why I’m putting together a band. The resulting record label,booking agency,merch. co I will also be putting together are entirely about making money. Thanks so much for all the free marketing advice, Derek. I intend to put a lot of it to use one day soon. Oh yeah, welcome back. 
Ike Barnes (2009-07-08) #I feel the same way. I have done a lot of pet projects over the years that I believe have allowed me to think objectively and test my theories and beliefs. It is a very therapeutical way of living. It’s also extremely rewarding to be able to create and also help people in return. I love life!!!! 
PJ Grimes (2009-07-09) #A guiding favorite of mine since childhood…says it all:  The Road Not Taken  Robert Frost  Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,  And sorry I could not travel both  And be one traveler, long I stood  And looked down one as far as I could  To where it bent in the undergrowth  Then took the other, as just as fair,  And having perhaps the better claim,  Because it was grassy and wanted wear;  Though as for that the passing there  Had worn them really about the same  And both that morning equally lay  In leaves no step had trodden black.  Oh, I kept the first for another day!  Yet knowing how way leads on to way,  I doubted if I should ever come back.  I shall be telling this with a sigh  Somewhere ages and ages hence:  Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—  I took the one less traveled by,  And that has made all the difference.  PJ “Patti” Grimes, Founder/Host/Co-Producer/Writer, The Backstage Gourmet Radio Show (“Where Great Green Cuisine Meets Great Global Music”), www.healthylife.net, every Monday, 1-2 p.m. Pacific Time 
RnBMistress (2009-08-12) #Thanks Derek, you’ve just given me an idea to create a group at my ning site for songwriters, music poducers and the like to get together to come and produce their ideas and create. I like coming up with new idea’s and I like helping others.  ”Each One That Teach One” 
nina nanda (2010-01-30) #just found you, love it, what, where is the shinto hotspring in southern japan, nina nanda 
selina maitreya (2010-07-27) #my laboratory is life. every day every moment It’s not just ideas, for me it’s all about people. my exchanges,my work, inspiring others to see & use their vision, and live in the energy of lOVE. Hey Derek, love your vision,and totally intrigued by who you must be. 
Romi ‘Guitar’ Baumgartner (2010-07-31) #Well, i think music is the best drug of the world. you can get high, music can push you or help to relax. you get it it everywhere und you can do it yourself. Wonderfull !  Greetings from Switzerland,  Romi ‘Guitar’   By the way: nice homepage, cool inputs, thanx Derek! 
SusanJoy Grieco (2010-08-05) #Hi Derek and other “commentators”:  I appreciate people like you who are high-minded creators, storytellers and life-explorers. That is who I BE, too. For me, Life is a love story, a love song that I craft daily. And Derek, you are one of the few people whose e-mails I read completely and soak up. Big thanks for for inspiring questions, action and living. Have fun everyone! 
Sasha (2010-08-16) #hi Derek,  I am amazed by your blog! I accidentally found it in the book “What matters now” and now I feel like I’ll be your follower for some time! thank you for what you do:)  P.S. Is the website translation automatic or not? It’s of a high quality.. Is there a chance I can read your blog in English if I live in Ukraine?  Thank you, Sasha 
BytesLand (2011-03-03) #замечательная статья) правда. в ней каждый найдёт что-то для себя. мне лично она помогла поверить в свои силы и придала уверенности, что несмотря на все препятствия, достичь успеха в любимом деле возможно. 
Ross W (2011-03-12) #Yes I agree. The problem for many people out there I suspect is that, unlike Derek, they fail to put the ideas to the test(setup a laboritory) and are often paralised by a combination of fear, procrastination and security. Hats off to those who back thier ideas enough to give them a try. 
saad228 (2011-04-05) #nd downright hated it by the end. Now I’m at a four-year-old technology-based company with a young workforce who understands that happy workers are productive woclarinet repairs 
saad228 (2011-04-05) #lem for many people out there I suspect is that, unlike Derek, they fail to put the ideas to the test(setup a laboritory) and are often paralised by a combination of fear, procclarinet repairs 
nora (2011-06-05) #Te felicito por lograr que tu trabajo sea un juego, es lo me gustaría a mi. Y desde hace algun tiempo, creo que es más sabio disfrutar de los proceso, que concentrarse en los resultados.Disfrutar incluso más importante que ganar. 
MatrixFailure (2011-08-08) #Да про “лабораторию” и возможность экспериментировать это метко подмечено.  Для меня свой маленький бизнес это еще и возможность жить по своему разумению, иметь возможность для творчества и при этом кормить семью. 
Leon (2011-08-25) #It’s funny how a bit of time to reflect and refresh our minds brings new realisations. I’ve never really looked at things in that way but now you mention it, it’s true. I guess it’s all about remember that there is fun in our work during times of stress.  Running a business specialising in stellar pans, the day to day running can get on top of you. I guess a few days away will always help. 
Leon (2011-08-25) #Great blog, first time I’ve come accross it and I have to say it has hit home with my current situation with stress from running my own company. This helps me take a step back and look at things from a new perspective. 
Leon (2011-08-25) #I always make a point of taking a long time out once a year in order to be able to reflect on my progress and readjust my plans. Always a good idea. 
Jessica Beads (2011-10-15) #I’d love to start my own company selling beads. I just don’t know where to start. It seems like what I want to do would take so much capital. 
Jessica Beads (2011-10-15) #Any advice? 
Dionisis Kokkolias (2011-11-18) #Nice thoughts. I agree that one has to change things in the life, try new ideas make new mistakes and experiment with new challenges. Challenges do not come looking for u maybe u have to look for them, or if thinks become stagnant you take action and you break in order to build something new, possible better. And if you do not succeed it doesn’t matter you try again and you keep trying and trying and even if you never succeed (unlikely if u really try) at least u tried and saw life from different angles learning and having so many different and new experiences. 
Bruce Morton (2011-12-08) #Let me be concise: ThankX! 
Ronnie (2011-12-11) #Very inspirational! I really like the sharing idea, it can work combined with other models. 
David K (2011-12-21) #I love the quotes at the end. I realize i’m happy only when I have a great project to work on. 
anonymous (2012-02-24) #It’s so true. I think we all need a laboratory. A place where we can express and explore our ideas. It’s not always good to have too much downtime right? 
Izzy (2012-05-09) #this is a great post! I love the idea of work as play. It is such a foreign concept to so many people but the simple reality is that if we can get to a point where work is awesome then our lives can become AWESOME! It just blows my mind that so many people are willing to do something for 40 to 80 hours a week that they don’t like. 
Diane Samons (2012-06-16) #You have the right idea and make it seem so natural and simple to start your own internet bussines, I need to attend your school of thought and process!!! 
Tim Inman (2012-06-18) #I believe there is life after this one, and I’ve come to believe we will learn and have jobs, more like the Garden of Eden than Nirvana. 
Tho Pham (2012-06-18) #I wish I were you. In a non-developed country, there is no chance. We need to work for my life, my family and other things. If you don’t worry about your family living conditional, you would be a ‘laboratory’ man 🙂 Anyway, lucky you. 
San (2012-06-18) #truly inspiring… 
Lisa (2012-06-18) #I totally agree with this! That is why I got back into my laboratory 6 weeks ago by buying a website for work at home moms so that I can experiment with all the different ideas I had on the back burner. 
Hugo Amorim (2012-06-18) #”A company is a laboratory to try your ideas.”   Really true, but some people don’t have the corage to do that.  Great post thanks. 
Kyle Alm (2012-06-18) #It’s always good to have something to work on. I never seem to have a problem with that. Always finding something else to involve myself in. 
Emil Hajric (2012-06-19) #The problem with starting a ‘lab’ company, is that many of the projects you will launch will be a result of not wanting to go through ‘the struggle’ or the ‘dip’ that it takes to make a successful company.  Focus is incredibly underrated, and so is new ideas and testing stuff out.   The hard part is finding a good balance. Focusing on one goal, one project, and testing many ideas onto that one goal, project. 
David Greiner (2012-06-23) #There is no time like the moment to follow your inspiration.  This is such an empowering story of your life Derek, you are inspirational. 
Alison Lea Dennis (2012-06-27) #For your same reasons of a lack of ability to create and experiment I am leaving my (stable) big corporation job. I have been working on a rock climbing project on the side and have decided to make it full time so I can be fully engaged in creating, experimenting, learning and having fun. It’s time to play!!! 
Pamela Mortensen (2012-07-08) #Derek,  Thank you so much for this. I needed to be reminded to not take things so seriously as I have been doing lately. I will heed this advice and go back to my mad scientist and she what she would like to cook up and share.   my humble thanks, Pam 
TARfm.com (2012-07-26) #Inspiring post. I’ve learned something :) 
Jonathan (2012-08-18) #This is a great post, and I agree fully. I find myself wanting to do things on my own more so than working. I feel like working for someone else just doesn’t give me the free reign to do great things. I’m writing a few books and setting up a few websites for some ideas I had in place. Although it’s a lot of work, I can’t help but smile when I’m doing it. It’s a great feeling knowing that you’re not only escaping the chains of traditional thinking, but that you’re creating something great. 
James Duffy (2012-08-30) #I’ve only read two of your articles so far (this and “Hell yeah!”), but both of them are great reads. Then I see you’re also a Stoic. Congratulations, you’re officially one of my new favorite writers/thinkers. Looks like I have some new reading for the comings months ;) 
Matt (2012-09-04) #Love it and want to do it, I want to read some more 
Max (2012-09-24) #That’s why being a programmer is the greatest job. We can create playgrounds for ourselves from nothing within days.  Perhaps the other great job in this context is being a musician. I combine them and I’m happy.  Maybe that’s the reason, why most of the good programmers (out of my experience) also play a music instrument. 
Torch (2012-10-24) #Love the picture of the dude with the controls in his hands, awesome! What your saying is so true, flying in a blue dream, without a vision people perish, the purpose driven life are all ways of saying pretty much the same thing.  I’m an avid guitarist and now also a software engineer who is working on the musical instrument I always wanted. It is going to rock our planet sometime soon now!  I like the way a favorite old band called Budgie put it in their tune called Zoom Club, here are the lyrics :  Come on everyone of you g.i’s You are the ones who can care Speed on you wonderful dropouts Well break the walls of this room in  Zoom along, superstar All over the land Move on music man  Come on everyone of you people You aint got mud in your eyes Tell everybody with hunger Eat up the music tonight  Come on you`ll only get harder I wanna get it to you You are my life You turn around in your zoot suit  Come on everyone of you preachers You do the best that you can Move on every one of you teachers You do the best that you can  Checkout the tune on YouTube! 
Kiev Marble (2012-11-25) #Sharing our ideas makes our heart sing. What makes your heart sing? 
Harris (2012-11-27) #Having just discovered you, I am impressed. Not by your plethora of accomplishments, but totally by your “perfect” attitude that if it’s play, it will never be work.  As a chef/artist,we may have nothing more in common than our “play/work” attitudes, and that, I find, is sufficient synergy. Every day of my playing/working life, I considered to be one of exploration into the unknown world of what if? today! Do not wait until tomorrow.  I will be in Sing in January 
Cam (2012-11-28) #Very thought provoking and it’s nice to hear from some one who has done it as opposed to some one who talks about it. Good stuff. 
Tom Skuse (2012-11-28) #Excellent article and as the large number of comments show well worth reading. Success is a journey and not a destination ! 
Matt B. (2013-01-14) #Makes 100% sense! You basically have to have a sick obsession for your business if you’re going to make it. By viewing it as playing, it makes that so much easier. Nice post! 
Rene (2013-01-25) #Derek, Isn’t that the same as “do what you love and you will never have to work”. If I could make my hobby my work, I would be the happiest person on earth ;-) 
John George Archer (2013-01-31) #Sandbox. So true! Thanks Derek. 
Vadim (2013-02-06) #Very inspiring! In everyday hectic forget to think and invent. 
Paul (2013-04-01) #As I sit writing to those who have chosen to read my daily messages, I stumbled upon you as I researched grit. At 60, with way too much resonsibility and pressure, I am beginning to build a life of play, not work. As I look to your life as my goal, it’s proof it can be done.  Now, doing it…a bit tougher…Paul 
Katherine Bassford (2013-04-01) #I LOVE this post! I have been playing with the idea of ‘work as play’ over the last 30 days as part of a ‘Screw Work Let’s Play’ Challenge and I have felt more alive in the past month than in the whole of the last 20 years! “We all need a playground, and your own company is one of the best playgrounds of all” – love it. This is my 2013 goal. 
Ning (2013-05-30) #Hi Derek,  Your enthusiasm and positivity is really inspiring! I believe in having passions for what we choose to do, and you have demonstrated that well! Thank you for sharing your experiences! 
Robert Soviero (2013-06-10) #Fantastic! This something we all need to hear at some point, and for me personally, it was the perfect time between projects. Thank you so much. Cheers! 
Dr. Shishir Urdhwareshe (2013-07-08) #Great post! Your observations are very true. 
Sean Crawford (2017-10-25) #It’s a cool concept, “playground.” As the first commenter says, composing music is play.  For me, being a teacher, writer and public speaker is a playground of thinking about how I will explain something. If I don’t write much fiction it’s because composing fiction doesn’t feel as playful to me… at this time.  Come to think of it, commenting on this blog is play, too. 
Nicole Ives (2019-10-23) #So true, be careful what you wish for with too much free time. 
Elliot (2021-12-19) #Nice article Sivers 
Peter Carson (2023-09-10) #Hi Derek  I contacted you a few years ago when I was thinking about selling the company (CompuClaim) I founded and built, with no business plans. I was not sure what to do with it after 24 years. You told me to sell it as soon as possible and start another one. Well, it took me 3 more years, but I did sell it in 2021. And you were spot on it was the total right thing to do. I’m just finishing your book anything you want and its exploding my mind. I’ve been struggling with what to do, and doing some things. I got too hung up on making money all over again and it got me stuck. As of today my new mantra is how can I help people. So, I’ve starting a company, or a Foundation, to help startups that are working on solutions to global warming through an angel fund called E8 in Seattle. I joined the organization and am going to their annual meeting in Seattle this week.   I know how to do strategic branding for them and I know it helps. I’ll do it for no cost to start and see if it helps. I also want to start a design and art painting company selling my abstract paintings and ideas I have to sell biodegradable clothes, like the tyvek suits, in tie die, to whoever I can find needs them. Anyway, the idea that I can do anything and live anywhere is just totally mind blowing. Thank you for your book, your ideas and who you are in the world Derek. I hope you are well.