They just don't get it

Have you had people, friends, relatives, even new customers say things like "this is a nice little hobby"? That makes me crazy. It's like because you don't go to an office, you don't have a "real job" - how I have learned to hate that expression! I guess the thing that bothers me most is not being taken seriously, this Company will be 12 years old in a few months, it IS a real business, NOT a hobby!
What do you generally say?
OK vent over, now back to our regularly sceduled programming!

The Great Myth

The great myth is that if you're self employed, you get to get up at 10 every day, work in your pajamas, that's when you FEEL like working. You work only when you want to and you rake in the dough.
The truth is, that you will work harder for yourself than you EVER will work for anyone else, you will often work longer hours and if you don't do it, it wont get done! It makes me crazy when I see th myth perpertuated on TV and in movies.
Don't get my wrong, I LOVE whan I do and I know that I'm blessed to do what I enjoy, but know that working for yourself is NOT for the faint of heart! That myth is BUSTED!

Things to think about

When I was in year 5 of this business, I took a class through the Small Business Development Center called New Venture Training. It was a class designed for those contemplating owning a business/growing a business and we all wrote our Business Plans. The class was great fun, we learned alot and got to bounce ideas off each other, I can't recommend it highly enough. They do have some scholarships available and I do encourage you to look into it.
They also had a financial class that went along with it, that was 4 sessions I believe. Anyhow, the ONLY thing I took exception with, was the instructor said "if you arent perfectly healthy, if you even take an aspirin now and then, being self-employed isn't for you". I think if you have any major health issues you need to give a little extra thought to how you'll work around the issue, but I wouldn't let it stop me!
I think the main thing is to know that if you do decide to go into business, it will require dedication and sometimes even sacrifice. You will need to have great self-discipline, it all falls on your shoulders. But the thing is, for me anyhow, the rewards FAR outweigh the challenges. and remember "Nothing is impossible to a valiant heart" :-)