26 Reasons I'm Grateful to be an Entrepreneur
Have you ever thought about all those little things that make being an entrepreneur - especially a work-from-home business owner - really awesome?
This blog was originally published in 2015 and it’s always fun one to go back and read and think about where I was as an entrepreneur then and where I am now as a work-from-home entrepreneur. There have been some really big changes in my life (2 kids now instead of 1, moving to a new city, and choosing to homeschool).
And let’s not even go there with the whole 2020/pandemic/quarantine thing…because that rocked everyone’s world and ushered in a new working standard of flexibility and remote working.
But on the whole — these 26 reasons still hold true and I still love every single one of them — I wouldn’t have it any other way!
One thing is for sure — so many more people have discovered the joy and autonomy of working from home.
But along with that comes needing new skills for how to structure your workday and practice intentional productivity without rigid routines - all while not binging Netflix too much and not getting sucked into so many Zoom meetings that you don’t actually get your work done.
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To me, fall is the start of family and friends season. It's the time of year you (hopefully) take a little more time to stop and be grateful for all you have, and let your loved ones know that you do, in fact, love them. Even if they bug the crap out of you.
We love to make our own rules as a family, and one of them is that we don’t really like Thanksgiving food - so we do a fun “make your own pizza” dinner instead. Every year around this time, people start talking Thanksgiving plans, and when I tell people that we do pizza and pumpkin pie, I inevitably get the wide eye look and big smiles, followed by “That sounds amazing, I love that idea.”
It makes me so grateful that we have the courage to buck tradition and make our own path - a trait common with most entrepreneurs.
While I'd like to be more consciously grateful all the time, that's a work in progress.
I don't quite feel comfortable calling myself a "solopreneur" (although the term is technically correct) because it smacks of limits and glass ceilings to me. My master plan involves a thriving business that employs others, but right now I'm in "all the hats" territory in a home office.
To be honest, however, even soloprenuers have a supportive team around them, even if they're not paying anyone else for help. I count my family, friends, and a wealth of other solopreneurs I have connected with this last year as on my team. They all provide support, advice, an extra set of eyes, and massive amounts of cheerleading whenever I need it. I truly could not keep my head above water if it weren't for them.
Of course, I have many other things to be grateful and thankful for besides what I do for a living, but this choice like no other has impacted my life the most (husband and kiddo aside).
I knew after a few years as a Federal Agent I did not want to spend a 25+ year career working for the government. It's not like TV folks, let me tell ya. It took 10 years for the time and situation to be right, but when I left (not really knowing what I was going to do next), most people in my life thought I was nuts. I left a six-figure salary, incredible health benefits, and a pension (that's right - a pension). I would have been eligible to fully retire at 47 years old. Seems crazy, right?
The only thing that seemed crazy to me was going to work day in and day out, with a series of horrible - I mean horrible - supervisors, sitting in my car for days, my health suffering severely, and being a "body" - a number. While my professional career has been interesting (to say the least) since I left the government, every single step has been to set myself up to be my own boss.
It is not in any way shape or form, rainbows and kittens. It is simply the hardest professional thing I have ever done. It's an emotional rollercoaster, with the ever-present...FEAR.
Can I do this? Will I make it? Can I help support my family? Am I a fraud? Will anyone buy from me?
But in between those paralyzing moments (which are getting to be less and less as I persevere and figure it out), there are lots and lots of moments of sheer gratitude.
26 reasons I’m grateful to be an entrepreneur:
Without further ado - here are 26 reasons I'm super duper grateful and thankful to be an entrepreneur (in no particular order).
Yoga pants - yep I'm starting with that. Any women entrepreneur who works from home that says they don’t wear yoga pants or sweats often is lying.
Free (ish) GOOD coffee - shitty office coffee or expensive Starbucks? No thanks. I pay for super high-quality, mold free coffee that I savor every morning. It’s so great that I rarely even think about getting coffee out and about.
Setting my own hours - Even if I’m working more than I would in a typical office job, the ability to work when I want for the most part is amazing.
Sick days - even if I have work I must get done, not worrying about being semi-presentable at an office while I try not to get others sick is nice.
Midday errands - any errands: Costco, oil change, pedicure - basically anything you have to do out of the house that sucks more when everyone else is there on the weekends.
Day drinking - ok I don't really do this - maybe the very occasional beer at a late lunch with a girlfriend - but I could.
Support network - no one cheerleads for entrepreneurs louder than other entrepreneurs.
Office dog - I was able to spend the last several years of my dogs’ long 16 years with her at home, which was such a gift. Now we have a 2 year old German Shepherd who gets to revel in all of us being home with her all day and it’s so fun.
No crappy clients - I choose who I want to work with (I got over the "take any client" mindset real quick).
The sky is the limit - truly. Now if I could just clone myself...
Time with my kiddo(s) - I really should have lead with this, but it's self-explanatory. I have the privilege of creating my day around their needs as much as I need to. I will never get this time back and it's everything.
No commute - no explanation necessary here. Commutes suck. Maybe the only redeeming thing was podcast listening time.
No paying for gas, parking, lunch - some people (and employers) don't realize the huge extra expense that comes with working in an office. The cost savings of working from home make a big difference in our budget.
Time to prep dinner - theoretically, I could stop working and start to prep dinner in the afternoon, and not be rushed to throw something together later. Still working on that one. But I could.
Talking to myself - I get my best ideas when I think out loud. New tools that let you talk out your brain dump and transcribe it straight into your notes have been so helpful for me. That would be much for awkward in an office setting.
No makeup days - I love makeup, but I like not wearing makeup too. If I'm not meeting anyone professionally and not doing a video or client meeting, then I'm barefaced and don't care.
Naps - NAPS. Yes, that means I'll have to make it up later, but I CAN. A 15-minute nap with binaural beats is one of my favorite tools to unplug and reset when I’ve hit that afternoon slump.
Loud music - I'm a total metal head and I like my music louder than any sort of reasonable volume - and headphones bug me after awhile. Now that everyone is home, I usually listen in my car while I’m out doing those midday errands.
In-office yoga - I can stop what I'm doing for 10-20 minutes of good stretching without looking like a loon. And I'm usually already wearing yoga pants, so...
Neighborhood walks - every office I've ever worked in has not been conducive to taking a walk in the middle of the day. I love my neighborhood and try to get in a quick walk often.
Networking - the option to meet collaborative partners at pretty much any time is totally convenient. I have strong boundaries around not doing meetings during my best brain juice time, but it’s nice to not have to make time after hours or on weekends.
Day off flexibility (mid-week vacations) - cheapest hotel rate Monday - Thursday? No problem. I'll just work the weekend to make up for it.
Slow mornings - I’m an early riser, but I don’t liked to be rushed. Now that the kids are homeschooled, we all take the time to "wind-up" in the morning and ease into our day.
Mobile office - working from home means I do get cabin fever. No problem! I can take my laptop anywhere there's wifi and still get it done.
Natural light - I am fortunate to have a home office setup that lets me gaze out into my beautiful backyard while I'm at my desk. There is simply no substitute for natural light for productivity and well being.
The buck stops with me - it's incredibly clarifying to know it's all up to me. The failures (read: lessons), the wins, the work - it's all my choice.
Conclusion
This awesome list might seem like I’m flitting around doing whatever all day and hardly working. Quite the opposite, actually. I’ve built my own version of productivity for women entrepreneurs—focused, flexible, and grounded.
What about you? If you're an entrepreneur, what's on your grateful list?
Entrepreneurship gives us incredible freedom—but it also demands clarity, focus, and systems that actually work for real life. True productivity for women isn’t about doing more; it’s about building a rhythm that protects your energy and lets you work on your terms.
If your days still feel scattered or reactive, it’s time for a reset.
→ Start Chaos Detox today and learn how to rebuild your time, energy, and focus from the inside out.
Related Posts:
9 Ways to Stay Productive While Working From Home
How To Create Simplicity as an Entrepreneur
How To Unplug: A Simple Guide for Online Entrepreneurs
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