The Auto-rickshaw Analogy of a Corporate Job

If you have ever visited India and taken a ride in an autorickshaw, you will be able to identify with this scenario: You haggle for going where you want to go. The auto driver is mumbling and grumbling under his breath. He starts the auto with a sudden lurch. He brakes and speeds up every 2 minutes. Your back is already feeling the agony from the speed bumps lifting you in air every 10 minutes. And then, at a traffic signal, he switches off the ignition, and when the lights go green, the auto just won’t start. The autowala assures you that everything is in order. He pulls the auto to the side and makse atleast 10 attempts to start. You start praying. The auto starts. You finally reach your destination. When you reach there, you just couldn’t be more thankful to get down. You are already planning on getting yourself a car.
Now, Look At Your Job
That’s a traditional job, with all its pros and cons bundled together. While a traditional job gives you a sense of security that someone is in charge and you don’t have to deal with all the ups and downs of everything in the process, at the same time, you are not empowered to do much when things do go wrong. You have to face all the regular office politics which takes a toll on your time and your mental well-being, not to mention your motivation. You eventually do make money, but it comes at a price. Sometimes you may be able to find great work buddies, but nevertheless, the job doesn’t leave much time to do anything outside of the job.
Why do you do it? Because you think you don’t have any other options. In reality, you haven’t properly considered all other options, with equal effort. Same as the auto-rickshaw example.
Take The Wheel
I have never understood it when they say “Go big or go home!” Why, you can be at home and go big too!
It is generally believed that you can “climb the ladder” of success only if you take a corporate ladder. But, as with the auto-rickshaw analogy, that often comes at a heavy price, and leaves you much poorer than richer.
Entrepreneurship is not yet a route for everyone, because not everyone has been educated on how to be your own boss. But for those who are too tired of the bumps from the auto-rickshaw, it would be worthwhile to learn how to drive and take the wheel.
Entrepreneurship is not just about starting a start-up. It is about working for yourself. It is about having the freedom to work on everything you want — your main metier, and side project 1, side project 2 etc. It is a well rounded approach to earning a living, as compared with being a horse tied to a carriage, trained to move as told.
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