Two choices.

In a past lifetime, I was an IB Business Management teacher. I remember vividly that in my introduction to this lengthy two-year course I would kick off by telling my new students:

"Business is not about money, it is about much more than that - it is about dreams. People with vision build a clear picture of their reality in their heart and mind, and then proceed to make it happen. Factors of Production, Forces of Business, SWOT, PEST, Porter, Drucker, Mc Gregor's two-factor theory yaddah yaddah .... all of it just boils down to people choosing (and building) the vehicle which takes them to their destiny."

Two other essential questions, which were explored with my pre-IB business students were:

What does it take to be an entrepreneur?

....and

Is it better to be an employee or an entrepreneur?

While there is no clear answer - for most, being an employee is best. And that is OK. Provided they are satisfied with the terms of their employment, and are able to eventually plan for retirement. The security of the constant paycheck to pay the mortgage... I can see the allure. But the reality we may not want to see is that in many companies the human resource is just a resource, like paper or cleaning supplies. And like all resources, they get used, until consumed and discarded. I have seen many respected professionals get the short end of the stick towards the tail end of their careers. Sadly this is what happens when we depend on others.

So what is the alternative in this Darwinian reality?

Become the architect of your own destiny. Believe in your vision, knowledge and values. Spread your wings and soar. Because at the end of the day you are going to either build your own dreams, or receive payment to build the dreams of others.

Provided you have read this far, you may think to yourself that the content above feels a bit cliche, sort of like those little entrepreneurship memes that are beginning to saturate your LinkedIn feed. These words are easy to write, but are totally hollow if not accompanied by action.

After 14 wonderful months at a previous employer (who need not be named), I have taken the decision to move forward into the next chapter of my career; starting my own business as a Google and Zoho Partner. I will be focusing on providing unparalleled service to customers in Canada and the US.

While many in my position would continue to tolerate the "BS" for a continuous salary, I feel putting this off any longer would be akin to cheating myself out of my own future.

Closing these musings in a relevant and concise manner is always a bit of a challenge for me, so I will resort to Henry Ford. This quote of his should speak to anyone who finds themselves in the crossroads of entrepreneurship: