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5 Reasons Being an Entrepreneur is Actually HARDER Than Rocket Science

Whenever someone sets out to do anything in our modern world, it’s almost inevitable that some idiot somewhere pipes in with “It’s not rocket science”. For generations, Rocket Science and Brain Surgery have been the hallmarks for determining if something requires mental acuity, or really, should even be acknowledged as difficult. I think it’s bullshit, and here are five reasons I think my job is tougher than theirs!

Entrepreneurs Don’t Get to Follow Formulas

Sure, being a rocket scientist takes a lot of time, dedication and education. I’m not trying to say it’s easy, because it’s not, but, for the most part, the elements of the job haven’t changed. If anything, technology has actually made the work easier. Oxygen is still H20, the distance between our world and the stars remains the same, but my job is constantly changing!

Of course, I jest. While many things have changed, the basics of success in almost any endeavor in life are essentially the same as they have always been. Build relationships, provide excellent service, sell a great product at a fair price, repeat. We can get so mixed up in the ever changing user interface, that we forget, the game is still the same. 

Entrepreneurs Don’t Get Paid for Mistakes

Science is a game of trial and error. Granted, a rocket scientist that produces a long string of mistakes, that don’t lead to innovation or success, won’t be paid forever, but a part of their job is getting literally paid to fail! If you’ve ever been self-employed, you understand this, no one pays entrepreneurs for their screw ups.

That being said, there’s a lot to gain from mistakes. Sometimes mistakes teach us that we were headed down the wrong road entirely, and lead us to success. Be prepared for the times when you work for free because your profit is eaten up in correcting mistakes. Learn to minimize them and laugh at them, and sometimes even turn them to your advantage. 

Entrepreneurs Take the Blame as Well as the Credit

In science, it is all about process. If a researcher follows the established protocol, it’s rare you’ll hear about their responsibility for a failure, even a colossal failure like blowing up a shuttle with astronauts on board, will be chalked up to equipment or atmospheric problems. Not so when a solopreneur screws up, it’s all your fault. There is rarely a “system” to fall back on. 

It’s okay. Honestly. I’d rather own my mistakes than not have control over the solutions. When you are the cause of your failure, that means you also hold the keys to creating success the next time. When someone else controls your fate, that’s hard to do. 

Entrepreneurs Can’t Do Cost Overruns

We hear on a regular basis how this or that project was over budget, but somehow it got finished and everyone kept their jobs. This is almost  never the case with entrepreneurs. If you extend yourself beyond your ability to pay, that loan belongs to you and you can only go so far before you’ll hit the end of your ability to spend money you don’t have. 

You also get to be in control of cost saving measures, or deciding to take on new work to increase revenue, a serious advantage over those that are part of a large institution or enterprise. As an entrepreneur, you are directly in control of your expenses and income and can often make choices not available in other situations to correct your course and keep projects on track. 

Entrepreneurs Aren’t Tax Payer Funded

If I had my way, we wouldn’t fund nearly as many things as we do with taxes. But, since I’m unlikely to ever run for office, that’s just an opinion. For those in the research community, the support of being part of a large government agency allows them the luxury of funding that cannot be refused, unless someone wants to go to jail. It’s unlikely you have that kind of iron-clad contracts with your clients as an entrepreneur. 

The old adage, expect the best and plan for the worst comes to mind. While you certainly want to maintain a positive outlook, a certain amount of pragmatism can help you keep from over extending yourself. In entrepreneurial endeavors, too much can be as bad, if not worse, than not enough. It’s a tight rope that we all willingly walk for the freedom it gives us to live life on our own terms.