Seth Godin writes:

I don’t think the shortage of artists has much to do with the innate ability to create or initiate. I think it has to do with believing that it’s possible and acceptable for you to do it.

I believe very strongly that the future of the United States is tied to our levels of entrepreneurship. We can’t be a successful country with everyone working for the man. I’ve also come to believe that Seth’s comment above is the most limiting reason we don’t have more of it.

I might have told this story before, but my cousin got married and graduated from chiropractic school about the same time. He worked out a comprehensive plan to build his own practice. His wife, though, thought the safer route was to work for someone else for a little while, learn the trade and business, and then go out on their own. My cousin didn’t even think twice about that option.

When we spoke about it, I told her that she needed to understand something: in our family we didn’t know any better. Our grandfather ran his own business. Our uncle ran his own business. My father and his father both ran their own businesses. Even my cousin’s older brother ran his own business. And of course I did, too. From birth, it was ingrained in each of us that running your own business is part of life.

So yes, most of us aren’t in a financial position where we can just quit our jobs and go out on our own. But that’s not the first step anyway. Being convinced that you can quit your job and go out on your own comes first.

—

I’ve had a few comments so thought I would expand. My mom’s parents had three kids. Same for my dad’s parents. Of those eight families (including my grandparents) only one never worked for themselves.