Roughly 18 million people have chosen to become a lifestyle entrepreneur- what is it and why is this one of the fastest-growing trends today?
Essentially, a lifestyle entrepreneur is someone who builds a business around their lifestyle – rather than a lifestyle around their business. In general, a lifestyle entrepreneur is an individual that creates a business with the purpose of altering their personal lifestyle- and not just for the sole purpose of making a profit.
While we all have to eat and pay our bills, lifestyle entrepreneurs prioritize their quality of life by choosing lifestyle first, before thinking of the profits or growth of their business. There are many reasons why people are choosing lifestyle entrepreneurship, but all lifestyle entrepreneurs share a common trait – they realize there is an alternative to the traditional 9 to 5 office job.
Who is Likely to Be a Lifestyle Entrepreneur?
Stay at Home Moms (and Dads!)
Many women – although not all – are also mothers – and lifestyle entrepreneurship is a great option for stay-at-home moms that are just starting a family. But it’s certainly not just for Moms.
People Seeking Work Life Balance
Those in their 20s and 30s are also good candidates, because they tend to desire the flexibility to break up work. Lifestyle entrepreneurship allows people the freedom to enjoy the beach, go for a work-out, or get errands done at times that the store isn’t busy.
Corporate Burn-Outs
Lifestyle entrepreneurship is an amazing way improve the quality of life – as opposed to the drudgery of climbing the corporate latter and suffering in a grey cube farm from 8 – 6, because let’s face it, the 9 to 5 doesn’t truly exist!
Lifestyle Entrepreneurship vs. Typical Entrepreneurship
There are several distinctions between a lifestyle entrepreneur and a typical entrepreneur.
• The main difference is the degree of focus on money, or sales growth and expansion. Lifestyle entrepreneurs are not running their business primarily to get rich, or to create a massive business empire.
• Typically, the main motivation of lifestyle entrepreneurs is a fierce desire for independence – the desire individuals have to work for themselves, and to run a business that fits their lifestyle and personal situation.
It’s believed the term “Lifestyle Entrepreneur” was coined by Lewis Howes, a former pro athlete, author, and, of course, a lifestyle entrepreneur. In 2008, Howes was playing professional football when an injury led him to having surgery on his wrist. With no back-up plan, savings, or college degree to support him, he ended up on his sister’s couch for a year. At the time, the country was in recession and that made it difficult for even highly experienced people to find jobs. Howes took matters into his own hands, and decided to start a business that was designed around his life- not the other way around. He became an expert on networking and created several sports networking and social marketing companies. He’s now widely regarded as the face of lifestyle entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurs in the 21st Century
Even before the recent recession, market research indicated that as many as 90 percent of the roughly 20 million American small business owners were motivated more by lifestyle than growth and money. That equates to roughly 18 million people who are considered lifestyle entrepreneurs. Today, the number is imagined to be even higher, given younger entrepreneurs tend to be more passionate, idealistic and not driven by money. Even Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook has been said to have made his start as a lifestyle entrepreneur.
Arise and Lifestyle Entrepreneurship
Arise partners with business owners who are looking to build a business around their lifestyle. These work-at-home business owners are people who need to have flexible schedules and the freedom to choose the location and hours of their work. Tens of thousands of independent, business owners use the Arise® Platform and enjoy the flexibility of earning a living while working-from-home, being their own boss, and access to a built-in client base of many Fortune 500 companies. While using the Arise® Platform, small businesses provide call center services on programs for Arise clients in a variety of sectors, including retail, telecom, travel and technology within a 100% virtual infrastructure supplied by Arise.
Lifestyle entrepreneurship and small business ownership is booming, and Arise is helping lead the way!
Start paving your way to become a lifestyle entrepreneur and register to use the Arise® Platform today.
