This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
The difference in desires is drastic
Employees
What do employees want most?
Many desire security.
They want their employers to take care of them.
They want higher pay.
They want better benefits.
They want all the perks they can get, which equates to more security.
But most importantly, they want THAT CONSISTENT PAYCHECK because they have a lot counting on that paycheck.
Some of the things counting on that consistent paycheck include:
Their mortgage
Their student loans
Their car lease or car note
Their other debts and expenses
Their minimum credit card payments
Their spending and consumption habits
Employees hope they don’t lose their jobs because they don’t have any backup income, which leaves them in a severe predicament; they’re overly dependent on their jobs and employers, which places them at a disadvantage.
Though many employees have more than one source of income (e.g., many are also gig workers), most of their income is ordinary, meaning their work requires a continuous investment of their time (their most valuable asset outside their minds).
Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs choose to walk the opposite path.
Instead of relying on an employer, they rely on themselves to bring in passive income that does not require a consistent investment of their time.
Though their work might require an upfront time investment, it’s not continuous, granting them more freedom to create more passive income-producing streams.
What Is Passive Income?
Passive income could include investment dividends or capital gains, royalty income, business income, and other income that doesn’t require a consistent time investment.
You can earn passive income around the clock from previous efforts.
Which One Should You Be?
Some argue being an entrepreneur is the best because you work for yourself.
It is.
Everyone should be an entrepreneur and be in the business for themselves.
If you have a desire to still work for an employer, still be in the business for yourself. Build a business in addition to working with someone else; this decreases your financial risk.
If employees switched their perspective, they’d realize they’re working for themselves, too, but their paycheck is coming from a source outside of themselves.
Here’s the problem with just being an employee: it’s like having a portfolio without proper asset allocation.
Without proper asset allocation, you increase your risk and create no hedge against risk.
If you desire to work for an employee, create the hedge by creating passive income entrepreneurial ventures.
For entrepreneurs, the only hedge you need is a robust emergency fund, so you don’t have to return to work for an employer if you don’t want to do so.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.