An entrepreneurial choice?

Cathy Grant is a freelance writer and columnist that has been a satisfied client of BCITS for far more years than she cares to admit to. As a new member of the peer support group she hopes to continue her positive relationship with BCITS for many years to come. Please note that BCITS does not endorse any companies mentioned in this post.

A few months ago, I was asked by the Cerebral Palsy Association to come and give a short talk about goal setting, specifically in how setting goals related to finding work. Initially I was taken aback; I’m good at many things but I’m hardly a poster child for finding a regular job.

Still wanting to help, I agreed and started to put together an outline of what I was going to say. While doing this, my writing partner and I, hit upon yet another uncomfortable truth regarding disability. That being, in my opinion, at this time, a person with a disability has a better chance of success of reaching their financial goals by becoming an entrepreneur and starting their own business, than trying to find a someone who would be willing to hire them.

Why do I think someone with a disability should start their own business?

First and foremost, I believe it’s a smart choice because, you the disabled person, are in control of your own destiny; you are not beholding to someone else giving you anything.

Second: starting and running your own business can be done on your schedule of when you function best. That is a big advantage over a job where you’re under someone else’s schedule which may or may not work with your body.

Third: you can work with who you want to work with, not just a random Joe Blow off the street.

Finally, there isn’t any rule that says you can’t build a business while looking for a job at the same time. So why not increase your chances of success and do both?

Next time we’ll take a look at some of the hidden strengths that many people with disabilities have that actually increase their chances of success in the business world.

Part 2 will be published in a few weeks. Make sure not to miss it and sign up for an email notification using the “Follow” button at the bottom of this page.