WOULD YOU RATHER START YOUR OWN ONLINE BUSINESS OR RIP YOUR FINGERNAILS OFF?

STARTING YOUR OWN SMALL BUSINESS IS HARD

“Start online business; rip my own fingernails off”

Do you remember that great advert where a little girl is asked by her sister “which do you prefer? Chips or Daddy”. This as a plate of luscious French fries is placed in front of her by her mother. Staring dreamily at the plate she intones “Chips, Daddy... chips, Daddy” as she tries to make this impossible choice.

This advert was funny and touching because it seemed like such a silly choice. Clearly she was a small, hungry girl who felt that she had to make the choice based on her feelings at that moment in time rather than on the long-term factors.

But perhaps the advert held a hidden truth. Perhaps the advert illustrated a truth about us that makes us all uncomfortable. Perhaps the vast majority of us would prefer to do anything rather than start our own business.  (And by the way, I did mean your artificial nails.... natch!)


Could this explain the fact that, despite the UK jobless total increasing by 210,000 in the past 3 months; despite the fact that unemployment is close to 8%, ie higher than at any time since 1992, despite the fact that it will be harder and harder to find another decent job; the number of people starting their own businesses is not shooting into the stratosphere.

Would we really rather do nothing and beg for hand-outs from the state than at least try to earn our own way?  Please tell me what you think because I am puzzled.