Starting your own company

What makes managers give up their high salary, company car and pension, and risk everything in order to set up on their own? A recent UK survey of self-employed entrepreneurs has come up with a number of reasons.

1. Although money is a great motivator, it is only part of the answer. Very few self- employed entrepreneurs can earn what they received in a large company, at least in the first few years. They invest any extra cash in their business, rather than in expensive cars, houses or holidays. Probably the most important part of the answer has to do with being in charge. In the US, people who want to make a million don't care whether they own 5% or 10% of the company, but in the UK, entrepreneurs want 100% ownership: they want to control their company and to make all the decisions themselves.

2. Most large companies do not know how to make the best use of clever people. Employees who criticise the old ways of doing things and want to try out new ideas are disliked both by their colleagues and by their bosses. Comments like 'They wouldn't listen to me' or 'I kept presenting new product ideas, only to hear nothing' are typical of many a manager-turned-entrepreneur. All of this causes frustration, which can quickly lead to boredom. Often, middle managers start to think: 'Only another 30 more years of working my way to retirement.' At this point, they want to find a way out.

3. They need to get away from a job that is no longer attractive. So they decide to set up on their own. But they need something else, too: the challenge of taking risks. They are like people who climb a mountain by the most dangerous route. Entrepreneurial types need to try out new things without knowing whether they will succeed or fail. They also want to prove that they can make it without big company support.

4. As well as motivation, most successful entrepreneurs have a number of personal characteristics in common. The first is self-confidence, the feeling of certainty that you have got the skills, knowledge and energy to build up your own business. There is also stubbornness, the determination to prove to the boss who rejected your ideas that they were good ideas which can be made to work. Possessing this quality means that you won't give up: you have to make your ideas work.

X 3 points) Choose from the list A-G the best title for paragraphs 1-4 in the text. Do not use any letter more than once. Give your reasons.

1. Paragraph 1 2. Paragraph 2 3. Paragraph 3 4. Paragraph 4

A.Likes and dislikes B.The waste of talent in big companies C.The need to be your own boss D.Important personal qualities E.Making a lot of money F.Taking risks G.Time and hard work

Дата добавления: 2015-08-09