Starting a business is both exciting and uncertain, but for me, it was a chance to break free from constraints and build something truly meaningful. In this article, I’ll share my personal reflections on starting a business and why I believe it’s a journey worth considering.
A Small Opening Story
When I decided to create Eternal Snowman Technology LLC, I was working on Sharepon , a project I’m deeply passionate about. Even though I’m the sole employee, starting this company was a deliberate move to protect myself. Forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC) helped separate my personal assets from my company’s, which is necessary for a community-facing platform like Sharepon. The more users Sharepon attracts, the greater the risk of lawsuits. By keeping personal and business finances separate, the worst-case scenario in a legal battle would only affect the company’s limited assets — which, as a growing startup, aren’t much.
Before diving deeper into the heart of this article, I want to highlight a crucial lesson I learned early on: legal safeguards are non-negotiable. When working on Sharepon’s terms of use and privacy policy with a lawyer, I was shocked to learn that there are some people who make a living by targeting companies over non-compliance — sometimes for minor oversights, like not having an accessible feature for people with disabilities. If you’re building a business, I would highly recommend consulting with a lawyer. Solid legal documents act as your first line of defense, much like a firewall for your business.
The Case for Starting Your Own Business
Over the past two years, I’ve thought deeply about what it means to start your own business. I’ve also had several conversations with friends on the topic. If you value freedom, whether physical, financial, or career-related, starting a business might be worth considering, despite the risks. It’s not for everyone, and I recognize the topic can be controversial, but let me share why I believe it’s worth exploring.
Physical Freedom: Reclaiming Your Time
I used to work for a large healthcare company, where I had 20+ days of paid time off (PTO) each year. That sounds generous on paper, but it wasn’t enough. Routine tasks like doctor’s appointments, bank visits, or dealing with government offices quickly ate into that time. To make matters worse, my manager required at least two months’ notice for any leave lasting over two weeks. While this policy made sense for planning purposes, it felt stifling.
Living far from family made things even more challenging. My parents are in China, while I live in the U.S. If they were to suddenly become very sick, it would be incredibly difficult for me to take enough time off and travel back home in time. On top of that, my previous employer had a policy that prohibited remote work from China, adding another layer of restriction.
These situations made me realize how limiting it is to live on someone else’s schedule. I don’t think we come into this world to simply follow company rules or policies. We’re here to live meaningful lives. Unfortunately, financial responsibilities often force us into traditional jobs. But sacrificing important moments with loved ones because of work can lead to deep regrets. I believe that working for yourself offers a path to reclaiming your time, giving you the flexibility and freedom to build a life and schedule that fit your personal priorities.
Financial Freedom: Owning the Rewards
True financial freedom rarely comes from working as an employee. Unless you’ve climbed to the very top of the corporate ladder or had the good fortune to join a future giant at an early stage, accumulating wealth can feel like an uphill battle. Even if you are the hardest worker and the biggest contributor on your team, much of the credit and the rewards often flow up the chain to managers and executives. The bigger the company, the harder it is for individual accomplishments to shine. Your work might make millions for the company, but the share you take home is only a tiny fraction of what your efforts are truly worth.
This isn’t entirely unfair. Managers and executives bear more risks and responsibilities, which justifies their higher compensation. But what if you’re ready to take on those risks yourself? That’s where owning a business changes everything. As an entrepreneur, the ceiling on your potential rewards is removed. When you succeed, the fruits of your labor are truly yours to enjoy — not parceled out through performance reviews or rigid corporate policies. You’re no longer waiting for someone else to decide your value or approve your next raise.
What’s even more liberating is that your success is judged by the market, not by a single manager or company’s internal rules. The market doesn’t care about office politics or who has tenure. It rewards innovation, creativity, and hard work. That, to me, feels much fairer. The effort you put into your business directly impacts your rewards. If you pour your heart into creating something valuable and you do it in the right way, the world recognizes and compensates you accordingly.
Career Freedom: Pursuing Work That Matters
Working for a company often means having limited control over the projects you take on. During my time at my previous employer, I was fortunate to work on projects I enjoyed about half the time. Many of my colleagues weren’t as lucky, spending years on assignments they found uninspiring. While these projects often had significant financial impact for the company, they didn’t always align with individual career goals or foster the skills people wanted to develop.
Starting my own business, however, gave me the freedom to choose my path. Building Sharepon has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. I finally had the opportunity to fully utilize my talents. For a normal company, it might take an entire team to build a web app. But I was able to handle every step of the process on my own, from designing the interface to coding the backend. The sense of accomplishment I felt as I saw Sharepon take shape was immense. Every piece of functionality, every design decision, and every line of code came together into something tangible and meaningful.
This process didn’t just create a product; it transformed me. It built my confidence and showed me the power of persistence. There were moments when I felt overwhelmed, but each challenge I overcame taught me something new — technical skills, creative problem-solving, and even how to better connect with people. There’s something uniquely empowering about taking on a task that seems insurmountable at first and realizing that you’re capable of so much more than you thought.
Beyond personal growth, running a business has allowed me to connect directly with the people I serve. In my previous corporate role, layers of management separated me from the end users who benefited from my work. But as an entrepreneur, I get to hear customer feedback firsthand and make changes that directly improve their experience. This connection makes the work feel so much more personal and impactful. It’s not just about solving a problem; it’s about truly helping someone.
Perhaps most importantly, owning a business gives me the freedom to prioritize what truly matters. In a corporate environment, profit often dictates every decision, leaving little room for ideals like community, creativity, or social impact. As a business owner, I have the power to focus on something bigger than the bottom line. For me, Sharepon isn’t just about making money; it’s about fostering a community where people help each other save and share.
Career freedom is about more than just escaping the grind. Instead, it’s about creating a life that aligns with your values and passions. It’s about waking up every day excited to work on something that matters to you and having the autonomy to build a future that reflects who you truly are. For me, starting a business has been a leap of faith, but one that’s brought so much growth, joy, and fulfillment.
A Word of Caution
Starting a business isn’t for everyone. It’s risky, challenging, and far from a guaranteed path to success. Society often emphasizes stability over entrepreneurship, and the truth is, most new businesses fail. My own journey with Eternal Snowman Technology LLC is just beginning, and I have no idea what the future holds.
That said, I want to remind people that starting a business is an option. If you’re curious but hesitant, consider launching a side business first. This approach lets you dip your toes into entrepreneurship without diving in headfirst. It’s a way to test the waters while maintaining the safety net of your current job.
Final Thoughts
For me, starting a business was about more than creating a product. It was a way to align my work with my values — freedom, fairness, and the ability to pursue meaningful projects. While the road ahead is uncertain, I’m excited to see where it leads. If you’ve ever dreamed of working for yourself, I hope this article inspires you to take the first step, no matter how small.
