Entrepreneurship is not for everyone! It has many benefits for the right type of person, however not everyone is interested or suited for this sort of career path. Therefore, having a 9 to 5 is not a bad thing and is an option for those who aren’t interested in entrepreneurship.

For those who are unfamiliar, “9 to 5” refers to a job that an individual works as an employee for a company, Monday through Friday. This type of professional work structure is traditional and common amongst many workers within the United States.

Unfortunately, if you are one to rely on social media for information, you may be swayed into believing that having a 9 to 5, is a detriment to your career journey. Society has slandered the 9 to 5 image, causing individuals to question whether this type of job structure is truly an opportunity for their growth and development or a set up for contentment and long term failure. Opinions on this certainly vary, but its imperative that individuals have their own experiences in order to draw a conclusion for themselves.

The truth is, no 9 to 5 is perfect and all have their good and not so good attributes about them. However, it’s up to each individual to make this determination for themselves. Individuals should not exclude the possibility of working a 9 to 5 because of what they read and heard from others. Quotes such as “I’m too creative to have a 9 to 5,” and “I’d rather slave 24/7 than slave 9 to 5” can be discouraging and influence someone to second guess exploring this sort of job structure.

For those who are considering a 9 to 5, there are numerous advantages, such as:

  1. Paid benefits: retirement, healthcare and education for you, your spouse, your children and sometimes your immediate family members.
  2. Paid time off (sick, vacation, personal etc.).
  3. A standard work schedule.
  4. A regular paycheck.
  5. An opportunity to gain paid experience with a reputable company.
  6. Ability to build professional relationships with a diverse group of individuals.
  7. Opportunities to attend professional development workshops, webinars, training etc. at your employers expense.
  8. Ability to travel for work assignments while affording you exposure to foreign places you may have never considered.
  9. An end-time to working each day, so that you can delineate between your job and personal life.
  10. A limited stress load! The company’s performance responsibilities are not soley on you! Unlike entrepreneurship.

Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich once said, “If you work for a salary or wages, you have a marvelous opportunity to put yourself into a higher income and a more responsible position by forming a mastermind alliance with your associate workers, including the management.”

Instead of feeling discouraged from working a 9 to 5, individuals should be encouraged to work a 9 to 5 if it suits them and if it affords them the most benefits. Work your 9 to 5, don’t let it work you! In other words, get the most out of each and every one of your 9 to 5 experiences. Be strategic about the career choices you make and insure that they afford you the benefits you need to position yourself accordingly for your success, however you may define it.

For those who do want to someday own their own business and be their own boss, its important to note that many well-known entrepreneurs worked 9 to 5s prior to exploring entrepreneurship. For example, Mark Cuban, Michael Bloomberg, Michael Dell, Suze Orman, Oprah Winfrey and Ray Kroc all worked these structured schedules. Their 9 to 5s played an important role in preparing them for their entrepreneurial endeavors and their experiences should not be trivialized by making this type of work seem insignificant.

It doesn’t matter if an individual works 9 to 5 for a company or if they work for themselves – it’s their determination to take charge of their careers and accomplish great success.