For a new small business owner, it may seem like your job is long on hours and short on pay. But there is a silver lining. According to a recent Gallup poll in the New York Times, self-employed workers are the happiest. Even though the same poll found that the self-employed worked the most hours per week (49% working more than 44 hours/week), over 72% of business owners were happy with their jobs.
A few reasons for the happiness despite the longest hours in the workforce are flexibility, independence, and having a real sense of purpose.
Business owners in their sixties were one of the largest groups to stay in the workforce instead of retiring due to their happiness and greater earnings. What would you do- Sell your successful business at 65 or remain the happy business owner and work into your seventies?