There has been a bloodbath of layoffs in the tech sector over the past month. Each time I read about tens of thousands of good professionals being laid off, my heart hurts. I know exactly how they’re feeling because I was laid off three times in four years.

In my LinkedIn feed, multiple people were saying that their layoff years before ended up being a good thing because without that they never would have started their business. 

It was the nudge or kick in the pants that had them making a decision that started them on their trajectory of success.

Good for them. I am happy it worked out, but I think it sends the wrong message. 

They may have been thinking about starting a business for a while. 

They may have started something on the side that was gaining momentum and was almost ready to support them. 

They may have always been the type of person who knew they would at some point be an entrepreneur. 

Great. Hooray for self-knowledge and claiming their dream. 

However, thinking that everyone should – or could – be an entrepreneur is just dangerous. 

I have had my own business for 12 years and I could sell you on being your own boss or not on any given day. It is really hard to start and grow a business. 

You might only have heard the good stuff and success stories, and not about the fear, uncertainty, and inevitable face plants that happen as an entrepreneur. 

Being your own boss has good moments, no doubt. I will also share that some days my boss is a real biatch. 

Carol Roth often says that entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone.

In fact, she was saying this even before she wrote her New York Times bestselling book, The Entrepreneur Equation. Evaluating the Realities, Risks, and Rewards of Having Your Own Business.

I have seen Carol at live events know within a minute or two whether someone has what it takes to be an entrepreneur – or not.

The test isn’t very scientific, but it’s very accurate. And it’s probably not what you would expect.

Check out this short video where Carol shares her thought process.

Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash