A lot of people I think out there over time have thought that setting up a business probably one that endures is the ideal way forward in life. However over time analysing this situation I am not so sure. Experiences may vary and it may vary according to the types of people and business involved. However I have noticed some issues those wanting a business lifestyle:
1). If it becomes a family business sometimes the children can become very lazy, self entitled, do little work, pretentious, etc. So if the business does well enough sometimes they can end up as hangers on, the business provides for them but they do only superficial work at best in that business. Bad attitudes can flourish in such a situation I think here and children that become very lazy even stupid as a result of everything being provided for them can lead them to nowhere any good I think.
2). The guy can often end up carrying the full weight of the business. Linked to the above where the family sit back and mooch off his efforts. Often though the guy may even become disconnected from his family by putting in all hours under the sun, effort, etc and this isn't always recognised or thought upon well by his family. So a case of one man pulling a heavy load while his family sit around and don't do a lot.
3). A lot of businesses are prone to failure over the long haul. Not many businesses survive log term especially small businesses, family businesses, etc. Usually changes in the market, in society, in technology, etc and the ups and downs of economic cycles intervenes to make once viable businesses unviable. Business failure is almost always a bad economic fallout for anyone, so is it really a good idea to start in the first place?
There are possibly other reasons running a business may not be a good idea but I think those are the main ones I have seen off hand. I was viewing my You Tube feed the other day and some video came up about throwing in the 9-5 and going self employed. I didn't watch it, may do sometime but I just kind of get the impression that some people think with overly rosy specs about going self employed/starting a business, it may sound like a great idea from existing as an employee in the workplace but in reality it's often not all the easy to pull it off. Even working as a tradesman you have to get equipped, put in investment, learn your trade, do the work of your trade, promote your business, get in business and do the accounts afterwards, etc. There are other businesses that can be done but the above issues can come into play.
While I think there can be good self employment options out there I think in particular starting and running a business may not be always as good an idea as it may at first seem to the casual onlooker.
Comment as you like on this I just thought it may be an interesting thing to turn over in the mind. I often thought when younger as many people do that starting and running a business can lead to success and happiness, in more recent years with the benefit of experience over the years I am not so sure. Fir done people they may get off on running a business if becomes their baby, their project to bring to fruition, but generally I am not so sure that it's a good idea. Many may think having a wife and children involved in a family business is a good idea but I think this rarely turns out to be a good thing, a nice dream but one that may not turn out so well.