I think there are many differences between being an employee in a large organization and being actively-involved in running a small business.

Of course, many large organizations are businesses themselves, but there’s a difference in the way the people behave in the two scenarios.

1) Here’s one:

When you’re working in a large organization…

Somehow or rather, things will get done, by hook or by crook. Let’s say the “up there” wants certain things to be created/completed/attained/achieved/fulfilled, you may gripe and curse and complain under your collective breaths, but at the end of the day, the miracle is that things will get done. It may be done by you, or it may be done by someone else. The bottomline is that things will get done.

However, when you’re actively-involved in running a small business…

Absolutely nothing ever gets done unless you yourself get up from your seat and do it. That’s the reality. It’s all up to you to make everything and anything happen. Otherwise nothing happens at all.

2) Here’s another one:

When you’re working in a large organization…

You’re focussed on pleasing the ones “up there”, i.e. your immediate boss. The boss controls your welfare, writes your appraisal, and determines your annual bonus & increment. Hence, the number one priority is to please your boss.

However, when you’re actively-invovled in running a small business…

You’re focussed on pleasing the ones “out there”, i.e. your customers. The customers give you the business, determine how much revenue (and of course, profit) you make, and ultimately determine the fate of your business. Hence, the number one priority is to please your customers.