Devoted to small businesses and those who run them

I spotted this article over at the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle today and it piqued my interest for several reasons.  First of all, their title says a lot..."Black entrepreneurs growing in number".  According to the Census Bureau, minorities (including women and Hispanics, and none of these are mutually exclusive, by the by!) are increasingly building businesses of their own.  But you knew that, because you are a savvy small business owner who's networking within your local and state Chambers of Commerce and getting to know the ropes, right?

The second item that caught my eye might not be one that stands out to everyone though.  Read this article and you'll notice a little trend.  The first entrepreneur mentioned, Valerie Weissert, is a retired Sheriff's Deputy.  Another business builder, Bill Smith, is currently working as a juvenile corrections officer.  Both of these folks mention the ability to set their own hours and have the freedom of not being locked into a 9 to 5 job as benefits of entrepreneurship.

Some of you may have already heard about the growing number of military veterans who are taking similar risks and throwing themselves into creating something to call their own...a small-or home-based business, whether as solopreneurs or in partnership with a few other like-minded individuals.  Because of my background as the former wife of a law enforcement officer, I've spotted police and firefighters who are following a similar trend. 

Is it because they are so accustomed to shift-work that they can't imagine themselves being stuck in the "daily grind" of a standard schedule?  Or is it because they are used to assuming authority and making command decisions each day, as situations come at them?  Or do they just want to be their own boss, without having to follow someone else's chain of command and rules...are they ready to make the rules themselves?

You tell me.  Are any of you SmallBizMentor visitors veterans who are building businesses, or plan to in the future?  What are your reasons for doing so?  I'm seeing more and more numbers come through my inbox about these trends, and while we each have our own reasons, I think we can start formulating a lot more theories than the Census Bureau numbers feed us.