By Owning a Business, Are We Really Our Own Boss? Here’s What Economics Tells Us

We often hear people proudly say, “I’m my own boss.” It sounds empowering freedom from managers, schedules, and workplace rules. But if we look deeper, economics shows a different perspective.

Freedom vs True Independence

In a job, your manager sets expectations, monitors performance, and controls your pay. Your accountability is clear. Transitioning to your own business removes this direct oversight you decide when and how to work. At first glance, it seems like true independence.
But here’s the twist: in business, your freedom is immediately constrained by your customers. They become your direct “boss” in a sense. Their satisfaction determines your revenue, reputation, and survival. Miss their expectations, and consequences follow.

A Thought Experiment

Imagine a world with only one person (you). Who would buy your product? Who would pay you? Even the most “independent” entrepreneur depends on other people, markets, and systems. Absolute independence, in any real-world economic context, is impossible.

What Economics Tells Us

Whether you work a job or run a business:

• Job: your manager is your boss
• Business: your consumers are your boss

Society/market: everyone is connected through interdependent systems
Economics teaches us that no one truly acts in isolation. Every action is linked, and collective decisions shape markets and societies. Freedom doesn’t mean independence; it means understanding and navigating this web of dependencies.
The Takeaway
Being “your own boss” is about control over your workflow, not complete independence. True power comes from mastering relationships, dependencies, and incentives whether it’s a manager, a consumer, or the broader market.