“I am my own boss.” That sounds pretty good, right?  No wonder so many Americans start businesses every year. Entrepreneurship provides an ideal opportunity to take control of your career, set your own schedule and pursue long-held interests or new opportunities.

Along with the pride and prestige come a number of responsibilities, among the most important of which is leadership. You’re in charge of setting the direction for your firm, inspiring employees to do their best, and coolly handling the good, the bad, and the unexpected. You can’t delegate this role to anybody, nor can you simply allow things to work themselves out. Leadership begins and ends with you, “boss.”