Should you get a regular 9-5 job working no more than 8 hours a day while you're trying to build a business, or get a better job as a product manager or management consultant?
The former almost always has no career progression, while the latter is a good backup option in case business fails, as there is still a career progression path and the job in consulting pays a lot better. The customer service job would be purely for money to survive at a good company, while the consulting/design job would be at a good company and would involve more working hours. What's the right way to go?
If you're willing to simply get by while you work on your dream, look for an opportunity to get paid to work on that dream.
Look around. There are jobs that are incredibly boring and even afford the chance to read while you're on the job. That would be a great time for research, catching up on emails, etc
Night watchmen, late night store clerk, overnight hotel front desk person. You see these roles all the time and hardly notice.
Good luck
David C Barnett
I've been bootstrapping my own startup for about 12 months. IMO if you take a day job, you're sufficiently distracted to fail. I'm not sure how far down the entrepreneur path you are, but you'll realise that launching your own startup will take every hour you have. You'll work harder than ever - and you'll want to, because this is your idea. I sounds like you have accrued some skill and knowledge, so I would recommend consulting your expertise out to others. This let's you stay in control of your time, you pick the projects. If you can work on projects that are time flexible, then even better. If you can work in an area that also ties into your startup, then you're winning. IMO your "career progression" is what you learn from the entrepreneurial experience. To succeed, you need to put in 200% and the key is to make mistakes and make them quickly. If it all doesn't work out, then you can quickly get back to looking for a good job at a good company.
I started my own conversion optimization agency over a year ago and I found out entrepreneurship takes all your time and focus.
You should be confident enough to know that you will make it, you will pay your bills and you'll launch the business. Of course, this depends a lot on your current status (I only had to provide for myself, I am 100% sure things change when you have children, for example).
The "safest" way to start is to continue working in your domain (the one you want to start your business in, I assume) and try and get one client on the side, in your spare time, without affecting your day job's performance. In the end, you have a name and that's what will help you succeed in your consulting business.
When you get that one client, you will feel much closer to your goal. You will have time to do your research and start promoting the business you are trying to build while being able to cover the bare minimum.
What I can tell you is that I started really giving it my all when I had no backup plan. Getting out of my comfort zone (as cliche as it may sound) helped a lot.
Good luck with your business!
If you are starting your own business, you likely have a significant amount of experience in your industry, or passion which is just as good. I found that a lot of skills I developed while starting new businesses are transferable and there is a demand for them in a freelance marketplace. I have been consulting on and off for pretty much my whole career, even when being neck deep in a new venture. I would suggest identifying a few skills which you can sell by offering them on part-time basis: writing, programming, SEO, creative design, etc. Utilize your network by offering your services or even use larger freelance marketplaces like UpWork. I do not think I would have been able to sustain myself without this kind of work while bootstrapping a new idea.
Here's the ONLY THING that matters to any entrepreneur: "your network is your net worth."
The cheesy saying about "it's who you know not what you know" is still around BECAUSE IT IS TRUE!
1. who is your perfect buyer?
2. where do these people hang out?
3. what is their #1 struggle & #1 dream?
4. add value - make their lives easier & ask nothing in exchange
Kind of like answering questions for free on clarity.fm ;)
Once they know, like and trust you, they'll listen and refer you to their network. Now you're in! Kind of like an undercover James Bond...
So any job that gets you closer to perfect buyers or gives you sales training is my #1 suggestion. Or a high-paying job that frees up your time so you can build your network on the side.
Gotta run and help more winners do less, better!
- Daniel
http://thedanielbennett.com
If you are an aspiring entrepreneur, there are different career paths you can take to turn your dream into a reality. Which path you choose will depend on your experience, skills, finances, and flexibility, as well as your goals for the future. Even though some entrepreneurs have become successful without spending time in a traditional workplace, many people do have solid work experience before starting their own business. That experience equips them with the skills they need to get a business off the ground and up and running.
There are jobs that will hone your entrepreneurial skills while you learn the ins and outs of running a business. There are plenty of jobs with regular schedules that give you free time to spend on your own projects. There are also jobs and gigs where you can work a flexible schedule that leaves you time to pursue your passion. It can also make financial sense to start a new venture as a side job because not all new businesses are successful.
Having an income, you can count on while you grow your own business can be a solid strategy for success. If you focus on jobs that align with your aspirations, you’ll be able to develop the skills you need either to start your own venture on a full-time basis or as a side job or gig to eventually transition into your own full-time business. The jobs that are the best fit for you will help you gain experience in the career field or industry where you want to launch your own business. These are some of the positions that will give you the general experience you need to equip yourself for going it alone.
Whether you are starting a small local firm or planning to roll out your venture on a larger scale, strong social media skills will be essential. Whether you are starting out in a management training program or have moved up the career ladder, working in management will give you the leadership, people, and communications experience you will need to be successful. There are jobs where you do not have to bring the job home with you or work extra hours. If you are willing to dedicate after-hours time to your new venture, you will have the free time you need to get your business started.
Besides if you do have any questions give me a call: https://clarity.fm/joy-brotonath
