Can You Run a Business and Work full-time?

Working while trying to build the big empire that you are envisioning is not for the faint-hearted.  On the time management side of things is very important to find enough time to work on your business after "working"  for the whole day. It is very much possible to grow and create a successful business on the side, many have done it before and you can do it too.

The Struggle

Because you are working a full-time job but want to start a business on the side, the first encounter most people encounter is making time to get started. Most people choose the use their evenings and weekends sacrificing night outs and meeting with friends. Others choose to go part-time and some even quit their jobs altogether. Depending on your personal circumstances, you need to think about what is best for you.

If you have no savings to fall back on or no revenue to start your business, I would advise to keep working and start drafting your business on evening and weekend. If you think that you can cut down on your hours and still manage to keep on top of your bills and working 3 days rather than 5 can help you a great deal.

Others who quit their job completely either have enough savings to keep them going whilst the business is at the startup stage, a partner who is working full time and can take care of you and the home or are simply (crazy) risk-takers who have the strongest of beliefs in their business.

Why It’s Possible

First of all, you need to realise that it will take time, but it is possible. Starting a business on the side is possible. The growth will be slower but it is possible. If you were working in it full time the return on investment will be quicker, as you are doing it on the side, growth will be done in chunks when you make time for it.

The advantage is of working part-time on your business, some will say is less risky. If the business fails, you still have your job to fall back onto and keep you going whilst you change, refine or rebrand your idea. The other advantage of this is that failure is not an option. You will fail at something or at everything, there are no 2 ways about that in business. It will give you time to define your ideas in a way that will make it such a good product/brand that when you are ready to leave your job.

It Has Been Done Before

Some of the biggest brands out there started as side businesses and are turning over millions a year. Regardless of where you want to take your business global or want to keep it local plenty of people started small including Instagram, Hubspot, Etsy, Apple (Yes, The Apple) and Groupon. The point that I am trying to make is products, brand and services that you use everyday all started a small businesses, small ideas that have grown and yours can do to from your side hustle.

How to Build a Successful Side Business

Focus

Since your time, resources and energy are limited, it's a really good idea to focus. Too many people, when they start out, have a bunch of ideas for products and services they would like to sell.  You need to become exceptional at finding what works for you and your business and really honing in on that and mastering that craft. People and the internet will throw ideas and (horror) stories at you with what works, what doesn't and how your business will benefit from it. Listen to everything but take it with a pinch of salt, make sure that those ideas work for you.

Work Small, Think Big

It's going to be all about taking baby steps at first for your business. You need to have patience and understand that success doesn't and won't happen overnight. No matter how good your idea is. Because you’ll be working on the business in chunks, and you usually won't have the opportunity to work on it all day like a full-time entrepreneur. But a slow and steady growth that is consistent is all you need to be successful and much better than no growth at all.

Schedule Everything

You have a limited time scale to work on your business compared to others. Scheduling your business activities so that you not only get work done but also keep yourself accountable. In a past post, I spoke about routine. Creating a routine that you follow daily can help you make sure that you work on the things you actually wanna work on. It is OK to be selfish with your time now if you know that it is going to pay off later.

Starting a business is a struggle and a battle for time and energy. However, if you know that your business idea is worth it and has the most potential to succeed, do not hold back on getting started. If it is important to you, you will make the time (step away from the TV) to work on your business and hopefully make it full time.

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