If you’re not ready to take the leap and quit your current
job to run your own business full-time, you can still enjoy entrepreneurship on
a part-time basis while maintaining the security of being an employee with an
income. But, to do this, you need to keep the following points in mind:
Say Goodbye to Personal Time
Having a full-time job and a part-time business leaves very
little time for yourself. You’ll need to make sure you can handle putting most
of your time an effort into work and this will mean you’ll probably have to
skip out on vacations or even spending a relaxing weekend with friends and
family! But that doesn’t mean you’re cut off from the rest of the world – just plan
your down time wisely. But there’s always an upside. Get your friends and
family involved in the business by giving them tasks based on their skills.
This gives you the benefit of “free” help for your business while spending time
with those you love.
Don’t Let it Interfere With Other Responsibilities
It’s important to keep your two jobs separate and not let
them overlap too much. Don’t risk losing your current job by working on your
side project during work hours. Try to keep your mind on the job at hand and
leave your business to off-hours. This may mean that phone calls and emails
have to go unanswered until after 5. Keep yourself disciplined by scheduling blocks
of time to complete your own business tasks in the off-hours to keep your mind
on your job when you’re at work.
Use Technology Wisely
There are so many websites out there to make life easier for
the small business owner. Whether it be setting up e-commerce on Etsy or
Shopify, building a custom website through SquareSpace, or getting payment
processing on Square, all of this can be done on your own for a lot less than
it would cost to hire a professional. Do some research online to find software
to help you manage your business. It may take a bit more time to set up, but it
will save you money in the long run and will be much easier to maintain over
time.
Be Patient!
Anything part-time is going to take a little longer. But be
patient – it won’t always be part-time! Count yourself lucky to have a source
of income as you work towards your goal of being a full-time entrepreneur and
use this goal as a motivator to work hard during your spare time to achieve
your goals. The harder you work in the early stages, the better the pay off
will be in the end!
