Understand what having (or keeping) a job means for building your business - and what it doesn’t
A few weeks ago, I was talking to a colleague. She wasn’t feeling very well at all. She’d been working at her business non-stop for months, and she felt nothing was going anywhere. She was doing everything she knew how to do, and, unfortunately, funds were so low at that point she couldn’t afford to get paid help.
She felt frustrated and so, so sad.
After sharing much empathy and witnessing, I asked if, perhaps, she could find work to support her for the time being.
She paused, sighed, and in a tearful voice said she didn’t want to give up on her coaching business. She loved it so much. She felt deeply called to it.
They’re Not Mutually Exclusive
Then, I asked “But does getting a job have to mean you’re giving up on your business?”
She sat quiet for a minute. A little stunned, I think. And then chuckled.
She realized she believed that getting a job was giving up on her business. It meant failure. Not just failure, but abject failure. It meant she couldn’t do it. It was all over. Her dreams, her hopes, her aspirations. All of it - kaput.
In that moment, she realized her mind had done one of the mind’s favorite tricks - ‘all or nothing’ thinking. It was either spend every waking minute building this coaching, healing or creative business OR get a job.
One or the other.
Maybe you’ve been here?
(NOTE: if you’re in a little different situation, for example, and still find yourself doing your ‘day job’ but wondering if it’s time to quit and jump in full time to your coaching, healing, or creative business, read on. What I have to say below will also apply)
The culture has such a narrow idea of what being a successful business owner looks and feels like. There’s one model out there, and if you’re not there, it’s easy to believe that being anything other than that means you’ve failed.
But it’s simply not true. Getting a job (or keeping the one you have) to support yourself doesn’t mean you can’t also be growing and developing your business.
There are many, many people who are out there building businesses while they work other jobs. Many friends, clients, and colleagues I know are in this situation. The reasons they may be doing so are varied. First and foremost, it takes time to build a business. They recognize that and want to be able to meet their financial needs without crushing themselves or putting their wellbeing at risk.
Or perhaps they recognize that putting undue financial pressure on any creative activity leads to constriction and can hamper true creative freedom.
They could also love their job, be the sole provider for their family, have limited savings built up.
In short, a myriad of different reasons.
What it Might Mean Instead
If you find yourself needing to get a job, first it’s important to know that it has nothing to do with either your innate ability to be a coach, healer or other creative entrepreneur or your ability to learn how to build and market a successful business.
What getting a job could mean, though, that you have less time during any given week to devote to your business. And that could mean going a little slower, managing your energy and remaining open to finding creative times to work on your business.
And it most surely will mean you have less immediate financial pressure on building and developing your business, opening you up to more creative thinking and doing as you work on your business.
Moving Forward
If you’re facing this situation, here are a few things to do.
Know Where You and Your Business Stand Financially
It’s important to take a good look at your finances. I know this sounds obvious, and sometimes this is harder to do if it’s been wrapped up in emotion. At the most basic, know the bottom-line number you need to make to just get by. This includes all the expenses you have on an ongoing basis for your business plus the money you need to pay to live.
Then, take a realistic assessment of what you’re bringing in in the business. It might not be much now, and that’s ok. Write it all down. Be sure to include any and all income sources and liquid savings.
This includes all the expenses you have on an ongoing basis for your business, plus your living expenses.
Get Quiet and Ask for Guidance
Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and ground into your body. Settle in, especially if you’ve been running all morning or have just hung up from a meeting or class. Then ask to be shown your next step as it relates to your financial situation.
Here, really listen. It may take time to settle in and quiet the other voices rattling in your head. That’s fine, take your time.
Plan Your Next Few (Small) Steps
If you’re shown that getting some type of supplemental income would be helpful, jot down some next steps there. Make sure you keep them very small and very doable.
You can also help your mind feel better by taking an initial guess of how much time you’ll have for business building during week. Then you can work out or get some help assessing your priorities to building your business. Getting your marketing foundation in place up front is crucial. Once that’s clear, you’ll be able to build effective offers, a clear web presence, compelling content, and a connection strategy to help market and grow your business.
If you’ve been finding yourself worried about your financial situation, feeling constricted around building your business and marketing in a way that feels good to you, know that this is something that many people face starting off, and some people encounter even if they’ve been at it for a while.
Getting a job (or keeping the one you have) and growing your business are not mutually exclusive activities. They can be done together. Your first step is getting clear and real on your business and finances.
Then, taking time to get quiet and ask for guidance. If the next step is finding additional paid work, plan a few small next steps around your business building as you shift gears temporarily.