You don’t need freedom!
Have you been told to quit your 9–5 and start a business?
Seeing the gurus flaunt their wealth and urging you to leave that job can be tempting! Well, I’m telling you not to because John from Communication is in love with you????. Just kidding!
But I’m serious when I say you shouldn’t leave your 9–5. That paycheck you get every month is still keeping you afloat, isn’t it? Then, don’t jump right out of that security all in the name of freedom.
Doing that will get you stuck eating instant ramen for the next year.
And believe me, the only place your finances will head to is down below. That guru’s course isn’t enough validation to leap. All they’ll do is empty your wallet and leave you in the cold streets of the business world.
I’m not saying that entrepreneurship is bad. I’m saying that you should confirm that you’ll land on solid ground rather than an illusion. I jumped and broke my arm (true story).
Here is how you prepare your landing into entrepreneurship with financial security.
Remember, don’t get that $1000 course. You’ll regret it.
1. Clarify goals and plan
Clarity is the first step in any business. — AdexImpact
The 10/90 rule states that the 10% of time you spend planning accounts for 90% of the value of the entire process. While others are getting a head start into nothingness, sit and think because you’re different. Find out what your trophy is and begin building upon it.
Business isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon.
The average Joe thinks goal setting and planning are limited to knowing your aim. I must warn you, it’s not so simple. This is what separates the successful from the failures.
Hear me out. Your plan can’t simply be to make $1000 a month from side hustles. That is a statement, not a plan.
A plan has elements of path clarity in it. Ask yourself:
a. What route do I want to take?
b. How hard would I have to work for this goal?
c. Is my effort tied to time or can I automate?
d. What skills would I need?
e. How will I measure success?
f. What is my deadline?
The last question here is one of the most important ones. Set a deadline and work in regards to it. A goal without a deadline is simply a wish.
2. Break it down into actionable steps
Have you built your castles in the air? Build a foundation underneath it.
Goals may seem impossible until you break them down.
Those heights by great men;
Won and kept, were not achieved by sudden flight;
But they, while their companions slept,
Were toiling upwards in the night. — Longfellow.
You can accomplish any goal by breaking it into smaller achievable parts. For you, the goal is to earn amounts to keep afloat from side hustles. Here are some questions to help you break down your goals.
a. How often can I work on my goal?
b. What steps should I take daily to achieve my goal?
c. What can I do right now to contribute to my goal?
Answer these questions sincerely and write your answers securely. Using the clarity compass is an easier way to set goals and break them down.
3. Outline your 20%
As all fingers aren’t equal, all tasks don’t have the same impact.
Think of your goal as eating chicken at KFC because you’re hungry. The ranch or any sauce helps make the food sweet but doesn’t contribute much to satisfying your hunger. Your chicken is the star of the show and the ranch is backup.
This same situation applies to entrepreneurs and businesses. Not everything you do will bring you closer to your goal. Some tasks are supporters and others are leads.
Your 20% are those tasks that have a higher impact on your goals than others. They are the chicken of your KFC meal.
Here is how you outline them. Ask yourself: If I asked a customer (of your side hustle product) what my job is, what would they say?
This prompt helps you reflect on what exactly your side hustle is about. For example, a customer of mine would say I create digital products and sell them. This points to creating the products and selling them as the main activities. Sure, building a profile and optimizing my bio may help achieve this goal. But creating and selling are the main points.
I won’t go into detail about how to find your 20% else, this article won’t end. There are many prompts for this already prepared in the clarity compass. Check it out later.
4. Create time to do that 20% alongside your job
When has knowing anything been enough? After knowing your high-impact tasks, you need to squeeze time for them into your schedule.
First, you could try waking up early or sleeping late.
I advise you to wake up early rather than sleep late so your work productivity is not affected. If you wake up at 7 am normally, start waking up at 5 am you’ll get 2 more hours for your hustle.
Another way is cutting out social media.
The average human today spends at least 3 hours on social media daily. I advise you to delete that app.
Don’t think about putting a restriction or time limit.
You’ll simply bypass it every time. I’ve tried and it never works.
If you’re saying; what about my business, I need social media for it.
Well, there is always a website. Access your social media platforms from the web.
Difficulties like this help curb bad habits.
5. Be resilient
It is very easy to give up after a month or two of not seeing results. I’ve been there before.
Entering the business world was hectic for me. I would leap from one business to the other because I lacked resilience. Don’t be like me.
Even as you put in effort, make the resolve to never give up until you taste success.
Remember, success is always one step further from the point you’re ready to quit. Keep taking the next step and keep pushing until you see results.
6. Keep re-strategizing
Your plan can never achieve success on first try. As you put in effort, you’ll begin to see loopholes in your plan caused by a lack of knowledge or experience. Nobody is born a success — You make yourself one.
In the face of failure, create another plan and repeat the next steps.
Keep doing this over and over again till you have solid ground and can make that leap.
Making that pivot can be very exhausting both financially and mentally. As a result, you need to take it slowly. Above, you have all you need to build your flooring. Make sure to create a plan, break it down, highlight your high-impact tasks and make time for them, adopt resilience and, re-strategize in the face of failure.
Happy entrepreneurship brethren. ????
Before you go, remember, don’t buy that course. Cup ramen for breakfast and dinner isn’t the life you want.