Training to be an Entrepreneur While You're In a Nine-to-Five Job
Aug 09, 2021
Most entrepreneurs I know didn’t choose to be entrepreneurs. They were born with a certain something, a spark, that pushed them to step outside the box and try hard for a life that was different from what they saw around them. This is true of my life, and I’d venture to guess that it's probably true of yours too. Just like not everyone is meant to be a professional artist or a major league baseball player, not everyone is meant to be an entrepreneur.
The problem is, most of us aren’t in the position to be able to take the kinds of risks necessary to go out on our own. We have families and financial responsibilities that need to be considered. This isn’t to say that you’ll never get the chance to fulfill your entrepreneurial dreams, but that it may not happen as quickly as you’d hoped it would.
If you find yourself sitting in a 9-5 job, wishing you were running your own company, you’re actually in the perfect position. You have all the security of a dependable schedule and regular paycheck, plus plenty of opportunities to learn critical skills that will help you become a successful entrepreneur. So, before you get frustrated with your station in life, here are some things I think you should do now to prepare you for the next phase of your life.
Be Inquisitive
The most successful entrepreneurs that I know are passionate about learning. Often, we wrongly attribute learning to people who are new in a career. You have to learn how to be an accountant or a landscaper just to get started in a career. But that’s not where learning ends. As an entrepreneur, you will be learning something new at every step of your journey. Why not start learning now? In addition to learning how to do your job excellently, take the time to learn how to do all the important roles around you. The more you know about how a business runs, the better prepared you’ll be to run your own.
Save Your Money
Most people don’t like to spend time thinking about this, but the reality is, starting a business costs money. Outside of the money required to buy inventory, market your business, and hire employees. Not to mention paying taxes, rent, and the money needed to keep food on the table. The more money you have saved up, the better financial position you and your company will be in and the more freedom you’ll have. If it's possible, don’t quit your day job.
Find A Mentor
There is no better place to find business leaders than working in a business. Having the right mentors in your life will make the difference between your success and simply getting by. Today, while you’re still feeling miles away from starting your own business, find the people who are living the life you want and befriend them.
No one becomes a successful business owner in a vacuum. We need trusted advisors, peers who challenge us, and the support of a community. When I started my company I didn’t have any other option. I was a single mother with a gaggle of children and no job. I would have loved the freedom provided by a steady job or the freedom of more money in savings. So I tell all of this to you because when I have the opportunity to start new projects I’m always more prepared than I was the first time, over a decade ago. And if you’re looking for a mentor, you’ve come to the right place. Contact me anytime for information about coaching opportunities.
