Am I holding myself back or just being sensible?
"If you are not willing to risk the usual, you will have to settle for the ordinary" - Jim Rohn
I don't want to settle for the ordinary, but I find myself quite conflicted in how to move forward.
You see I am only new to being an online entrepenuer, I have learnt much since starting at WA but I know I still have so much further to go.
I am like a sponge, hungry to soak up all there is to know, to be better, to increase my skills and knowledge, to some how prove that I have the drive and talent to make it in this buisness.
I have a good start on a niche site, which is growing steadily and I am sure will become profitable in time. It is my baby and the niche is my passion, I want this to become an authority site and I am comitted to achieving this.
I see so much training here at WA that I NEED to put into practice. So much I could/should be doing to improve my site and to increase the chances of it becoming profitable.
Ramping up social media engagement, influencer targetting, starting outreach, using Canva better, writing an e-book, creating on-line training courses - oh the list goes on ....
I also want to start a web design business building sites for local small businesses. I believe I could do well in this area, and that it could grow quickly to become a full-time income (and maybe more) and allow me to realise my dream of working for myself, and give up the 9-5 day job.
What would a "real" entrepeneur do?
It's currently a balancing act between having enough time to commit to growing my affiliate site
and trying to start a web design business AND going to work full-time to keep enough money coming in to pay the bills.
Time is money! And I feel like I am wasting time that could be spent growing my dream.
I am sure "real" entrepenuers would back themselves, quit their day job today and give 110% to their dream, but I can't bring myself to even seriously consider doing this.
My logical, common sense self prevails and says "you can't give up a perfectly good, well paying job on a maybe".
So am I comitting myself to be small? To be ordinary?
Is it just too early for me to really make a go of my own web design business? Am I biting off more than I can chew by even considering trying to make it work as a part-time gig?
So many questions, so few answers and so the conflict continues! I know no one else can make the decision for me but any advice, from those who are balancing "gainful employment" and building up their online business at the same time, would be most welcome.
I know it is after all my decision and my life, but thanks for giving me an ear to talk too, and perhaps a shoulder to cry on if I need it later.
Recent Comments
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Your struggle is mine, currently. The difference is that I am semi-retired with next to no retirement income. So, to pay the bills I have an executive leadership gig that brings in very little but keeps me afloat. So, I have no choice but to build my online business.
I wish you all success.
Forever Grateful
Mojalefa.
I love Jim Rohn's material!
Keep working at it and when the time comes you will then be able to quit your job.
I am self employed and affiliate marketing is another income stream I continue to grow. I used WA to grow my business as well as affiliate marketing. MSI's are where it's at according to Bob Proctor.
Hang in there!
What are MSI's Howard?
Do you remember the kids game "Barrel of Monkeys" your comment about hang in there just reminded me how much I use to love playing that game LOL.
The quote is a beauty I think, struck a cord for me anyway.
I feel quite sure the time will come, I am not usually a temperamental person so I've taken a deep breath and feel like I have come to grips with my current situation (for now at least).
Thanks for the reply.
The very fact that you are asking these questions and are in this situation shows you will never be ordinary! I don't know the details of your life but, in my opinion, being stressed about finances can sabotage any entrepreneur efforts. Maybe set a goal that when you have enough money saved for 6 months, you can switch paths. You'll know when it feels right.
Debbie
I look forward to the day when it does in fact feel like the right time Debbie, until then we power on and give it our all.
Thank you for the thoughtful reply, it is appreciated.
You've got a lot on your plate....but after all, women are great jugglers, up to a point! That wouldn't be your fault, it's just the time factor.
At one time I left a good job and "I jumped off the cliff with both feet" and started a business - Kids Kab/Kids on the Go LLC. I gave it everything - cashed in my IRA and another retirement fund to get vehicles, hired drivers, got background checks, sold the idea to schools districts that recommended us to parents, developed a scheduling program specific to the business.....it never ended, but the kids and their parents were great! It was tough with NYS and DOT rules regulations and expenses. We lasted for 6 years( I had no support from my ex-husband - reason 1246 why he's an X). With him taking most of the profits because the office was in our home, things got tight even though we went from $0.00 - $80,000 net by year 2. I eventually sold it to a large School Bus Company.
I was lucky, they wanted my reputation, my vehicles and my clients.
My point being, after this long dissertation, is that without backing of the family, or a success model set in place, it got STICKY.
Here you've got systems in place, even though there are a lot, and I know I don't get it all every time, but it's there. There's all of us to help to if we can. There are lots of people who have succeeded - pick their brains.....
However, you have to follow your gut. You won't be comfortable if you don't. I went back to work before I sold Kids Kab just to try to recoup some of my X's crap, and it worked, for awhile............But it was just too many politics (yes, even with kids), insurance and the DOT were bears (That's not really what I call them - trying to keep it clean!).
I don't envy your position, I thought long and hard about starting AND stopping. You're not holding yourself back, I feel you're taking the necessary steps to get where you want to be.
You have to have a focus, and that takes time to get to.
My old company in PA told a company here about me and wants me to come in for an interview. Do I want to? Do I just add it on to WA? HOW MUCH TIME IS THERE IN A DAY? Can I do it? Do I want to?Lots of questions need to be answered before I make any changes at all. MY point?
Follow your gut to follow your dreams , but don't forget to let your common sense in there.
You'll never be small or ordinary - your you!
My best,
Laurel
Thanks for the reply Laurel, gosh sounds like you too have a lot of questions to be answered.
I have built and run a boarding kennel here in my town a few years ago, we ran it for 5 years while working full-time also. It's now under lease and we will sell the property when we get a decent offer.
So it's not like I don't know what it's like to be self-employed and to take a risk, although I did weight up the risk very objectively when we built it.
I think this will be my new motto - "Follow your gut to follow your dreams" Thanks for sharing.
Heidi,
I just met with my social worker to talk about my commitment to WA. Since I'm on disability he supports my commitment to work WA as a full-time job so I have the flexibility to schedule my counseling appointments and treatment.
I'm fortunate, because all I have is time to invest in WA. Plus I have savings to Go Yearly in June.
I do work this while my fiance works but we have discussed what i am doing. He asks me everyday what are my plans and he knows I will be in my home office at least 8 hours. His major concern is that I get sleep and exercise. I do what I can in 8 hours and then I spend time with him when he gets home.
The trick is to build a routine that is right for you and stick to it. Set goals that are realistic to accomplish.
Today is my birthday so I will be setting my goals for the following year. I'm just excited that the main part of my goals include WA.
All the best,
Louisa
Happy belated birthday - see I don't have enough time for the important things!
Good luck with your goal setting, I do like the goal setting process and need to rethink mine for the rest of the year. Funny I have goals for my horse and we stick to them but when it comes to mine it seems to be a moving feast.
Hi Heidi,
I know what you mean. It is easier to set goals that concern others than the ones you make for yourself. It takes determination when you don't have any accountability but yourself.
That why it's so important to let WA members know what your goals are so you can receive support.
All the best,
Louisa
Hi Heidi, it's hard to juggle everything, and to find as much time as you need to work on your website. Try to be patient and maybe wait till your website is earning an income, before you give up a good job. Unfortunately being confident and backing yourself doesn't pay the bills! If you can start a web design business, while working the 9 till 5 job, GO FOR IT, start small, build up over time.
Lastly you are not small or ordinary, you are a WA member. You're doing the training, you are building a strong foundation for your business and all the things you are hoping for WILL come in time.
All the best
Jenny
Being confident and backing yourself doesn't pay the bills! Ain't that the truth Jenny!
Thank you for the vote of confidence on not being small/ordinary.
It is very true that WA builds a strong foundation and I am sure it will stand me in good sted when I am running my own full-time web design business.
Hi Heidi, I have no doubt you will run your own full-time web design business one day. In the meantime, hang in there, you will be amazed at how much you can achieve, even while working full time. Good Luck.
Jenny
What a great post Heidi!
The real entrepreneur would probably go for it, but if you have the slightest doubt in your mind then why not compromise a little.
Take the bull by the horns and change your full-time hours to part-time. That will give you the extra hours to work on your own and build up your own business.
The first thing you need to do though is to believe in yourself! I wish you success on your way forward.
Derek
Thank you Derek. I do believe in myself and the process, I am just not much of a risk taker that's for sure.
I've decided to be stricter with my time, and try to be more productive with the hours I can set aside for my site until the end of the year.
I shall re-assess then.
Great post and I think you have answered the question
"I am sure "real" entrepreneurs would back themselves, quit their day job today and give 110% to their dream",
but I can't bring myself to even seriously consider doing this.
The minute you commit, which you did by going premium is exactly what a real entrepreneur would do
I really like the term "entrepreneur".
I may not be a big time entrepreneur, but in my own way I am making a go of online marketing and one day I will run with the big dogs. They all started somewhere (and I know some of them started right here at WA) so if they can do it, so can I.
Absolutely Heidy, and you have the right mentality, going off of the posts you are submitting
Yes, I agree. I am trying to juggle work/family/church/youth/health etc and it is hard. I am trying to fit time into WA and I'm not going to quit. You get good training here and support. Time is the commodity that I need to balance out along with energy. I tend to run out of energy. But, I shall pod along....There is a light at the end of the tunnel. I am determined to get there.
It is a balancing act that's for sure. I am putting other things on hold so I can make the time to keep training and posting to my site, but still there doesn't seem to be enough time to do a really good job of it.
I probably need to just hold my horses (pun intended) and be content to plod along also. It will come to us I am sure of it Rangi.
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Hi Heidi,
Just thought I'd add my two or three cents here, lol...seems you're in the same boat as I was a few years ago on whether or not to leave my full time job...it just seemed like a waste of time to be there when I wanted to get my sites going and making that money!
Like yourself, I wanted more time to work on my sites and eventually start on other paths as well, which seemed impossible to do with a 40+hour a week job. Plus, the full time job I'd had was just getting too darn stressful, and the overtime was killing me.
But, at the time, I wasn't making enough from my sites to quit. But, after a lot of planning, and crunching numbers I realized I could just go part time there and volunteer to work overtime shifts (12-16 hour shifts) since anything over 8 hours there is overtime pay.
So, once a part time job opened up in a different department where I work, I went for it! A lot of people thought I'd finally lost my marbles to just up and quit my full time job of over 12 years, but, I had a plan, lol. I knew I'd be able to make about the same amount in working 5 days instead of 10 as long as I stuck to it.
Of course, the days I worked there, I didn't get too much done on my sites, lol. But, freeing up those other days helped a lot in getting stuff done.
Now, I'm not sure what your job circumstances are, or whether or not your workplace even offers overtime or not, but maybe something similar could be an option for you...only you know what is right for you, but just thought I'd share what I did and actually still do...except for the overtime part! I only work part time now and that's usually it, lol.
Anyways, I guess this is a method of baby stepping my way out of the work place, since I'm not going to quit completely until I know I can make enough money to replace the paycheck and have about 6-9 months of savings too.
Hope that helps in some way, or gives you ideas on making a plan on what you'll do...maybe start out with just one web design client and see how it goes first, and keep track of everything you do for them and how long each task took you...that way you'll have an idea on how much time it takes for the next ones.
Just my very lengthy thoughts, LOL...do what you feel is right for your situation, you'll know when the time is right.
Best wishes :) ~Sherry
Sounds like a very sensible way to go Sherry. Unfortunately, I am in a Mon-Fri, 9 - 5 job, very limited opportunity for overtime, like you I need to earn the same amount each week as I do now.
I do have quite a bit of long service leave and have been toying with the idea of taking one or two days a week for the next 12 months. I'm a bit concerned they might realise they can do without me for those days though and I won't have a fulltime job to come back to if I need it LOL.
Not to matter I will forge ahead as is for now and see what pans out as my site develops.
Thanks for sharing, this may help others in the same boat as us.
No problem, and you're very welcome, Heidi. Yeah, the place I work can pretty much always offer overtime in my old department, which had a good side and a bad...it's another reason I left full time work there, it was just getting to be too much being mandated for overtime almost every day...I'm not that young anymore, lol!
Anyways, your idea of taking a day or two off a week might be an idea to think about for you...that's if you feel it's the right time for you to do so...but, until then, just keep doing what you can, it all adds up in time. The work I put into many of the posts on my first niche site was done a little at a time when I was just starting out here and working the crazy full time schedule I had back then and those posts are still paying off now...so just keep at it, you can do it!
Best wishes :) ~Sherry