I Want To Be an Entrepreneur...But I’m Stuck in a 9-5 Job. Help!

Many people are not cut out for the 9-5 job life. Sadly, many of those same people are in fact stuck in 9-5 job situations.

?So, how to get unstuck?

?Some people take the leap and just leave their 9-5 and jump head-first into the entrepreneur life, without any plans, goals, strategies or end-games. While that works for some, the majority who embark blindly into the realm of entrepreneurship end up with a scarlet letter on their foreheads, in this case, I am referring to the letter U, which stands for Unemployed. Sadly, being unemployed often leads to being Unproductive and Unemployable which often leads to – or perhaps is the result of - feelings of dejection, inadequateness, low self-esteem.

This vicious cycle – which I have seen too many otherwise intelligent, capable, skilled people get caught up in – usually, could have been avoided if they had bridged their leap from 9-5ness to Entrepreneur Island with a little less blind faith and a little more realistic planning.

How? Well, Read on.

?Stop Dreaming…Start Goaling

?Yes, a goal without a plan is just a dream. The sad thing about dreams is that they are just dreams. Once reality hits, they disappear. However, if instead of undefined dreams, you have defined goals, with a plan to get there, that’s a whole different story! Make your goals, define your goals, plan for your goals, focus on your goals, and you will have a realistic chance of actually accomplishing and surpassing your goals.

?Once your goals are articulated clearly – preferably on paper, ideally in the form of a business plan – then you can fine-tune them and make sure you reach your objectives the way you want, in the time-frame that you want with the results that you want.

?Many entrepreneur-wannabes start their goal process while still holding on to their 9-5 situations, and balance the both of them for a while, and that is perfectly OK, and may even be a smart idea to ensure a steady revenue stream while you tinker with your entrepreneurial objectives. Some people cannot let go of the comfort of a paycheck while they build their own empire, and that’s perfectly understandable and acceptable for a while, though at some point you will have to let go of the 9-5 life-boat and dive deep into the be-your-own-boss sea. Yes, sacrifices are part and parcel of entrepreneurship. If you don’t have the stomach for hard decisions, you may not be cut out for anything but a 9-5 life sentence.

?Don’t Abandon Ship Prematurely

If indeed you are holding on to your day job while you formulate your own business plan, do not ignore your responsibilities to either of them. If you made the tough decision to straddle your current situation while you invest in your future situation, you have to tough it out and be the best you can be on both ends. It will be difficult and may cause you to lose sleep, lose vacations and sacrifice on personal time, but it is what you must do. You must be disciplined, focused and give everything you do your all. Why? Because that’s what successful entrepreneurs do, and what better way for you to prove – to yourself mostly – that you have what it takes to get it done, than to get it done.

?From a practical perspective as well, if you abandon your 9-5 duties before you are ready to pull the plug on it permanently, they may pull the plug on it for you…and that is not something you want.

?The Three P’s to keep in mind

?While I am a big fan of entrepreneurship, and believe that for many people owning their own business, having the flexibility to set their own hours – and their own rules – is the way to go, choosing a path just for the sake of doing so, without giving thought to the business that is right for you, may end up being a mistake and develop more problems than it was meant to solve.

?Whatever you choose to do, make sure you have a Passion for that path. Make sure you have a Plan for that path. Make sure you have the right Personality for that path.

?If you have the three aforementioned Ps you will all-but certainly succeed, with Hashem’s help, of course.

If your Plan is solid, your potential clients will know you; if your Personality is agreeable to your chosen path, your potential clients will like you; if your Passion for your business is genuine, your potential clients will trust you. And as with every business, once the Know/Like/Trust factor is pointed in your favor, success is in your hand.

Have something to say about this topic? Join the conversation. Leave a comment in the comment section below!