Can't Serve Two Masters...

Welcome to the QuickBooks Community, @Mr_Haberdash. It's really great to *meet* you! You're talking about something really important and very difficult for many of us. I wasn't able to find a job that fit the work I wanted to be doing. So I kept a part-time regular job doing something related while I built my own business from a part-time endeavour to full-time. I hear what you're saying about putting in part-time hours and how that can translate to mere part-time results. Since my business is built around being a service provider, maybe that piece has been a bit different for me than a high-end men's apparel business!

 @cruberti, @jessbru99568, @lynda11_2, @Adam_Fenner, @201097, @195937, @jmisunas, @201192 -- what do you think?

Here's an article about when, whether and how to make this transition. Hope it's helpful!

When Should You Quit Your 9-5 and Focus On Your Side Gig 24/7?

Hi Mr. Haberdash.

There seems to be a couple of things here.  First, the potential conflict of interest. And second the way doing both is *feeling*... especially when comparing one to the other.

On the first point, of course this is a problem.  However, if you handle it the right way it needn't be.  I know plenty of entrepreneurs whose first clients were their former employers!  That being said, there are plenty of things related to your business that you can work on and work out while being employed somewhere else that wouldn't be construed as a conflict of interest.  Rather than spending time doing exactly what you are now paid by someone else to do, you could spend more time on the logistics of your business... all the little things that make up the 24/7 job of being a business owner.

On the second, it is VERY easy for the new thing, the thing that is yours, to seem completely ideal.  You may feel uninspired at the full-time gig because frankly all your creativity is being siphoned off somewhere else!  I'm not suggesting that you stay in the full-time gig forever.  All I am saying is that it is extremely easy for something like a new business to feel very fun when compared with the full-time job -- because you don't have to deal with all the little things on the new business yet.  It's mostly all fun stuff.

I don't mean this comparison as offensive in any way, but it's like you're having an affair with your business.  It seems really great and easy and inspired because up to now there is no pressure or committment.  When you marry it it will be harder.  But it will also be more rewarding!

So when do you propose?  (Edited:  I totally should have read the article Shana linked to, because it is way better than these following words... let's just assume this is all a REALLY long way of saying "I agree"  or "Yeah, what *she* said")  :)

Save up for the ring:  Set a target amount you would like to go into your business with as a cushion, then set about earning it from your full-time gig.  Give yourself a strict time limit of 1 year to 18 months.  Make the amount a stretch to acheive.  It will breathe new life into your time at the full time gig.  The work will have new purpose.  

Learn about what its like:  During this time, learn absolutely all you can about how to do the day to day business itself.  Make this time all about the fundamentals of your business.  The foundation.  What can you learn from your full-time gig about this?  Also, to keep things kosher, I would begin to distance myself from anything that might be construed in any way as gearing up to poach customers or clients.

Tell the Family:  Only you can decide when is the right time to tell others about your plans to jump.  Especially when it comes to your employer.  Be prepared to be shown the door.  But try to pick the time that allow you to prove your loyalty to them as you leave.  If you think it might be possible to continue your working relationship with them as a client or referral partner, this choice is even more crucial.

Believe it or not, once you set a deadline to leave, and committ to it by telling others, you will almost instantaneously feel that it is in no way enough time to do everything you need to do.  This is a good thing.  Embrace it.  And then run like the dickens to meet that deadline.

It is during this time that you will find out if you *really* like your business.  Or if it was just fun because it was still just a part-time thing.

Good luck!

*kristen

I can sympathize with you because I would love to quit my full-time job and just focus on my business, but it's just not possible. I try to keep my perspective very simple when it comes to this dilemma so that it becomes less of an irritation to me. It's easy to get pissed and annoyed at having to "go to work" but this is my train of thought that keeps me going:

1) I try to be very focused when I'm actually at work (my day job) so that I feel that I am doing a good job for the place that is supporting me and allowing me to work on my own business. Keeping this focus helps to keep me positive.

2) I remind myself that I am actually working two full-time jobs and it's supposed to be hard and it's supposed to take time. Getting up early and staying up late to work on the business is part of the deal.

3) I take off 2 days a month, unpaid, to focus on my business. I tag these to a weekend so it is 4 days that are totally devoted to the business. This has been EXTREMELY helpful.

I am grateful to have a steady income while I work on my business, and I save every spare penny I can so that when I feel I'm ready to make the leap, I will have as much disposable income as possible to do it. 

Hi all,

I agree with everyone's opinions, they are all valid points, points that must be considered. 

I understand the dilemma of serving two gods. Unfortunately, for me it got to the point where I was no longer mentally involved and wanted to do anything with or for my full-time job. I was physically there but mentally my mind was not there....It was a huge discredit to the company. My focus begin to shift to my business - I was walking away from my desk to take my business calls, researching information for my clients during my FT job hours, and just not engage at all with the work at hand. I became obsessively focused on my business. I literally tried to stop. I would leave my cellphone in my car during my FT hours and just work my business on my lunch break but then I would return to work and again my mind would drift to my business. My husband and I set a date for me to resign. However, I was laid off from the company prior to the date established. 

It probably did not help that during my annual review when my manager asked me to be honest about how I felt about the position. I told her my heart was not in the company and I felt that I was not growing nor being challenged.

Someone provided me with an odd analogy but in the moment it made sense to me -being I am a mother of two. The individaul stated that when you are filled with purpose you are carrying a miracle, a gift, and once you have conceived that miracle/gift you have to birth it. Now, you can either have a natural traditional birth and allow it to take place or you will have a cesaran, because the gift that you conceived MUST be birthed. One cannot carry this gift/miracle forever. The world IS IN need of what you carry.

Continue to work your purpose and your FT. The opportunity to go FT in your business will present  itself, just be ready to ride that wild bull with all YOU GOT!