If you’re like a lot of entrepreneurs out there, you want to build a successful business so you can say “sayonara” to your day job. You sit in your office, or at home during your kids’ nap time, and dream of the day you can be your own boss and support your family from the comfort of your own home. While it sounds great in theory, quitting your job with a steady income to pursue your dreams is not a feasible option for many. Unfortunately, this means that the valuable time needed to build a successful business is a luxury many entrepreneurs do not have.
If this sounds like you, don’t give up! Whether you’re a teacher spending hours planning and grading, a stay-at-home mom dreaming of contributing financially to the household or working somewhere in the corporate world, it is possible to build a successful business…even when you don’t have much time.
Evaluate Your Time
Right now you may feel like all of your time is spoken for, but have you ever looked at how you really spend your time? How many times do you hit your snooze button in the morning? Or sit on the couch and scroll through social media? I bet if you took a hard look at your day, you could find a lot more free time than you think.
Being productive doesn’t have to take a ton of your time. There are ways to ensure that you stay prepared and focused when you sit down to work on your business. Put away your cell phone so you won’t be tempted to check social media or text your friend. Set a timer and dedicate that specific amount of time to complete a task. Delegate and automate as much of your business as you can. By working smarter and not harder you can accomplish so much in a short amount of time.
Learn to Plan
Being a good planner is important when running your own business, but if you already don’t have much time it’s even more critical! If you’re already spending 40 hours a week working at your day job, you have to be strategic to find another 10-20 hours to build your business.
Sit down at the beginning of each week and see what activities you have coming up. Plan your week out so that you know exactly when you can fit in time to work on your business. Pre-plan your blocks of work time and schedule them in a calendar. Electronic planners like Google Calendar are a great way to schedule out your time, or a physical planner works great if that is more your speed.
Creating to-do lists is another effective way to manage your time. Write down your top five or six priorities to complete for that day and focus on those during your budgeted block of work time. If something doesn’t get accomplished during that time, move it to the top of your list for tomorrow.
Being organized with your time will help you achieve your goals and get you that much closer to your business dreams.
Invest in Yourself
Do you know the saying “you can’t pour from an empty cup”? While it is most often used to advocate for self-care, it can be applied to building a successful business.
Now, you might be thinking, “Michele, shouldn’t I be spending all of my extra time building my business?” My answer to that is “yes!”, but investing in yourself is building your business. By improving your mental and physical health you will be better equipped to focus on your business and be more productive.
Talking to a therapist or life coach can help you resolve issues that might be distracting your brain from truly focusing on your business. Being more physically active gives you a boost of endorphins as well as improves focus and mental clarity (all are essential for creativity and productivity!). Running your own business can be exhausting work, so investing in your mental and physical health is non-negotiable!
Check Your Attitude
While being able to finally quit your day job is great motivation to build your business, don’t let your boss babe dreams spoil your attitude about your current job or situation in life.
The bottom line is, if you are miserable all day, you won’t be motivated to work hard to build a successful business in your free time. Learn to find the positives in your day and be thankful for them. Maybe you enjoy your coworkers. Maybe you get a generous amount of time for a lunch break. Whatever your job is, there is always something positive. Take some time to practice gratitude and I promise it will change your attitude.
The road may be long and hard, but it’s not impossible. Keep grinding and chasing your dreams. The world needs more boss babes like you!
If you want to see how I can help you reach your business goals and build a successful business even if you’re busy, contact me!
