January 27, 2016

HOW TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR WITHOUT QUITTING YOUR DAY JOB

Ignore the noise. Don't quit your job prematurely.
how to be an entrepreneur without quitting your day job

I’ve told you my story about how I quit my job as an auditor for one of the Big Four professional services firms, you can read here and here.

To keep it all the way real, I was only able to quit when I did because at 22, I had limited financial responsibilities. I also had the added comfort of parental support which meant that I would never really hit rock bottom even if things didn’t go as planned.

Getting caught up in the ‘chase your dreams’ and ‘decade of the entrepreneur’ hype, can lead to irresponsible decisions. As frustrating and upsetting as it can be to show up everyday to a job that you know in your heart is not for you, especially when you know what is for you, it is character building and your time there will have benefited you when you come round to eventually jumping ship.

The discipline it takes to deliver great results even when you aren’t fully invested in your job, will make you a more successful entrepreneur. I don’t really buy into the whole ‘I’m not a 9 to 5 person’ thing. I mean, it is valid, but only to an extent. Because when you become an entrepreneur, you will sometimes work round the clock and your job will most likely involve some admin tasks similar to those you hated at your old job. If you can’t find the discipline to work even when you don’t like the task, you might struggle to run your own business.

I think that life is about seasons. I believe that there is a season to put in the work and be uncomfortable, learn painful lessons and build your character, and then there is a season to take control and make sure you never work one more day of your life on a job that is not ultimately going to fulfill your spirit.

I also strongly believe that you can start to chase your dreams while you are still working your 9-5 job and earning a monthly pay cheque. I believe that that is one of the best ways to start building the life of your dreams- without adding on financial constraints that hinder you and your creativity. There are steps that you should take before you finally quit your job, but we can cover that in another post. Let’s focus on how to keep your dream and your day job.

People overestimate how long it will take them to deplete their savings, even when they have lots of savings before quitting their job. It is also important to establish before you leave your job that you can actually build a customer base- that there is demand for whatever product or service you are offering, and that there is sufficient demand to make a living off of. It is also best to acquire some of your important assets while you still have a job. In my case, I had a camera and all my lenses before I left my job. Your workplace might also have discounts on certain items. I definitely miss my 20% phone bill discount and Virgin Atlantic silver card! The major problem that you will face in being an entrepreneur without giving up your day job, is time. This is crazy but I actually published more content before I left my job, than the months immediately after I left. So, time will be a challenge, but it definitely is possible. My tunnel vision coupled with all the time pressure fueled a determination to use every spare moment efficiently. It also meant that I lost a lot of my social life but when you really want it, you get it by all means necessary. The financial freedom you have from your day job allows you to still maintain your creativity and not accept work that stifles your creative freedom just because you’re worried that rent might not get paid.

So, how do you keep your dream and your day job?

Become a Time Management Genius: The most important factor is time. It is much easier if you have a job that is an actual 9-5. My job was longer hours, especially between the months of January and April when I could be working until midnight. Evenings and weekends are no longer free time. But when you’re working your passion, especially during the early days, you’ll get a lot more satisfaction from working, than watching a TV show or whatever else. Of course, balance is important in life. I don’t have as much balance as I should- I’m happy to stay home to blog and miss a party. At the end of the day, it’s up to you to make sure you aren’t wasting your time. Things like who the DJ at the club is on a particular night started to matter to me- I’m not sacrificing scheduling two blog posts, for a night struggling to vibe to a DJ playing music that isn’t hip-hop! Lol. Depending on your type of job, you might also be able to take a break from your day job during your hour long lunch break, and work your passion. I’ve been known to sprint to fashion week brunches and make it back before the hour was up. Obviously, the less demanding your job is, the easier this will be. If you work a 60 hour job or something like that, you might need to consider transitioning to a less demanding job or department.

Stay Motivated: If your passion really ignites a fire within you, you’ll need very little extra to stay motivated. Seeing people begin to believe in and buy into your hustle is an exhilarating feeling. Each interaction gets you closer to the day that you can actually chase your dreams full-time. That thought alone, will motivate you more than you can imagine. Having targets for your side hustle that you’re working hard to meet and setting a leaving date also helps to keep you going even when it gets very tough!

Stay Inspired: Read literature related to your passion field and study the stories, habits and practices of people who have been successful at it. This is just to inspire you, not to intimidate you. Do not compare yourself to them. Everyone has a different path, focus on growing yours. I read a lot of fashion and travel magazines and followed my favourite blogs religiously. This was also important to inspire creative ideas even though I spent most of my time in a conservative environment.

Consider a Transition Job: Another way to work your passion is to learn the skills that you will need when you go full-time, while you are still employed. After I left finance, I moved on to Buying & Merchandising and learnt some of the most important lessons about the fashion industry. For example, how few people actually buy £500 tops and the volume of clothing that gets returned to designers every season. I wanted to work in a more creative space and learn more about the fashion industry, but wasn’t quite ready to go out on my own yet. You might want to consider moving to the marketing department of your firm, or something better suited to your passion where you can pick up more skills necessary for the day you throw up the peace sign.

Start to View Your Job Differently: Start to view your job through the lens of your dream. For example, if you’re an accountant, make sure that you’re focused enough on your job to ensure that you’ll have the skills necessary to complete your own company accounts when you leave. That will save your start-up some good money. Start to read more meaning into the protocol and processes that exist in your current workplace and note how they can best be applied to your new company. I’m assuming the company that you’re working at actually works, so pick up tips that will help within your own company. Try not to view it as simply mundane. My finance job had a wealth of free online training which I should have been more proactive about- everything from excel training to HR training. Don’t be the person that ends up having to pay for skills that you could have gained for free. You’ll need to save every possible penny when you venture out on your own.

Stay Mentally Switched On: Your current employer deserves full commitment to the job you are being paid to do. So make sure that you stay mentally switched on while acquiring all these skills and working your passion. It is so important not to give up until 5pm on your last day or whenever the work day ends. You want your current colleagues to remain part of your network and to always have you in mind as someone who delivered great results. They might bring you invaluable future opportunities. Admittedly, I wish I paid a lot more attention to this. You also have to remember that being an entrepreneur means that you will one day employ staff of your own. Treat your job how you want your own staff to treat your company.

You Might Never Need To Leave: You might never need to leave your day job to chase your dreams! Take Sheryl Sandberg for example, she lives a pretty dreamy life to me (and she seems very happy with her career too!). She is the COO of Facebook and a New York Times best-selling author, amongst other things. Because you have other goals and dreams doesn’t mean that you have to leave a job that you enjoy.

Needless to say, there are people who have their dream day jobs and would never face these issues- that is beautiful too! At the end of the day, we’re all just trying to be happy.

It takes time to get paid for doing what you love. I get many more emails asking me to work for free, than those wanting to pay for my services. Ofcourse, I just ignore a lot of them now. But, it most likely is going to be difficult and there is no easy way to do it. Don’t dismiss chasing your dreams because it gets too tough or you’re sometimes sleep deprived. If you take the necessary steps to make the transition as financially convenient as possible, you will thank yourself.

And if the Monday after that Friday when you walked out of your office for good, you’re actually able to earn money, you will not regret all the sleepless nights and the fact that you don’t have to deal with a new case of severe anxiety.

It’s all about making it easiest for yourself through a gradual transition.

If you feel that this article on How to Be An Entrepreneur Without Quitting Your Day Job helped you and could help anyone you know- a family member, friend, colleague, please share with them. And if you would like to, please join the conversation and share your experiences in  the comment section below. I live for those DMC’s we have, when we tap into discussing the stuff that really matters and gets us through life.

Read about How to Deal With Rejection.

29 thoughts on “HOW TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR WITHOUT QUITTING YOUR DAY JOB”

  1. B says:

    Hi Fisayo, I loved this post. I’ve followed your blog from literally the first day you posted on new years day in like 2012 I think and I was always in awe of how you managed to balance it all with your job. Were there times when it was difficult to handle the two?
    I watched when you got your collar with Asos Africa and I’m glad to see how your blog has grown from that to where you are now. Love the theme of these kind of posts and your TopGirl interviews because they are completely honest. Keep going with the blog, I am rooting for you!!

    1. Fisayo Longe says:

      This is one of my favourite comments ever. Thank you so much Bukky for being a DAY 1! Means so much to me!
      Yes, there definitely were times when it was difficult to handle the two. Especially when I had to miss out on blog opportunities because I had to work. But, it was never anything career altering.
      So glad you love the Top Girl interviews- I love them too! And I love the fact that it resonates with you.
      Thank you thank you thank you!

  2. Sade Lewis says:

    This is good information Fisayo. I’m already too scared too quit mine before chasing my dreams anyway. So scared of being broke. LOL! I always ask God to enable me to recognize opportunities when they come my way. I really like your statement about staying committed to the work you are being paid to do. I tell this to my team members all the time. I strongly believe you should treat your job with respect no matter the circumstances. if you plan on venturing out on your own to chase your dreams, that work ethic will follow you everywhere you go. If you pee on someone’s parade someone else will pee on yours.

    Remain fabulous as always. I love, love your blog! You are an inspiration

    http://www.somodishlychic.com

    1. Fisayo Longe says:

      LOL. The fear of being broke is real! Yes, I wish I had practised that even more- you are so right!

      Thank you! xx

  3. dayo says:

    Thank you so much for the article. It is like you just read my mine and gave me the best reply. Keep up the good work

    1. Fisayo Longe says:

      Perfect, you’re most welcome!

  4. Wumi says:

    Really this motivated me a lot. I walked out of the office this evening in a sour mood just because I was tired of doing something I don’t love but on the flip side, I get to use the office wifi for my blog! So I guess I’d start appreciating what I have and work harder to get to where I want. Thank you for this!
    wumituase.wordpress.com

    1. Fisayo Longe says:

      Silver lining! I’m so glad it made you feel this way Wumi!

  5. Nnadi Chika says:

    This is literally d first place i check when am lookinv for something to boost me sort of. Thanks alot for always keeping me motivated. U won’t know how but u do. Keep up the good work. U rock!

  6. Seun Davies says:

    This is a great piece and insightful.

  7. Tee says:

    Well done fisayo!! Thats really all i can say. You inspire me so much. Such a go-getter and your determination is well rooted, explains why you’ve bern so successful thus far. I wish you never give up. Well done! I’m honestly so proud of your growth. Day one right here

  8. Tracy Charles says:

    I love this , it’s so inspiring

  9. Jasmine says:

    I absolutely loved this! It’s very easy to think negatively about a 9-5 when you feel that you’re more of a creative individual than your job encourages you to be. For me, this post was a very timely reminder that my current professional services role can actually be highly useful in picking up skills / resources / business knowledge in the long term, regardless of whether I want to step out on my own eventually or not. For that, I thank you for sharing.

  10. Lynda Okoli says:

    This is such a great post. I’m getting my first job soon and I’m honestly pretty nervous because well, it’s my first. These tips are really helpful. It’s funny I was talking to my dad the other and he said exactly what you wrote, life really is all about seasons, one must grow with the different seasons of life. That part really resonated on me. Thank you and fantastic post, all this information is top-notch!

  11. Iganya Odiba says:

    Hello Fisayo. This is a very beautiful post considering the fact that I’m currently 22 and trying to decide on taking a new job to finance and my passion and I’m grateful for this article. Reading Sheryl’s biography. This has been inspiring. God bless you

  12. Ona says:

    This was very insightful, thanks for sharing. I currenlty work as an auditor at one of the big four companies and have been planning my exit.This post definitely helped me put things in perspective to avoid making a premature transition into another field. You also helped me appreciate the super cool benefits on the job I’ve been taking for granted. Thank you again, glad that I can come here and not only learn how to look good but also talk about things that matter in life.

  13. Filomena says:

    This is such great advice! I wish this post had come a few months back before I left the job I was at. I don’t think it would have necessarily changed my mind because I was really miserable at it but it would have definitely have put things in perspective and maybe I could have toughed it out for a bit longer (they paycheck certainly would have helped). You are definitely right about doing the job you were paid to do till the very last moment. Work ethic travels with you and you can’t run a business on less than stellar work ethic. I really enjoy these posts! Keep bringing on the interesting discussions!!

  14. Yasmin says:

    This is exactly the kind of post I needed to read right about now. Thank you!

  15. Mr Shine says:

    Bless your soul fisayo.
    In all honesty, I really needed to read this and I’m so so so glad I did. I’m currently a final year student in uni (would be graduating in November) and although I major in business management, I’m would really passionate about music and fashion and I’d really love to pursue a music career and also have a successful menswear brand (hopefully someday). It’s been quite difficult staying motivated especially with my typical igbo folks pressuring me to give up my dreams and go for a white collar job. However, the post was very insightful and also stirred up ideas on how I could make things work…

    Thank you so much. +(this is my first time on your blog & it’s amazing)

  16. Tunrayo says:

    Hi Fisayo,

    This is an amazing post and it’s down to earth. There is the hype of starting your own business and it’s great that you mentioned being able to learn skills from a 9 to 5 job that would be helpful when one branches put on one’s own. I really loved this post. Could write about what you do now, given that you’ve left your previous employer?

    http://www.tunrayosthoughts.com

  17. CC says:

    Finally someone who’s really honest!

  18. Nicole Adeyemi says:

    Best blog post I’ve read regarding this topic so far…the level of accuracy and how relatable it was, was unreal…Your a queen in your own right xxx

  19. Malika Esther says:

    First I have to say, you are a role model to many young girls.
    This is most realistic post I have ever read on this subject and I have appreciate you for not sugar-coating the challenges people face when they resign their day jobs to chase their dreams. People believe I can’t joggle Family, 8 to 5 job and personal businesses effectively and efficiently but I am of the opinion that I don’t have to quit my job to excel as an entrepreneur. Thank you for sharing your thoughts/suggestions on this subject.
    @malikacsc

  20. Beautifulybrainy says:

    I come repeatedly to read your blog post and i am always filled with the motivation and i really appreciate all your efforts.
    You’re my number one role model, God bless you endlessly.

  21. Chidalu WInifred Young says:

    Thanks for sharing this post. I am currently a boss at my workplace, and I can totally relate to this post, doing my job and running a blog. I wish I can get all the quitters I have seen over time to read this post.

  22. Ibiso Kio-Harry says:

    How do i say thank you to such a wonderful post that I need at this point. Looking forward to launching my clothing line and my book, but my job is time demanding and I recently told myself I was gonna quit my job by the end of this year and focus on my blog, my upcoming clothing line and my book but this has just redirected me to a new path I deem useful and blissful. Thanks Fisayo ❤

  23. sarah A says:

    Great article Fisayo. I was just looking at fashion blogs for inspiration when i stumbled into your blog. I know its wasn’t an accident for this right here is just what i need right now.

    1. Fisayo Longe says:

      So glad to hear this x

  24. Debbie says:

    Okay Fisayo, this really is an insight, the whole you have to quit a 9 – 5 job and focus on your own has been very confusing but from this post have learnt attimes you need to work under someone for a while to gain the experience and also help you in time management. You tend to balance with your paid job and meeting with the demands of your own personal job, this therfore builds you to the point where you can stand alone and thanks for that advice on getting your assets while still running a 9 – 5 job. Very insightful post.

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