Grow that side business that you’ve been putting on the back burner
Image credit — Photo by Randalyn Hill on UnsplashIs now really the right time to grow that side business that you’ve been putting on the back burner into your full-time gig?
Can you live your life with passion, and follow your dreams while there is so much pain in the world?
Should you?
Many years ago, a manager of mine asked me:
“Is it possible to have passion without enthusiasm?”
I paused.
My response was. Yes?
He looked at me with raised brows and went into a rant about his plans for the market. The whole time I was thinking, processing. What was the point of asking me that? Does he see through me? Can he tell that I’m not listening to him right now? I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I didn’t want to be in his office, much less at this job. I wanted to be creating my own work, but I was stuck. Mentally. I felt trapped by the confines of “doing what I was supposed to do.” Going to work every day to pay the bills.
I wanted to be my own boss, “live my passion” on my own terms, but I didn’t know where to begin.
An introvert by nature generally prefers solitary activities rather than interacting with large groups of people. If you work through your feelings in a journal or through writing instead of having a conversation, then you are an introvert.
You are more than the sum of your parts.
Even though I was an introvert, I could draw from some of my usually hidden extroverted tendencies. I was a retail manager at the time and was responsible for leading and directing a team. I was responsible for hiring and training staff. My company selected me to go through media training as one of the delegates to appear on camera and speak to the local news when we held community outreach programs or other events.
Most of us can switch styles when we need to without much thought, depending on the situation. We’re mostly all ambiverts. Meaning we can balance both our extrovert and introvert features.
Was I always enthusiastic? Maybe not, but I was still professional. I was clear. I’m organized. I’ve always been able to appear confident while speaking, no matter how much I was sweating under my coat or how much anxiety I had. I was able to pull through.
Yes! Again, yes! I could be passionate in the moment, but it took all that I had. I love learning new things and then teaching what I’ve learned. That’s the reason; I’m able to step out of my comfort zone. I can stand up in front of a group and share. Passionately.
It was years later when I came across a quote:
“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ugh! I wanted to go back and change my answer!
All that time, I did have enthusiasm! I did have passion! My self-awareness has grown, now I recognize what I’m capable of and what’s been holding me back.
I’ve always had it in me to create the work that I love. I had everything I needed in terms of ability, desire, and knowledge to start my own business. So why then? Why would I not do it? I would replace my confident revelations with excuses; they would appear in the form of:
I don’t have enough money or won’t qualify for a loan.
The time is not right.
What about health insurance? I have kids.
What if I fail?
Who do I think I am anyway?
*According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 20 percent of small businesses fail within their first year. By the end of their fifth year, roughly 50 percent of small businesses fail. After ten years, the survival rate drops to approximately 35 percent.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics wasn’t helping my confidence. :(
I tried and failed and tried and failed.
In 2004, I left retail management and started a car audio and electronics shop. I closed down a year later when my wife was pregnant with our now 14-year-old son. I told myself that I needed more stability for my growing family.
In 2010, I quit the corporate world again to start an “eco-friendly” janitorial service. I wasn’t able to gain enough clients fast enough to keep up with all of the bills coming in. I shut down and went back to work.
Now more than ever, there is so much anxiety, uncertainty, and despair across the globe. At the same time, there are also demonstrations of hope, love, and compassion. Will we soon be hearing stories of triumph and success in business?
What will our work look like post-COVID-19?
People are losing their jobs, out of work turning to their side gigs if they are still relevant. If they’re no longer relevant, then it’s time to adapt. How can I do what I love online? How can I market my skills or services digitally?
I started writing more frequently in 2012, but it wasn’t until October of last year that I began laying the plans to monetize my writing through ads on blog posts, affiliate marketing, freelance, and contributing here on Medium.
I’m one of those fortunate enough to be still receiving a paycheck while “working” from home during the ongoing pandemic. But in the back of my mind, I can’t help but wonder for how long? I have friends and family who work what you would consider white-collar jobs that were doing fine last week, and now all of a sudden, they have been furloughed.
During my time working from home, I’ve created more content than ever before. I had my first paying client as a freelance web designer. I don’t know what the future holds. I have no intention of slowing down.
I am commited to making a living on my own terms as a business owner / writer / creator. Soon, I may have no other choice!
While the majority of the world is practicing physical, social distancing, those of us who are fortunate enough to have access are connecting and sharing online more than ever.
Now is the time!
Whether your working from home or you’ve recently been laid off or furloughed, If you’re already a small business owner who’s temporarily shut down, now is the time.
Grow your business online. Use the time to grow skills that will help your business adapt to a new normal. It may be brushing up on social media, building a website, writing, getting comfortable with video, or that podcast that you’ve wanted to start.
You have the passion in you, let it out. There is fear all around us right now. Let’s not give it so much power.
Stay safe!
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