I have heard a lot of talk from members of my team trying to figure out how to do BOTH their full-time job and run their Thirty One business. I will admit it is a challenge but ALOT of Thirty One consultants and some up the line of Leadership continue to do both. I have to be honest, for me, it was a HUGE struggle. I admit it.
When I started with Thirty One, I had a 24/7 job. As the Chief Operating Officer for a non-profit, I was on call 24/7 – or it always seemed like that. In addition, I commuted 4 hours round trip per day (only 4 days a week) to get to the job. So, in the beginning Thirty One was a hobby. It was my dream to some day quit my full-time job and devote myself to my Thirty One business. Was that going to happen while I was working these crazy hours – NO! I was blessed with a hubby who said “just quit”. I will give you one year to get your business self-sufficient or we will need to re-think things. You can bet, I get my ASK in gear. I had no desire to go back to work full-time.
Since I left my full-time job, I have been blessed with parties, sales and a growing team. I would consider myself on “my way” to a thriving business. I make enough to cover bills but I DREAM BIG. I want to make sure that I can take hubby on a vacation without him paying a cent out of our savings. Yes, I took on a part-time job for a multitude of reasons but it is one of those jobs that I can go in, do my hours and go home. DONE!
So, if you want to figure out how to juggle both a full-time and a side business, here are some tips from “theselfemployed.com“:
As an employee, be careful not to do anything that could affect your full- time job. The following simple rules will help you meet this challenge:
Rule #1: Make sure your employment agreement allows you to own a side business. Determine if your employment agreement allows you to have a side business. While most employees don’t have business ownership restrictions, some companies do impose them.
Rule #2: Run your business on your own time. This was a challenge for me since I had my own office and worked all the time for my full-time job. I know, some would say that I was robbing my employer but my boss knew what I was doing and was okay with it as long as I met all of the other daily requirements of the job. That didn’t mean I was working my Thirty One business all day but an occasional call or having a mini presentation during lunch was okay. Every employee owes their employer their full attention during work hours, so you should work on your side business only during your free time. Refrain from running your own company during work hours.
Rule #3: Use your own resources and tools. Don’t use their office supplies, copiers, computers, or equipment of any kind. Many companies consider this a serious offense that is often grounds for immediate termination.
Rule #4: Don’t compete against your employer. It’s not ethical and could ruin your reputation permanently. If your side business does compete with your employer, you only have two options: quit your job or close your business.
Rule #5: Be discreet. Again, I was blessed to work in the non-profit faith-based arena and the values of Thirty One coincided with the agency’s mission. As a result, I could share what I did without it hurting my job and my creditability in the community. Be aware that this is not always the case.
Rule #6: Leave when the time is right. If your side business is successful, it will grow to the point where it demands your full attention. Eventually, you must decide if you have to quit your job and work full-time in your venture. When you reach that point and are certain that your business is sustainable – consider quitting.
I know this was a LONG post but I wanted to share my thoughts along with the great tips from the article. Share how YOU are juggling both your full-time and your side business whatever it may be. Your tips may help someone who is struggling.
Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!
Hope Wissel 