One of the very best times to start your own business is when you are employed. Though it means you’ll be extra busy, it will also help to assure your success. Here are some tips for making the most of your current job while simultaneously giving your best intentions to growing your own business. That’s the winning formula for a smooth transition!
1) Give your very best effort to your current position.
Your employer and associates are valuable personal references, mentors, prospective customers, or affiliates. When you give 100% to the job for which you’ve been hired, you’ll have the respect you deserve and leave an impression on management and coworkers that they’ll be eager to share in the future when you need it.
2) Cultivate your boss’s support and alliance by mentioning what you are doing and even asking for advice from an experienced viewpoint.
While it may be a great idea to take your employer into your confidence, it is important NOT to overdo by letting your venture dominate conversations – even at lunchtime or during breaks – as that will be construed as competing with your employer’s business. If you fully intend to compete with your boss in your new venture, sharing that news at work is not advisable.
3) Remember that you are the voice of your employer’s business and will be the voice of your own business in the future.
Your words create an impression of who you are more than anything else. If problems and issues exist, demonstrate that you support the best intentions of your boss and his or her company. If you talk your employer down to others, especially to potential customers, that “trash talk” reflects very poorly on you and will follow you wherever you go.
4) Try it on and see if it fits.
Starting a new business is just like any other new venture in life. You may or may not end up liking it – or loving it – like you thought you would. If you let yourself experiment with all the up and down angles that your new business idea presents, you are much more likely to pursue it with an eyes-wide-open perspective. Now is the time to take some risks and see if your idea is really a great fit for you.
5) Hold on to a good thing, and take the leap when the timing is best for you.
With a steady paycheck coming in, you can pay your bills and financially back yourself. Customers may be easier to find, as your boss and your coworkers are a network of valuable contacts, even if they themselves aren’t interested in what you are marketing. Then, as your volume increases, you will know when it is time to go for it full-time! Follow your dream and enjoy the rewards of your own independent
image by Infrogmation on Flickr
