Part 2 - The Most Difficult Part About Starting a New Business
A while back I posted an article about starting your own business and the challenges with that. I’m on Part Two of the process now so I thought I would share.
It’s done.
I gave my notice at my full time job and I’m pushing myself out on my own two feet! Such a bittersweet step. I really love what I do and the people. However, this will allow me to spend more time doing the parts I love most and that I have a real heart for. A few things to think about when you decide to stop dipping your toes in the water (of a new business) and dive right in.
Are there any organizations that you should join before you leave your full time employer? Some organizations can only be joined while you work for a company that fits their criteria. There are also discounts for some, depending on where you work.
Have you changed your email (or snail mail) address for any vendor or organization you receive at work?
Does your organization use Outlook? Make sure you have the contact information in your phone for anyone you will want to reach out to. If you rely on the Outlook contact saved in your phone, those will likely go away after your access to the company email is removed. Be sure to also get the information for any appointments you may have added to the Outlook calendar.
Did you save anything personal that you need to your work files? Make sure to get what you need and remove any personal information before you lose access.
Think about what the best way to communicate your leaving to people you work with will be. Be mindful of what your employer may consider acceptable. If you are already using LinkedIn to make connections, you will be able to post to LI to share.
On a Personal Note
If you are a workaholic, baby boomer like me, or you just really like what you do, you need to think about preparing for this change. Consider the following examples.
Example 1: You work for an organization and have a work schedule of 8-5. You work in an office with others, have regular team meetings and work on projects together. You get stuck on some aspect of your job so you walk down the hall to Jane’s office for help. You have all of the supplies you need and you didn’t pay for them, the copier does front and back copies, you get mileage when you have to travel, there’s work gatherings from time to time for fun, gossip at the coffee bar… ooops, leave that last one out. You see the picture, there are a lot of positive aspects to working for someone else.
Example 2: You don’t have any set schedule. You are work for yourself, and your paycheck. You can sleep in til 9 if you like. If you are still wearing your PJ’s you may decide to sit on the coach to work. Don’t forget about ergonomics though. You don’t want to get a back injury because you don’t have any paid time off. If you need any supplies, you’ll be getting dressed to go to the store and get them. Don’t forget to track your mileage and keep your receipts, you’ll be paying the taxes. If you are home alone working, you can get a lot done but you may need to set an alarm to remind you to get up and go to the kitchen to get a drink. (Water, I meant water.) If you really like what you do, your significant other may be coming to your door at the end of the day saying, “Are you going to quit working today? It’s 8 o”clock.” Time blends and moves quickly when you love what you do. On the other hand, if you don’t like something that you have to do, tough. You will have to push through and get it done anyway.
The longer you have been working at the same place, the more time you should spend preparing for this transition. People will want to say that you are retiring. I don’t like that as it sounds more like an ending than a beginning. You should spend some time thinking about what the difference will look like for you after the transition. Many of us connect our worth with our title and position. We spend years of working for promotions and paychecks without “checking up” to see what is really going on and seeing what we are really here for. Connections, not job titles or positions.
Nuts and Bolts
I thought you might want to know where I am with some of the details for the business too. I am using a specific application for my coaching business that also allows for contracts, appointments and payments. It’s been a bit challenging to get the appointments option set up but it should consolidate appointments from my email calendar in one place. One of the first days I’m after completing my full time position will be spent making all of the parts of the booking, contracting, billing, payments work together and I will complete my listing of what I use for what. So much confusion! Don’t let this part get you though. You can always go old school with a simple booking application, word documents and email for contracts and communication, and paypal or your website software for payments. (Some sites also have the option to process payments.)
The marketing part is something I would recommend you get help with. There are some good books on marketing and contract people to help you with that too. Spend some time planning out blog or social media posts ahead of time. Be sure to consider what is going on with your business as you plan for the topics and advertisements.
In Summary
Do what makes you happy. Your success does not come from your works, it comes from the gratitude you feel about what you have and what you do.
Is there anything you would add to this?
Ellen will be creating training content for face to face and online delivery, coaching leaders for development, supporting individuals through career changes, and presenting the amazing Brené Brown’s work as keynotes and training to as many organizations, educational institutions and non-profits as possible. She loves to talk shop so reach out any time!