How do you find the time to start a new business while working?

14 Comments

1. Barb HansenJanuary 14,2022 at 9:45PM UTC

   I'm doing just that - building a new business while working full-time. And many days (actually many weeks), I feel like I'm not giving the new business enough time if any at all. And then I start to feel like I can't accomplish what I to accomplish.

   Then I remembered what I'm good at - getting a lot of work done by planning and breaking large projects down into small (what some may call tiny) steps.

   So I suggest you do just that - break the enormous project of building a business into insanely small tasks and take pride in getting one small task done a day, or a week or perhaps even done a month.

   An example of an insanely small task could be "buy a URL for the business" - technically, that would take about 2 to 15 minutes depending on where you buy it and if you already have an account at that provider.

   Don't waste time researching the best place to buy a URL - pick a provider and buy your URL - because sometimes perfection is the enemy of "done" and researching something to death can be a sneaky way to procrastinating. 

   When you think of another task that needs to be done - write it down and keep moving. The act of writing down that task will free up space in your brain, and you (in theory) won't stress over trying to remember that task. Don't waste time pondering the sub-tasks that need to be done. Just write it down (post-it notes work or a simple and free project management card-tool like Trello).

   One of your tasks each week or so could be spending 10/15 minutes reviewing your tasks and breaking one task into smaller tasks.

   Just keep moving forward, and moving slowly forward is fine. Your family and your health and your job need your attention too, and that also is fine.

2. Ladyboss367393January 16,2022 at 2:40PM UTC

   What great, supportive advice!

3. AnonymousJanuary 15,2022 at 10:00PM UTC

   I don't know if this is possible for you, but while you're getting your business up and running you could hire some help for the admin part of the work. It might be an investment and mean that you are not making as much from your business yet, but might help you get up and running so you could quit your FT work. I have worked as a VA specifically for women solopreneurs trying to get their side hustles to full time, and if you're able to make that investment it could be a good payoff.

4. Bretley DannerJanuary 16,2022 at 1:21PM UTC

   It is what it is for us woman… It sounds like if you have any time to work out, you at least have a life as they say. You need to ask your family members for help… Your husband and your children (if of age), need to help you out more. Good luck with that, mine don’t even think of helping unless I get upset with them first….

5. AnonymousJanuary 16,2022 at 3:11PM UTC

   I put in 15 minutes a day to my online business. I too work full time, finishing my PhD, and have a baby on the way. So I get it. Being active is my saving grace tbh, so I can’t cut that. But 15 minutes a day and maybe hiring an intern that can either work for free or a very very low wage. Like a task rabbit type of person, pay per task. I will say I did invest in someone to build my site, because that was taking too much of my time. Hope that helps!

6. The Career CounterJanuary 16,2022 at 3:44PM UTC

   I am a full time mom too and also have been trying to grow my business during the pandemic and homeschooling and yeah, I can relate to feeling like there’s never enough time!!

   What has a helped me (and that I need to remember on a daily basis) is to try to enjoy the journey and not focus so much on defining what success looks like and when will I ever friggin get there?!?!

   I’ve had my business for about two years and even though I’m not exactly where I want to be I have to remember to celebrate the small successes and the progress I’ve made.

   I literally just had a conversation with myself this morning that unless I make a decision to continue to have fun along this journey then what’s the point of continuing?

   Baby steps. Like others have said and this has helped me too - make a daily or weekly to do list. Check things off. And try to focus on doing things that bring you joy.

7. Jill BarrientosJanuary 16,2022 at 3:49PM UTC

   if you have money saved. Outsource as much as possible.

   start with a website which makes it real.

   when building anything think about automation as much as possible. For instance get a Hootsuite account to schedule Social media post and post to multiple accounts at the same time. There is a new called Woofy that actually recommends the content as your type.

   download one of the free project planning tools like Asana or ClickUp

   And add few weekly tasks every Sunday . You can do this from your phone.

   define which tasks can you outsource because they are taking you too much time to complete that you can spend in other things more valuable for your business.

   are you ready for a co-founder. Find someone (not an easy task) that you can devide respossibilities with.

8. kelly O LandesJanuary 16,2022 at 4:23PM UTC

   You are ambitious! Don’t trade anything for your self-care, especially now. Keep that I. Your routine. It will help you have energy and clarity. Try to “time block”’ . ask yourself how many hours you need to dedicate per week- let one of those hours be solely for planning what you will accomplish.

   Then pick your best thinking time and set a clock- 1/2 hour-1hour and make it uninterrupted. It may be 1/2 day blocks on Saturday rather than catch as catch can.

   All the best to you and your hold adventure!

9. (redacted)January 16,2022 at 8:35PM UTC

   Hi there. I'm part of a women entrepreneurs networking group. We have A TON of resources for you, including virtual meetings, coaching, and just a whole lot of sisterhood. lmk if you'd like details. (Or visit our website for a sneak peek: wesosnetwork.com )

10. Deb Lewis from Mentally Tough WomenJanuary 16,2022 at 8:35PM UTC

    This may not be what you expect, yet is one that took me a lifetime to realize.

    It is also heavily based in neuroscience and my mental toughness/stress  expertise.

    1. Breathe. When negative thoughts (never enough time, too much to do, falling short of your goals… ) creep in - Remember this - 
    Western thought- never enough time. 
    Eastern thought- plenty of time. 
    My view- always enough time to do what’s most important.  When you breathe fully, your choices are many (healthier too!)

    2.Pep Talk. Tell yourself the truth. How simply amazing you are, you’ve got this, and how great it is you get to live such a full life. Whatever happens in the day, you know you have the smarts, strength, and talent to make it work for you. As Marie Forleo tells us, “Everything is figureoutable.”

    3.Focus on what you want. Achieve clarity on exactly what it is you want and how you’re feeling in that moment (your business succeeding, your family loved and happy). When you can close your eyes, and see, feel, and describe in words (write this down and read it often in your day) what that looks and feels like as if you’ve already achieved it, your entire day will magically work to help you get there.

    A client had a similar situation as you. She had 5 kids, important job with long hours, plus working on her masters degree to get promoted. When she arrived home from work, put kids to bed, and felt too exhausted to work on her degree, she would close her eyes, visualize walking across the stage to snatch the diploma and give a huge cheer. Magically, the energy showed up for her to achieve it. It wasn’t easy, but she always had the biggest smile.

    Hope this helps. When you find yourself racing around like your hair is on fire, that’s the time to take the time to reset, go in slo- mo with your breathing, clarify your thoughts and go for it!

    ❤️ Colonel Deb

11. Liz MilneJanuary 17,2022 at 4:43AM UTC

    Rigid scheduling and make use of every moment.

    Got half an hour while the kid's dinner cooks? Begin a business proposal or upload two new products. Heck, even upload one new product! Kids in bed and your partner's night for bedtime story? Fifteen minutes more work. Waiting for a phone call? Use that time. Lunch hour at work? Eat in 15, spend 45 working on your business (even if you have to rush to a nearby coffeeshop with your personal laptop!)

    Once you start looking for ten-minute slots that you can achieve some small goal in, you'll find you manage to do more than you might think. It's not as satisfying as spending a whole day or even three straight hours on it, and yes, you'll be tired - but you'll get there in the end! And once you can cut down salaried hours, to spend more on the business, you'll know how to maximise your time :)

    Good luck!

12. The Career CounterJanuary 17,2022 at 7:41PM UTC

    Yes!!

13. Joanne RosenJanuary 17,2022 at 7:57PM UTC

    The first thing I can tell you is, start with a business plan and create the processes. Having that in place before you try to start selling or getting clients will help immensely.

    Next, get a daytimer or use something online. BLOCK out each section of your day using different colours. I completed a Master's degree while working full-time, running a 4 month seasonal kiosk at a mall, and raising 2 kids. My days were colour coded and I stuck to it. So, after bedtime, for example, I had one hour blocked for school. Even though I wanted to relax and watch TV, I made myself study.

    Make a goal poster. Put it where you can see it. There is a reason you are doing all this. Make sure you remember!

    Try to schedule a day off. So, Sunday, for example. No work at all. Spend time with the kids.

    Finally, depending on how old your kids are, get them involved. My 5-year-old grandson just learned how to mop his bedroom floor. When my own kids turned 9, they had to make dinner once a week. I didn't care if it was soup and sandwiches, it was one meal I didn't have to make. If hubby is in the picture, hopefully he's a partner.

    Cheers

    Joanne

14. Liz MilneJanuary 17,2022 at 11:26PM UTC

    ^^^ yes, I second all of this!