One thing no one really mentions much about starting your own online business is how stressful it is. Everyone seems to think that it isn’t just because you can set your own hours, make money while you sleep, and have your favorite PJs as your dress code.
The truth is… there is actually a lot of stress involved.
But isn’t adding more stress to your life the last thing you want to do to now that you’ve decided to finally leave your day job? Isn’t that why you took the leap to build your own business in the first place?
You’re looking for freedom from your awful boss, nasty coworkers, and the limitations of a fixed salary. But if you’re trading all that in for a different kind of stress, what have you really gained
If you haven’t actually kissed your cubicle goodbye yet, be sure you first build a solid foundation to release the number of potential stressors as you build your own business—and I don’t just mean business-wise.
Build a Financial Safety Net
Nothing stresses us out quite like worrying about money. Whether you’re concerned about those college tuition bills you’ll be facing in a few years, or worse, not sure how you’re going to make the rent, it’s easy to lose your business mojo.
As a new business owner, you certainly don’t want money trouble casting a shadow over your entrepreneurial dream. In order to save time and grow your business a quickly as possible, you’ll need to be able to invest in yourself, even if it’s just a couple hundred dollars to start out with.
Before you turn in your resignation, set aside some cash in case of a rainy day. Aim for at least three months of living expenses but more is definitely better.
Hopefully, you won’t need it but having some cash on hand will definitely relieve the pressure of having a new business that’s not earning its keep—yet.
Make Sure Your Family is on Board
Money troubles are bad, but there may be one thing that’s worse: an unsupportive (or downright hostile) spouse, member of the family, or even a friend.
And as any entrepreneur will tell you, not everyone understands the drive to be a business owner. In fact, most people find it pretty scary to step away from the security of a regular paycheck to chase after a dream.
If that sounds like your spouse or someone in your circle, try not to take it personally. They’re not making a statement about your ability. More than likely, they’re just worried about what the future holds.
Do your best to understand where they’re coming from, and be sure to clearly explain your ideas, why you are confident it will work, and how you plan to cover the start-up expenses and manage the risk.
If they’re still not on board, consider starting slow, with a part-time business while still working your day job. That will give you the opportunity to prove your idea is workable, and might just help your spouse get as excited about it as you are.
I’ve seen many bloggers and business owners in this exact situation. It sucks to have to prove yourself, but your family is just trying to look out for you. There’s always a chance of pushback with anything risky.
Take Time for YOU
No matter what’s going on with your money, your spouse, or your business, you always need to take care of yourself first. Be sure to schedule some “you” time.
No one can work all the time, regardless of how driven you are. And no one can stay healthy while maintaining a nonstop schedule.
Go for a walk, hit the gym, get a pedicure or just binge on your favorite brainless television show.
The point is simply to take time away from your desk to rest and rejuvenate. Without it, you’ll soon find yourself overwhelmed and stressed, even if you truly love your new business.
Recap: Make your transition to entrepreneurship stress-free
Follow these three tips to go from 9-5er to business owner without worry:
- Create a financial safety net
- Get support from friends and family
- Remember to take time for you
It will definitely be tough and you may still experience some sleepless nights, but the freedom you gain once your business starts taking off will be well worth the work.