Last week I was interviewed on a podcast for people who want to jump from their 9-to-5 jobs to start an online business.
When the host asked me about quitting your job to do that, my advice was different than what you hear from the experts proclaiming that you have to quit ASAP, trust in yourself, and swing for the fences.
Instead of advising people to tell their boss to go to you-know-where and storm out of the place, I suggested sticking with the 9-5 and building up the online business on the side, until they’re ready to make the jump.
For those who say they don’t have the time to do it, I know people who get more done in 20 hours/week than those “working” 80 hours/week on their businesses.
You don’t have to pull a “Jerry Maguire Exit”.
Remember that movie?
Maguire leaves his high-profile sports agency, rolling his sleeves up and announcing to the whole office that he’s taking the gold fish with him, since he bought it. Before leaving, he asks his colleagues:
“If anybody else wants to come with me, this moment will be the moment of something real and fun and inspiring in this godforsaken business, and we will do it together. Who’s coming with me?”
He only got one follower (a junior accountant played by Renee Zellweger) to go with him, but they fell in love – so I guess it worked out ok.
Still, that’s Hollywood, and Hollywood loves happy endings.
It’s not the same in real-life.
If you quit your job and need a client on day #1 to pay the bills, you’re under a lot of pressure and you’re going to take on clients you shouldn’t be working with.
I’m not suggesting that you take a decade to make the leap either, but at least get your online business rolling and revenue coming in at a steady pace before doing it.
One of the favourite parts of what I do is helping coaches build up their coaching businesses to the point where they can leave their day jobs for good …
If you’d like my help to do the same, book a call and we’ll chat more about it:
