I’ve heard some wild stories in my time providing career counselling and coaching but this even surprised me a little. I saw a few TikTok posts about people holding down multiple remote jobs at the same time. I don’t mean they had a day job and then an evening job. I mean they had multiple 9-5, Monday to Friday jobs at the same time.
I keep picturing a tv sitcom where somebody answers the phone saying the wrong company name.
I’ve had more than one job at a time a few times in my life but I’m talking about having a fulltime 9-5 and an evening or weekend job on the side. I’ve also had a fulltime job and a side business. I’ve written about this before and I think there are a lot of benefits to doing this. Check out 5 awesome sidegigs you can start from home. Of course it’s not for everyone or everyone’s situation.
I really do love the idea of having a day job and starting a business on the side if you’re interested in dipping your toes into the waters of entrepreneurship. If you feel full of passion or enthusiasm about starting and growing a business, I believe this pursuit can be incredibly rewarding.
If you’re considering starting a business because you want to replace a day job you hate, there’s something I want to underscore though:
Don’t rush it
My perspective on this is that for many of us, the most practical path is to not expect any business venture to pay the bills too soon. That’s a lot of pressure to put on a business, and frankly, on yourself. I know you might be itching to ditch your day job but unless you have very few financial obligations, a pretty hefty bank account, or investors to keep you and the business funded for a time, you’ll probably have to hang on to it.
We might think that having to only focus on our new business will bring a sense of freedom and focus. There’s nothing peaceful or calming about not being able to pay the mortgage. If your bills aren’t getting paid or there’s nothing left to reinvest into the business, you might not get very far. Starting a business while working full time might not be for everyone. But if it is, here are some more things to consider.
Prioritize
You’re going to need to prioritize wisely to be able to keep everything afloat. Your time, your energy, your finances. When it comes to making your business a success, consider how you intend to prioritize your entrepreneurial endeavors. How will you make time, keep yourself from burning out, and manage the financial aspects?
Establishing boundaries between work and personal time can be tricky for some people. Add this to your plate and it can feel like a lot. You want to prevent your new business tasks from creeping into your day job hours or overtaking your family or downtime completely. Setting a schedule and doing your best to stick with it will be important. Enlisting the support of others, delegating, and outsourcing where you can are areas I would pay attention to and be intentional about.
it is wise to review your current employment contract. If you intend to continue with your day job while pursuing your new venture, ensure that there are no legal conflicts of interest. Familiarize yourself with any clauses that may restrict your involvement in activities that could be deemed competitive to your employer. Take the time to consult with your human resources department if you have any doubts or concerns. It is crucial to clarify your obligations and rights to avoid any misunderstandings or potential legal issues down the line.
When to ditch the day job
Determining the right time to make a career transition fully to your new venture will be a personal choice. Whether your side business is a labour of love, a passion project, a lot of work or some/all of the above, the beauty of having a day job is that it provides a consistent income stream until your new business gets going. Of course, if you have other means of support, you might have the flexibility to transition sooner and focus solely on your business. At some point, you may even find that you’re losing money by keeping your day job. As your business takes off it may become be an easy decision to take it full time. Timing is an individual thing, and no one can dictate when the right time is for you to make that decision.
In fact, there's also the possibility that you may never quit your day job. Maybe you’ll really enjoy that extra income or come to enjoy the creative outlet or challenge your business affords without taking it full time. Call it an early retirement plan, or a backup plan if things ever go sideways with your day job. The other great thing is that if you decide you don’t actually like being in business for yourself, or if you want to try something new, you can close it down and start something else or just enjoy the extra time you have back.
Remember, you get to carve out your own career path. If you have the entrepreneurial itch I say go ahead and scratch it!
I know something brought you here and maybe it was a search for what to do next about your career. There are a few ways I can help:
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Kim, a one on one coaching client had this to say about working with me:
I followed Christine on social media for quite some time before I reached out so I felt confident that she was the right coach for me. I’d recommend her coaching for anyone who feels stuck in their career and doesn’t quite know where to begin – anyone looking for accountability and motivation to change. Working with Christine led to a huge shift in my thinking about the level of power I have over my personal contentment. What I liked best about working with Christine was that I felt safe – she is genuine, honest and supportive – so I was able to be vulnerable and easily share what I needed in order to move forward. Her constant reassurance that it’s okay to continue exploring, shifting and changing as I grow was invaluable for my piece of mind. Most importantly, Christine believed in me when I had trouble believing in myself. She helped me truly internalize that no matter what obstacles and challenges arise, I can persevere and continue moving forward.
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