Simply over a 12 months in the past, I joined the rising ranks of execs leaving salaried positions behind to take their aspect hustles full-time. On the time, I knew I used to be in for a 12 months of ups and downs and accelerated skilled progress—however I nonetheless wasn’t fairly ready for the way the 12 months would unfold.
Within the months since, my freelance copywriting enterprise hit six figures, so it’s secure to say my leap of religion paid off. I discovered my footing because the 12 months advanced, however I did be taught some surprising classes alongside the way in which. In case your aspect hustle is on its method to turning into your principal hustle, listed here are the issues I want I knew a 12 months in the past!
“Working holidays” aren’t holidays—simply take the day off!
After I used to dream of my freelance life, “working holidays” have been one of many principal perks I seemed ahead to. I assumed it was wonderful that freelancers may pack up their laptops, jet all over the world, and work from anyplace, anytime. I couldn’t wait to begin crossing new locations off my journey bucket checklist—no PTO required.
It seems that it’s simple—possibly too simple—to combine work and leisure time if you make the foundations. This 12 months, I’ve discovered that working holidays are literally the worst elements of labor and the worst elements of holidays. As a substitute of the idyllic model I had in my head, I discovered that working from a brand new place principally meant my “trip” by no means actually turned a trip.
As a substitute of blending work and pleasure, I now want to get the work carried out unexpectedly and take shorter holidays which are actually day off. Should you’re nice at working from totally different environments and assume you possibly can get pleasure from your new locale throughout off hours, give it a shot and see what occurs. However for those who thrive on routine and like holidays to really feel like holidays, conserving them separate is best.
Lesson discovered: simply since you can work from anyplace doesn’t imply you ought to!
Progress gained’t all the time be linear
Earlier than quitting my full-time job, my aspect hustle had a number of record-breaking months in a row. It was simple to imagine that trajectory would proceed, however it didn’t. As a substitute of constant to extend my earnings every month, I hit a plateau for the primary few months of my solopreneur journey. Later within the 12 months, I even had a couple of of my slowest months so far.
Wanting again, it is smart that my progress was extra risky as time went on. While you begin one thing new, each little enchancment or information enhance can have a significant affect in your progress and income. However as you get extra of these small classes out of the way in which, it will get more durable to push the envelope each single month. And that’s okay! Now, I want to have a look at quarterly income as an alternative of month-to-month income to account for a few of that volatility month-to-month.
My quarterly numbers development constructive, so I don’t fear an excessive amount of a few down month right here and there. Taking a look at every quarter holistically additionally helps me discover traits in seasonality (my enterprise is slowest in the summertime, for instance), take day off with out my targets taking a significant hit, and decide to progress methods that won’t generate outcomes straight away. The extra risky your business, the extra I’d advocate an extended timeline for evaluating success.
Your well-being is a enterprise asset
Whereas I used to be constructing my aspect hustle, I used to be so targeted on progress that I ran myself into the bottom making an attempt to make issues work. I had one clear aim as my end line: to earn as a lot (or extra) from my aspect hustle as I used to be bringing in from my wage. In consequence, I used to be typically working 12-hour days to hit that milestone whereas maintaining with my full-time job.
That dedication could have been advantageous for a time, however it wasn’t designed to be sustainable. Now that I’ve dedicated to my enterprise for the lengthy haul, my well-being is without doubt one of the elements that decide whether or not I succeed or not. If I get burnt out and fall behind, my work suffers—and there’s nobody else to select up the slack. Staying forward of my very own wellness and prioritizing steadiness are the keys to creating positive I can present up and provides my shoppers my greatest work long-term.
My takeaway? Fill your individual cup as you attain your enterprise targets fairly than ready till you burn out (or attain an arbitrary success metric) to “earn” your relaxation. While you run your individual enterprise, it’s a marathon, not a dash!
You don’t must hold normal 9–5 hours
After I left my full-time job to strike out by myself, I knew that 9–5 hours weren’t my preferrred work schedule. Regardless of that, it felt like what I used to be “supposed” to do, so I pressured myself onto that timeline for weeks earlier than realizing I may make my very own guidelines.
I personally work greatest with one chunk of labor early within the morning, an extended break (and infrequently a nap!) within the afternoon, and one other chunk of labor later within the day. I used to be by no means very productive through the afternoon hunch within the workplace, so now I work that into my schedule as pre-planned downtime.
Since adopting this schedule, I’m way more productive than I used to be on the 9-5 observe, and I really work much less. I positively ought to have applied my very own schedule earlier within the transition course of.
While you set your individual schedule, it’s essential to consider if you do your greatest work, what different priorities you need to match into your day, and when shoppers may anticipate to listen to from you. If that ends in a 9–5 workday, that’s nice—however it won’t. The very best a part of proudly owning a enterprise is throwing out the rule e book on what you’re “supposed” to do altogether. As a substitute, take into consideration what really works greatest for you and your life, and arrange your enterprise practices accordingly.
Closing ideas
In the end, it’s been an thrilling 12 months of private {and professional} progress, and I’m not giving up my solopreneur life-style anytime quickly. However, for the 12 months forward, I’ll do issues a bit otherwise: take actual holidays, give attention to quarterly progress, spend money on my very own well-being, and ditch the 9–5 schedule.
If your aspect hustle is nearly prepared for the large leagues, be taught from my errors and implement these classes sooner fairly than later. I promise you’ll be glad you probably did!
