How to Turn Your Side Business Into Your Dream Career

By April 25, 2018For Talent

Sometimes you need to create your dream job. The one that ticks all the boxes for you. The one that lets you be as creative or fulfilled in your daily working life as you want.

You might already have some ideas about what you would like to do in your alternative entrepreneurial career, things that have been brewing in the back of your mind for a long time. So how do you turn your side business into that dream job?

Start Small

If you plan to develop your side business, starting small will help you to see if it has legs to grow into something more. If you want to write a book, start it as a blog. If you want to be a website or graphic designer, try working on websites for family and friends in exchange for testimonials and referrals. Starting small at the beginning will give you the confidence to take those baby steps towards a fully fledged business.

Find your flow

Find your most productive time of day. If you are an early bird, get up 30 minutes earlier than usual to work on your business plan, otherwise get 30 minutes of work done in the evening instead of bingeing on Netflix.

Focus

You might only have 20-30 minutes in your day to work on your side business, so make them count! The night before, see where you can fit in your laser-focused session (perhaps at lunchtime or after putting the kids to bed). Work out what you can get done in that space of time. Having 2-3 small goals each day will really make a difference if you want to get your side business up and running in a short space of time.

side businessNetwork

Telling people about your business idea is the quickest way to get the word out there. Connect with new people through meetup groups. Business networking events like BNI, Network Ireland and local Chamber of Commerce events will help you meet with like-minded people who can link you up with potential partners or prospective clients.

Don’t get overwhelmed 

Setting up a side business can take time and effort, especially if you are balancing a full-time role as well as family commitments and hobbies to boot! Be realistic about what you can get done in the small pockets of time you have. If you have a bad day (or a bad week), take time out for a day or two to recharge and start again.

Take action

Nothing will come of your business idea if you don’t take action. Focus on why you are spending time on this venture in the first place. Working on your goals in a manageable way means every day is a step closer to creating the type of career you want, on your own terms.

Experiment

Not every idea will turn into a full-time business. You may feel that it’s best kept as a hobby but don’t be downhearted. It’s better to find out early on in the process that it’s not going to work, instead of spending lots of time researching and overanalysing. Moving on to the next idea might be the better option, you never know, it could be the one that you enjoy working on the most.

If you feel that a traditional job is not for you, then it’s worth spending some time exploring what it is you really want to do outside the 9 to 5. 

Business Development Coach Lynsey Hanratty helps professional women stuck in dull, dead-end jobs start their own amazing, fulfilling and profitable business. When they work with her they get a clear idea of the perfect business for their abilities and talents and take the steps to make their business dream a reality.

After 13 years of scientific research it was clear to Lynsey that it wasn’t cells and molecules she loved to work with, but people. She moved into coaching in both education and recruitment and has been helping people realise their potential ever since. You can contact her on hello@lynseyhanratty.com.

 

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Author Lynsey Hanratty

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