Many of my clients are career changers in their 30's, 40’s or 50’s who have found great success in the corporate world, but have reached a point where they want (they need) to do something else.
Some have ticked all the boxes in terms of the 'traditional' view of success, but something is still missing.
And some have made it to a certain level at work, but the idea of the next step up no longer lights a fire in their belly.
Call it a mid-life crisis if you will...but there comes a time when you realise that you no longer want to work for someone else, and instead you want to use your unique tapestry of skills and experience to directly and personally help more people.
When the seed of an idea becomes too loud to ignore and you just have to start
Often there’s a seed of an idea for a business that keeps rising up, a little whisper initially but eventually it’s too loud to ignore, as you realise that you want to use your skills and experience to do something more purposeful with your time.
It’s at this point you’ll start to think about breathing some life into your business to see if it’s a goer.
It takes commitment to build a business whilst holding down a job, but when you find something you love it's amazing how you can suddenly find time in your day.
The benefits of setting up your business before you give up your 'day job'
Just 1 hour a day can be enough to create momentum in your business, and there are compelling reasons why you should start sooner rather than later:
It means you can test the water before you go all-in on your business
It grants you time and space to build your online presence
You can take time to explore your brand values and message
You can build your business with a safety net in place
It provides a welcome release from work
Let's explore each in turn.
* It means you can test the water before you go all-in on your business
Does your business idea have legs? Breathing life into your idea is the only way to really test the water to see whether people will pay for what you want to sell.
This might look like offering your services for free or at a reduced rate whilst you gather feedback and collect testimonials.
Your original idea might not be exactly what people want or need, and may evolve into something else...but you won't know until you put it out there.
* It grants you breathing space to build your online presence
If you dream of quitting the day job to work for yourself, then build your online presence before you need to rely on it for leads. Building your website and social media takes time, so start before you're ready so you're not on the back foot when you finally get to quite the day job.
* You can explore your brand values and message fully
Unless you're working with a brand identity consultant, it can also take time to land upon your brand story and message. It's something that evolves and develops as you gain more experience of working with people. There are things you can do to speed up the process however, including getting clear on your brand foundations. I have a freebie to help you with this.
* You're building your business with a safety net in place
"Leap and the net will appear"
I love this quote by John Burroughs which speaks to throwing caution to the wind to follow your dreams.
It's fantastic...but also completely terrifying for many people unless you have nerves of steel...especially with the financial and economic backdrop we've seen of late.
There's something romantic about trusting in the Universe and jacking it all in to follow your passions, but at the end of the day we've got responsibilities and families to support, so a safety net is good.
Building your business whilst you still have the security of a job puts you in an enviable position. It allows you to experiment and put the groundwork in whilst still taking home a salary.
And crucially it allows you the funds to invest in the foundations of your brand.
* It provides a welcome release from work
If you're slowly going crazy with the monotony of work, then this is for you. Pouring time into your business idea ignites a fire in your belly and can make you a happier in the day job.
Speaking from personal experience, running my photography business alongside my Finance job helped me to stay sane.
As an 'artistic' type working in an office environment, I often felt like a round peg in a square hole, but my photography ticked many of the boxes which Finance couldn't, including providing a creative outlet.
What starts as a hobby or interest can sometimes set ablaze a new path so stay open to the clues as they arise.
Are you ready to breathe life into your idea?
Developing your seed of an idea and setting up in business is exciting, but it can feel overwhelming to know where to start, especially if you don't have a background in websites, design or marketing.
If you're wondering when's the right time to create your first website or how to get started with social media or building a cohesive visual brand, then I am here to help.
I believe that we should all be able to create fulfilling work doing what we love and I'll be sharing the very best ways of gaining traction for your brand so you can do just that.
If you're thinking of setting up in business then it's a super exciting time and I'd love to help illuminate your path - you can sign up for my email list to join my inner circle.
About Lucy:
I'm a brand designer, photographer and Wix website designer based in Dorset. I help female business owners and career changers build their brand and online presence through photography and web, brand & human design, so that they can turn their passions into the business they dream of.
Sign up to my email list to join my inner circle and for help on creating impact in your brand.