Why do some people prefer a full time career versus others preferring entrepreneurship? Safety. A steady paycheck, benefits, and predictable work are definitely hard to walk away from. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a 9-5 job. However, there are people out there that just can’t thrive in that environment. The thrill and fulfillment of entrepreneurship can truly be rewarding, despite the hard work.
Many people struggle with choosing between a traditional 9-5 career and entrepreneurship. While a 9-5 job provides stability, benefits, and a steady paycheck, entrepreneurship offers freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity for unlimited earnings.
Me? I prefer entrepreneurship versus a 9-5 job. Why? Because, the most important thing to me is:
Freedom and Flexibility
Freedom to do whatever I want, like get on a plane and go to Puerto Rico for a month (which I did do). Or have major flexibility where I can spend Monday mornings cuddling with my baby boy. This to me is worth the risk of starting your own business.
In this article, we’ll explore the benefits and challenges of each option to help you make an informed decision.
Pros of a 9-5 Career:
- Stability: A 9-5 job offers a steady income and benefits, which can provide peace of mind and financial security. -predictability: With a 9-5 job, you know exactly what to expect each day, making it easier to plan your life.
Pros of Entrepreneurship:
-freedom: As an entrepreneur, you have the freedom to work on your own terms and schedule. -unlimited earning potential: There’s no cap to your earnings when you run your own business, providing the potential for unlimited financial growth. -fulfillment: Many entrepreneurs find that the thrill and satisfaction of building their own business is more fulfilling than working a 9-5 job.
Cons of a 9-5 Career:
-lack of control: With a 9-5 job, you’re at the mercy of your employer’s decisions, and your career growth may be limited. -lack of creativity: Some people find that a 9-5 job stifles their creativity and innovation.
Cons of Entrepreneurship:
-risk: Starting a business can be risky, and there’s no guarantee of success. -discipline: Running a successful business requires discipline, hard work, and a willingness to wear multiple hats. -uncertainty: The lack of stability and predictability can be challenging for some people.
Both a 9-5 career and entrepreneurship have their pros and cons. It’s up to each individual to weigh the benefits and challenges and determine which option is best for them. Whether you’re a risk-taker or prefer stability, there are options available that can lead to a fulfilling and successful career.
Get Your Finances In Order
Before I dove head first into entrepreneurship, I had to get over my financial anxiety and get my finances in order. I started by setting up an 8 month emergency fund and I started funding my sinking funds.
The beginning can feel scary because in entrepreneurship you do not have a stable income, no more paychecks every two weeks, – you have to create your income. This is an exciting and thrilling experience. Entrepreneurship is certainly not for the faint of heart. You need grit to get through the hard times, getting work done, keeping yourself and your team accountable, while continuing to grow as a business.
There are two things that were complete game changers for me as I continue to grow my business:
- Building a Team
- Software That Creates Workflows + Automation
Build a Team
Building a Team was a MUST in my business. I’m very good at multiple things but I quickly realized that though I could do everything myself and “keep the profit”, I was just setting myself up to stay small and hate the job I just created for myself. Adding a team member allowed me to give parts of my business to someone that could focus on it full-time and the projects they were assigned fit their experience so they thrived in their role. Win, win.
You can find amazing team members using OnlineJobs.Ph. You can find extraordinary team members from the Philippines that are talented, responsible, and speak english well! This is a perfect way to find someone, especially when you first start because costs are lower. However, I highly recommend increasing pay as you work with your dedicated virtual assistant. I’ve been working with my team member since 2019 and I absolutely love her! I’m in awe of all the talented work she does, her responsiveness, and how she’s been able to learn my business and provide solutions.
Not only was I able to clear up my plate to focus on my genius and what I Iove doing, my team began implementing new processes that made our lives easier. More work was getting done because more people could execute on the task and projects. I’m now able to focus on growing the business and CEO things. If you need help in your business hire, a one stop shop for your business needs.
Software + Automation
Adding software has reduced 80% of time spent on on-boarding, client intake, project management, bookkeeping, and so much more because it helped me automate parts of my business my team and I were spending too much time on. I highly suggest spending some time researching software that’s in your budget to eliminate unnecessary time spent on repetitive tasks. Your teams time should be spent elsewhere.
My favorite tools are:
- Dubsado
One stop shop for collecting lead information, forms, schedulers, contracts, invoices, automated workflows, invoices, time tracking, payment collection, and business bookkeeping + BONUS, the price is phenomenal. - Canva
Canva is my all time favorite tool. I’m a lover of design and I’ve used Photoshop and other image editing tools but Canva is by far the easiest to use, the one with the most resources, and continues getting better and ever. I will likely never cancel my subscription. - Siteground WordPress Website Hosting
99% of business is done alone so I rely on super fast and reliable hosting. Siteground hands down is the best out there. The customer service is out of this world. I’m also a fan of Bluehost, especially if you’re starting out with a modest budget. - Tailwind
This tool saves me absurd amounts of time every month. I use this to schedule social media posts (Instagram/Pinterest). I am obsessed with it and it also recommends the best time to post for maximum visibility. - Asana
I use Asana for Project Management, SOP’s, and simple To Do’s. It helps my team and I stay extremely organize and my business clients can easily share with me important information. - Slack
We use Slack as our main form of communication. I’ve also used this for communicating with clients as needed. Slack integrates with many different tools like google drive.
Majority of the above are free to use but they do all offer a paid version for premium experience.
Building a team and using the right software will make running your business so much easier. Take time building your funds so you can grow your team and plug in software that compliments your business. Starting your own business can be scary but there are simple steps you can do towards preparing yourself to make that huge leap.
