Entrepreneurial tips from a Corproate Refugee

Exactly 4 months to date, I packed up 6 years of my life shipped the mass of it off and filled Red Velvet (my pet name for my car, of course) to the brim with the rest. Leaving only enough room for a good girlfriend, and myself ready to make that drive cross-country from California to North Carolina.

My decision to drive was intentional. It felt like the perfect opportunity to start this transitional time with a real journey; an adventure.

Here I am 4 months later living my entrepreneurial dreams and the adventure is definitely still going. I know a lot you out there may have contemplated this same decision… should you make that jump, take that leap and pursue that thing you can’t stop thinking about? I say, if you can’t stop thinking about it, then HELL YES…but this path comes with its challenges.

So let me tell you about mine. Let me download you on what I’ve learned thus far about myself and about this process. Hopefully, this will help anyone transitioning or teetering over that ledge.

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1) Create YOUR routine.

This new freedom is akin to what you feel freshman year of college (or the first year out your parents' house). There is no one telling you to come in at 9 or to join this meeting or giving you that deadline. You set your own schedule and for me, that has been the hardest part. When that couch and Netflix is so inviting, when that midday nap is calling my name, figuring out what worked for me has been the most challenging part. I’ve always been a night owl, I get my best work as the sun goes down but this is so contrary to the years I’ve spent as an employee. I’ve been trained to think my most productive days are the ones I’ve spent working from 9-5 but the beauty of this is, I answer to me! And the truth is, I can set my goals and set what that schedule looks like to achieve those goals. I can determine what my work week looks like. Sounds so amazing right!? 

BUT I was lost at first; I’m not the best at organizing my days or consistently following processes. The most helpful tip for me has come with designating different days for different activities. Mondays, I allocate to handle all my writing and content calendar planning. Tuesdays my blog goes up first thing (well almost) and the remaining of Tuesday-Thursday I can be out in my shop building, leaving Friday and my weekend for family and friend time. But this is, there are days where I’m still shifting how I’m working but the overall structure has been so helpful to keep me on track and to remind myself that I’ve been productive today. Remind myself that I’ve gotten everything done allotted for Tuesday and that helps ease the worker-bee guilt.

2) Invest in Yourself.

I talked about this a bit in my “Find Your Tribe” post.  There are so many people that have blazed a similar path to the one you’re looking to take. You don’t have to figure it out all alone and with their help, you’ll get there quicker. Find people that can inspire and/or coach you. If you come across a course that is relevant and helpful to your path, invest in yourself. Often times the right course or coach will provide some actionable advice that will get to your goals quicker.

Consider:

• Listening to Podcasts for Entrepreneurs, or ones offering financial advice, ideas for passive incomes
• Online courses are aplenty. So many offerings out there, research and find one that works for you – don’t say no just because you think struggling on your own is apart of the process
• Master Classes can be expensive but it’s a dedicated group to help you. If you need a bit more discipline or guidance this could be great for you
• Business Coaches are even better for personalized attention, if you find someone you really respect and connect with, it might be advantageous for you to invest in their service

3) Let go of that ego.

This transition has been a tug on the ego at times. I left a rising career to start from scratch, at least that’s what it feels like at times. These moments get even harder when grandma (or people who don’t understand) ask about what you’re doing now or assumes you’re “in between jobs”. This isn’t their journey, don’t hold on to that vision of who you thought you were supposed to be by now (big office, big chair at someone else’s company) and make room for that bigger dream.

4) Set goals and plan.

Sometimes the bigger picture can be overwhelming. You see your vision and you know what you want to become, but how do you get there? Take those big and audacious goals and work backward. E.g: Financially, how much do you need to bring in a year to stay working for yourself? Then break that out into a monthly goal. $2K a month is much easier to see than $60K – you know exactly how much work you need to do in August to make your $2k goal. I know exactly how many pieces/clients I need to pull in to make that month work. Set your big goals and then break them down into monthly or weekly actions.

5) Plan but be flexible.

As you flow, new paths will open up with amazing opportunities that you may not have expected. Be open to exploring them even if you didn’t originally envision this route. There are so many different paths to your final destination.

6) Make time for self-care.

Entrepreneurship can be grueling. A whole new set of pressures and no set schedule. When you’re working up your routine make sure you’re slotting self-care in there. I read and journal daily. I read uplifting or motivating books that speak to where I am on my journey, reaffirming my choice. For all my Instagram friends, you know I also love a good workout + motivational podcast moment too.

7) Understand your market.

Do your research, find the people in your industry that are making waves. This will show you what people are responding to but also will help you find the gaps where you can carve your own space. Those people will influence and challenge you to push beyond. But don’t forget to run your own race. Don’t compare and despair. Know what is happening out there but also know there is only one you and no one can offer your perspective. There is space for you.

8) Don’t give in to Imposter syndrome.

The idea of imposter syndrome is the idea that you don’t belong where you are, you don’t deserve the title you have… “who am I to call myself an entrepreneur or blogger?” Forget that! Claim who you are, where you are and own it! The second you say yes to something, the universe will conspire to help you get there.

9) Set your foundation.

One of the first steps I took in building my business was to start with defining my foundation. Who am I?  What is my business structure? Who is my audience? What is my mission (statement)? What are my values?  What are my short and long-term goals? Get your word document together and write it out. This will inform everything you do, from your visual aesthetic to your website layout, to your content for social media, to the clients you take on or brands your sponsor! Setting your foundation also helps a lot when you’re finding yourself in that compare and despair state. Those nights you’re up on Instagram looking at everyone else, you’ll be reminded that you have your own plan. You’ll have already defined your lane. STAY IN IT.

10) Find your biz circle, your accountability group. 

Surround yourself with those people that are striving for something similar. This will be a constant source of motivation and a place for you to bounce your ideas around, friends to give you constructive honest feedback. Or just people to hold you accountable for what you said you were going to do.

11) Protect your energy.

Don’t let everyone else’s opinions get to you. You’ve already followed point #7 and set your foundation, you’ve already hit point #3 of setting your goals and you’ve got #8: your accountability crew. The rest of 'em… leave them to chirping to the birds.

12) Plan your exit.

Be strategic about your business moves and plan for your departure from corporate. Start building up your savings; calculate how far your savings will go. I knew I had to start bringing in more income before summer’s end so that I wouldn’t deplete my savings. Start building your connections; getting your name out there so people know about your new endeavors, these people may eventually become clients or that bridge to your next opportunity.

13) Stop prepping. Start acting.

There is only so much prep you can do, at some point, you’re going to have to go for it. Action is the antidote to fear. So start actioning... “You can’t catch a dream unless your first chase it”!

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These are a few things that stand out in my journey so far. 

Can any other budding entrepreneurs relate? What have been your challenges and learnings?