How are you fitting in working and setting a business up - I am struggling!

[slipperandpjsmum]

I am working ft and tying to set a business up. I am also completing a course that is required for my business. I am finding it difficult to do everything. How are other people managing working and planning/running their new business? Any tips?

Hi slipperandpjsmum. I don't have experience of working full time whilst trying to set up a business, as I did some leg work whilst on maternity leave, and now do part time employed work alongside trying to get my business off the ground. I didn't want your post to go unanswered though.
Could you complete the course you are doing first and then spend that time on working on your business?
Do you have a supportive DP/DH? Do you have children?

Hi slippersandpjsmum

I'm in the same position as you, trying to find clients while working full time and volunteering.

I find it hard to motivate myself sometimes, especially if I've had a bad day at work and just want to go home and put my feet up. I wrote a list of my goals and the reason why I'm setting up on my own and I look at it whenever I'm struggling to keep going.

I also try not to be a slave to my to do list. I love writing lists but sometimes they can be demotivating when you see how much you have to do so I've stopped giving myself a hard time if I don't achieve everything I want to in a week.

If I'm feeling tired, I just do one small thing that takes me a step closer to my goals. Breaking tasks down into smaller pieces also helps if it seems too daunting because that can frighten me into procrastination.

Hope this is useful to you, I am always looking for new ways to keep myself motivated and stop procrastinating on here

I map out my day as to when I'm going to be responsible for what. E.g., my own business is operational from 5-7am and again in the evenings. I try and take Saturday night "off".

I also tend to spend my lunchtime on "my" business and I have a couple of long train journeys this week which are again my time.

I am married and have 2 children under 2.5. Tbh I have no idea how I filled my time before children! ;)

Whilst I'm working crazy hours right now I hope that when I'm in a position to give up the day job I'll be able to relax a little - although I doubt that will be an option given that I'll be then worried about sales!

Like 50ft, I break everything down into small chunks and aim to cross a few things off the list everyday - mentally I need to have achieved something every day and know what I'm doing relates to a goal.

Always thanks for your reply. My dh works 7 days a week. We have 4 dcs.

Thanks Fifty and Dolomites those replies of been really helpful to know I am not alone. Part of me wants to give up my full time job now so I can fully concentrate on my own business but that is just financially impractical. Has anyone set a date when they will leave their jobs to give them a date to aim for? I was thinking of doing this eg I will hand in my notice on the 1 March 2013?

I was able to cut down my work hours, but only after a couple of years working full-time and studying 20hrs a week on top. Eventually in my last year of salaried work I went down to four days a week... In my organisation it was quite common for parents of both sex to work four days a week so nobody really questioned me.
Then when I got my first big freelance client I went down to 3days a week in my old job for the last three months before leaving. I knew I was leaving as did everybody else as I was on a four year contract so I didn't have to hand in my notice as such.

I'm the main earner so I cannot give up the day job until I'm making an equal (or very soon to be equal) income - even then, I'd like to have quite a bit stashed away in case it all goes tits up. This could be December this year or it could be December next year - although it is in my rolling plan for next summer.

I do have the option though to go part-time at some point within the next 7 years (that should cover it! ;)) which I might do - because I'm very nervous about giving up the pay cheque!