WHY are entrepreneurs so focused on this one thing?
Or, how I learned to stop stressing & not hate the 9-5 hustle.
Recently, I’ve gotten swallowed into the entrepreneur/solopreneur world of amazing awesome people. It makes sense, Action+Attitude has taken HUGE leaps in development and I couldn’t be more thrilled. But, one thing has really started to annoy me—the constant push by coaches for folks to quickly get out of the 9-5 game, and other entrepreneurs talking about the 9-5 as if it’s the.worst.thing.ever.
Okay, on one hand, I get it.
Why be an entrepreneur if not to go off on your own and do your thing?
I’m all about the dream and goal to be able to support myself doing what I absolutely love, so much so that it’s all I can think about. I get the obsession.
I also don’t get it.
What about all this talk about gratitude and being present in the moment?
For where I am in life, I’m unbelievably thankful that I have my 9-5. It’s definitely not always sunshine and rainbows (really, what job is?) but there are so many benefits that every night I go to bed thankful I have such a great opportunity to grow personally and professionally.
I’ve embraced the 25th hour.
I know that to keep momentum in my business, I need to touch it every.single.day. So, to make sure that happens, it’s the first thing I do. During the week, I wake up at 5:30 and keep the following schedule:
- 5:30 awake, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t grumpy about it. I’ve been waking up at this time for a year, and I’m still not a “morning person.”
- 5:45 actually up and working out by this point. I also listen to any number of productivity, entrepreneurial, or mindset podcasts.
- 6:30 read
- 7:00 get ready to tackle the day.
Whoa whoa whoa, hold up, you said you do business stuff first! There’s no mention of blogging or Clickfunnels or anything!
You are correct! Sometimes I’ll blog or start a piece of content that comes to me, but I do not intend to start my day with that. I’m already working out by 6am, you expect me to also be creating stuff? What’s important to remember is, everything I do before 7, fuels my brain to make the best content possible, be fully present for clients, and be awesome the rest of the day.
Any established leader or entrepreneur will tell you that both exercise and continued education are essential to being successful in business. Yet, those are often the two easiest pieces to push to the side when balancing a 9-5 and your own gig. So, I make sure to knock them out before anything can get in the way. It’s all about that 25th hour, baby!
I have crazy productive time-wasting sessions.
I read a quote once that was along the lines of, “if you want something done, ask the busiest person you know.” Heavens is it true!
Let me be clear, I am NOT talking about being busy just to be busy. It’s just, if I have a list of 5 things to do for work, 5 things to do for my business, and I don’t want to do one of them, I have 9 other options. Chances are, one of those things in my to-do list, fits the bill for being low-key or engaging enough to snap me out of my zone-outs. (If they don’t, I know I’m done and in need of a couple hours of mindless entertainment, a martini, or a nap...probably all 3.)
I have the ongoing opportunity to gain new experiences, hear different perspectives, and be challenged.
Let’s all just be honest and embrace that when we’re in it for our businesses, we get an extreme case of tunnel vision. Focus is great and all, but if you keep your experiences and connections in the same circles all the time, you’re going to lose touch with what’s going on outside your niche.
Going to work means I get to talk tech, strategy, design, events, finance, and a slew of other random topics that come up.
Knowing how to channel your ideal client is great, but when you consistently surround yourself by folks who think like you, the world can get rather small, rather quickly. (This is true for a number of professions, not just entrepreneurs, but for most other professions, you do still have to maintain professional relationships with folks you don’t click with 100%.)
I get to hang out with my pup and I get to travel.
Fun fact:I work from home AND am a W-2 status employee. Also, if you haven’t picked up on it already, I definitely do more than make phone calls, transcribe records, or do whatever the stereotype is for people who work from home. I have a pretty flexible schedule, I have at least one day a week carved out to stay home, most of the time though I go 2 or 3 days without seeing my team.
In the past few months I’ve hit up NYC, Orlando, and a couple other cities for work events. In 2 weeks I’m going to Chicago, and in 6 weeks or so, I’ll be hanging out in Toronto. I’ve also been able to extend all these trips to take in the sites for a few more days, only needing to pay for the hotel beyond the length of the event. Not bad, right?
I know rent is paid
Ugh, yeah, I really went there and pointed out the most basic fact about a 9-5. But, it’s not about the money per-se, it’s the mindset that the money allows. I’m able to focus on content and pieces of my business that I’m truly passionate about. I can take bigger risks (and see bigger rewards) early on. This means, when I am ready to fly on my own, I have a more advanced understanding of what my personal business cycle, will look like throughout its ups and downs.
Also, the paycheck fosters some of my core mindfulness practices. Every two weeks, when I get that direct deposit, I’m reminded to be thankful. I’m in a stage of life where I am able to fully reap the benefits of a 9-5, and have my own business to fulfill my passions. I know a lot of people don’t have that privilege, or either privilege for that matter. For now, I’m so thankful that I get to live in both worlds.