Happy New Year!
Can you believe it’s 2020? I seriously love this time of year.
It feels like the perfect time for a fresh start.
Especially, since it’s the top of a brand new decade. The new year is the time new businesses start or roll out new products. And as someone who is all about that start-up life let me be the person to burst ya bubble.
Here is my list of 5 reasons to NOT start a brand new business this year.
- You are only starting a brand new business because you clicked a link promising to give you the secret formula to start your business. Listen, everything you can get from these magic bundles you can find on google dot com. for free.
- You are trying to monetize a hobby. And by hobby, I really mean that thing you only do a couple of times a year. This is not sustainable and you will quickly hate
your hobby. - You have kids. Here’s the deal, we all know children are expensive. A new business means inconsistent money. The level of stress that comes from not knowing when your next paycheck comes from will quickly sour any and all dreams of your shiny new business.
The perfect time to start a business WITH kids are when they are already in school. If you recently had a baby don’t do it. I don’t care what the mommy blog says, you are going to hate life very quickly. Keep your current gig or focus on parenthood but don’t start a new
thing now. - You don’t have a business plan or idea or product. I’m sure you are thinking you can do this. You sure can…while at your day job and not before you quit. Nothing surprises people more about how much business goes into starting a new business than when you first get started. Do not press ‘go’ and think you’ll just ‘figure it out’ later. You won’t.
- You are trying to escape your current job. I will say I am very, very guilty of this. I firmly believe that starting your own business due to workplace issues makes me want to strongly suggest you make sure your issue is not with yourself. I am serious. Go to a career counselor. Invest in getting your resume redone. Go to therapy.
Whatever you do, take stock of yourself before leaping out to the startup world.
Now I am sure some of you are looking at this and looking at my website that clearly offers remote services and thinking ‘this hypocritical b$#%’. You would be only slightly correct.
I think there are three very good reasons to start a SIDE HUSTLE that if (and emphasis on “if”) successful you should think about turning into a full-time gig.
- You have a passionate hobby that you could literally do all day every day without fail. I am serious if you wake up and can not wait to get to your hobby then do a trial run. Set your self up to do your side hustle part-time then slowly scale.
- You would rather starve than go back to work. Look, sometimes the only way to go up is hitting rock bottom. Rock bottom will give you the time, space, and clarity to force you to take stock of what’s important.
- You don’t have anyone relying on your paycheck. Are the kids self-sufficient? Are you about to retire? Or did you pay off the car, house, and are in relatively good health? Then go for it. Start that business. I know that list seems extreme but it’s really not. Last year I had a health crisis that turned into a weeks-long hospital stay, I had a child in daycare, I had a mortgage payment, and a car note due. Do you know what kept me from going insane (besides the mighty grace of Yah)? A steady paycheck from a regular job. When you have a startup or a new business not having to worry about large bills will give you the freedom to dive in.
I’m excited for the new year, but after a week of businesses filling up my inbox with promises to help me launch a new business in 3 easy steps, I had to say something.
Oh, and one more thing, never pay for something you can get off google for free. If you’re going to work, then DO the work.
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