For 17 years, I worked at the United Nations. While it was an honor to meet four presidents, including President Obama, be up close to the Pope, stand next to Iranian President Ahmadinejad, I hated my job.
Like many of you, I have burning inside me the desire and need to create, to innovate and work with great people. Where I was working at the United Nations, this was not always the case. Sure, some people were awesome and we had elements of creativity and innovation, but overall I felt stifled.
At the UN, I started two businesses: SmallBizTechnology.com and the Small Business Summit. The United Nations has clear rules against any outside employment or having one’s own business, without permission. I had this permission, but after a few years it was revoked.
I had to make a choice: grow my passion, my venture, my baby — or be fired.
On a Wednesday, I was told that Friday would be my last day working at the United Nations. I was fired.
I remember the fear gripping me when I realized that I’d no longer receive a check from the United Nations every month — that from that moment on, I’d have to enter full-time entrepreneurship and hustle like crazy (later on, this hustle idea would birth my third venture, Smart Hustle Magazine).
Each month, my wife — who was a full-time mom — would let me know how much less money we had in the bank. It was scary.
However, the day I was fired, my creativity, hustle, and passion kicked into overdrive, and the entrepreneur within me came even more alive. I was able to focus entirely on my business and build it like never before.
Being at the United Nations had been hurting my business.
Within a few months of being fired, I received more speaking engagements, more sponsors came on board, and more opportunities for paid writing opened up. Business exploded. Not only did my business grow, but I even sold my second venture, the Small Business Summit.
What’s the lesson here?
If you’re going to really, truly grow your business, you must let go of your full-time job and turn your “part-time” venture into a full-time one. Gary Vaynerchuk writes about this here and here.
So how do you survive when you leave your day job to focus on your venture?
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Save up money so you can live for six to 12 months. If you can’t save up money, stay with a caring friend or relative.
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While at your day job, test selling as much as you can of what you make to prove the concept.
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Be insane about your business. If you have friends who want to watch movies on the weekend or go clubbing, you’ll have to put them on pause while you focus on your business.
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Surround yourself with smart people who can advise you, whether they’re one-off advisors who you have a coffee with or a small board who you turn to on a regular basis.
- Ask yourself: can your “day job” turn into one of your clients?
And remember, you should not leave your full-time job without a plan and considering your finances, especially if you have a family to support. However, do know that it’s almost impossible to give your business a fighting chance if you’re working for someone else as well.