Trying to juggle a full-time job and a business can be done. Consider these tips for smooth sailing.
1) Be upwardly mobile: If you are still holding down a day job you will find that handheld wireless units provide privacy as well as constant e-mail contact with your clients. It’s best to check on your side business at lunch or during breaks.2) Use better business cards: If you must give a business card out at work or to people associated with your job, it won’t scream “I have my own business,� if you use a card with your name, personal e-mail and phone number. Don’t include the name of your business if you want to remain anonymous.
3) Avoid time wasters: Write form letters that can be reused and store them on your computer or handheld wireless device. Simply change the details for each business transaction for fast and easy communication. This cuts down on response time during business hours.
4) Cell formula: Create an outgoing message that lets callers know how to get the quickest response from you. Add a tag line, “I check my voicemail regularly however, for a faster response please e-mail me at (fill in your e-mail address)
5) Are your lips sealed: Some employees don’t mind if you have a side-business yet others would prefer you keep what ever it is that you are doing a SECRET! Be careful not to flaunt what you are doing because it may cause friction or jealousy amongst your co-workers.
6) Timing is everything: It is best to handle things for your side-business when you are NOT at your day job even if you have lots of free time. Run your business evenings and weekends and set boundaries for your clients by letting them know the hours you are available to them.
Since this probably isn’t the right time to quit your day job, go the extra mile at work. Don’t time to slack off or to get sidetracked with your side-business. Do things that will keep your boss feeling you are committed to your job.
Photo by MSDesigns.
Billy on June 8th, 2007 at 6:36 am
Please tell you’re not actually giving advice to tell people how to “slack off� at their primary place of employment…
It’s both unethical and definately incredibly rude to your current employer if you’re attempting to establish or manage your business during any hour of the day that isn’t tied to your own primary job. Mixing the two during the day is a one way ticket to the unemployment office. If you’re passionate about this “side job�, that you must keep tabs on it during your empoyer’s time, then you should consider doing everyone a favor and do the thing you’re most pasionate about full time.
Definately keep your personal time to your own and the advice about lunch time activity fit in well. If you must do this side job during the day take advantage of off times where your customer’s actually might have better service 8am to 9am and 6pm to 8pm… you’ll find that offering afterhour responses can get you far AND won’t conflict with your day job.
There is no privacy or anonimity within your workplace… office gossip, casual conversations, overheard phone calls and a simple google search or errant blog post and you’re open to a visit from your primary HR Rep. Instead, focus on being honest and open about it, hopefully your ’side job’ can be benefitial to your current employer or be paired with other services that can impact both you and your coworkers.
It’s pretty clear with todays 2.5 worker per home income needs you might have to hold down a second job to keep afloat… check with you HR Rep and see if there are forms and policies that will keep both of you in the clear. A lot of companies and state employee services require a secondary employment form that must be filled out.
Your employer is paying for your undivided attention during the work day to focus on their business, job and livlihood… if you’re busy attending to your emails and customers then you are probably not paying any attention to your employer’s emails and clients.