💡 Business Tip - Double Dip to Close the Gap (Issue #73)
💡 Business Tip - Double Dip to Close the Gap (Issue #73)
Leverage opportunities at work
I was talking with a client last week about their long-term goals. They just landed a new job, but they know they eventually want to start a business.
We discussed the gap between where they are today and where they need to be to get the business off the ground someday. They were worried about trying to spread their focus between their job and their business planning efforts.
I said, “Here’s the good news. You can double dip for a while.”
What do I mean by that?
Well, the work you need to do to advance your career within a company is often the same work that helps prepare you for successfully launching a business later.
Learning new skills (e.g., sales).
Acquiring knowledge (e.g., financial operations).
Getting experience in a new vertical (e.g., AI).
Meeting potential investors.
Strengthening your network.
Getting your name out there with public speaking.
In the last few years of my final corporate job, I gained a lot of experience that I knew would come in handy later for my own business. I knew I wanted to launch a startup someday, but I also knew I had some gaps that would make it challenging.
So, I focused on acquiring useful skills, knowledge, and experience on the job.
Getting better at public speaking made me a more effective spokesperson for my employer, but it also made it easier for me to be the CEO of my startup later and raise funding.
Learning PR and how to deal with the media was necessary for my executive role, but it also came in handy when I launched my startup.
I learned more about financial planning, business operations, etc., from my boss (the GM), which I needed since I ran all of that for my startup a few years later.
Learning more about marketing and sales made me a better executive, but it was also essential for handling all of that for my own businesses later.
So, spend some time documenting the gap between where you are now and what you‘ll need to launch your solopreneur business later. Then, find opportunities in your day job to gain the skills, knowledge, and experience you need to close that gap.
This investment in your professional development will help you advance your career at work and launch your successful business later.
I’m Larry Cornett, a Freedom Coach who works with you to optimize your career, business, and life. My mission is to help you take complete control of your work and life so you can become a more “Invincible You.” I live in Northern California near Lake Tahoe with my wife and our Great Dane.