How to Maintain Your Day Job While Operating a Small Business

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No matter what it’s about, multitasking is a challenge. This is especially true when it concerns your financial sources. Whether it’s your job or your business venture, failing at one can mean big losses. Instead of increasing your income, you might lose a job or hinder the growth of your business. On the bright side, juggling both is possible and can lead to great success.

To help you handle both, check out these four ways:

Delegate Responsibilities

For specialized work like graphic design and PPC management, it’s best to hire professionals. It’s easy to think that you would save more by doing it yourself, but they are experts for a reason. Because of their skills and experience, they can help you achieve your goals faster. They already know what to do and how to reach your targets. On the other hand, if you try to do it yourself, there are more chances of mistakes. This is important in the era of social media where every little detail is scrutinized. It’s better to err on the side of caution and work with pros.

If your business is becoming too busy, you can also delegate simple tasks. For example, if you sell products online, you can get someone to help package orders for delivery. If you rent out your property, you can get someone else to organize amenities, clean, and help clients.

Improve Time Management

No one is focused at the task at hand 100% of the time. You probably spend a significant time scrolling through social media or playing a game when you should be doing something productive. While you may not do a complete 180, you can improve your habits.

One way is to compartmentalize. Set aside ample time for all your responsibilities. This way your mind can focus on the current task which can help you finish it quicker. You should also make goals for yourself. For each day, make a list of chores you want to accomplish. You can give yourself rewards for added motivation.

Be ready to compromise. With new responsibilities, you probably won’t maintain the same lifestyle as before. Learn how to prioritize time-sensitive and crucial tasks before you do other errands. It will take some getting used to, but the results can be fulfilling.

You may also have to cut back on some habits. If you find yourself using social media when you have to work, it’s a sign to reduce your usage. You can use productivity apps to help you focus. You can also try turning off the notifications for some apps, so you won’t get tempted to check it frequently.

Streamline Operations

Take notes of the tasks you have to do for your business venture. Do you spend a lot of time answering questions? There might be recurring inquiries which may mean there’s some text that’s confusing. You can improve the phrasing and edit the appearance to convey the message better. You can also make an FAQ page so you don’t have to answer the same questions over and over again. You can also use images to make it easier for your customers. When you’re adding more pages and text in your site, the important thing is to remain consistent. If there’s some conflicting information, it may cause confusion rather than clarity. To improve your operations, you have to put yourself in the shoes of the consumer. Figure out how their experience could be improved and how you can deliver it.

You should also automate what can be automated. There are services that can syncs your supplier’s system with yours, so you have accurate data. You can also hire an automated customer service so you can accommodate consumers around the clock.

Cut Back Hours at Your Day Job

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When the time comes that your business is taking off, it might be the time to reduce your hours at your day job. You can negotiate with your boss and explain the reason why. Make sure to highlight your achievements and contributions. Make it clear that you can still do your job property while juggling your business venture. You can use figures and data to make your case.

It’s important to note that there are several factors why your request may not be granted. It depends on how long you’ve been with the company and how well your performance has been. It’s also contingent on the needs of the company.

Multitasking can reveal your maximum potential. You may be limiting yourself now without knowing it. Although be careful of overstretching yourself, remember that balance is key.

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