There is so much talk about quitting our jobs, becoming an entrepreneur, owning a business and living the life!â donât get me wrong, I am grateful for that. Until recently, Black people havenât typically been exposed to these types of opportunity, at least not on a regular basis, and it sure wasnât the norm. We are finally are moving into places we only thought were only deemed White spaces, we are chartering territory that havenât been explored in generations â or at all. We are breaking barriers, shattering ceilings and creating wealth for ourselves, all by ourselves. Go us đđžâđž. Our ancestors are proud.
While all of that sounds great, I canât say any of this without being realistic and setting expectations to the folks who are trying to get there.
Let me start by saying this: itâs 100% okay if youâre not on the same level as âeveryone elseâ. If you are still in a corporate job you hate, or maybe you love the work you do but donât feel valued. Your journey is your journey, your blessings are for you. Donât feel pressured to be on the timeline of anyone else, especially the âgram.
If you are thinking about quitting, obtaining that slice of freedom you long for, the opportunity to work for yourself, develop a business you dedicate your all to, impact the lives of others, and make a decent income to afford you the lifestyle you want, then go for it!
But I am not going to let you crash and burn without the knowledge of what you are walking into, or without a plan. I find it vital that I share with you the real, the raw and the ugly. Not only the âbest lifeâ tings.
So if youâre thinking about quitting, wanting to start your own thing, and hype about entrepreneurship,
1. Donât trust Instagram
Instagram makes it look easy, glamorous, and normal to just up and quit your day; the one thing that has been providing you a sense of financial stability, lifestyle affordability, and maybe even luxury experiences. They even have the audacity to glorify the entrepreneur struggle. Before you quit, keep reading.
2. There's no such thing as an overnight success
Nothing happens over night - especially entrepreneurship. While you may be eager to take action; understanding what you want, and where you want to go is the first thing you need to actually âdoâ. Patience is the most important tool in your tool kit. This is going to be key now, and throughout your journey.
3. Start now
Itâs never too late to start. We hear that all of the time. But instead of waiting until you take the leap and quit, get a head start. While you are still getting a steady pay check, this is the perfect time to prepare your bank account & mindset for entrepreneurship. Commit to cutting down your expenses, changing your lifestyle, forgoing certain luxuries. Temporary sacrifice for longterm gain. Making small habit changes will not only allow you to save, but get you in the habit of operating at a low expense, because the first few years of entrepreneurship is going to be up and down There is no guarantee you will make money day one, maybe not even year one.
4. Prepare your coins
Saving is going to be an important part of this whole process. Unfortunately we need money to eat, live and survive, so getting prepared now is the best thing you can do for yourself.
180-365 days out from quitting, you should be clear on your savings goals and how to get there (anywhere from 6- 12 months of living covered + a rainy day fund). Make sure your bills, taxes, credit cards are caught up or in a good place. Itâs time to wean yourself off the monthly paycheck mentality.
5. Relearn what it means to make money
Unlike a 9-5, entrepreneurship is unpredictable.
As much as everyone likes to sell you on the idea of âmaking 6 figuresâ, what they donât tell you is that one month you have the possibility to make $30K while the next 3 months you may not even break even. Not to mention start up expenses, investments, and more. And tbh, 6 figures really isnât a lot. Corporate has conditioned us to glorify certain amounts of money, causing us to create ceiling caps in our minds, when really with entrepreneurship the opportunities to make money are endless if you are discipline and have vision.
Relearn what it means to make money.
6. Plan your next career steps
Start thinking about how you are going to actually make money.
What make sense for the long term? Hereâs the real tea: what make sense when IG becomes irrelevant? Think about your skills, reciepts, past experiences and connections. There is more to entrepreneurship than teaching someone how to do something.
Itâs not only about money but, the impact you want to create. This is usually the reason people leave their corporate jobs, to do something more fulfilling that stems from passion. What is that for you? How does it play out in the longterm? What can you do now to hone in on this craft and area of expertise?
7. Free time = planning time
Be a student to the game and learn that the game requires sacrifice.
If you want to succeed, you canât just quit and think âwhat now?â Learn, research, get mentorship, invest in courses, resources, events, watch documentaries, read books â Your âfree timeâ is time to work on your business while you still have an income. NOT when you quit.
8. Take advantage of your corporate perks and benefits first
Now would be good time to start thinking about how to max out your corporate perps.
Things like over investing in your 401K, especially if your company matches. Maximizing your tax return by timing your quit day. Cashing out and using sick days, vacation and PTO before they are lost or no longer usable.
How can you use what you have to set you up for whatâs next?
9. Branding starts now
Your reputation is your brand.
Donât burn bridges. Leave on a good note, you will need this network later in life. Take your learnings from corporate and apply them to this new journey. Practice patience, abundant thinking, and getting comfortable with the uncomfortable. Getting started is the easy part, staying in the game is where the real work is.
10. show up to practice
Know that itâs a long game and like any game, you have to prepare and go to practice, you canât just jump all in or you wonât last. You got this! Keep your head in the game.
Quitting your job is a huge leap, and it certainly isnât for everyone. However, if you feel like something is calling you to get your ducks in a row so that you can create something bigger than you, join us on the other side in the land of entrepreneurship.
Check out my B.R.U.N.C.H. training to establish a brand roadmap, start laying the ground work of your next steps, and understand how to present yourself as an entrepreneur.
