How to build your online business side hustle while still in your 9-5

Balancing Your goals and priorities.

“Go big or go home! Quit your job and build your business!” They said, but here’s why that’s not always the best idea for everyone.  It was right for me, only after I got a few wins.

Look, I don’t subscribe to any one size fits all wealth or business building strategies. Building your business while still employed gives you safety and security to build it right without hustling or worrying about money.

Here’s what I would do if I were still employed to build my business from the ground up in 2024.

If you’re feeling weird or ashamed about not quitting or getting a 9-5 while also running your business.  Look at it this way…

• Your 9-5 is your angel investor. Not something that is holding you back.

• You can make mistakes and test out different offers and services before you choose the one you want to run with!

• Money loves to come to people who feel safe with money.  If you want to attract premium clients, it will be hard if you are struggling to eat and pay bills.  Clients are repelled by desperate energy.

• You will feel safe to fail and fail faster, and you will learn what works quicker! 

Going all in on a new business, or side hustle while still in your 9-5 can drain you if you aren’t fueled by a greater belief or mission, so what's the best way to grow your business when you don’t have full time hours to commit?

Here's how I would do it if I had to start over!

Step 1: Figure out your Double MVP minimum viable product x maximum value product! Minimum effort transformation and maximum price of service or product.

Your MVP is the first demo of your eventual smash hit. It doesn’t need to be fancy with bells and whistles, it needs to offer a simple solution to a premium problem with an existing audience.

So, when you're crafting that MVP, think, "What’s the simplest way I can solve my user's problem?" “What are people willing to pay top dollar to have someone teach them or solve for them?”  “What process will I walk them through to get them results quickly?”

Step 2: Focus on getting to 10 client transformations before you turn it into a lower cost offer, course, or coaching program.

Now let’s go get 10 beta test clients or testimonials.  If you can sell all 10 spots immediately, you know you have an offer that solves a hot problem and is easy to scale. If, after 3 months, you still don’t have 10 clients, the offer or MVP needs tweaking. 

Don’t reinvent the wheel if it’s working, just add a new avatar that you serve at a different price.

Revisit it, ask your audience what their needs are.  What problems do they have? Create content that educates them on common problems you see in your niche, and how to overcome them.  

Evalue and tweak the position/price, deliverables, or message.

1 offer, 1 customer, 1 mission for 1 year. Don’t over complicate your business while you’re still in your 9-5.

Your energy will be distracted and unfocused. You don’t want to mess up with your new clients or your job when you don’t have a solid foundation yet.

Once you hit 10 take that same product and package it!

Raise your initial 1x1 offer to a higher, more premium price point, and create a roadmap/course or system to educate 1 to many and launch the same offer to a group, at a lower price point.

Step 3: Focus on your time management, numbers, and your exit strategy.  

How many hours a day can you reasonably dedicate to your side hustle while also working your 9-5? How long can you maintain this workload without burning out? Plan your goals around this desired outcome.

When going all in on your business without the safety net of a 9-5 there are a lot of factors that go into knowing how much you need to make to live the kind of life you desire.

1. What do you need to pay yourself?

2. What are your business expenses now?

3. What will you need to add in expenses if you take on more clients? 

4. Do the numbers make sense?

5. What do you need to add to pay yourself to account for retirement/healthcare expenses,etc (ie extra perks you get with your job).

6. Finish this sentence, when I hit ____ Monthly Recurring Revenue, for _____ months in a row, I’ll leave my job.

7. What is your 1 year and 5 year goal?  Is the market positioned for growth?  

8. What will you do with all your free time? And why are you so excited this has already happened?

9. How will you celebrate?

And. So. It. Is.

Bonus: If you are nervous about walking away from a cushier salary….Get brave enough to ask for a consulting role in your company after you get clients and start making money. You will be surprised at home many companies would jump at the idea of having you on board in a fractional role without paying your benefits package!

Until Next week, Trailblazers… I’m rooting for you!