How to get past the "I need a job" feeling, so I can actually grow my offline business???

24 replies
So, I figured I would share some of my struggles in hopes of getting some sound advice (or a good kick in the ass) from other warriors.

So, I have been running a semi-successful mobile marketing company since Oct of last year, when I was downsized from my job. I have been doing okay with it, averaging about $1500 per month in new sales. I know that is not Donald Trump, but it pays the bills. And, honestly, I have only been giving it about 40% effort. I have been in direct sales for over 10 years, so I know what must be don't to be successful, but I don't seem to do it consistently!

Which leads to my problem...

I can not seem the shake the fear that I need to "Go back and get a job". I think it is the stability that I feel it provides (set pay, health benefits, etc).

So, I guess what I am asking of other successful warriors is how to change that "mindset" that I need a job? When looking over my past 6 months, I realize I have been treating my mobile business as a "hobby", and maybe that is the problem. I have no real structure, I just get on the phones, or hit the streets when I feel the need to turn things up. I can literally let my pipeline go dry, and suddenly spend a couple days in heavy prospecting, and make sales. I just wish I could get past myself, and begin to be consistent. I am my own problem! LOL

If anyone can provide some insight or suggestions, I would appreciate it!
#business #feeling #grow #i need a job #offline #past
  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    You'll never get wealthy working for someone else.

    You'll never get to be the highly-functioning person you imagine yourself to be by working for someone else.

    You'll never have the freedom working for someone else.

    If you don't value those things over everything else, then I think it really is best you go get a job.

    Otherwise, you do have to get used to the ups and downs. It can be scary. That's part of the choice.

    As far as your sales pipeline goes, you have to find motivation to keep it full beyond immediate financial need.
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    • Profile picture of the author Allustrious
      Thanks Jason. I know your highly respective here, so I value your opinion!

      Originally Posted by Jason Kanigan View Post

      You'll never get wealthy working for someone else.

      You'll never get to be the highly-functioning person you imagine yourself to be by working for someone else.

      You'll never have the freedom working for someone else.

      If you don't value those things over everything else, then I think it really is best you go get a job.

      Otherwise, you do have to get used to the ups and downs. It can be scary. That's part of the choice.

      As far as your sales pipeline goes, you have to find motivation to keep it full beyond immediate financial need.
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  • Profile picture of the author James Foster
    You feel like you need a job because it gives you consistent income right?

    So that should be goal #1. Sell a service that will bring you a recurring revenue.

    There are lots of options there. Pick 1 or 2 and start drumming up business.
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    • Profile picture of the author Allustrious
      Originally Posted by James Foster View Post

      You feel like you need a job because it gives you consistent income right?

      So that should be goal #1. Sell a service that will bring you a recurring revenue.

      There are lots of options there. Pick 1 or 2 and start drumming up business.
      Yes, it's the consistent income that I want and need.
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  • Profile picture of the author James Foster
    Like I said, pick a service that you can provide that gives you a recurring revenue stream... and start selling!
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    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
      Hire someone. Not really to make money for you (although that will happen) but to make you work.

      You'll have to train them...in the field...which means you'll have to work.

      You'll have to meet them every morning...because they have a job now...and you'll have to work.

      Your production will shoot through the roof.

      And that "I need a job" feeling? It's because you don't have money in the bank. You are now living a "gas tank always just above empty" life.

      $5,000 in the bank would do wonders for that "I need a job" feeling. You could get that in a decent month...if you would put forth an effort.

      You're working when you need money...and not before. You are now treating your business like a part time job...one you would be fired from if you were an employee.

      I would hire someone. Being their boss will force you to work.

      or you could set up a marketing funnel that forces you to be productive. When someone calls to order (or an enquirer) you can't just hang up on them..you'll have to actually talk to them.

      But this takes time. Hiring someone to train to sell with you...takes a week.

      Good luck.
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      • Profile picture of the author DaniMc
        Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

        Hire someone. Not really to make money for you (although that will happen) but to make you work.

        You'll have to train them...in the field...which means you'll have to work.

        You'll have to meet them every morning...because they have a job now...and you'll have to work.

        Your production will shoot through the roof.

        And that "I need a job" feeling? It's because you don't have money in the bank. You are now living a "gas tank always just above empty" life.

        $5,000 in the bank would do wonders for that "I need a job" feeling. You could get that in a decent month...if you would put forth an effort.

        You're working when you need money...and not before. You are now treating your business like a part time job...one you would be fired from if you were an employee.

        I would hire someone. Being their boss will force you to work.

        or you could set up a marketing funnel that forces you to be productive. When someone calls to order (or an enquirer) you can't just hang up on them..you'll have to actually talk to them.

        But this takes time. Hiring someone to train to sell with you...takes a week.

        Good luck.
        This was the first thing that came to my mind also....but....

        Then I started thinking --- if you can't motivate yourself, how are you ever, ever supposed to motivate someone else? You have to sell yourself on the fact that you should be working harder before you can convince someone else of this fact.

        Honestly, if you've only been giving 40% since Oct - and you want us to tell you how to be motivated...you might just go get a job as a sales rep and forget being in business for yourself. Sorry.

        I don't need someone to motivate me because I have a MORAL OBLIGATION to succeed.

        I OWE it to my wife who is so supportive of me.

        I have a DUTY to show my son what it means to be successful in every area of life. I want him to succeed - I must lead him there by example.

        Failure is simply not an option. I would not be failing myself, I would be harming my family. I would be harming the people who need my services. I would be harming my community.

        To succeed is the only option you have, in order to be a good, ethical, moral person.

        With this in mind, I can work for days on end non-stop! Success is ALL IMPORTANT.

        Right now - you are just putting in 40% - and you are failing on your ETHICAL DUTY as a human being and member of your family and community.

        Do everyone a favor - figure out where you can really put in 100% and then go DO it.
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        • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
          Originally Posted by Dan McCoy View Post

          This was the first thing that came to my mind also....but....

          Then I started thinking --- if you can't motivate yourself, how are you ever, ever supposed to motivate someone else? You have to sell yourself on the fact that you should be working harder before you can convince someone else of this fact.
          Dan;

          I got the idea because for a few years (decades ago, when I was single) I worked by myself...working maybe 6-8 hours a week, selling one or two vacuum cleaners a week..to pay all my bills.

          I was making a good living. But I enjoyed goofing off even more. So I opened an office, ran an ad...and went to work with a small crew.

          My income was forced upward. I was now obligated to more than myself (I wasn't married at the time)...and it forced me to work full days.

          Training people was easy, but I had to show up..and no excuse was good enough.

          Also, when I opened my retail store...we were making ends meet, but just being in a store all day doesn't mean people are buying all day.

          So I learned how to advertise and market. My net income shot up way higher than my comfort level. I kept growing rapidly until 2007. In that year I made 5 times more money than I ever did selling in homes. And my "comfort level" increased. Now, I'm very uncomfortable if my income drops below..well, it's a lot.

          So my marketing forced me to make money and work hard. I never would have put in the effort without being forced to talk to buyers and work full days. And now, I feel like a loser if my income falls to... what 10 years ago, was a pie-in-the-sky goal.

          I'm motivated now, because I'm doing things I truly enjoy. Writing, speaking, selling. And my time wasting hobbies are a thing of the past.

          But the idea of creating an outside reason to force yourself to work...worked for me. At least I needed it a few decades ago.
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        • Profile picture of the author payoman
          Originally Posted by Dan McCoy View Post

          This was the first thing that came to my mind also....but....

          Then I started thinking --- if you can't motivate yourself, how are you ever, ever supposed to motivate someone else? You have to sell yourself on the fact that you should be working harder before you can convince someone else of this fact.

          Honestly, if you've only been giving 40% since Oct - and you want us to tell you how to be motivated...you might just go get a job as a sales rep and forget being in business for yourself. Sorry.

          I don't need someone to motivate me because I have a MORAL OBLIGATION to succeed.

          I OWE it to my wife who is so supportive of me.

          I have a DUTY to show my son what it means to be successful in every area of life. I want him to succeed - I must lead him there by example.

          Failure is simply not an option. I would not be failing myself, I would be harming my family. I would be harming the people who need my services. I would be harming my community.

          To succeed is the only option you have, in order to be a good, ethical, moral person.

          With this in mind, I can work for days on end non-stop! Success is ALL IMPORTANT.

          Right now - you are just putting in 40% - and you are failing on your ETHICAL DUTY as a human being and member of your family and community.

          Do everyone a favor - figure out where you can really put in 100% and then go DO it.
          Although this post has it's heart in the right place, it's not really practical.

          Sure, being SUPER-PASSIONATE-ETHICAL-DUTY-RAWWWR is great, but it's not like there's a clear road to getting INTO that state of mind, right?

          I actually really relate to the OP, I was in exactly the same spot only a couple of months ago, until I had a bit of an epiphany (and I think the OP might reach this conclusion too, with some thinking) :

          Why would I ever settle for a pay check, when I could learn a subject, create a business out of it, and make a shitload more than most jobs, simply by applying myself?

          Its been done by immigrants who didn't know a word of the native language, by criminals, by the most stupid people you could think of. How? They just APPLIED themselves, became an expert at something, and charged a good amount of money for it. Anyone can do it!

          In the end, I would be CHEATING MYSELF to go back to a job. And you would be too, IMO.

          It's like taking the red pill in the Matrix. Once you have seen the truth (that business owners aren't any smarter, or wiser, or more intelligent. You don't need a degree, or qualifications to be a business owner. They were just more PERSISTENT and STUBBORN), I can't see how you can turn back to the 'false reality' (that working for 30 years in a safe, comfy job will somehow give you a rich life).

          This ended up a bit of a rant, but I learned a lot in the last 2 months.

          If you quit a business, and that business has a real market with customers buying right now, to go back to a job, you are cheating yourself. Anyway, the grass is always greener when you're bored or times are tough or whatever.
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        • Profile picture of the author Siliconboy187
          Originally Posted by Dan McCoy View Post

          This was the first thing that came to my mind also....but....

          Then I started thinking --- if you can't motivate yourself, how are you ever, ever supposed to motivate someone else? You have to sell yourself on the fact that you should be working harder before you can convince someone else of this fact.

          Honestly, if you've only been giving 40% since Oct - and you want us to tell you how to be motivated...you might just go get a job as a sales rep and forget being in business for yourself. Sorry.

          I don't need someone to motivate me because I have a MORAL OBLIGATION to succeed.

          I OWE it to my wife who is so supportive of me.

          I have a DUTY to show my son what it means to be successful in every area of life. I want him to succeed - I must lead him there by example.

          Failure is simply not an option. I would not be failing myself, I would be harming my family. I would be harming the people who need my services. I would be harming my community.

          To succeed is the only option you have, in order to be a good, ethical, moral person.

          With this in mind, I can work for days on end non-stop! Success is ALL IMPORTANT.

          Right now - you are just putting in 40% - and you are failing on your ETHICAL DUTY as a human being and member of your family and community.

          Do everyone a favor - figure out where you can really put in 100% and then go DO it.
          Wow!! Slow down there killer. I'm not some slack off, irresponsible jerk that has no regard for my family. Actually, quite the contrary! I would consider myself a very hard worker. But, as others have so nicely pointed out, my focus and structure is what needs the work, not my moral character.
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      • Profile picture of the author Rus Sells
        I was thinking the EXACT same thing Claude! lol Great advice!

        Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

        Hire someone. Not really to make money for you (although that will happen) but to make you work.

        You'll have to train them...in the field...which means you'll have to work.

        You'll have to meet them every morning...because they have a job now...and you'll have to work.

        Your production will shoot through the roof.

        And that "I need a job" feeling? It's because you don't have money in the bank. You are now living a "gas tank always just above empty" life.

        $5,000 in the bank would do wonders for that "I need a job" feeling. You could get that in a decent month...if you would put forth an effort.

        You're working when you need money...and not before. You are now treating your business like a part time job...one you would be fired from if you were an employee.

        I would hire someone. Being their boss will force you to work.

        or you could set up a marketing funnel that forces you to be productive. When someone calls to order (or an enquirer) you can't just hang up on them..you'll have to actually talk to them.

        But this takes time. Hiring someone to train to sell with you...takes a week.

        Good luck.
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  • Profile picture of the author shane_k
    Seems to me that this, " I need a job" feeling is not necessarily about money but more about you not trusting yourself that you will be consistently productive.

    You said you have only been putting in about 40% effort. Would you feel the same way if you were consistently putting in 85% effort? What about 95%?

    Probably not.

    I agree with the others in that you need to find a way to motivate yourself. But from my experience, having a structure or system of productivity is just as important.

    Motivation with no structure will have you moving but moving all over the map instead of in one consistent direction.

    I would recommend that you check out this book called The 12 Week Year.

    What the authors do is show you how to build a structure of productivity, or execution as they call it, around a 12 week cycle. We've had them come into our company and teach our executives and employees and have seen huge increases in productivity, and revenue, and alot of sales people doubling their incomes.

    They teach about creating a vision, setting 12 week goals, breaking those goals down so you know what you need to do each week, and setting what they call lead and lag indicators, and how to track your results.

    They also talk about many different obstacles to productivity and how to overcome them.

    Another great book is The Pomodoro Technique which you can download for free. It teaches you about how to build the skill of focus, how to deal with and handle internal and external interruptions and even planning your day.

    Check out both books, begin applying their productivity systems (they actually compliment one another) and after you have built the habits they teach and you are putting in 85% effort or more then ask yourself if you still need a job.
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  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    You were downsized from your job in October; therefore, jobs are not stable anyway.

    And, so many companies are hiring people and giving them part-time and/or temporary status, that benefits... may not be there either.

    Besides what the others have said, maybe you could motivate yourself by becoming a job provider. I find there is satisfaction helping someone pay their bills and feed their kids.

    Pick the right areas for your business and increase your efforts and improve your marketing a couple of percentage points at a time, and you'll begin notice a huge difference. Go from 40% effort to 42% and keep rising.

    Dan
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  • Profile picture of the author Voasi
    Claude did give a good way to make your business "real".

    I've had employees since I started my first SEO company 7 years ago and so it's always been REAL for me.

    I'll also over-extend myself. I'll buy nice things, spend my money, invest, etc... and if I want to keep up with the current lifestyle I have, I need to continue to grow my business. It may seem crazy to others, but it's always pushed me to grow my company, because I do like nice things and I enjoy spending the money I make.

    But I think you've answered your own question as well. You're running at 40%. You know you're not doing running the business serious.

    You need to put systems and processes in place.
    You need to have proper lead generation.
    You probably should get a sales guy or 2.
    You probably need to work on your website to convey a better marketing message.

    It doesn't have to be a huge list. Tackle one BIG ISSUE with your business each week. By the end of a quarter, you'll have a business that is far ahead of a lot of people on here.
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  • Profile picture of the author swilliams09
    Yah when that feeling came, I took the job. I'm not happy, it's set me back and I have a long way to go to catch up, but I was starving and I have people to take care of. Now I'm almost out of debt and working on my savings and looking to jump back into it with the proper mindset and plan. Before, I was thrust into it by unexpected unemployment and I didn't know half of what I know now. This is just an alternative story to the "Try harder, don't quit your dream" posts around here.
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  • Profile picture of the author Loopholemarketers
    Find an income goal you would like to reach within the next 12 months

    Write down the exact steps that it would take to acheive that goal.

    Break down the goal by month, week, and day

    And work from the steps in your daily list.

    I find that projecting a future outcome changes my mentality towards work.

    As oppose to just winging it day by day.

    This gives my actions structure.
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  • Profile picture of the author The IM Factory
    If you paying the bills with 40% that means if you give it 100% you'll be able to save money, take a vacation, grow and much more! so don't think of it as a hobby anymore think of it as a business. I remember my first year in IM when it came down to do my taxes my accountant exact words were: " This is not a hobby anymore, by the type of money you made this year this is a full grown business so start treating it like it" I remember those words like it was yesterday LOL
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  • Profile picture of the author Writerdave
    I tend to agree with Claude's point of view. Hiring a person gets you out of your comfort zone as you have a moral obligation to pay the person you have employed a salary. I had the same problem recently and as Claude has illustrated, you find yourself by and by working harder and you are always thinking on how to work to meet the increasing demands and with it comes some surplus.
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    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
      I had a conversation with a friend once that may be helpful.

      He said "I want to make a ton of money selling"

      I said "How much would you like to make?"

      Him; "$100,000 a year!"

      I asked "If you hired someone and paid them a salary of $100,000 a year...what would you demand from them every day?"

      It was wasted on my young friend. But I thought about the question later.
      "If you hired yourself, what would you tell you to do?"

      I don't know if that little exercise was helpful...but my heart's in the right place.
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    • Profile picture of the author hometutor
      Originally Posted by Writerdave View Post

      I tend to agree with Claude's point of view. Hiring a person gets you out of your comfort zone as you have a moral obligation to pay the person you have employed a salary. I had the same problem recently and as Claude has illustrated, you find yourself by and by working harder and you are always thinking on how to work to meet the increasing demands and with it comes some surplus.
      One thing I used to lecture about is to avoid doing ONLY what is comfortable. Whether your doing martial arts or business, getting slightly outside of your comfort zone will help you to improve yourself. Getting way outside of your comfort zone will get you knocked out.

      Rick
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  • Profile picture of the author Siliconboy187
    Great stuff guys. Thanks for the feedback (and kicks in the ass).
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  • Profile picture of the author AndrewCavanagh
    I don't know if it will help you but deep down I just can't stand
    being someone else's employee.

    That's why most of my life I've run my own businesses in one way
    or another.

    If working a job is that enticing to you perhaps you should do that
    at least part time.

    It's not that big a deal as long as you're happy with what you're
    doing.

    Kindest regards,
    Andrew Cavanagh
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  • Profile picture of the author doriono
    why to get a job when you have tremendous opportunities online to generate a revenue. Look around on this forum there are many success stories by individuals like you who had left the job and have started the business. We all agree that initially it might be slow but once you have build up strong knowledge and experience into a particular domain, I don't think it's that hard. FREEDOM is the most important for an entrepreneur like me. There is no limit in earning when you are a business owner vs you work for someone else and get paid a fixed income. You should be happy and fearless that you are on the right path. Welcome to the entrepreneurs club
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