How to Balance Your Full-Time Job With Launching Your Dream Business
Yes, it is possible.
Photo: Smith House Photo
Balance is a word that’s come up more this past year than ever before. Whether it’s finding new ways to juggle the sudden merge of home and work life, trying to find time to squeeze in some self-care moments, or picking real pants over sweatpants, we’re all finding ways to make it all work.
So how does that same balance come into play when you are trying to jump feet first into creating your dream business?
While taking the plunge and diving right in is a thrilling option, it’s not always feasible. Maybe you need to start building your entrepreneurial dream while maintaining your 9-to-5. The ability to continue generating income to help support your new business is the most tangible benefit to working while building your empire, especially as some of the biggest costs come from operational expenses. Admittedly, it’s not the easiest path, but I am willing to bet that’s you didn’t sign up for easy when you decided to become an entrepreneur.
So you ask yourself, how do I do both? Can I do both?
After spending more than a decade in corporate retail, I went through a personal experience that moved me to create something for myself beyond a hobby. With some strategic planning, community engagement, and a bathtub of coffee, I am on the cusp of pursuing my passion full-time. Here are four tips I found worked best for turning an after-hours side hustle into a permanent, bill-paying gig.
Block and Tackle
Time management and time blocking is critical for new entrepreneurs, especially those who still have full-time jobs. Setting aside one specific day per week or actively blocking a few hours each day as designated “dream biz office hours” is essential to keep making progress on building your side hustle.
Whether it’s a color-coded calendar or itemized Google Sheet, make sure to figure out a system that effectively lays out the tasks that need to get completed on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis. It’s easy to spin out when you’re starting out because there are a million things to do, so block out time to create a plan and focus on tackling the tasks that make up each project or initiative. It won’t be long before you start to see and feel the progress.
Make Time for Self-Care
Working two jobs is mentally and physically draining so creative burnout is a common reality of entrepreneurship. Because of the sheer amount of work on your plate, it’s easy to fall into the habit of working non-stop without taking breaks. Which isn’t effective when you actually need to function. In order to be the best version of you for yourself, your full-time job and your side hustle (not to mention your friends, family, and the slew of other responsibilities you have), you need to schedule time to rest (see the previous point about time blocking.)
We implemented “slow down Sundays” in our house to find a better work-life balance. It’s a day where we make no plans and allow for pausing and reflecting in the current moment, which helps me go into my week rested, re-energized, and re-focused.
Hire Help
Starting a new business is overwhelming, especially as it’s often a team of one building out every area from operations to marketing. This means you will inevitably find yourself working on tasks that are not your strength, and those weak spots in the foundation can become problematic later on as you try to grow.
Since you are still working full time and able to potentially generate some income to feed your side hustle, think about hiring outside help in areas where you need an expert. Not great with social media creation? Copywriting? Sales management systems? Hire an hourly contract employee to take that task off your hands so you can focus on the part of your business that is most exciting and that plays to your strengths.
Keep Your Eye on the Prize
Even on your worst days, always remember why you started. Ask yourself, why did I want to launch this dream business? Stick Post-Its around your home with your mission on them. Start your day journaling on the dream, and keep focus on the progress you’re making toward that dream.
And take time to celebrate the small wins! Did you launch your website? Take a walk to reflect on that moment and let it all sink in. Upload your first social media post? You deserve a happy dance, or two, even if you didn’t block out time for it.
“Even on your worst days, always remember why you started.”
—Kelly Kussman, Founder of Cayla Gray
About the Author: Kelly Kussman is the founder of Cayla Gray, a luxury line of clean fragrances. Kelly launched her dream business while working full-time as a senior director of a large corporation.
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"If You Aren’t Growing in a Role—Whether That's Your Title, Salary, or Responsibilities—Leave ASAP!"
Cassandra Dittmer makes the case for quitting.
Photo: Courtesy of Cassandra Dittmer
Walking away from a 9-to-5 job with a steady paycheck and health benefits to start your own business isn’t easy. To help you to take the plunge, we’re introducing a new monthly editorial series The Case for Quitting where we ask self-employed women all about how they successfully struck out on their own, from how they balanced their side-hustle with their full-time job to how much money they saved before handing in their two-week notice. This month, we caught up with fashion stylist Cassandra Dittmer who has not once but twice left a full-time job to start her own venture. Here are her tips for when it's time to put in your two-week notice.
What was your major in college and what did you want to do when you graduated?
Apparel merchandising and design with an emphasis on international relations. I wanted to be a fashion designer or work in trend forecasting.
What did you actually do after you graduated? What types of jobs did you apply to and what industry were you looking to break into?
I graduated and 48 hours later drove out to Los Angeles. I was looking to break into the fashion industry and definitely wasn’t looking to be in entertainment. I had interned the previous summer for a celebrity stylist and she offered me an unpaid gig while I was looking for paid work. I took the opportunity so that I could be boots on the ground in L.A. looking for work and taking freelance styling jobs. I fell in love with the styling industry and, at the time, was only interested in styling gigs.
How did you get into fashion?
I was always interested in fashion from a very young age. I grew up in rural Iowa and always loved how dreamy and artistic the fashion industry appeared. It seemed so glamorous and foreign to me. My mom got me really interested in personal style and runway shows very early on. She was always dressed to the nines and instilled in me the mindset to dress for yourself and cultivate a deep sense of personal style. Where I grew up had absolutely nothing related to the fashion industry. Every internship started with a lot of cold emails. Instagram didn’t exist at the time and I would exhaust myself emailing every stylist in the industry for an interview. Eventually, I flew out to L.A. one weekend my junior year of college and literally knocked on doors until I could convince someone to hire me as an intern.
What was it like balancing your full-time job with your passion? Do you recommend starting a side-hustle while you have a full-time job?
I barely know any other way at this point because I am constantly piling on my projects and keeping myself really busy. I think starting a side hustle when you have a full-time job is the most responsible way to start. Side hustles are important to staying agile and open-minded. I find that I access different parts of my brain when there is less pressure attached to the outcome and that brings out a whole other side of my creativity.
How did you know when it was time to make the transition from side-hustle to full-time? What was your strategy for making the transition?
When you can make the economics make sense it is definitely the right time to leave a full-time job. Starting any new company or venture always takes more time and capital than anticipated. The strategy is to create a schedule and stick to it. It sounds simple, but it takes a lot of discipline to put in that after-hour work and source that reserve brain energy. I started with a lot of exploratory calls and coffee dates. I would reach out to everyone I knew who had experience related to my side hustle and start to build the research out. Don’t sleep on the research and product development portion of starting a new company. This foundation should be solid before you take a leap.
How did you prepare for the transition before quitting your full-time job? What, if anything, do you wish you’d done differently?
Twice I have left a full-time job to start my own ventures. The first time, I left a full-time styling gig to start my own styling company. Styling is a unique industry because it’s very difficult to grow your clientele while maintaining full-time employment. At times, I wish I had waited longer and had more clients so that I didn’t have to bootstrap so hard. Other times I wish I hadn't stayed so long (almost five years) in an assistant role. If you aren’t growing in a role—whether that’s your title, salary, or responsibilities—leave ASAP! I had very little business experience and spent most of my time working directly with artists. I wish I had prioritized my business acumen as acutely and with as much emphasis as I focused on the creative.
Were you worried about money? What advice can you share for people who are worried about leaving a steady paycheck to start a new career?
Money was my #1 concern when leaving my job. I was luckily in zero debt but had very little savings when I changed careers. There is a lot of legwork and preparation that can be done while maintaining a full-time job. I used to make 3-month, 6-month, and year-long projections and work backward from that. I have started many collaborations and designed projects by working only 3-5 additional hours per week. Set that schedule and commit to it. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, paralyzed, and not know where to begin. The hardest part for me is starting and staying organized. I always like to approach any new venture in bite-sized chunks. Start small and accomplish things weekly so that you are giving yourself positive reinforcement.
“You will find more fulfillment and joy out of becoming the best version of yourself.”
—Cassandra Dittmer
Did you save up first or did you just jump in headfirst?
I wish I had saved more, but I just jumped in headfirst! I think it’s hard to find the balance between boldly betting on yourself and being naive. I only saved about 15% of my annual income at the time I quit and would not recommend starting a new venture with that little savings.
What's the most important thing you have learned from making a big change in your career life?
I have found cultivating and maintaining a set of ethics and standards is crucial. If you can create a business that truly reflects who you are as a person and maintains high standards you will be successful. It is crucial to add real value to your customer or client. When you have cultivated a community of people and you are truly listening to their needs, you will add far more value, and therefore be indispensable.
It’s easy to celebrate the wins, but how do you handle failure or when something hasn’t worked out for you?
I try to meet failure with a humbled mindset. I work hard to remove my ego from the situation as failure often feels so personal. At the end of the day, in business, you have to have resilience and persistence. It’s important to keep evolving and realizing that everything isn’t personal. Failure is an opportunity to grow stronger as well as be more strategic in your decision-making. It’s also nice to take a bit of time and recharge yourself when you are forced to restart. I can’t create anything meaningful when my brain isn’t clear.
What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made and learned from along the way?
Working without contracts and making business decisions based on a handshake. I have been burned many times before, typically financially, by later realizing there is not an alignment in terms. It sounds simple, but get everything in writing and take the time to do it right the first time!
When you look back and reflect on your previous career do you have any regrets or are you still really happy with your decision?
At times, I have reflected on leaving a cushy job to leap into the highs and lows of self-employment, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I find immense joy in poking holes and finding gaps in the industry and market. Being my own boss and having my own company allows me to be more agile, take bigger risks, and therefore have greater rewards and fulfillment.
Going after what you deserve in life takes confidence and guts. Does confidence come naturally to you or did you have to learn it? What advice can you share for women on cultivating confidence and going after their dreams?
I am naturally confident, but also very self-deprecating and critical. I oftentimes wish I wasn’t so hard on myself, but I have big goals and know that requires being uncomfortable and taking calculated risks. It isn’t productive to compare yourself to others, especially other women. Everyone is dealt a different hand and has different lived experiences. All you can do is focus on your capabilities and work within those constraints. You will find more fulfillment and joy out of becoming the best version of yourself.
What is the #1 career or money book you always recommend and why?
It’s been years since I have read Seth Godin’s “Linchpin,” but the title sticks out to me because I remember reading it right around the time I left my first job to start my own styling company. I remember thinking that becoming indispensable and learning how to add real value as a critical mindset to embody.
What advice can you share for someone who is thinking about leaving their current gig to pursue their side-hustle or passion?
Make sure that you are providing a service that adds value and making decisions that are solutions-based. I have made many decisions in my ego and based on what I thought was cool and that doesn’t always translate. It’s important to take a step back and build a community around the product or service you are looking to sell. Entrepreneurship and the fashion industry are both highly glorified, and it really isn’t that glamorous 99% of the time!
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This Founder Left a Steady Paycheck at Microsoft to Pursue Her Side Hustle Full-Time
And she has no regrets.
Photo: Courtesy of Diana Nguyen
Walking away from a 9-to-5 job with a steady paycheck and health benefits to start your own business isn’t easy. To help you to take the plunge, we’re introducing a new monthly editorial series The Case for Quitting where we ask self-employed women all about how they successfully struck out on their own, from how they balanced their side-hustle with their full-time job to how much money they saved before handing in their two-week notice. This month we caught up with Diana Nguyen, a senior finance manager turned fashion designer who quit her job at Microsoft to launch her own workwear label, Madison / Savile. Read on to learn how she broke into an entirely new industry, saved up to make the transition, and successfully turned her side hustle into a successful startup.
What was your major in college and what did you want to do when you graduated?
My major was in accounting with a minor in marketing. When I graduated, I wanted to go into marketing or advertising.
What did you actually do after you graduated? What types of jobs did you apply to and what industry were you looking to break into?
My stepfather was very strict and adamant that I should pursue a career in accounting, not marketing. I ended up applying to public accounting firms and graduated with five offers to work at the top five accounting firms at the time. I spent 15 years as a consultant, auditor, finance manager, and data analyst serving public and privately held companies in industries spanning from manufacturing and technology to retail.
How did you get into fashion?
During my corporate career, I noticed a lot of women around me at work and in my network (including myself!) that would talk about how much they love blazers, but how hard it was for them to find the right one with the right fit and design. Fit is everything, not only can it make a garment look amazing, but it allows for comfort and mobility. I saw a gap in the market. I love how a suit with the right fit looks on a man, so sharp and powerful and I wanted the same for women!
All my life I knew I wanted to do more and that I had a higher purpose or calling. It kept getting louder, but I didn’t have clarity on what that was earlier in my life. I got a career coach that helped me narrow it down to being an entrepreneur, which eventually led to the idea of reinventing and redesigning the blazer based on the gap in the market I observed. However, that still wasn’t enough for me to take the leap until it aligned with my passion and purpose to help and empower others and to inspire a more beautiful world inside and out. Thus, the name Madison / Savile came to be. It is the definition of two worlds I’m combining; Madison means gift of God and warrior (inspiring others to bring out their inner warrior, reminding them of the gift that only they can bring to the world) and Savile is for Savile Row in London known for its bespoke suiting.
What was it like balancing your full-time job with your passion? Do you recommend starting a side-hustle while you have a full-time job?
I definitely recommend starting a side hustle while you have a full-time job. You are at a stage of exploring, experimenting, and building. I talk about this in one of my podcast episodes “Taking That First Step in Pursuing Your Dreams.” As my podcast guest Jessica Johnson, the CEO of Buzzworthy Content, put it: “It’s chasing your curiosities” and testing out if you even like your side-hustle. Having a full-time job helps to provide the security and funding to spend on exploring and building out your side hustle.
However, it took prioritizing and discipline to balance my full-time job and my side hustle. How much do you want this in order to re-arrange your schedule and make sacrifices to spend the time needed on exploring and growing your passion/side-hustle? It takes planning and a commitment to yourself of how many hours a day or week you want to allocate to it. Only you can make it happen and only you can move the needle on your passion.
How did you know when it was time to make the transition from side-hustle to full-time? What was your strategy for making the transition?
Working at Microsoft, I was blessed to have a great manager and team where I was able to be fully transparent with them about my endeavors and my plan to quit. I kept my manager informed of my progress and timeline so I could transition my role with plenty of time and make sure the team was set when I leave. They were supportive of me every step of the way and still are.
I was working on Madison / Savile on the side until it got to a point where it became a full-time job and I needed more hours during the day for meetings and research. I honestly thought if I can get 40 hours a week back and spend that additional 40 hours on Madison / Savile I could launch in six months. I was wrong and it was one of the first lessons I learned.
How did you prepare for the transition before quitting your full-time job? What, if anything, do you wish you’d done differently?
I wish I had stuck with my full-time job or explored working part-time until I actually officially launched. With product development and looking for the right fabric, factory, and suppliers it took much longer than six months and more like 2-3 years. It is all part of the entrepreneurial journey of learning and growing… you don’t really know until you are actually in it.
Before quitting, I did a lot of financial planning personally and for the business. I had two plans for my personal finances; one if things go according to plan and one if they don’t. Let’s just say with COVID, I am very glad I planned for two different scenarios.
Were you worried about money? What advice can you share for people who are worried about leaving a steady paycheck to start a new career?
Money was definitely a worry, especially as I was in a comfortable position for so long and had become accustomed to a certain lifestyle. Jumping into the unknown and not knowing where money was coming from was definitely scary.
My advice is to plan for a long runway and then plan for a longer one for yourself, your family, and the business. Apply for a line of credit, loan, or whatever you need while you have a steady paycheck as it would be challenging to apply for financing, loans (home/auto) without that. Save the money you need to live and finance your business and then take that leap because if you don’t you will always be wondering—and I always say, don’t live a life of “what ifs.”
Did you save up first or did you just jump in headfirst?
Being in a role for 15 years that was all about managing risk, I definitely saved up money before jumping. It was the hardest leap to make going from a very risk adverse role to being an entrepreneur which is all kinds of risk. I calculated all my expenses each month, evaluated where I can cut the unnecessary expenses (but still live comfortably), and calculated that out for the year and the next three years. I also set aside the money needed to get Madison / Savile going as it takes a lot of capital upfront to launch a fashion/retail brand.
What's the most important thing you have learned from making a big change in your career life?
When you are working on something that aligns with your purpose and passion, the days and hours go by fast and you learn you have to have a very strong will to keep going and to bring it to life. It was definitely hard to go from a comfortable position at Microsoft to being a budget-conscious entrepreneur. To be honest, I felt that I lost my identity that was tied to my career and my position, but that’s where the learning and the growing happens. You discover who you really are, what you really stand for, and you redefine yourself as who you truly are as you become more aligned with your purpose.
It’s easy to celebrate the wins, but how do you handle failure or when something hasn’t worked out for you?
Great question! Because it happens often especially as entrepreneurs and in life. You definitely have to learn to accept, to let go and pivot. It’s important to reflect back to learn and understand why things happened the way they did. I believe in things happening for a reason. Obstacles stand in your way to redirect your path or because it wasn’t the right time yet. Trust in the process, trust in the timing, and trust in yourself.
I always say your will will get you back up and your why will pull you forward. You have to have your WHY, meaning why are you doing this, and if it’s for money only it’s not going to take you far when you do run into bumps in the road. What if you were only days or weeks away from your business turning the corner, you were so close, but you stopped?
What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made and learned from along the way?
Not listening to my gut right away would have saved me some money along the way, but again, it’s all part of the journey of learning and growing. Whether it is an idea or a solution suggested for your business or someone that is not the right fit for your team, sometimes it doesn’t sit right with you and you have to listen to that, and eventually, you’ll understand why.
When you look back and reflect on your previous career do you have any regrets or are you still really happy with your decision?
I wouldn’t change a thing. My experience in finance has helped me tremendously. Knowing the numbers and being able to put together your own financial model helps to see where your costs are, your profitability, and set expectations for growth and long-term projections. Understanding business processes and procedures helps you to see where things can be improved and the pure discipline behind deadlines helps you to stay on track and be a self-starter. The people I’ve met along the way who are now my mentors, friends, and future customers are priceless.
Going after what you deserve in life takes confidence and guts. Does confidence come naturally to you or did you have to learn it? What advice can you share for women on cultivating confidence and going after their dreams?
Yes and no. I’m confident in the things I know from experience, confident in my values and principles, and a fish out of water when it comes to things I’m learning. Going from finance to fashion, I had to build my confidence on the fashion side. It’s about surrounding yourself with people you trust, with mentors that you can learn from, surrounding yourself with like-minded people to help you. I’ve learned that there are so many skeptics out there, and also people that project their own failures or fears onto you and what you are doing. That knowing and confidence in what you are doing and what you are bringing to the world is so important. You don’t have to have everything perfect to start, just start.
What is the #1 career or money book you always recommend and why?
I have a tendency to start books and not complete them, so I have seven books on my nightstand to finish! The one book that I finished pretty quickly was “You Are a Badass” by Jen Sincero. It’s an easy and fun read. I read it in the summer of 2020 after we were supposed to launch in March 2020 and had to put everything on pause due to COVID. I was so devastated having to postpone everything and was in an unmotivated, depressed state. I read “You Are a Badass,” a book one of my mentors gifted me, and it helped change my mindset around. It was a reminder to get up and keep going.
What advice can you share for someone who is thinking about leaving their current gig to pursue their side-hustle or passion?
I have so many pieces of advice, but if I have to narrow it down it is to know what your why is and what your north star is for what you are building. There will be many times when you are so in the weeds or have been pulled in so many different directions that you will lose your vision and knowing your why will bring you back. Your will ensures you get back up, your why will pull you forward. Be patient with yourself, you are learning. Stay true to your values, your core, who you are, and your vision.
Anything else to add?
No one is like you. If not you, then who? Everyone is different, everyone works differently, everyone’s situation is different. Don’t beat yourself up if you hear this person worked 100-hour weeks or got funded in x months because everyone is on a different journey. At the end of the day, if you know you put your best in for where you are, that’s winning because it’s progress. My favorite quote is: “Don’t fear failure, fear being in the exact same place next year as you are today.” One step at a time.
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This Copywriter Quit Her 9-to-5 Job at Nike to Start Her Own Storytelling Studio
Journaling helped her overcome the fear.
Photo: Courtesy of Rachel Leslie
Walking away from a 9-to-5 job with a steady paycheck and health benefits to start your own business isn’t easy. To help you to take the plunge, we’re introducing a new monthly editorial series The Case for Quitting where we ask self-employed women all about how they successfully struck out on their own, from how they balanced their side-hustle with their full-time job to how much money they saved before handing in their two-week notice. This month we chatted with copywriter Rachel Leslie who quit her job as a digital copywriter at Nike to start her own storytelling studio. Read on as she shares how she broke into the field, when she knew it was time to leave her corporate job, and why she recommends saving up a six-month safety net before quitting.
What was your major in college and what did you want to do when you graduated?
I majored in journalism and minored in business administration. When I graduated, I wanted to become an arts and culture journalist. Think, William Miller in “Almost Famous” going on tour with bands, covering the latest shows and album drops.
What did you actually do after you graduated? What types of jobs did you apply to and what industry were you looking to break into?
I moved to Santa Barabara, California, for an unpaid internship at an indie newspaper called, The Santa Barbara Independent, where I was their arts and culture intern. In addition to my internship, I worked at a local restaurant as a host to pay the bills.
Before getting that internship, I applied to any and all jobs and internships in writing for news publications, media organizations, and the list goes on. I was determined to write for a newspaper or magazine where they had a substantial section in music, events, art, and feature stories. It was a tough time to be applying for jobs in print journalism in 2013 as there were whispers that journalism was dying, print specifically.
How did you get into copywriting?
When my internship came to a close in Santa Barbara, I started looking for other opportunities to continue writing. I contributed to the newspaper and got paid for my articles, but it was nowhere near enough money to get by, so I began exploring marketing and PR agencies.
I was hired as a paid intern at a PR and marketing agency working with nonprofits and social impact businesses in the Santa Barbara area. I found this type of work interesting because I could still exercise my journalistic skills in a way, but on behalf of our clients. Plus, I could get behind what they were marketing as they were often community events, organic products, and so on.
My experience at that agency was my first foray into copywriting, and the rest is history; from booking a one-way ticket to Vietnam and working as a freelance writer for magazines and copywriting for five-star luxury hotels and businesses to moving back to the U.S. to join the agency world here in Portland, Oregon, and most recently, working at Nike as a digital copywriter.
What was it like balancing your full-time job with your side-hustle? Do you recommend starting a side-hustle while you have a full-time job?
For as long as I can remember, I was always doing something on the side of my full-time job. Whether it was freelance writing for the indie newspaper on the side of my full-time internship or taking on copywriting projects here and there alongside agency work. It can be time-consuming if you let it. Like giving up your weekends and evenings to stay on top of your side hustle, but if the passion is there and you want to see if it’ll work, you’ll do it.
I recommend starting a side hustle while you have a full-time job because it gives you a chance to experiment with what works and what doesn’t as you work out the kinks and see if it’s really something you want to pursue full-time without the added stress of making rent.
How did you know when it was time to make the transition from side-hustle to full-time? What was your strategy for making the transition?
Starting my own business was something I always knew I would do. It was just a matter of when. I found this desire grew stronger and stronger to a point where I knew if I didn’t try now, I’d always regret it.
I was in two group coaching programs while in my 9-5 that gave me the tools, education, and resources to hone in on my copywriting service to expand that into a full-blown business. In addition to those programs, I began building up my client roster while marketing my copywriting and storytelling services to others online and through word of mouth. I wanted to prove that there was a demand for my expertise and services before saying goodbye to my 9-5. After juggling both for over a year, my business grew to a point where the time I was working in my 9-5 actually took away precious time from growing my business.
Another big part of this strategy was focusing on repositioning my mindset for entrepreneurship. Accepting and being open to the challenges, learnings, and failures that may come along the way while embracing them and keeping pressing forward is crucial to running a successful business. I’d have to say that this was (and still is!) one of the most challenging tasks in starting your own business. There’s a great deal of fear that comes with saying goodbye to what we’re taught to consider safe and secure (i.e., a stable salary, benefits, etc.). But once I realized that I’m in control of what happens and that I can do anything I set my mind to, that made the decision easy.
How did you prepare for the transition before quitting your full-time job? What, if anything, do you wish you’d done differently?
I spoke to my husband, who’s been my biggest supporter throughout all of this. We set a date and made it official! That felt so amazing to have a fantastic support system to back me up and to put a date in place.
Since starting my business, I kept track of my business’ income and expenses to see how much I needed each month to survive, and I did the same for my personal finances. I also hired an accountant for my business right before I left my full-time job to help me manage everything and have someone on hand I could turn to for questions as I navigated this new chapter. This helped put things in perspective for me as to what I needed not just to survive but to thrive in my day-to-day, as I had done before with a secure paycheck.
I also utilized my network of mentors and coaches during this pivotal time. As you can imagine, lots of what-ifs, thoughts, and fears came up in making this transition, and they were crucial in helping me get through this rollercoaster of emotions.
Lastly, I continued to market myself, show up and serve my online community every day. I had a few ongoing client projects in the works and a few lined up for the following month, so I knew I had some guaranteed income coming in for at least a few months after quitting my full-time job.
Were you worried about money? What advice can you share for people who are worried about leaving a steady paycheck to start a new career?
Of course. As I was making the transition, I had many fears and worries about money, like, What if I don’t get any more clients after leaving my job? What if I don’t make any money next month? What if I fail?
That is where that mindset work came into play again! I had to focus on rewiring my scarcity mindset to one of abundance and assurance. Instead of focusing on the what-ifs, I began writing affirmations and mantras like, “Clients come to me with ease,” and “What I focus on grows” and so on.
Journaling also helped me work through these fears and feelings about money. By asking myself, what do I need to feel safe and secure and what do those words mean to me, I was able to address these thoughts.
On the more technical side, proving that my service was in demand before leaving my 9-5 and signing clients for future projects helped alleviate those worries about no money coming in.
Did you save up first or did you just jump in headfirst?
I had a six-month safety net in place before I quit my job. This reassured me that if I didn’t make any money in my business, I had six months of savings in place to keep me going. So what I did was calculate my existing expenses to understand how much money I needed to make each month to pay my mortgage, bills and get by each month.
What's the most important thing you have learned from making a big change in your career life?
I’ve learned that I’m in control of what I want to do in my life and in what makes me happy. And that there’s no point in waiting for something to tell you what to do next. It’s up to you. When I was making the transition from my corporate job to building my own business, I kept waiting for a sign. For something or someone to tell me, “Rachel, it’s go-time!” But I kept waiting, waiting and waiting and that sign never came. I realized that I just needed to take the leap and do it because there would never be a “perfect” time.
It’s easy to celebrate the wins, but how do you handle failure or when something hasn’t worked out for you?
I treat it as an opportunity to learn and grow. As an entrepreneur, I’ve realized that things don’t always work out as planned, and that’s okay. When something doesn’t work out, I try to understand why and where I could have done better so that when I’m faced with a similar situation, I know how to approach it and hopefully, there’s a different outcome.
What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made and learned from along the way?
When I first started, I created too many copywriting services. I quickly realized I was trying to do too many things at once. I overcommitted and under-delivered and I wasn’t able to produce top-quality services. I realized I could better serve my ideal client by focusing on what they specifically need and how my one or two niche services could best serve them.
When you look back and reflect on your previous career do you have any regrets or are you still really happy with your decision?
Every step of my career has prepared me to do what I’m doing today. I’m immensely grateful for the opportunities I’ve had and the people I’ve met along the way because it’s all shaped my values, beliefs, and my vision for the future of my studio.
Going after what you deserve in life takes confidence and guts. Does confidence come naturally to you or did you have to learn it? What advice can you share for women on cultivating confidence and going after their dreams?
Funnily enough, I have a fraternal twin sister, and she’s definitely the more confident and outgoing one! So no, confidence did not come naturally to me. It took me a while to learn it and to embrace it.
One aspect that helped me gain confidence was surrounding myself with other leaders, mentors, and coaches who embodied the confidence I wanted for myself. Being around these people lit something inside of me that I could tap into and infuse in my own business. I also journaled (a lot!). A helpful exercise that helped in embracing my CEO mindset and imposter syndrome was writing out all of my accomplishments onto a piece of paper. It helped me realize that I was a skilled entrepreneur and that there was no reason why I couldn’t do this. I still go back and look at that list when I’m having an off day.
What is the #1 career or money book you always recommend and why?
I love” You Are a Badass At Making Money” by Jen Sincero—especially the audible version! This book is raw, real, and eye-opening as to what is genuinely possible not just in your career but in your life. It gave me a whole new perspective into the power of your mindset and money and how the two can be truly life-changing.
What advice can you share for someone who is thinking about leaving their current gig to pursue their side-hustle or passion?
As my former employer’s tagline says… Just do it. Give it a try! And do your due diligence beforehand. First, determine if there’s a demand for your product or service; then, rally a community of mentors and friends you can lean on for support and get your finances in order so you can understand not just what you need to live, but to thrive, too (because if brunch with the girls makes you happy that should be factored in, too).
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How Women Can Get Their Books Published, According to an Accomplished Author
Andrea Bartz tells us what it really takes.
“
Just write! It sounds simple, but it’s the step we so often get stuck on. Let the first draft be terrible.
”
—Andrea Bartz, Author of “The Herd” and “The Lost Night”
Here’s a bit of good news: Female authors dominated 2019’s major literary awards. Both winners of the 2019 Booker Prize were women, as were the winners of the National Book Awards for fiction and nonfiction, and a woman took home the 2019 Pulitzer for general nonfiction. But female authors aren’t just gaining attention from the industry’s leading critics—readers are taking note, too. In fact, of the 10 best-selling books of the past decade, eight were written by women.
To find out what aspiring women authors need to do to get their books published, we sat down with none other than Andrea Bartz, the author of the wildly popular, edge-of-your-seat thrillers “The Lost Night” and “The Herd,” which hit shelves on March 24. Ahead, Bartz tells us what it really takes to go from writing a manuscript to getting your book optioned for a TV series, including how to land a literary agent, overcome writer's block, and stay on top of deadlines along the way.
CREATE & CULTIVATE: You're an accomplished author with two novels to your name (congratulations!)—but can you take us back to the beginning? What does it take to land a book deal?
ANDREA BARTZ: Thank you! I started working on the manuscript for my first novel, “The Lost Night” (a whodunit that’s a bit like “The Girl on the Train” meets HBO’s “Girls”) in late 2014—at the time I had a full-time job as a magazine editor, but I started working on it in my free time. It took about two years to get it ready to show to agents, and I signed with a literary agent in late 2016. We worked on more revisions and finally landed a book deal for it in July 2017—and then there were more rounds of revisions before it finally came out in February 2019.
For my second book, “The Herd” (a thriller set in an exclusive all-female co-working space), I already had an editor who wanted to work with me again, so I got a book deal based on the idea and a few sample chapters in late 2018 and turned in a first draft a few months later. Now I’m hard at work on my third novel, which should come out in 2021!
Do you need to have a large audience (a.k.a. a built-in market) to get noticed by agents and publishers?
Nope! Having a built-in audience certainly won’t hurt, but agents and editors are looking for a great book that they think will fly off the shelves—so even if you’re not social-media famous, if your manuscript is fabulous, they’ll consider publishing it. That said, I think it’s smart to be on Twitter and Instagram, at minimum, where you can connect with authors and bookstagrammers and demonstrate that you’re savvy at self-promotion. But if you don’t already have a ton of followers, don’t let that stop you from trying to sell a novel.
What comes first: the book or the book proposal? How do you go about writing a book proposal? Are there any mistakes you've learned from along the way that you can share?
Nonfiction writers start with a proposal—it includes stuff like an outline, sample chapters, and a market analysis. Then, they get a book deal and head off into the world to do their research and write the book. I confess I don’t know too much about nonfiction book proposals, because I write fiction! For your debut novel, you’ll need to write the entire manuscript before you can try to sell it. You’ll query agents with a completed draft, and then your agent will try to find an editor (at a publishing house) to buy it and publish it. That’s how I sold “The Lost Night.”
For my second book, “The Herd,” I was able to sell it on essentially a proposal: I wrote 50 sample pages, plus a one-page “treatment” that gave an overview of the characters, plot, and “hook.” I know other authors go into more detail and sell their editor with sample pages plus a detailed, multi-page outline, but since I write without an outline, the best I could do was share the general idea! By the time you’re at that stage, though, your agent can help guide you on selling book number two. For that first novel, you’ll need to write the whole dang thing.
“Keep in mind that most authors never feel like writing. You can’t wait until you get the urge to write. You just have to sit down and write!”
Both of your novels were published by a major publishing house, how did you decide to go with a traditional publisher? Did you consider self-publishing? Can you talk us through that decision?
I always knew I wanted to go the traditional route: I wanted to see my book in bookstores, which is hard to do when you self-publish, and I wanted to focus on the writing and let other people think about stuff like cover design and ad strategy and publicity plans. When you sell your book to a publisher, they kinda take it from there—but the tradeoff is that you make far less money per copy sold. I don’t know a ton about self-publishing, but I know that those who are successful at it write in genres that sell well online (such as romance), spend a lot of their own money in upfront costs like hiring a copyeditor and getting the cover designed so everything looks professional, and invest tons of time in learning digital marketing so that they can actually find readers and make money. It’s a totally different way to approach publishing.
How did you find a literary agent? What did you look for in an agent and what would you advise others look for? Can you share links to resources for aspiring authors who are just beginning this process?
When I felt “The Lost Night” was in good shape, I started by researching literary agents who were accepting queries. I used Publishers Marketplace’s Dealmakers database to find the agents of authors whose work was similar to mine. I searched for specific terms like “female psychological thrillers” on AgentQuery, and I browsed through the Twitter hashtag #MSWL (Manuscript Wish List) to see what agents were looking for. Here’s an article I wrote on the process, which goes into detail on resources used and even includes my query letter.
How do you manage your time while you’re writing? Does your publisher give you deadlines, or do you create your own? What tools do you use to stay on top of your deadlines?
My publisher sets my deadlines based on when each book is supposed to come out. But it can be intimidating to think of it in huge terms: In five months, you need to complete a 100,000-word manuscript. So instead, I start by using pacemaker.press to calculate how much I need to accomplish every day; it lets you block off days when you'll do less or no work (e.g., a holiday or trip), and you can keep track of your progress on the site. When it comes to actually drafting, I use the Pomodoro method: I use tomato-timer.com to do 20 minutes of uninterrupted work followed by a 5-minute break. Then I repeat as needed until I hit my word count goal.
Your sophomore thriller, “The Herd,” was recently published on March 24, 2020. Was it more or less difficult to come up with an idea for your second novel after already having published your first?
Coming up with a second book idea was tough. It took a while to settle on an idea that my editor was into—she said no to my first two ideas, because she didn’t think they spoke to my strengths as a thriller writer or that they’d appeal to readers of “The Lost Night.” I was frustrated at the time, but she was totally right! “The Lost Night” is a mystery set in the warehouse parties of hipster Brooklyn in 2009, and part of the fun comes from taking the reader inside the close-knit, closed-door world of that social milieu. My editor challenged me to find another juicy, exclusive setting that would allow me to go deep on complex female friendships—which is how I wound up setting a mystery inside an elite, all-female co-working space.
“Don’t psych yourself out or worry about whether your book will fit into the shifting marketplace years down the line”
How do you deal with writer’s block?
I mentioned the Pomodoro method, which definitely helps when I’m stuck—when the twenty-minute writing sprint begins, sometimes the first minute is just me typing I HATE THIS THIS IS TERRIBLE I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO WRITE. But once you get going, real words start to flow. Another tip, if you’re stuck on a plot problem, is to write it in a notebook right before bed. Your subconscious will work on it as you sleep, and the next morning you’ll find you’re much closer to having the answer. Finally: Keep in mind that most authors never feel like writing. You can’t wait until you get the urge to write. You just have to sit down and write!
Your debut novel, “The Lost Night,” was optioned for development as a limited series by Mila Kunis. Can you tell us about that process? What does it really mean to have a book be optioned and what advice can you share for other authors looking to land entertainment deals?
The two production companies involved, Cartel Entertainment and Orchard Farm, actually reached out to me directly to ask if TV rights were still available. My literary agent had hooked me up with a film/TV agent within the same agency (ICM Partners), so I connected them with her. The production companies made an offer and I requested a phone call to discuss their vision for the book, what they’d want to change, and what role, if any, they’d want me to have in developing the limited series. It was pretty surreal to be on a call with Mila Kunis and to hear her talking about my book!
Getting a book optioned just means a production company has the exclusive rights to try to get it made—there are no guarantees. So right now they’re working to bring other people onto the project, and to find a home for it (such as premium cable or streaming). I’m not super involved—it’s their art form, not mine! As far as I know, the best way to get your book into the hands of a Hollywood production company is to work with a film agent. I inherited my film agent because she’s part of the same company as my literary agent, but if you work with a literary agent at, say, a boutique firm, they can still hook you up with an external film agent.
What advice do you have for aspiring female writers?
Just write! It sounds simple, but it’s the step we so often get stuck on. Let the first draft be terrible. Don’t psych yourself out or worry about whether your book will fit into the shifting marketplace years down the line. As the old adage says: You can’t edit a blank page. Go ahead and write, and then you can start the long process of revising, perfecting, and finding your path to publication.
The Herd
A novel by Andrea Bartz
$27
About Andrea Bartz: Andrea Bartz is a Brooklyn-based journalist and author of “The Herd,” which Publishers Weekly called “a smart, twisty thriller.” Her debut, “The Lost Night,” is being developed for TV by Mila Kunis. It was named a best book of the year by Real Simple, Glamour, Marie Claire, Library Journal, Crime Reads, Popsugar, She Reads, and other publications. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Women's Health, Martha Stewart Living, Elle, and many other outlets, and she's held editorial positions at Glamour, Psychology Today, and Self, among other titles.
About “The Herd,” out March 24: When an exclusive New York women’s workspace is rocked by the mysterious disappearance of its enigmatic founder, two sisters must uncover the haunting truth before they lose their friendships, their careers—maybe even their lives.
Lede image photo credit: Kate Lord courtesy of Andrea Bartz
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Set Aside 30 Minutes This Week to Do *This* and Keep Your Small Biz On Track
Money talks.
Photo: Christina Morillo for Pexels
Most people we know move gradually make the move from side-hustle to full-time gig. It’s a great plan to be sure that you’re able to support yourself financially while you’re laying the groundwork for your new business, but it can often lead to a bit of a messy overlap between your personal and business funds. (Trust us, we’ve been there.)
You may keep pushing off getting organized until the proverbial “tomorrow” and let the task of figuring it out fall to the bottom of your to-do list. You end up losing money because of missing receipts and not planning for tax deadlines. Follow the four steps below to make getting organized easier, painless, and maybe even a little fun, all in just 30 minutes.
Step 1: Open a separate bank account for your business ASAP
Is this something that you legally need to do for your business? Maybe. Is this something that you financially need to do for your business? Absolutely.
Even if you’re starting out as a sole proprietor, which is the default structure for anyone who earns income from self-employment, you should set up a separate bank account. Why? Because even if that’s the only thing that you do to get your money organized, you’ll be miles ahead of everyone else in the organization game. You won’t need to sift through a bunch of personal transactions to find business deductions and you won’t lose precious time looking through all of those same personal transactions to see if your client has paid you.
Don’t overcomplicate your business or waste any more time looking at a hodgepodge of transactions, hoping that you’re not missing something. Take 15 minutes to set up a separate account and you’ll be one big step closer to organized money management (congratulations!).
Step 2: Create a list of deductions you can take
There are so many deductions you can take, but it's hard to catch everything. Create a list of things you can deduct to ensure you're not missing anything. Tape the list to a folder and store your receipts in there until you can get them entered into whatever bookkeeping system you use.
Everyone will have different expenses, but a good list to get started with is:
• Web hosting
• Vehicle mileage
• Work travel
• Courses, seminars, licensing, and business-related books
• Shipping and packaging
• Office supplies and equipment
• Health insurance premiums
Step 3: Know what tax forms you need to file, and when
The first few months of starting a business will fly by and you’ll be left scrambling the night before filing deadlines if you don’t pay attention to some key forms and dates.
To get this started here is some basic information for sole proprietors:
Who has to file? Generally, anyone who has net earnings from self-employment of $400 or more needs to report this income at the end of the year. And anyone who is expected to owe more than $1,000 in taxes at the end of the year needs to make quarterly estimated income tax payments.
What form do I file? Most people start their business as a sole proprietor, and the forms that you need to file at the end of the year are Schedule C or Schedule C-EZ (profit and loss from business) and Schedule SE (self-employment tax).
When do I file quarterly estimated tax payments? Keep track of estimated payment deadlines or you’ll face a penalty come tax time. Deadlines for taxes on income received each quarter are April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 (of the following year).
Step 4: Set a weekly money date
This won’t be your most fun date, but it’ll probably your most profitable. Set a time to check in every week and make sure that your money is on track. If you do this weekly, it’ll become so easy and quick. Once you have this done, you've earned a glass of wine and a great stress-free weekend. Some things to do weekly are:
• Send any invoices that are due
• Look at who hasn’t paid and send reminders (+ cash any checks!)
• Pay any outstanding bills
• Pay yourself weekly salary/stipend
Bonus step: Set up a bookkeeping system
Look at you, you overachiever. You’ve got this organization thing down and you want a bonus step? You can feel even more legit and in control of your money by setting up an easy bookkeeping system. This doesn’t have to take a long time and it doesn’t need to cost a lot. There is a range of easy to use programs out there (some are even free!) that are better than that excel sheet you’re using.
Remember—better to get organized now than to create problems for yourself and your business in the future.
This post was originally published on February 7, 2018, and has since been updated.
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Pro Tip: The Free Tools I Use Every Day as a Freelancer
Freelance isn’t free, but that doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate a free resource.
Photo: Create & Cultivate
Freelance isn’t free, but that doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate a free resource as much as the next person—especially when you consider that, when you’re a freelancer, you become financially responsible for all of your business expenses. We’re talking about your tech (your hardware and your software), your office space, your health insurance, your advertising and marketing—everything.
Ahead, Audrey Adair, a seasoned freelance communications professional and founder of The Scope, breaks down the free resources that she continues to use on a daily basis. From a free email service that’s so much more than just email to a stock image database that offers high-quality photography without a premium price tag, scroll on for free resources that’ll help you get the job done.
Gmail
Where would I be without Gmail?
More than just email, Gmail also provides access to 15 GB of cloud data storage, a calendar, a suite of office resources like Google Docs and Sheets, and the ability to converse with friends and colleagues through Hangouts.
My favorite tools are Google Docs and Sheets because they save updates in real-time and I don’t have to worry about whether or not I packed my drive with me when I travel because it’s all saved on the cloud. It’s also great for collaborating with others and allows you the capability to work on a single document in real-time through the internet.
Upgrade Options: $6 / $12 / $25 per month payment options give you access to even more storage space and the option to have a personalized email address.
Canva
I don’t know about you, but I could just never figure out Adobe Photoshop. I tried and tried, but never used it enough to remember all that goes into it. I’m also much better at creating with words than I’ve ever been at art.
Enter: Canva.
Canva is a free online graphic creating platform that provides you with access to thousands of templates and design ideas for anything you could possibly think of.
I’ve used it for YouTube thumbnails, Instagram posts and IGTV cover photos.
There are some features that are pay per use, meaning you can more than likely find a free option but if you want to use a specific art file you may need to pay for it. But most files I’ve seen are $1 to use so it’s still an incredibly affordable option and SO easy to use.
Upgrade Options: $12.95 per month per team member makes Canva a collaborative space for coworkers and unlocks access to artwork and customization features.
Planoly
I use Planoly to help plan and schedule my Instagram posts and absolutely love it.
It helps save so much time and hassle being able to save all of my IG content in a single place, write out the captions and schedule when content will go live.
I’ll spend an hour or so planning content in the app and then voila, it’s done and I can go about my business for the rest of the week.
Upgrade Options: Planoly has several payment options starting as low as $7 per month that covers management of multiple accounts and the capability to upload unlimited photos to your planning grid.
Mailchimp
I didn’t understand the importance and value of a solid email list until I started The Scope and Mailchimp is an awesome tool for anyone looking to grow and manage their list.
Free up to your first 2,000 email subscribers, Mailchimp grants access to different email templates and analytics like open/click rates and demographics.
Upgrade Options: Mailchimp offers two different payment plans: Grow and Pro. The Grow plan starts at $9.99 per month and increases as your list and needs for the platform grow.
Social Media
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and YouTube.
These are the five primary social media platforms I use on a daily basis to help promote my businesses and stay connected with fellow freelancers, entrepreneurs and potential readers and the best part - using them is absolutely free.
While we have all felt the woes of algorithm and home feed changes on these platforms over the years, we have to remember that they’re all free and it’s up to us to either adapt with the changes or find our audiences elsewhere.
Burst
There are so many stock image databases out there but Burst is the one I return to time and time again.
I don’t always have visuals to back the content I like to cover on The Scope, and Burst is easy to navigate and usually has exactly what I’m looking for. It’s also great to pull from for new client proposals or social media posts.
I also like that they provide photographer information on photos so you can opt to see more of their personal work.
About the author: Audrey Adair is a seasoned freelance communications professional and founder of The Scope, a platform providing resources and community to freelancers and the self-employed. Connect with The Scope on Instagram and join their email list to receive your free resource, The Freelancer Starter Kit.
This post was originally published on May 7, 2019, and has since been updated.
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Thinking of Turning Your Hobby Into a Business? Read This First
The hustle is real.
Photo: Anna Shvets for Pexels
Many people have hobbies they believe could be successful business ventures. Dreaming big is great, but sometimes we have to be practical. Starting a business is harder than it seems and requires lots of planning and risk-taking. Lots.
Unfortunately, no matter what products you create or services you can offer, you can’t predict the future. Before turning your hobby into a business, it’s important to sit down and think about all of the things that go into creating a successful company.
Here are a few things to consider before starting your own business…
Funding
Before you begin your business, you have to think about how you’re going to fund it. While you may not need lots of money right away, you need to be prepared for growth and potential emergencies. Whether you have investors or you’ve saved your own money, you’ll need to have funds readily available for anytime you may need it.
You can keep your day job in the beginning. This will ensure you have something to fall back on should your endeavor not pan out as you had expected.
Motivation
You have to be able to take the initiative and keep yourself motivated every single day if you’re going to turn your hobby into a business. Expect daily work and long hours—building a brand is hard work.
You’ll also have to learn the ins and outs of business—from account management to marketing initiatives. If you’re starting with less funding, you’ll need to teach yourself all of these different aspects. You might even consider taking a business course at your local college to get started.
If you can afford to hire a professional team, first hire people who can help you with marketing. Then, hire people to help you with whatever your weak spots may be or the areas where you have the least experience.
Branding
Your brand is what will make your products stand out from the crowd. Who you are is important to the public. It’s what helps them decide whether or not to work with you and buy your products. This is where your company mission is important. It shares your goals and values with prospective customers and employees.
Branding is also what helps people recognize and remember you. The images and designs you use on your products, website, business cards, and other marketing materials will make people recognize your brand. Be consistent in designing your website, marketing collateral, and other representations of your brand.
Networking
It’s important to network and meet people in your industry. These people will help you strengthen and expand your business.
While networking, you can find public relations contacts and media professionals to help market your business and manufacturers who can help you develop your products for less. You can also meet buyers face-to-face, which is always an advantage for fostering new wholesale relationships.
Networking takes communication skills, so it’s important to work on getting comfortable with public speaking and to learn how to talk to other professionals. If you’re initially uncomfortable in social situations, don’t worry. It gets easier. The more experience you have, the sooner you’ll develop these skills.
Professional Support
You’ll probably be working alone when you launch. However, as you expand and start to make a profit, it will be time to hire professionals like lawyers and accountants to help keep your business afloat.
Your attorney will be one of your most important resources in business. Your lawyer will help with trademarks, contracts, copyrights, incorporating your business, and more.
An accountant will also be vital, especially when tax season comes around. Your accountant can help you save money with exemptions and make sure all of your accounts are up to speed. He or she can also provide solutions should any financial issues arise.
Patience and Commitment
You have to be committed and patient to sustain a successful business. You can no longer treat your new business like a hobby- you have to work every day. Once you’ve launched, you’ll be working on this business full time, every day… for years. You have to be excited, prepared, and completely devoted to find success.
That said, we’re human! It’s normal to get frustrated sometimes when you’re running your own business. Stay level-headed when issues arise and remember success doesn’t happen overnight.
About the Author: Syama Meagher is a CEO and retail strategist who works with startup, growth stage, and enterprise retail businesses. The Scaling Retail founder has worked for Gucci, Barneys New York, Macy’s and more. For more information, visit Scaling Retail or email hello@scalingretail.com.
This post was originally published on May 18, 2019, and has since been updated.
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