How to Grow Your Business with Limited Time
Do you own your business but still have to work at your regular 9-5? Are you dreaming of the day that you can give your two weeks notice and venture out on your own? I’ve been there. I know what it’s like to work SO hard on your business, but it’s not quite to the point where it can be your sole focus.
And, if you’re trying to get there while working a full-time (or even part-time) job, it’s tough! With limited time it’s more important to stay focused and have a plan so you can grow your business and have the freedom to quit the dreaded 9-5.
Below, you’ll find some strategies to grow your business when you’re short on time. The key is to make sure the work you do put in is effective and planned.
Schedule Daily Power Hours
No, not the fun kind. This kind of power hour is so you can have at least 1 hour of dedicated work time every single day to put into your business. Even though it doesn’t sound like a lot of time, all of that effort really adds up if you have a plan and stick to it. Make sure you schedule your hour when you’ll have the least distraction. That might look like an hour in the morning before you head into your 9-5, or a time after dinner or after kids have gone to bed.
During your hour, make a list of things to work on that are top priorities. Even better if you assign an amount of time to each task so you can ensure that everything gets done.
For example, your list might look like:
- Write marketing email (20 minutes)
- Make an instagram post (15 minutes)
- Create main service offering (25 minutes)
Or, your list might look like this:
- Work on website (60 minutes)
Your list of priorities can change from day-to-day or week-to-week, so pay attention to the areas of your business that need the most support.
Be Consistent
On top of scheduling your daily power hours, it’s absolutely vital that you stay consistent with doing the work. I know that life gets busy and doing even more work on top of your already busy day isn’t fun, but it’s the only way to get results. You’ve got to get in the mindset that you’ll grind now, but reap the rewards later when you’re working full-time in your business.
Another part of being consistent is to constantly show up where your ideal clients are found. Feel like you’re mostly connecting with leads on Instagram? Make sure to put up a story or respond to messages every day. I know it sounds like a lot, but that’s a big part of building trust with your audience. They’ll become familiar with you, begin to look to you for advice, and reach out for services as needed.
Build a Business Plan
Working towards a goal without a plan isn’t exactly the most efficient way to get there. In order to get where you want to go, you’ll need a well-thought-out business plan.
Who are your ideal clients? What is their biggest problem? How do you help them solve that problem? What services are you going to offer? What processes are you going to put in place? How are you going to structure your pricing?
There are a ton of questions to consider about the business itself, and then you can go a step further and plan how you want your growth to happen.
Do you want to take your business full-time in 3 months? Or maybe you want slower growth and plan to go full-time in 12 months.
In order to go full-time, what do you need your finances to look like? How are you going to track financial progress?
These are all questions that need to be answered in order to make your business viable as the sole breadwinner.
Think About Outsourcing
I know it seems a little counterintuitive to outsource tasks and responsibilities when you’re trying to save enough money to go full-time in your business, but I promise it’ll be worth it. Even though you’ll be spending a little extra money when hiring a contractor, it’ll free you up to focus on the things you’re good at. If you love working on the back end of business and proving clients with work but hate posting on social media, hire a social media manager or virtual assistant! That task will then be taken off your plate so you have more time to focus on what you need to move forward.
Another great option is working with an online business manager. Having a whole other person to help your vision become a reality is only going to get you there sooner!
What do you think about these strategies to take your business from part-time income to full-time commitment? Which strategies are you going to try? I’d love to chat about your plans in the comments below! 🤩
