“You Can’t Be a Business Owner with a Job” 

Think Again!.

It’s more common than you think. I’ve often heard people say, “How can someone be a business owner with a job?” and I’ve always found that to be not only an ignorant statement but one that can discourage others from pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams. The assumption that you can’t hold a job and be a legitimate business owner is, quite frankly, a dumb way to look at life. And to think, I almost fell into that trap myself.

Before I ever heard that statement, I thought it was genius to have a side job while chasing my entrepreneurial goals. It provided a sense of security during the unpredictable highs and lows of running a business. Even if it wasn’t as much as I was making on my own, it still helped in some way. I would work a side job until my business was steady, then go all in. When I needed the extra money, I could always return to a job, and that worked for me.

But then, one day, I heard someone say, “You can’t be a business owner with a job.” It shook me. I began to doubt myself. Could I really call myself a true entrepreneur if I was working for someone else, even part-time? For years, I carried that doubt. When business was slow and money was tight, I suffered in silence, convincing myself that I had to choose one path or the other.

Over time, I met many successful business owners who, through casual conversations, revealed they either had part-time jobs currently or had maintained one for years until their businesses reached stability. Hearing this blew my mind. How had I let the words of others throw me off track when so many entrepreneurs I admired had followed a similar path?

Looking back, I should have known better. Yet, I still meet people today with that same misguided mindset. It just doesn’t make sense. Everyone has a job, no matter the business or their role within it. To tell someone they aren’t a true entrepreneur because they have a temporary or permanent job is just silly.

These days, I even find myself yearning for a side job again. One major reason is the sense of normalcy it could bring. As an entrepreneur, I spend most of my days alone, except when I’m with clients or on set. The idea of co-workers, a routine, and the kind of structure a job provides sounds refreshing.

Another reason is passive income. I could use that money for extras—funding passion projects and taking trips that I wouldn’t need to dip into my business budget for. There are countless benefits to continuing a job while you’re growing your business. It offers stability, security, and even opportunities to network in ways you might not have imagined.

Now, here’s the dilemma I’m facing. After being an entrepreneur for so long, trying to return to the traditional workforce has been tough. I’m reprogramming my mind to recognize the advantages of a job, while also grappling with the reality of today’s wages. Do I really want to give a company 20-30 hours of my time for a fraction of my usual rate? Do I want to exchange making $1,000 in a few hours for minimum wage? Is that sacrifice worth it?

I wonder if I’ll find peace or chaos in that exchange. For someone in my position, my thoughts could easily be misunderstood as ungrateful, but that’s far from the truth. What I’m searching for is balance. Normalcy could be worth far more than I realize.

In my opinion, here are several reasons why you should consider keeping a job while growing your business:

1. Financial Stability: Having consistent income allows you to weather the slow seasons without putting too much pressure on your business.
2. Less Stress, More Creativity: When your livelihood doesn’t solely depend on your business, you free up mental space for creativity and innovation.
3. Networking Opportunities: Jobs introduce you to people you might not meet in your entrepreneurial circle. You never know who might become a client, investor, or partner.
4. Skill Development: Many jobs provide opportunities to learn new skills that can directly benefit your business.
5. A Safety Net: Running a business is unpredictable. A job can act as a safety net, helping you avoid burnout or financial strain.

Ultimately, the notion that you can’t be a business owner if you have a job is not only misguided but limiting. We need to stop allowing others’ opinions to influence our decisions. There’s no shame in taking a job to fulfill certain needs, whether they’re financial, social, or emotional.

For me, the next step is figuring out whether returning to the workforce will bring the peace I seek—or create more chaos. But one thing is certain: there’s no one-size-fits-all formula for success. We have to create our own paths, and sometimes, that means holding a job while building a business. And that’s perfectly okay.

Hope this helps,