“How did you get so many clients when you first started your business?!?!”
The question I get asked at least once a week.
Here’s my secret.
I was hustling my buns from day one, as most all small business owners do… the difference for me – a Bridge Job.
Bridge Job (n): something you do on the side or in-between quitting your crappy golden handcuffs job and taking on your own (terrifying, but exhilarating) small business.
My Bridge Job afforded me 3 VERY important things that I’d like to share below:
CASH.
Let’s be honest, we all are in a better place when we don’t reek of desperation.
We can make decisions from a place of calm, thoughtfulness – and move forward with our business at the pace that it’s meant to go (not the pace our empty bank account is begging for).
Me – I’m not the type of person who likes to borrow money from a bank, nor do I want to live in a shoe-box eating Top Ramen.
This didn’t hold me back from taking a huge leap of faith and starting my own business, but it did tell me that I needed some sort of Bridge Job to help re-fill my bank account for the first few months of my new business.
CONFIDENCE.
Here is what entrepreneurship is like…
“It’s like a man riding a lion. People think, ‘This guy’s brave.’ And he’s thinking, ‘How the hell did I get on a lion, and how do I keep from getting eaten?”
One of my favorite analogies from Toby Thomas, CEO of EnSite Solutions.
Building a business is tough enough already – having some stability, some comfort, and something you know inside and out helps to re-build your confidence in those early months.
CLARITY.
The Bridge Job allows time for reflection.
It gives you time to dip your toes in your new business to see if it’s really all its cracked up to be.
Within 2 weeks of accepting my bridge job (freelancing) I knew I was meant to be coaching people.
I woke up at 4am every morning to work on my coaching business, because I was that pumped.
(And those who know me, know that mornings are NOT MY THING.)
But I will never forget that feeling of excitement and energy that got me out of bed at that god-for-saken hour.
It was the clear, distinct feeling of passion.
With some cash, confidence, and clarity on your side – you’re setting yourself up to enjoy the first few years of your business, so much more.
I am always surprised when people don’t shout this from the roof top more often.
It’s as if we think our story won’t be as sexy, if we say “yea I dabbled, did a little part time, saved some money then finally went full time with my own business.” People think the sexy story is, “I threw my hands in the air one day and just QUIT – and then my business became a success overnight!”
Riiiighhhht…
The real sexy thing?
Watching someone work hard, build something, while enjoying their friends, family, and life along the way – then beam with achievement and fulfillment.
So today, I’d like to bring some more awareness to the idea of Bridge Jobs… because they rock, and I’d love to hear if you’ve had one, or intend to have one.
xx,
Kelsey