Are you currently working a fairly standard 9-5 job, but it’s not something you love doing and you want to be able to pursue your dreams, whilst maintaining an income to live on?
Maybe you sit at your desk at work and daydream about the things you’d rather be doing. Maybe your work is starting to suffer and your boss is getting agitated. Maybe you’re just fed up and ready to move on.
But there is one thing you’re 100% sure about. The fact that it’s time to take action. It’s time to toss out the ‘someday disease’ and get started on the things that truly make you happy while you’ve currently got a job.
Here are 6 steps on how to pursue your dreams whilst working the 9 to 5 grind.
1. Have A Vision
What’s your definition of success? Everyone’s vision is different. For instance mine is to live wherever I want, travel as much as possible and help people at the same time.
Yours might be to make a positive impact, a lot of money – or even both. Maybe you dream about having financial security so you can see the world or take care of your loved ones.
Unless you know exactly where you’re heading and what you want out of this part time business you’re building, you’re likely going to waste your time and/or end some place else.
By defining your vision, staying focused on it, and holding it close to your heart, success is in your future.
“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” – Yogi Berra
2. Figure Out Your Course of Action
Now that you know what you want, let’s figure out how to pursue your dreams and get you there. You need to know how you’re going to achieve that vision and version of success through careful planning.
Personally, the best way I have found this possible is through reading and immersing myself in whatever I’m hoping to accomplish.
3. Make Clear Daily Objectives
The time you dedicate to your business is limited right now. So you need to plan your days and most important tasks out as thoughtfully as possible.
I highly recommend you read The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less by Richard Koch to help define your most important objectives and get stuff done. Not only will the book show you how to be more effective on a day-to-day basis, but it will show you how to get better results in less time.
Convention and time management are thrown out the window. When you pursue your dreams, you’ve got to get serious and cut the fat.
4. Be Patient
Since your time is limited, it’s very important to keep in mind that patience is absolutely required. I hate to pull this card but, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’.
As clique as that phrase is, it’s true. If you want to build your dream business in to something that will be around for years to come with limited time it’s going to take some time to get it off the ground. So my friend, don’t freak out when you’re not a million dollars richer next week.
Your business likely won’t explode overnight and you are going to have to make sacrifices along the way. But by being strategic, careful, and smart about the daily objectives you set — you’re on your way to living life on your terms. Whatever those terms may be.
5. Stay Disciplined
Without discipline, you’ll never get anything done in your business while working a 9-5. Running a business takes tenacity and the ability to control your surroundings as much as possible.
Of course there will be variables that you can’t control, like your internet going out when there’s a website to be built or emails to answer. But if you’re dead serious about building your future, find a way to get around that problem.
Call up a friend and ask to use their internet. Find a coffee shop with free wifi. Go to the local library. Whatever it takes.
To pursue your dreams, you need to stay disciplined and overcome the little things that hold you back. Most people don’t. So if you can stay in control and stay savvy, you’re far above the rest.
6. Use Your Time Wisely
How much time are you really wasting?
Do me a favor and go back to the The 80/20 Principle. After reading that book you’ll have a firm grasp on the few activities that will give you the most results. The things that are most important to you building your business, with limited time to do so.
If you’re checking Twitter to see how many new followers you have since three hours ago – delete the app.
If you’re letting people ramble on the phone while you’ve got 7 things left on your to-do list – ask them to email you with the most important things they need to discuss and get busy.
If you know you won’t have any time to work tomorrow on your business because of some outside obligation, stay up late tonight. Use the time you have now so you’re still making progress.
The question is, what are you going to do with your time? What drives you? How can you work smarter?
Your time is precious, especially when you’re working 9-5 and don’t have as many hours in the day to dedicate to pursuing your dreams. Make the most of it.
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