4 Challenges To Starting A Side Hustle (and How To Overcome Them)
Challenge 1: You don’t have the time
Many women desire to either replace or at least supplement their income with a side hustle but often feel that there needs to be more time. There aren’t enough hours in the day for their ever-growing to-do list. The problem is not that they don’t have the time; they must utilize it effectively. If you want to find that time to focus on your dreams and create the life you want, then look closely at your schedule.
Start by eliminating the things that no longer serve you or your long-term goals. Eliminate or delegate mundane tasks that can easily be automated or done by someone else. It’s great that you have a specific way of doing the laundry, but ultimately, what is important is having clean clothes, right? The second step is to focus on your most important tasks first. While essential can be relative, you know what brings the most value to your life and moves you forward and what is simply busy work. Focusing on what is most important ensures that these things get done and allows you to manage your stress.
Ultimately, the less critical items will wait until you have the time or the next day. You gain a sense of accomplishment and are one step closer to your entrepreneurial goals.
Challenge 2: You are afraid fear of failure
Having a fear of failure has killed more dreams than actual failure ever could. Our view that trying wastes time is often driven by other people’s opinions and past experiences. The reality is that you don’t have a fear of failure. You have a fear of the unknown. The job you currently hold is relatively predictable. You know when you will get paid, how your performance affects your upward mobility, and others are responsible for the business’s success or failure. When you are an entrepreneur, all blame falls on you; there is no guarantee of success, and you have no natural way of knowing how successful you will be.
In this case, it is essential to remember that there is some uncertainty in everything, even your “steady” day job. The markets could crash, your top client could leave, and the business could fold. It may not be your fault, but you must still shoulder some consequences. Ultimately, taking the risk to bet on yourself is also taking control of your future.
Challenge 3: You don’t know where to start
Not knowing where to start is valid and expected for many people looking to start or grow a business. It is a combination of having many ideas but needing help to make sense of them and being unsure of what you can accomplish. This is why it can be so helpful to have a guide or a coach (like yours truly) by your side as you map out your game plan. Sometimes it takes someone with a bird’s eye view of the situation to make the puzzle pieces fit together.
The other benefit of having a coach or consultant to help you get started is that your perceived limitations do not blind them. A coach or consultant is there to push you gently outside of your comfort zone to help you achieve your goals. They are the cheerleader you didn’t know you needed. You get the benefit of their expertise to make the plan. Plus, the use of their unbiased viewpoint is to help you execute with excellence.
Challenge 4: You procrastinate
Procrastination is a manifestation of self-sabotage. It is your brain’s way of holding you back but disguised so well that you rarely see it that way. Instead, you focus on the external “distractions” that caused you to delay the start of that project, business, or idea. Procrastination can also be a response to anxiety around performance or the outcome of the task. What makes it hard to overcome is the subconscious nature in which procrastination operates.
The key to overcoming procrastination is having focused working hours with built-in mini-wins. Our brains thrive off of celebration and validation, perceived or actual; it is also easily overwhelmed. One quick fix for both issues is to break larger tasks into smaller, more obtainable ones. By breaking your big tasks down, your brain can process the job as more manageable to complete (less overwhelmed), enabling you to score a more straightforward win (celebration). Both give you a sense of accomplishment for moving the needle forward on your goals.
In conclusion, pursuing a side hustle or entrepreneurial dream can be challenging for women, but it is not impossible to overcome. A solid strategy and a mindset shift can enable you to overcome these challenges. By taking a closer look at your schedule, focusing on your most important tasks, betting on yourself, seeking guidance and coaching, and breaking larger tasks into smaller, more obtainable ones, you can create the life you want and achieve your entrepreneurial goals. Don’t let fear, self-doubt, or procrastination keep you from pursuing your dreams. It’s time to take control, overcome these challenges, and unleash your full potential.
If you’re ready to get started on your side hustle (without the hustle), then let’s chat and see how we can work together.