One of the sweetest rewards for coaches is when a client calls you with a victory to share.
That just happened to me!
In this case, it was one of my amazing business women currently going through my Make the Leap™ Coaching Program.
This is a step-by-step program that specifically teaches business and professional women how to start a business, and have certain things in place before “making the leap” from Corporate America into the world of entrepreneurship.
Not to reveal too much, but she is in a situation where she wants to leave her current position (AKA full-time job) to go out on her own and start a business. Does this sound familiar?
In this case, I had coached her that she needed to make a decision. She was still working her full-time job, but yet already networking and developing business in her “on-the-side” endeavor.
In order to move forward in her business, she was at a point where she needed to tell her current employer what she was doing. Otherwise she would be held back and could go no further in her business. This also allowed her the strategy outlined in my book Full-Time Woman, Part-Time Career, of working part-time to have some income still coming in while developing her business. This was not an easy step to take. How do you tell your current employer that you are starting a business on the side?
Well, the direct route is a good way. The outcome can go either way. They can either be receptive and encourage your outside activities, or they can fire you. In this case, the outside activities posed no conflict-of-interest with her current position. Thus the phone call! She said that the conversation went really well and that she felt empowered as well as a certain amount of freedom to finally get it off her chest.
I can certainly relate – once you put yourself “out there” and declare your intentions to the Universe, it responds in-kind. I speak from experience, as this is what happened to me when I finally put my coaching out there on Linked In!
Tip: So put yourself “out there” and let all kinds of good things come your way!
Do you agree?
What is the best way to tell your current employer that you are doing “other things”?
What if it is a conflict-of-interest?
What if you tell your employer and the outcome is not positive and they let you go? What happens then?
Great post and information. I love the content and it really speaks to how someone can start a business.
David Kern-Lyons
Thank you David! I appreciate your reading my post!
I had exactly the same advice for a client two months ago. But, I also suggested that she develop an alternative scenario- if the employer decided she were a threat and not an asset. How would she maintain cash flow as her second career became her first.
That effort was completed last weekend. The discussion with the employer started yesterday.
Stay tuned for the rest of the story.
Great story Roy! Please keep me updated. I am interested to know how things turn out for your client. What if things turn out the other way?
One other comment – I think that once you let your employer know what you are doing, then all kinds of doors open up. It’s almost like “getting it off your chest” so to speak, which then allows the person to blossom in ways they never anticipated, and are unable to when they are “just an employee”!
I also think that it’s so common nowadays – that many people have businesses “on-the-side” in addition to their full-time jobs!
I agree with your second paragraph (one of the reasons why I suggested they develop the scenario). I am guessing they will end up having their avocation develop into the vocation within a week or two.
The issue for this client- she is a nurse, working in a pediatric environment. They do NOT offer breastfeeding consultations (in spite of their statements they would). She is a lactation certified nurse… and this is what she plans to do on the side. That’s the essential conflict.
Hi Roy – Thanks for your reply! You’re right – it could be a potential conflict of interest, but if the doctor she currently works for doesn’t offer the service, then it could turn in to a nice source of referrals for her (assuming everything turns out in her favor). I will keep my fingers crossed for her that it all goes well. Keep me posted!