If you’re stuck doing some black and white Dilbert-like office drudgery, it can be hard to imagine enjoying a life of color and enjoyment outside of that corporate monotony. Sure, you have your own idea for a business, but you’re sure that you’ll never be able to follow through on it. After all, when you’re trapped in the endless cycle that is living that Dolly Parton-esque 9-to-5 life, you’re only at work for those eight hours, but it can feel as though it’s taking up all your energy, 24 hours a day.
Energy-draining and soul-sucking jobs like that make the dream of starting your own business all the more enticing. You have a dream and you want to escape the day-to-day drudgery of your day job – but is starting a business while working worth it?
Pro: An Informed Decision
This is a big decision, possibly one of the biggest you will make in your life. You thus need to make sure it’s as informed a decision as possible. Working your current job while looking into and developing your business plans can help you determine whether the latter is sustainable and best for your economic future.
Con: Splitting Commitments and Energy
As you already know all too well: you only have so much energy in your reserves. Trying to work your present job while likewise trying to start a whole new business can be completely draining. If you’re already tired from working your present job, ask yourself seriously whether you can or want to work a second job in starting your new company.
Pro: Networking Potential
No matter the industry or your role in it, business is all about networking. If you work both jobs at once, you will have that much wider of a net when it comes to looking into different networking options.
Con: Splitting Your Focus
At the same time, starting a new company requires a great deal of focus. Working two jobs at once means splitting that focus, and that can be quite costly for both your present job performance and your future business success.
Weighing these pros and cons, you’ll be able to make an informed decision about what to do.