Cubicle 9.5 to Entrepreneur 24.7

Cubicle 9.5 to Entrepreneur 24.7

Posted by Deb Lee, Certified Professional Organizer® on August 19th, 2010 — 11 Comments
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Aug

What’s it like to jump from a steady 9-5 to entrepreneurship? Today’s guest blogger, Nakeva Corothers, explains her journey to full time business owner.

When I say the word entrepreneur, the names of people like Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet or Colleen Payne-Nabors come to mind. I have a contact list of friends and local connections that are working on their own clock. I come from a family that has entrepreneurial spirit and yet our name is not known in many households.

Over the last few years, I have spent time finding the niche that works best for me, to bring something of value to others, and call it my own. The interesting challenges along the way have always been that I worked a typical 9 to 5 job, building a company for someone else with no real sense of community and team as it should be in corporate America. The time presented itself to go from Cubicle 9.5 to Entrepreneur 24.7 and start building on my ideas full time, and put my style and goals front and center.

What is it like going from that employee to entrepreneur? The first thing I learned is time management, communication, and marketing ideas are now my friends, and not that thing I do when I have time. It is completely liberating. To make things work in my favor and not get caught up in so many details or give way to fear, I focus on what I have right in front of me which starts with the brand of my name. I was already communicating with people who could use my services of photography, PR, and social media; however, associating these assets to my name in the local community is now a different value. I’m now free to make calls, return emails, answer questions, and arrange business lunch meetings because my time and my calendar are my own. If I have that midnight brainchild idea spark up a fire, I can act on it and lay the ground work immediately rather than jot down a few notes and hope I remember the fire by Saturday afternoon when I “have time.”

The tools I use to manage my time and reflect on getting things done are now 100% viable to a daily and weekly routine that doesn’t require a manager’s approval or disapproval. I know where my time goes and its easier to make adjustments for what was productive versus what didn’t work in a given week. Time spent on social media sites is now more calculated and insightful. Connections made with new followers and friends is now about both business and fun with a touch of learning. Going from the 9 to 5 job and working for myself is a pressure relief and a daily life lesson!

Of course, its no walk in the park when you think of the taxes, forms to start your business as an LLC or just a sole proprietor, finding insurance, healthcare, business plans, and all the new things that are now “all on you;” there is no HR department. There are so many ways to get things done that are also attached to so many fees, prices, and payments for a small business owner it almost makes you want to run back to the safety of the cow herd cubicle!

How do I get through this? I have a network of friends in social media and locally that I contact to say what I’m doing and get their real life experience and opinions. I mix online time with offline time and realize that networking events now promote business and establish new contacts. Networking is not just to meet with friends or get out of the house. I have learned more in the last few weeks than I have learned in the last ten years just from the people in my social network. Being your own boss has the potential you give to it and is not directly dependent on what someone else chooses for you to build.

The entrepreneur life is 24/7 where you succeed and fail based on your own actions. I like knowing that there is no one over my shoulder to poke at me when I’m down or feed me a list of what they think is the path to success. As a new entrepreneur I look forward to every day building on ideas, serving people, growing a network of believers, and dishing out my own actions toward an end that brightens my vision on life.

About The Author

Nakeva Corothers, Photographer/Social Media PR

A magnetic personality and artistic state of being, Nakeva Corothers is the creator of Nightlife PR, a website covering DC events with a focus on the nonprofit and charity scene. Nakeva Photography is her business in lifestyle, commercial and social media photography. With a niche in building new media strategies through PR, social media and photography, Nakeva has developed her technical skills with social awareness that resonate success as an entrepreneur. Visit her website NakevaPhotography.com or contact her at 240.489.2865

Get Social With Nakeva: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Blog | E-Mail

Ve

being methodical & having gr8 time management skills is “critical”… although we all need to be pushed/driven, it doesn’t have to be from a corporate entity. That is definitely “liberating”! Good read
http://www.nakevaphotography.com @Nakeva

Ve, its all about how long you want to “drink the kool-aid” before you realize you can make your own. Good point on management skills being critical. That is an area I have had to change as do most entrepreneurs. Realizing how valuable time is makes a difference down the road.

I appreciate your thoughts!
http://www.heylovedesigns.com Michelle

Great post Nakeva!! I’m going through the same thing right now, at least the never ending task of getting my business set up, licensed, fees, etc, and using my strong network of friends and resources but I’m far from being able to quit the full time job. Much props to you! And let’s help each other out through the process :)
http://www.nakevaphotography.com @Nakeva

Michelle, its definitely not an easy task or smooth transition! If it were not for a good circle of friends with a professional state-of-mind, things would be a little harder. The resources to help you fill out forms, find that attorney and accountant or do market research…they are plentiful. However, I find the best way to narrow it down is talking to my network.

I’m happy to help and we can walk the starting board together. Pay it forward.
Pingback: Photographer From Cubicle 9.5 to Entrepreneur 24.7 « Nakeva Photography
Cheryl

I truly relate to this article as I intend to take the same leap of faith very soon! I agree that since I started my own business one year ago I eat, think & sleep my business. And I’m sure it will be that way once I leave the 9 to 5 gig. Thank you for this inspirational article to assure us that we can reach our dreams of leaving the 9 to 5 and pursuing our passion in life!
http://www.fezelry.com Fezelry Jewelry Designs

Fezelry Jewelry has been a client with Nightlife PR for over 2 years, I love working with Nakeva she is a high energy, optimistic and enthusiastic professional and now that she has taken the leap to live her dream full time all the time, we look forward to the all the fun ahead! Congrats on the feature and here’s to the future! Go get em!
http://www.nakevaphotography.com @Nakeva

@Cheryl, its always possible to live that dream! As long as you have the 9 – 5 comfort zone, learn all you can absorb and position yourself for the exit. Once that zone is gone and you are doing what you love, it will not seem like work at all. When the tough times hit, and they will, just know you are doing something for YOU and the world around you building that dream. I’m rooting for ya and we can walk together!

@Fezelry, it has been a pleasure working with you under Nightlife PR brand and I see you are also doing brilliant things with your business! I have to admit that while doing the 9.5 you were a huge inspiration and source of knowledge that helped me make the transition a positive move. Let’s get ‘em together ;)
Kiauna

THANK YOU for this article. It is good to have real life examples to remind you that you can do it. Thanks again!
http://www.chantelligence.com Chantel

As an eye witness to your shift from “cow herd cubicle” to Entrepreneur 24-7, I can definitely say that it is liberating. Watching you focus full time on your passion has been a blessing in my life. We talk daily about building your business and your brand, but reading this post has given me some insight into what you’re doing over there on the computer. :)

Keep living your dream! You have my 100% support!

P.S. This article was well written and motivating! You should blog more often. Sometimes our written words re-read to ourselves can be inspiring!
http://www.nakevaphotography.com @Nakeva

Kiauna and Chantel thank you for letting me know the article is inspiring! What is even more inspiring to me is watching Deb Lee make business happen and invite people from all areas of life and business levels share their stories in her space.

I am even more motivated to be successful knowing there are people out there depending on the services and ideas of Entrepreneurs. Great things ahead for all of us!

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