Owning a Business or owning a Job? 🔥
I run a coffee shop in Wales, UK. This is my second business since 2018, and something that’s become evident in both businesses is that it’s easy to fall into the trap of just owning a job. I’m there right now. This can happen due to a few different scenarios, but the main two are: 1️⃣ You’re scared to let go and let others do things When you start a business, you have an “I do it best” mindset, and it’s difficult to let others take control or do things. The “I do it best” mindset is super toxic, obviously, because you’ll never grow as a business if you can’t or won’t delegate tasks to others. Simple. One of my favourite quotes is, "Perfect is the enemy of good..." 2️⃣ No money; the owner works there Most businesses begin as owner-operated, especially in hospitality when the margins are low... I mean low as in no margins at all! I suppose this ties into point 1 as well, because when you’ve done tasks for a long time, or you’re the only one who, for example, cleans the coffee machine or grinders, it’s easy to put yourself on a pedestal and think, “Not only am I the best at this, but I do it because I’m the owner, and this is the job of the owner.” When a business isn’t making money at the start, or even midway through its life, it’s understandable for a business owner to adopt this mindset, as you’re literally clutching at straws or maybe subconsciously trying to find positives—looking for a diamond in the rough, if you will. People say if you’re working in your business, you can’t work on your business. Bullshit. You have to be in your business, and working on it, to make it work. You need to be working 100x harder if things aren’t going well. But, when there’s no money, I get it—it’s tough, and you feel like your hands are tied. But...when there’s no money being made, or you feel like you’ve tried everything, guess what...nobody gives a fuck! Try harder. Stop being soft. Sort your shit out. The title of this post boils down to this: If you own a job, 99% of the time it’s because your business isn’t making money. If you’re making money, and the business is profitable, you can employ more people and remove yourself from the daily grind.