What Being a Moonlight Entrepreneur Has Taught Me About Network Marketing

Through the years of me being in out of Network Marketing I've had a few triumphs to go along with my many failures. In the end, though, I can definitely say that I've learned a ton. I've learned what not to do, and what doesn't work, which has led me to what does work. Along with Network Marketing, I've tried to get other types of work from home businesses off the ground as well.

Through it all, I've been blessed enough to have been able to slowly build my businesses while working a full time job. By the way, that's the definition of a 'Moonlight Entrepreneur' in case you were wondering.

So, what has the overall experience taught me?

Time Management

Let's face it, there will never be more than 24 hours in a day to get things done. And if you really need to sleep like most people do, then there is even less. Furthermore, being committed to an employer for 8 hours a day is exactly what it sounds like... being committed. That means that there needs to be time set aside for any aspiring enterprises outside of your 40 hour work week.

Learning to manage my time has been a crucial element to staying productive at both my job and my business. It's a matter of staying organized and scheduling things out.

Work Ethic

This should be somewhat of an epiphany for people who think that owning your own business is too much work. It takes just as much work, working for someone else as it takes to run your own business. Especially in today's business economy, where employers are asking more and more of their employees, while cutting their workforce down. It's not uncommon to work 45-50 hours a week.

The type of work that you do could vary, but I've found that I work just as hard at a normal job, as I do in my business. What differs is the hours, or the amount of hours that you may have to put in. One of the beautiful things about being a Network & Online Marketer, is that you can do it within 40 hours a week, and in many cases less, once you really start to take off.

This is no way saying that it's not hard work at all, or that it's easy. It's just saying that using the 'it's too much work' excuse doesn't fly in Network Marketing.

Budgeting

As a Moonlight Entrepreneur, this is very important. Why? Well, the money from your job has to go towards making sure your normal bills get paid, as well as having to make room to set aside money that you can comfortably put towards your business. This can become quite the juggling act.

It forces you to set a budget and account for the money that you are spending in your business. Learning to balance your money early on by having to account for all expenses sets you up for good practices later on. I have to analyze everything that I spend money on in my business because I have a strict budget. That means measuring and gathering data about what is working and what isn't working.

If it isn't something that I can get a good return on, then it doesn't make sense to spend money on it. And, you constantly have to evaluate what constitutes a good return, as it relates to your independent business and experience.

Overall, moonlighting may sound like a less than ideal situation, but what makes it viable is that you have security. You can look at it as something to fall back on, but I don't. I look at it as a way to make sure the bills get paid, and a way to fund my business expenses. If I thought that it was something to fall back on, then I would be admitting to having thoughts of not making it. Having a job is not 'Plan B,' but rather a stepping stone to something greater.

I would love to hear your thoughts...

#TimeManagement #StayingOrganized #NetworkMarketing #mindset