Do you have lots of different business ideas? Ever consider running multiple businesses at the same time? If you haven’t started your first business yet, I know that can sound overwhelming! Jill Ferguson is a serial simultaneous entrepreneur. Currently, she is running 5 businesses and wants to share how to run multiple businesses simultaneously.
She started her first business at the age of 18. Even as a full-time university professor, she was always running side businesses.
Some of her current businesses include freelance writing, advising people on how to publish and launch their books, painting for commissions and she’s the founder of Women’s Wellness Weekend.
She’s also the author of several books of her own. If you are thinking of going freelance, you might want to pick up a copy of her most recent publication, Creating the Freelance Career. Jill invited me to share a case study about my own experience as a freelancer in the book.
Lot of great lessons in our conversation including:
- How she runs 5 businesses simultaneously, some require more attention than others.
- How she approaches starting and ending her workday.
- Looking at losses in a new business as an investment rather than as a cost.
- Why having multiple income streams provides her with financial security.
- Why she thrives from failure and she gives up on a business idea when she no longer feels joy.
- We coin the idea of a “5 to 9 business“.
Life Skills That Matter In This Episode
- Reframe your mindset
- Build your community
- Self-direct your learning
- Manage your energy
How Jill Works and Thinks
- Wake up time: 4:30 am
- Core work activities + habits: 1) Stay on top of emails and get back to people the same day. 2) Make time to meditate in the morning. 3) Get outside into nature.
- Ideal work environment: Sometimes standing at the kitchen island, sometimes out in the yard by a fountain – almost anywhere she can take her computer.
- 90-day goal: Finish her book, Creating the Freelance Career. Market her Women’s Wellness Weekend in June. Start working with some new clients.
Inspirational Quotes
“I found that I can keep my income either fairly steady or growing by being in various different areas of work.”
“Without failure, we wouldn’t have any way to define success.”
“I give up on a business if it no longer brings me any joy.”
“Follow whatever you’re interested in and see if it leads you to something bigger.”
Coaching Advice
If you want to work for yourself, but you’re afraid of stepping out and doing your own thing, Jill suggests the following actions:
1) Check out Steering by Starlight by Martha Beck and Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes.
2) Say yes to more things because you never know what kinds of possibilities may arise.
Resources + Bonus Materials
Special Offer
Use code LIFESKILLS to get 20% off book editing or book consultation services purchased through:
www.creatingthefreelancecareer.com/products.html
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