As someone who has my own business, I see this repeatedly within my industry. People will say they need more income, but instead of putting their nose to the grind stone for an extra 1-2 hours each day, they’ll go out and take a 2nd job, paying around $10/hour. Uh, whatever!

That’s one of the dumbest things I’ve seen people do. Seriously.

There are a multitude of reasons why this is dumb. First and foremost, you have a business, why aren’t you working it? Put that 20+ hours a week you are spending on a second job into your business! Pound the pavement. Put your nose to the grind stone. All too often, the things that will grow and multiply your business are things we don’t necessarily enjoy doing, but just a few hours a week of doing those things will reap rewards upon your business.

Let’s look at the business we are in: real estate. Both hubby and I are full-time REALTORS®. We don’t have another income source to fall back on. We don’t have second jobs. Sure we have ways to help pad our income now, but those ways bring in a ten here, a twenty there. We need more money, so guess what we are doing? Old fashioned things that bring in business: spending more time people-to-people!

I hear repeatedly from other REALTORS® about how bad business is, and every single one of those complainers is blaming it on the economy.  Hum… if it’s so bad, why is it that some REALTORS® are increasing their business in this “bad economy”?  Some have been in the business for a while and get that everything is a cycle.  Others just started in real estate 1-3 years ago and have nothing else from which to gage their business, yet they are plowing ahead.  The thing is, there are always people buying and selling real estate so if you think the economy sucks, get over it and go out and find business.  Don’t wait for it to come to you.

Frankly, small business owners are shooting themselves in the foot when they take on a second job. Your business reputation is at stake and taking on a second job can seriously harm that reputation. How can you be an expert, a professional, if your interests are divided? When I look at people in our industry and they tell me they have another job, I immediately think that they aren’t serious about their business and I wouldn’t work with them for anything. What do you think a prospective client is going to think and do? It’s just a hobby to them.

Get your butt in gear and spend more time building your business. Get out and meet more people, attend more networking events, exchange business cards more often, spend more time on a “power hour” reaching out to past, current and future clients.  ASK for business!