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Quick time management tips for 9 to 5 workers looking to run a side business

So you want to run a side hustle or maybe already in the process of starting one?

A 9 to 5 life can be tiring if you’re bogged down by tasks from the moment you clock in for work to the second you sign off. But for those who are not so busy during weekdays, you will probably find it easier to allocate time on earning extra income outside of your full-time job.

But still, without proper time-management routines, it is possible to side-track to do something else after you knock off from work. If that is you, keep reading for some quick tips to find time to run your side business.

#1: Seek helping hands

Most start-up owners would rather begin the journey doing everything by themselves. Yes, it helps save on costs but ask yourself if you can do so for the long term. Chances are, you might get burned out while holding onto a 9 to 5 job.

Weigh the consequences over the long run, and you will see that it makes sense to find helping hands to run your business. Whether it’s a freelance graphic designer or a part-time IT personnel, outsource if you want to keep running this race.

#2: Group existing tasks

No, we’re not referring to multi-tasking. For folks who have ever multi-task or at least attempted to, you will quickly find that your mind is all over the place. Rather than doing five things at one go, a more intelligent way is to group existing tasks.

For example, if you’re cooking porridge for the family on Sunday, why not go for a bigger pot so it can last you till the end of the new work week? Also, instead of mindlessly scrolling via social media, listen to some business-related podcasts on your way to work.

#3: Set work appointments

When you set work appointments, be sure to pen it down somewhere. For individuals in the early stage of their side hustle and just working with one other person, maybe you can stick to Google calendar to map out your schedule.

But if you’re working in a team, maybe an application like Asana would help set and track work tasks and projects. The idea here is that you schedule specific blocks of time to complete your to-do list rather than postponing it indefinitely.

Final thoughts

a man drinking coffee in front of his laptop

Image Credits: unsplash.com

You’ve often heard people telling you to push your limits. While it’s good that you work hard towards success, remember that you’re only human. Having a full-time job comes with responsibilities, and it’s okay to take time off your side hustle when necessary.

If you’ve stayed on schedule during weekdays, then why not take a “half-day leave” on weekends to refresh your mind? While earning that extra money is essential, it’s not everything in life. Balance is crucial so learn to rest up if you need to.

Here’s how to get a sense of the company culture during your probation

So, you’ve walked out of a wonderful interview, and within the next day, you received an offer of employment with the same company you interviewed with.

Times are hard with the ongoing pandemic, and one should be thankful for a job offer. Well, that is true to a certain extent. But if the company culture is a misfit with the way you work, you may not be able to function properly in the long run.

Art Markman, PhD, a professor of Psychology and Marketing at the University of Texas, shares with us how to get a sense of the company culture to decide its fit for you.

#1: Explore your colleagues’ values

Have you ever heard of the saying, “Every job is doable, but it’s the people that are causing problems”?

While the management plays a part, your colleagues in the company significantly influence the company culture. This also means that their values will matter as you seek to explore what those are. It could be power, security, or achievement.

During your probation of 3 to 6 months, take this chance not only to ease yourself into the tasks but also to speak to your coworkers. We’re not asking you to be a full-fledged social butterfly but listen to what the people around you think of their work’s importance and success in general.

Then, decide for yourself if the beliefs they hold are in line with your own. Should you agree with the way your colleagues are portraying work, then it’s likely that you will be a great fit with the company. Otherwise, it’s better to seek opportunities elsewhere.

#2: Observe workplace interactions

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We think most of us would want to work in an office where people can freely talk to anyone regardless of job titles.

In fact, you can observe workplace interactions not just during your probation but right from your interview. Spot how your interviewers are reacting and communicating with each other. From there, you will probably get a good sense of the company’s hierarchical structure.

If you’re someone who values the definition of success, you may want to bring this topic up during your interview. Ask how the company values individual and group success. Do they expect everyone to stick to a set of norms? Or are they flexible to embrace diversity?

Take what they say with a pinch of salt because words are empty without concrete actions. During your probational period, you will get a sense of the culture via minor aspects. For example, do people shush when the boss walks in? Are they freely voicing out their opinions during team meetings?

#3: Trust your gut

You will probably notice that the first two points noted by Markman are very straightforward ways to catch a glimpse of the company culture.

However, sometimes, all it takes is a little intuition to conclude whether a workplace is right or wrong for you. Yes, even if you can’t seem to verbalise the reasons why, trust your gut. For those who’ve had the experience of working with several companies throughout their career, it would be easier to come to a realisation.

Nevertheless, be fully aware that a company may still be a good fit even if your initial intuition isn’t all that positive. You can blame it on the lack of familiarity if you want. Being in an unknown setting with newer job responsibilities can sometimes nudge our minds and bodies to take flight.

Final thoughts

With all that said, that is precisely why the probational period is in place. Give yourself some time to ease into the company culture and converse with your colleagues often. If all else fails, it’s not the end of the world.

6 Ways To Rekindle Your Love For Work

In these uncertain times, waking up and going to work is an achievement on its own. We have gone through a lot and we continue to adapt to our dynamic environment. Much like your personal life, your professional life is a work in progress.

When you start a job, it is all new and exciting. Do not get me started with the honeymoon phase! As time passes by, the job that once seemed so flawless may lose its luster. You may become complacent or disinterested without even noticing it. Before you call it quits, give yourself the opportunity to reconnect with your current job.

#1: FIND THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM

If you find it challenging to drag yourself out of the bed for work every morning, the first step is to admit that your motivation to go to work is slowly dwindling. You are not as passionate as you used to be. Similarly, you may want to know the root cause of having unpleasant days at work. That said, this is nothing to be ashamed of! There are many factors that can affect your feelings such as the significant changes brought by the COVID-19 restrictions.

Instead of lamenting over it on your Twitter or Facebook feed, sit down and reflect. What are the possible causes of the issues you have at work? You must first examine the things contributing to what you are feeling in order to change for the better. Once the root of the problem is clear, you can start making small changes in your personal workspace and within yourself.

#2: PERSONALIZE YOUR WORKSPACE

Whether you are staying on a partially enclosed office workspace (i.e., a cubicle) or sitting in your home office, filling your workspace with special items can help boost your mood. Gather your favorite souvenirs, your favorite family photographs, your favorite indoor plants, or anything that sparks joy into your life. In those moments when you are feeling down and frustrated, being surrounded by things you love can help lift your spirits.

Do your best to make your personal workspace comfortable. If permitted, you may even collaborate with your colleagues to decorate the communal areas of your office. Fill it with items that everyone enjoys.

#3: LEARN NEW THINGS

Learning does not stop in school! You can broaden your knowledge and skills to ignite the curiosity from within. Sometimes, people feel frustrated at work because they lack certain skills that are necessary to succeed. On the other hand, you may be well-versed at your current job and still lack the knowledge to take on a desired new role. Not knowing how to approach an obstacle at work can affect your motivation levels.

The best way to tackle this roadblock is to invest in continuing education and to update your skills. Talk to your boss about the available trainings or certifications that will benefit you and the organization. Does the company offer in-house training? If not, you can search for online training programs that interest you. Look for online courses, in-person workshops, international conferences, and other training programs.

#4: PRACTICE GRATITUDE

One of the profound ways to reframe your relationship with your work is to identify all the good things about it. Practicing gratitude may seem hard at first, because you must see through the unpleasant circumstance and recognize the positivity. However, you have to realize that what you focus on – grows.

The good things are there, you just have to keep digging deep. For example, you appreciate your respectful supervisor, or you simply value the paycheck that keeps a roof over your head. What made you fall in love with the position in the first place? Go back to that moment. Writing down all the positive aspects of your job can remind you that these things exist. Use its positive energy to keep you going.

#5: MIX THINGS UP

“Habits can save us time, but they can also make us feel stagnant,” said Helen Godfrey of The Authentic Path.

Thinking outside the box or doing things beyond your usual routine can help you approach the day in a different light. If you always eat lunch in the same place, consider ordering food from a different store. If you rarely leave your desk, try taking a 5-minute exercise break. Approach tasks through new lenses to help you shake things up. Perhaps, a little variety or a change in perspective is what you need to refresh your relationship with work.

#6: TALK TO SOMEONE YOU TRUST

As we search for the elusive “perfect job”, we often lose sight of the good things in our current position. It is easy to get stuck in a loop of negativity and internalize frustrations during difficult times. Acknowledging that frustration exists can prevent it from being bottled up. Talking to someone who understands where you are coming from can help.

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You can approach a mentor, a peer, a friend, a family member, or significant other. Your trusted confidant can offer a different perspective or a shoulder to lean on. It helps to pause and reflect.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

Consider these responses to cope with hostile colleagues

It’s been a month since we’ve been given the green light to head back to the office.

But with the increase in COVID-19 community cases in recent days, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has advised employers to allow their employees to work from home as far as possible.

Whether it be reporting to the office or clocking in from the comforts of home, we inevitably have to face our colleagues, occasionally hostile ones. If that is you, consider these responses to counter the unfortunate situation.

#1: Self-examine the case

We think it’s easy to point fingers at others when things go wrong. But why not take this chance to do some self-examination?

Ask yourself if the unfriendliness from your coworker could be a reaction to your actions? Maybe you’re a relatively straightforward person who speaks your mind without considering much. If so, then learn how to catch the right opportunity to share an opinion and keep mum when you should.

#2: Stay respectful but firm

Let’s say you’ve done some introspection and realised that the unpoliteness comes from your colleague despite you having done no wrong. Okay, fair enough. However, don’t rush to counter hostility with aggressiveness.

Unless you want to aggravate the already less-than-ideal work relationship, stay respectful but firm. Perhaps you are partnering with someone who likes to delay his or her work and then gets defensive when you ask for the output. Instead of asking an open-ended question, stick to this:

“Our presentation to the boss will be scheduled this Monday, so I would greatly appreciate it if you could send me the reports by mid-week.”

#3: Don’t blame yourself

Image Credits: The Independent

Have you noticed that whenever a new hire enters the company, there will be a period where “work kakis” get awkward? From schools to the workplace and social groups, there are “cliques” everywhere.

Sometimes, your colleagues’ coldness towards you may not be that they dislike you or have something against you. Everyone responds differently to a new face, so allow time to pass and conversations to flow naturally.

#4: Incorporate little kind gestures

A little kindness goes a long way to make someone’s day brighter, and in return, yours too! It could be as simple as guiding a table buddy on using a function on Microsoft Excel or offering to buy tea or coffee for a bit of perk-me-up.

But as with all things, don’t get overboard with being helpful. Since it may appear too “fake” when your actions don’t tally over the months or years, use little gestures when opportunities present themselves.

#5: Ask for advice

To round us up our list of responses to coping with hostile colleagues, we would recommend that you ask for advice from your HR department. Since HR personnel are usually trained in their field, they will know how best to handle workplace relationships.

Often, there are people in the office who get too comfortable “bullying” their fellow workers but have not been formally reported by anyone. Trust your gut and do what is suitable if you want the situation to be rightly dealt with by the management.

Essential entrepreneurship takeaways from Zoom’s founder & CEO

Say “Zoom”, and the average person would instantly get what you mean.

In recent times, the pandemic has brought about various changes in the way we work and communicate. Job interviews are shifting from in-person encounters to video calls, and connecting with friends and family members based overseas are also done through the webcam.

“Let’s hop on a Zoom call soon” or “I’ll drop you the Zoom link in a while” have become phrases we hear all the time. But do you know the creator behind the trending software used by millions now? Eric Yuan’s the name to note. He is also Time’s 2020 Businessperson of the Year, and we give him credit for that.

Here are some essential entrepreneurship takeaways from the 51-year-old Chinese-American billionaire businessman himself.

#1: Just do it

We will start by reinforcing Nike’s catchphrase. Do you know that Zoom was founded in 2011 when Eric Yuan was 41 years old? If he had allowed his age to deter him from creating Zoom 10 years ago, we wouldn’t be having the ease of communicating across time zones in this COVID-19 era.

#2: Remember the helping hands

Zoom came to life thanks not to just Eric Yuan but also his supportive friends and family who trusted him. They backed him up financially, and because of that, he was able to garner a total of $3 million in capital. Together with funding from venture capitalists, Zoom was able to progress to where they are right now.

#3: Keep at it

Image Credits: immigration-ways.com

For quitters, the startup life may not be for you. Yuan shared that he got rejected eight times and accepted only on the ninth in his visa application to get to the US. This was after he had heard Bill Gates’ 1995 keynote speech regarding the future of the internet and wanted to get there to be part of the first wave of the internet revolution.

#4: Provide better solutions to problems

A startup usually exists because the founder wants to create a solution to pressing issues. But it has to be not just a mediocre solution but one that can set yourself apart from what’s already out there in the market. “Lead with the focus on the customer,” Yuan noted. While it’s good to know your competitors, don’t get overly obsessed with the research.

#5: Aim for user satisfaction

Those who’ve eyed the local startup scene or are well aware of new international ventures will know that sometimes startups waste time marketing the product when it’s not ready. On the other hand, Eric Yuan believed that happy customers would bring in money for the company eventually. Let your wonderful product speak for itself, and then leverage that word-of-mouth strategy to grow your business.

#6: Pay attention to employees & company culture

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As we come to a close, know that certain startups are bound to see a high turnover rate. While you may not be able to satisfy your workers with a market-rate salary or a speedy promotion raise, at least pay attention to them and your company culture.

“As a CEO, you need to think about your employees. Zoom’s culture is: Deliver happiness. If we are happy, the customer is happy. It’s a simple formula, and we lead by example,” Yuan remarked.

For more entrepreneurship insights, catch the entire webinar with Zoom’s CEO here.