Why having a business or being your business is “legit” even if it’s not your full-time income

Don’t let the fancy goal of full-time be the point at which you consider your business is legit.

It’s a common trap for new business owners or contractors…

We get sucked into talking sh*t on our business when it’s in its pre-full-time stage. We tend to worry and set timelines and ideas of how it *should* manifest. 

Because we’ve been told all the ways “we aren’t really a business” unless we do XYZ. 

And the biggest way people drag on themselves? “I’m not full-time even though I’ve been in business for x amount of time. So I’ve failed as a business owner.”

Who says?!

• People who have the financial privilege and the means to invest in themselves or a team early on?

• People who have the space to work in their business because they don’t need a second or third job?

• People who aren’t responsible for taking care of anyone else but themselves?

No shade to any of these folks, but usually when they speak on what you “should” do in your business to go “full-time” (so many air quotes), they aren’t thinking about your financial or mental health situation, and they aren’t thinking about your lived experience or identity and what that means for your business growth and opportunities. 

So what happens because of this? When we feel self-conscious about our progress, we tend to invalidate it. We think we aren’t “there” yet in our business. But where is there?

Here at Unsocially Inclined, we respect your goals as a business or personal brand, and we also celebrate whatever combination of income streams makes sense for you and your life at this moment. 

Being ‘full-time’ in your business is not what makes it “for real”. 

Without realizing it, we’ve become trapped in thinking that only the FULL-TIME businesses making their owner's full-time income are actual “real businesses.”

A truly unpleasant, insecure place to be, that sometimes allows people to pressure us into investments that aren’t really what we need at that moment. 

But the secret? Your belief influences your energy when working on the business. If you are overly focusing on what your business “isn’t,” you won’t be able to amplify the magic of what “is.”

We know, easier said than done sometimes. And that’s real! Our founder, Monica, even has moments from life pressures and mental health challenges that skew their thoughts of their business. 

But your business isn’t defined by how frequent its income is. It can be on its way all the same.

We get stuck in comparison mode when we see other people breaking milestones while we’re working on something on the side or also working some other jobs. “Am I allowed to call myself a proper business owner?” you wonder in those moments.

And we’re telling you… yes. You are. Here’s your permission! Once you step into that role, things will CLICK. We recognize that self-trust takes time and sometimes there are other factors involved in that process, but only you know how you feel when others are shoving their expectations in your face. Find that place!

Your perspective will define your business's success. And the words “full-time” get dangled around too often as the only valid way to see yourself as successful.

We’ll say this: Businesses matter even if they’re not full-time. Even if you have a bridge job. Even if you don’t want to go full time at all! 

If you have services, offerings, a way of marketing or getting your word out, and interested clients, that’s still a business.

It’s not a numbers game. (We’ll talk more about the energy of numbers some other time).

Your business doesn’t have to have a fancy funnel, a stream of consistent sales calls, or large profit margins for it to be considered real.

We can step into embodying the identity of a business owner to attract the results we want. So we urge you to not make the mistake of defining your business by the “shoulds.” It “should” not be the way to be valid, especially when it’s someone else’s definition. 

So don’t forget to celebrate and redefine where you are NOW. You are a pre-full-time business, possibly, but yes still a business.

If you’re interested in learning more about how you can do less and grow more in your business, check out our Run The Tape package!

Run The Tape ​​is a marketing replay and review designed to discover what’s working in your business to create more results and honor your capacity. Payment plans are available! We’d be stoked to help you feel at home in your business with Human First and data-supported strategies.