You’ve heard the term “corporatepreneur” before…Basically, it’s just another term for “side hustler”, except said “side hustler” also happens to be doing the 9-to-5 thing in Big Corporate. Because, you know, bills gotta get paid, shoes bought, and some (shred of) sanity preserved…And that’s quite a few people out there, especially among 2o- and 30- something millennials who apparently are obsessed with the concept (what else are we not blaming millennials with these days, anyways?)
Yet in more practical terms, without all the glam and controversy (or controversial glamour or glamorized controversy, pick your poison) of the perfect millennial who teaches fitness classes after defending criminals in court, or writes online after analyzing spreadsheets all day, there’s the less glamorous day-to-day side of it…The side of long hours, commitment, discipline and sometimes wanting to pull your hair (or eyelashes or weave) out, drop the whole thing and go back to being a normal 9-to-5er hanging out with the girls after-hours…
When I tell some friends I write on the side, without really much of a guarantee to make more than the cost of a Starbucks pumpkin latte any day, I can almost see the question marks popping up inside their heads. Like, why? Why the headaches, the long hours, the occasional rejection, when you still have to finish the laundry, check the kids’ homework and most importantly, sleep!
There are many reasons why so-called “corporatepreneurs” decide to hustle on the side, ranging from personal passion to the need to make extra money, to the persistent Dream that can’t seem to let go of its grip…
While the “why” may have very different origins and implications, the “how” of it all is almost always rooted in an indelible desire to do what it takes to defend and bring forth THE vision.Which for many a “corporatepreneur”out there translates into mornings kinda like this:
The Night Before:
If you’re a “corporatepreneur”, you know your day really starts the day before, at least mentally. You’re planning what has to be done the next day, excusing your lack of sleep by the fact that your best ideas come at 3am.
4 AM- Who invented alarm clocks?
Your best ideas came at 3am, and guess what happens at 4am? The alarm clock that you set up to wake you up at the crack of dawn because you were so motivated and eager to make this a spectacularly successful day, has become Public Enemy Numero Uno. That’s when you discharge all that pent-up energy from not having enough time to exercise anyways onto this tiny, innocent thing called the snooze button.
4:30 AM- Why are my feet so heavy and besides, who invented daily personal hygiene?
Now there are only so many times you can hit the snooze button before either breaking it it put your hand on administrative leave. This is where you actually exit the comfy sheets and your entrepreneurial feet officially hit the floor.
5AM- Prayer and Meditation aka “Get Your Mind Straight”
You wouldn’t be starting your day right without getting your mind straight. It may mean a prayer or meditation practice or just sitting in silence somewhere for q while (which when you have two kids, including a toddler, might as well count as your spa moment of the day).
If you can add to it some inspirational reading if you have more time, then you’re golden!
5:30AM – Work, Work, Work, Work!
This is when things start getting serious, and you realize you only have about an hour and change before chaos, aka the kids, breakfast, starting the car, begins. Rihanna’s tune starts playing in your head, and you leave your Instagram feed and go to town!
6:45 AM – Crap! Gotta get the kids up
Last finishing touches on the blog post, or the sales page, or the product before reality sets in. Save the work, send a last email, and get going!
7:45 AM – Where are the keys?
That last email had to be re-sent, which kinda set everything back. And now, of course, no one can seem to find the keys…as we’re standing outside and the front door’s locked…from the inside!
8:30AM- Why am I here again?
Sitting in your car in the parking lot, contemplating turning around and going back to finish that sales page, that product, or that blog post. Then you remember the mortgage is coming due next week, and that you’re working to create something…And oh, where are your keys again?
How’s your typical morning as a “Corporatepreneur”?
Love,
The Corporate Sis.
