So I Accidentally Got Myself A Job...| Minding My Business #19
My plate was already full, but I went back to the buffet for seconds 🙂
Hey friends, happy Monday!
Some of you may remember the ‘… So I Burnt The Ships’ newsletter. If you do, you’d know that getting a job was literally the last thing on my mind. For over a year, I’d been focused on running Femme Brand Co. full time and I was happy and content. So to say I was on the fence when I was offered a job at a creative agency, would be an understatement.
How did we get here?
You’re probably wondering how someone can ‘accidentally’ get offered a job. I know it sounds wild, but let me explain.
In May last year, I applied to an accelerator program on a whim. What attracted me to it was the opportunity to work with Disney+, Rimmel London and PUMA. As a small business, having these big names on my portfolio would be invaluable. So I applied, did the interview, and was selected as one of the 11 creatives. Our role was to come up with responses to campaign briefs and pitch to the clients. For me, it was a learning experience. A chance to see how a large agency operated, to sharpen my creativity, and to tell future clients I’d worked with the likes of the Disney+ (because how sick would that be?!). I really enjoyed my time on the program and when they mentioned a role at the company, I asked some questions. The response I received was unexpected. They said that they loved me and wanted to snatch me up. And that’s when I climbed onto the fence.
Decisions, Decisions
It might sound crazy to be on the fence about receiving a well-paying job offer on a platter, but honestly, it was never a part of my plan. I had my heart set on being a full-time entrepreneur and making FBC a wild success. And to do that, I thought I needed to give it 100% of my time. Accepting a job felt like accepting defeat. I felt like on the outside looking in, it would seem like I was moving to ‘plan B’. This is also part of the reason I withheld making any type of announcement. It’s true that putting 100% of your focus into something is likely to lead to faster results. But running a business isn’t that straightforward and focus doesn’t pay the bills😭.
The more I thought about it though, the more I realised that this was an opportunity that couldn’t be missed. And one that could help me to grow my business in ways I’d never imagined. I also realised that I was falling into the trap of making decisions based on other people and not on what I wanted or what was best for me. Once I became aware of this, the decision was very easy. I mean who wouldn’t want to get paid for coming up with ideas right? So I am now a full-time Mid-Creative and a full-time business owner. I spend my days coming up with creative campaign ideas and my evenings building women-owned brands. My schedule is insane, but I’m loving it so far!
Lessons I’ve Learnt This Week:
It’s important to seize new opportunities
This may not be the role for me, but I decided to seize the opportunity anyway. Why? Because I can always make that decision to leave later down the line, but if I had passed up the opportunity, it would’ve been gone forever. The thing about opportunities is that they don’t show up all the time and they don’t stick around forever. It’s better to try something out than to live with that constant wondering of ‘what if’. Seize the opportunity.
You get out what you put in
This is what the creative director told us on the very first day of the program. At the time, I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to get out of those 6-months and so that really resonated with me. I decided from that moment, that I was going to be intentional and put my all into all the work I did. And it paid off in ways I could never have imagined. This sentiment applies to all areas of life; the more you put in, the more you’ll get out.
Having a 9-5 doesn’t mean I’m selling out my dream
Running a business full-time is hard AF. Every decision feels like the difference between being paid and plunging yourself into financial ruin. But I’ve learnt that although working 9-5 limits the time I can spend on my business, it’s given me the freedom to truly go after my dream. Now, I can take risks and experiment freely without worrying (so much) about breaking the bank. Instead of viewing this job as a hindrance, I see it as me investing in FBC in the long run. Financially and experientially.
Thought of the Week:
You may think you have it all figured out, but life will almost always throw you a curveball.
Not every curveball is a bad one. Sometimes, it can steer you to a new path that’s even better than the last. Embrace the redirection and let life take its course.
I’m beyond grateful for this curveball. What seemed like a detour first could actually turn out to be one of the best things that's ever happened to me and my business. This week I’m still navigating working full-time and running FBC full-time. And I probably will be for a while. It’s a steep learning curve, but I'm determined to make it work. Here’s to grabbing every opportunity with both hands!
See ya next week!
Tee x
P.S. Whilst I figure out this new schedule, I may be in your inboxes at crazy times, but I will always try to make it on a Monday🤞🏾 Please bear with me.