By Cheval John

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I saw a commercial during the Super Bowl on how a loan company simplifies the process of getting a loan for a home.

The comedian played the person who simplifies the complicated questions in relation to the company.

Video courtesy of Quicken Loans

What got my attention during the commercial was when a lady asked about a dating account when she saw entrepreneur and the comedian said, “unemployed.”

Are entrepreneurs really people who are unemployed?

— Cheval John (@chevd80) February 6, 2018

The truth: entrepreneurs create work for themselves.

Everyday, they have to go and find customers or clients in order for the business to thrive.

For example, a public relations agency has to look for clients and make a proposal in order to convince the person or organization on why they are the right fit.

The unemployed is searching for work with an organization hoping to land the job of their dreams so they can be have a salary to provide for themselves and their families.

They will attend networking events, volunteer for non-profits,participate in twitter chats or even do a live stream show to build long lasting relationships.

Sometimes the entrepreneur who does not have consistent cash flow will have to find part work in order to keep their business alive.

That does not mean they have given up on their business.

It only means they are reducing the stress of running a business.

Barbara Corcoran mentioned in a episode of Shark Tank she had to take a part time job in order to meet payroll for her employees in the early stages of her former company, The Corcoran Group.

If you are fortunate to pick up a second job while you are running your business, you are in luck.

You can build relationships with customers at your second job because that is what they pay you to do.

The thing is you should know how to use your time wisely and also use your common sense because you do not want to create a conflict of interest.

You should also have a positive attitude and see your second job as a venture fund because the company is “funding your business indirectly through a paycheck.”

Meaning you spend the money wisely and save up for expenses or courses which can allow you to learn a new skills that can benefit your business.

Instead of complaining about how much money you are making or why you are not where you are in your business, just be grateful.

You will end up learning valuable lessons.

I will share from my personal experience.

I had worked in a small coffee chain for about two years mostly in downtown houston.

The environment was not great for growth.

Though I could have brought value to them with social media in addition to the regular work duties, they did not give me the opportunity to run their accounts.

They did not allow me the flexibility to run my business whenever I was off because most of the time, they would try and call me in to work and expect me to drop everything for them.

Despite those challenges, I managed to learn everything I can from the business and also build quality relationships with the customers because most of them worked in corporate america in the downtown area.

When I left the coffee chain, I still see half of them whenever I am in downtown and they would ask how I am doing.

I thought I would not be an employee again because I like the freedom of running my business.

The problem was I was not making money consistently.

So when I the owner of a lodging company offered me work, I knew it was the right fit because it would give me the opportunity to learn more about the travel industry since I decided to pivot my business towards this sector.

I was a bit hesitant to take the work because I knew I would have to cancel some shows I had set up weeks prior for my podcast.

After talking to a few colleagues, I decided to become an employee again and work at the lodging company.

Since this business sector is new to me, I had to train on the basics of working in the lodging company.

I can say I had completed one month of working at the lodging company.

Though I am working every day in the night shift, I am very fortunate because I am learning from the owners on how to run a business the right way.

I am also learning more about the tiny details of how a business works including being a great sales person, how to be a supervisor to a degree and how to get back to saving money from the paycheck I earned.

Working at the lodging company allows me to be super focus on managing my time wisely so I can keep the business going.

If you think you are going backwards because you decide to get a second job while you are building your business, you need to get rid of that thinking.

Just because the super successful entrepreneurs says, “you are not an entrepreneur if you work part time,” does not mean they are 100% right.

Everyone have their own journey to success and these same entrepreneurs will not pay your expenses when you are fighting to build a good business.

So do what you need to do to keep your business afloat and treat your internal and external customers right.

You will learn valuable skills which will allow you to turn your business into a cash flow machine.