Balancing Entrepreneurship and Corporate: A Journey of Courage

Brittany Titcomb, Owner of BT Coaching & Consulting and  Senior Talent & Organizational Development Specialist at Pella Corporation, discusses owning a business while simultaneously working in a corporate position below:

Starting and running my own business while continuing to grow in my corporate role has been an adventure. As with many aspiring entrepreneurs, this journey is made even more challenging and rewarding by the opportunity to simultaneously develop a career within a corporation while also starting your own business.

My journey focuses on balancing entrepreneurship with growing and developing in my corporate role. However, this journey is not just about balancing two demanding roles; it’s about embracing vulnerability, stepping out of your comfort zone and moving through the fear-based thoughts that can hold you back. The experience of balancing these dual paths has been one of the most transformative periods of my life.

Entrepreneurship is inherently vulnerable. It requires you to put yourself out there, often without any certainty of the outcome. It’s about taking risks and facing the unknown, all while managing the persistent doubts that can creep into your mind. Questions like, “Who do you think you are?” or “What do you know?” and even “Why would anyone want to hire you?” These questions showcase just some of the fears that plague the minds of those daring enough to step into the entrepreneurial arena. And, of course, the persistent refrain of “You’re not good enough.” These thoughts were not only in my head — they were on repeat, creating a loop of doubt that was hard to escape from.

Passion: The Foundation of My Journey

In my corporate position, I contribute to the growth of team members through training and development. I’ve always had a deep passion for learning and development, and seeing others grow and flourish in their personal and professional life is incredibly rewarding. Passion is the driving force behind most entrepreneurs, and it is this passion that has kept me going, even when the challenges seemed overwhelming.

The desire to impact individuals is what inspired me to become an entrepreneur in the first place. Yes, I am making a difference in my organization and impacting those within it. I want to impact as many people as possible, helping them overcome the “I’m not good enough” thoughts that I also struggled with. It wasn’t because I disliked my job that I wanted to start my own business; I had a passion for seeing individuals grow, develop and live their lives to the fullest without letting fear stand in their way. This desire to help others is what fuels me, and it’s what gives me the motivation, and determination, to keep pushing forward.

Passion is the fuel that drives an entrepreneurial vision. Being an entrepreneur is filled with challenges, hard work and long hours. Without a deep passion for what you do, you won’t have the commitment to turn your vision into reality. And without the courage to move through the vulnerability that entrepreneurs face, I wouldn’t have gotten very far.

Overcoming Fear: A Necessary Step

As I started out, I knew that taking risks was part of the journey. Being employed at a corporation while starting a business doesn’t come without risks. I remember being so caught up in my thoughts that I debated whether to continue with my entrepreneurial endeavors. “What will people think?” “What if I don’t succeed?” And, of course, the “not good enough” record continued to play. I paused and sat in silence, and it was in that silence that I had a realization: “How am I ever going to help other people gain courage and move through fear if I don’t do the same thing?”

Fear is a natural part of starting a business. The fear of failure, the fear of the unknown and the fear of rejection can all be paralyzing. The more you move out of your comfort zone, the more these thoughts will enter your mind. I had to decide whether the risks outweighed my passion. Did the risks, time and effort outweigh the impact I wanted to make? No, they didn’t. So, now what? I recognized my fears, confronted them and moved forward despite them. As the singer Pink would say, “I looked fear in the face and said, I just don’t care.” It took pushing through the discomfort, pushing through the thoughts clouding my mind and taking action, even when it felt daunting.

Getting Started: The Practical Side of Entrepreneurship

Countless things need to come together to get a business off the ground. From determining a name and obtaining an LLC to setting up bank accounts, creating a website, developing content and marketing — each task adds to the overwhelming list of responsibilities. I remember thinking, “How am I going to do all of this?” The sheer volume of tasks can be overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to juggle them alongside a demanding corporate job. It’s easy to feel like you’re drowning in a sea of to-dos.

At the same time, I became heavily involved in a major project within my organization. I knew this would require additional hours and that my time would need to be managed even more carefully. Balancing a corporate career with launching a business was challenging, but it also made the journey even more rewarding. The skills I’ve developed in my corporate role, such as time management, project planning and strategic thinking, have been invaluable in my entrepreneurial journey. These skills have allowed me to navigate the complexities of running a business while still excelling in my corporate role.

To navigate, I sat down and created a business plan. I asked myself three questions:

• What do I want?
• How will I make it happen?
• When can it happen?

With my business plan in hand, I created a project plan. I broke down all the tasks into manageable pieces and created a timeline to keep myself accountable. Small steps are better than no steps. Breaking the work into smaller, more manageable pieces made the process less overwhelming and achievable.

I utilized productivity tools and leveraged technology to stay on course. Automation became crucial — webpage updates, newsletters, scheduling, social media posts and emails were all automated to allow me to focus more on what I love: helping people grow and develop. By automating as much as possible, I was able to free up valuable time and mental energy, which I could then devote to more strategic and creative aspects of my business.

The Balancing Act: Boundaries and Prioritization

Establishing clear boundaries is essential to maintaining balance. This means giving my all and being fully engaged during my corporate role’s working hours while also knowing when to switch gears and focus on my business. There is a clear line between my corporate responsibilities and my entrepreneurial pursuits. When working in my corporate role, I’m 100% committed to my organization. No entrepreneurial tasks, calls, meetings or other activities take place during that time. This boundary-setting has been critical to my success in both areas.

Boundaries are a two-way street. Just as I don’t work on my personal business during my organization’s time, I also don’t work on my corporate role in the evenings or on weekends. Establishing these clear boundaries is crucial for maintaining work-life balance — or, in this case, work-life-entrepreneurial-life balance. This approach has allowed me to fully commit to each role without feeling overwhelmed or burnt out. It’s about being present in the moment and giving your best to whatever task is at hand, whether it’s for your corporate job or your business.

Continuing the Journey

The journey of balancing entrepreneurship with a corporate career is not for the faint of heart AND it is possible. It doesn’t have to be an either-or situation. As I like to say, both things can be true. It requires a deep passion, a willingness to face and overcome fear and the ability to manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously. It also takes courage. Courage to step out of the comfort zone, courage to be vulnerable, courage to move through fear-based thoughts and courage to be authentically who you are.

My journey has taught me that courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to move forward despite it. And that is the key to achieving your dreams, whether in the corporate world, as an entrepreneur or in both.

If you’re feeling stuck in fear and want to move forward with more courage, I’m holding an Intentionally Courageous Workshop on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. This workshop is designed to help you break through the barriers of your fears. Sign up and take the first step toward a more courageous life!

The Greater Des Moines Partnership celebrates the Greater Des Moines (DSM) entrepreneur community and helps small businesses succeed with one-of-a-kind resources and opportunities for networking. Find out how other entrepreneurs have found success by reading their stories and attending local small business events in the region.

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