Should I get a full time job?
It's the question every solopreneur has asked at least once.
The Sustainable Solopreneur is a weekly newsletter about seasonal, cyclical, supportive business strategy for solopreneurs and creative souls who want more out of life than the status quo, hosted by business coach and strategist Jenni Gritters. If you’ve been reading this newsletter for a while and you receive value from it, I’d encourage you to sign up for a paid subscription.
☀️ I’m hosting my next virtual (and in person for 12 folks!) business planning retreat on June 6th. If you’re been struggling to find momentum and clarity on your direction, this one’s for you! (SUSTAIN members — check your email for your discount code.) ☀️
Lana was in a major business rut. The money wasn’t flowing, the sales process felt excruciating and she was beginning to doubt if this whole working-for-herself thing was going to pan out. So one Sunday afternoon, she found herself scrolling LinkedIn, looking at full-time job postings.
She sent me a voice note the next morning, letting me know that things felt dire. She wasn’t sure she could drum up the courage to keep going. But after a few hours of looking at those full-time job options, she also felt doubtful about that path. She wasn’t sure that she could actually give up the freedom she had as a self-employed person.
Lana is, obviously, every single one of us. If you haven’t had one of these “maybe I should just get a full-time job?” moments, chances are it’s coming for you! (It can also take the form of “maybe I should open a coffee shop/ bookstore,” or “maybe I should go back and get an advanced degree to do a total career pivot.”) It’s the question that comes up most in the private coaching groups I run, often whispered at the end of a session or dropped into a chat with lots of emojis. It’s like we’re all afraid to admit this questioning because of the optics. But as a coach, I see this moment as an important one that reveals a lot about what you’re craving.
First, I want to say that there is nothing wrong with taking a full-time job for a short or long period of time. That job becomes your anchor client and you can think of it that way: As an addition to the puzzle that is your work life (an addition that might really ground your finances in a supportive way!). If I told you that you could take on a retainer client who would pay most of your bills, you might say yes. And that’s what a full-time job can be, in your portfolio-style work life.
If you find yourself at this crossroads, I want you to ask yourself what I asked Lana: What are you craving most right now, that you’re not getting in your business of one?
Lana was aching for financial stability so we first explored ways to add stability into her business-of-one. She was mostly moving from project to project without many retainers, so we talked about how her nervous system would feel much more landed if she had 50% of her income coming in steadily, each month, from a few set clients. We also talked about adding more support at home, especially with childcare, so she could focus more deeply on her work. And we discussed asking her partner to pick up the financial load in a more clear way for the next few months.
Sometimes, there are ways to get the thing you’re craving within your current situation. In Lana’s case, there were some enticing options.
Next, Lana and I looked at how stability might show up in a full-time job, and what the pros and cons of that might be. We also talked about how to honor her other values. It wasn’t the case for Lana, but having quality healthcare benefits is one big reason why I see my clients shift into full-time jobs for a few years. And having co-workers may also feel essential, which Lana mentioned as a good reason to take a full-time job. The biggest appeal for her was the steady paycheck. But downsides were also present: Possibly commuting, limits to the work she could take outside the job, less time freedom with her children, and beyond.
Once we had all this information, I asked Lana to check in with her body. She closed her eyes and felt into the idea of adding more stability into her current business, via retainers. Then she imagined taking a full time job and scanned her body related to that decision.
Ultimately, she noticed that she felt a bit of dread around the idea of being locked into a schedule so she decided to try on recurring revenue as an option for a few months, before putting in applications for full-time roles.
I wish I could wave a magic wand and tell you what to do in these moments, but the truth is that there’s no right answer. Your mom, your husband and even your coach cannot tell you what to do. What I’ve learned about things like this is that there is only the answer that is right for you, right now. You are never stuck, especially with an established business to step back into. And there is always something new you can try, in your business or at your job.
Remember this, too: The arc of your career is long. When we look back, a decision to spend more time with one client (in a full time job, or not) will be a tiny blip on the radar. And: You are allowed to get some of your needs met via your work. Building a career that optimizes for your own well-being and values is the whole point of the work I do!
Here’s your question for the week:
What does my body know about the next best steps for my career, and how can I honor that through daily actions?
xo,
Jenni
Curious about my background? I’m a writer and business coach living in Central Oregon. My goal is to teach everyone who will listen that it’s possible to build a simple, stable, successful business that supports your human needs first. Join my group coaching program, SUSTAIN, for more conversations like this (and a community of people who are all about the path less taken), and follow me on LinkedIn & Instagram.