The 12-step document outlines how to launch a business while continuing to work a day job. It recommends beginning by connecting your business idea to your passions and purpose. The next steps include choosing business ideas, getting experience in the field, building a support system, and creating business, marketing, and personal development plans. It also provides tips for managing your day job, creating an exit strategy, officially launching, growing the business, and avoiding common pitfalls experienced entrepreneurs face. The overall message is that it is possible to start and build a successful business while still employed full-time.

1. 12 Steps to Launching Your
Business Without Quitting
Your Day Job
Tai Goodwin | Launch While Working

2. Thinking about being your own
boss?
2
Corporate America There’s got to be a
isn’t for me - I’ve better way to
always wanted to increase my
start my own income
business…
I need an income
Job security? I source that supports
need to create the lifestyle I want to
my own live
security.

3. Who Starts a Business During a
3
Recession?
 General Electric – 1890
 IBM – 1896
 Disney – 1923
 Burger King – 1953
 Microsoft – 1975
 CNN – 1980
 Apple - 2001

4. Who’s Crazy/Smart Enough to Launch
4
a Business in this Economy?
“…2009 and 2010 bore
witness to the highest
percentage of startups in
more than a decade. The
rate of new businesses had
also been steadily climbing
since 2006. As a result, the
number of businesses in
2010 compared to 2007 is
higher.”
Taken from Portfolio.com

5. Why Now?
5
 Technology
 New Business Models
 Collaborative vs. Competitive
 Ideas over formal education
 Individualization
 Low overhead
 Alternative work options

6. Pros & Cons of Launching While
Working
Cons Pros

7. Is Entrepreneurship Right for
7
You?
 Personality
 Patience
 Ambition
 Endurance
 Work alone
 Know your strengths
 Timing
 Priorities

8. The Learning Curve
8
Business Financial
Technology
Planning Planning
Master Your Sharpen Your Form Strategic
Craft Listening Skills Partnerships

9. #1 Must Learn Skill
9
Niche
Automation Branding
Social Media Packaging

10. Set the Stage for Your Success
10
Priorities Values
Esteem Mindset Vision

11. Step 1 – Connect to Your Passion
and Purpose
11
Who do you most admire?
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
What topic or subject could you talk about for hours?
When do you feel most energized?
What would you do if money was no object?

12. Step 2 – Choose Your Business
Ideas
12
 Brainstorm possibilities
 Research, Read, Inquire
 Journal
 Make final list

13. How to Tell If Your Business Idea is a
Good One
13
Is it tied to your passion and
purpose?
Does it solve a problem?
Can you identify a large enough
audience that has that problem?
Is that audience willing and able
to pay you to solve the problem?

14. Step 3 – Get 3 Good Experiences
14
 Before you invest in
business cards, a
website, branding, etc…
figure out if you actually Can I help
like doing the work. you?

15. Step 4 – Build Your Support System
15
Your Net Worth = Your Network

16. Step 5 – Create Your Business Plan
16
 Can be one page or
20 pages
 What kind of roadmap
you need?
 What information do
your investors need?
 It’s a working
document – not set in
stone

17. Step 6 – Create Your Marketing Plan
17
What’s your specialty?
What do you most enjoy doing?
What are your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
(challenges)?
Who do you like to work with?
Who are you attracting?

18. Step 7– Create Your Personal
18
Development Plan

19. Step 8 – Set Up Your Business
19
Structure
 Sole Proprietor
 General Partnership
 Limited Liability - LLC
 Corporation
 Non-Profit
*Think about Trademark & Copyright

20. Mojo Moment…
20
“Instead of thinking about
what you are going to do
when you retire, think about
how you can do that now and
make a living from it.”

21. Step 9 – Manage Your Day Job
21
 Alternative Work
Arrangements
 Telecommuting
 Results-Based Work
 Intellectual Property
 Confidentiality
 Networking
 Minimal Investment

22. Step 10 – Create Your Exit Strategy
22
Set your Target Date:
How long can you keep your
day job and sustain your •Milestones
business? •Work backwards
•Commit
Requirements
•Financial Reserve
•Steady client base
•Solid revenue plan
•Support from home

23. Step 11 – Officially Launch Your
23
Business
 4-6 Weeks Before Official “Open”
 Create Buzz!
 Cross Promote
 Press Releases
 Launch Party
 Reward Yourself

24. Step 12 – Grow Your Business
24
Plan
•Revisit your vision, goals, and priorities
•Revise your business plan and marketing plan
Invest
•Personal development and professional development
•Develop passive income streams
Expand
•Build Your Dream Team
•Outsource and Partner
•New Services

25. Get Your Systems in Place
25
Relationship Sales Cycles Automation
Management and Product and
and Lead Funnel Operations
Generation

26. Expand Your Network
26
Off-line Online

27. Market Your Business
27
Execute Track Evaluate Modify

28. Avoid These Pitfalls
28
 Analysis Paralysis
 Perfect Procrastination
 Selling Yourself Short
 Everybody is your client
 Friends and Family
Plateau
 “Techphobia”
 Naysayers and Never-
Doers

29. Remember…
29
“You got a dream, you
gotta protect it. People
can’t do something
themselves, they wanna
tell you you can’t do it. If
you want something, go
get it. Period.” – Pursuit
of Happyness

30. Visit LaunchWhileWorking.com
Launch While
Working.com is
the official online
resource for
Employedpreneu
rs – ambitious
professionals
who are
launching a
business while
working full-time.

31. Get your free blueprint…
31

32. Join our Meet-Up Group!
32
http://www.meetup.com/Launch-While-Working-Twin-Cities/

33. Join the Community!
www.launchwhileworking.com

34. Book Me to Speak…
34
Send inquiries and requests to
tai@taigoodwin {dot} com