{"id":418,"date":"2025-03-12T15:42:21","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T15:42:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hyperhq.com\/?post_type=insight&#038;p=418"},"modified":"2025-06-20T13:54:01","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T03:54:01","slug":"can-you-start-your-entrepreneurial-journey-without-quitting-your-day-job","status":"publish","type":"insight","link":"https:\/\/hyperhq.com\/insights\/can-you-start-your-entrepreneurial-journey-without-quitting-your-day-job\/","title":{"rendered":"Can You Start Your Entrepreneurial Journey Without Quitting Your Day Job?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"0b29\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph lz ma fr mb b mc md me mf mg mh mi mj mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw fk bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">Take the leap to start a business when you\u2019ve got yourself covered. The promise of financial security is up there, but at the core of it: pioneers are generating new business ideas. What does an entrepreneur do? Motivated by building something, leaving a mark and taking charge of our own destiny. So can you start working on your innovative business ideas while still tethered to your day job? Let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"c3f2\" class=\"mx my fr bf mz na nb nc nd ne nf ng nh ni nj nk nl nm nn no np nq nr ns nt nu bk\">Yes! Use The Job To Your Advantage<\/h2>\n<blockquote class=\"nv nw nx\">\n<p id=\"858f\" class=\"lz ma ny mb b mc md me mf mg mh mi mj mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw fk bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">\u201cWork bloody hard, and find a way to enrol your day job\/company so you create shared value at every stage of both your small business ideas journeys,\u201d suggests Anna Reeves, CEO and Exec Producer for online series That Startup Show.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p id=\"d0d2\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph lz ma fr mb b mc md me mf mg mh mi mj mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw fk bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">Maybe you\u2019re at the office while you\u2019re reading this. Look around the floor and think laterally for a moment\u2026 What are the qualities of an entrepreneur, what does an entrepreneur do?<\/p>\n<ul class=\"\">\n<li id=\"a936\" class=\"lz ma fr mb b mc md me mf mg mh mi mj mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw oa ob oc bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">Idea generators might have online business ideas that look to solve problems that they understand intimately. Your office is a great source of inspiration (and friendly colleagues can make for great testers).<\/li>\n<li id=\"447d\" class=\"lz ma fr mb b mc od me mf mg oe mi mj mk of mm mn mo og mq mr ms oh mu mv mw oa ob oc bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">The meaningful new connections you make while on the job \u2014 within your company and externally \u2014 might just reveal your future co-founder with complementary entrepreneurial characteristics. Possibly even future clients. Seek to expand your business relationships and avoid burning bridges.<\/li>\n<li id=\"cd19\" class=\"lz ma fr mb b mc od me mf mg oe mi mj mk of mm mn mo og mq mr ms oh mu mv mw oa ob oc bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">Take advantage of business travel. Both the business partners you meet with and the travel time you can devote to your own projects.<\/li>\n<li id=\"c5b7\" class=\"lz ma fr mb b mc od me mf mg oe mi mj mk of mm mn mo og mq mr ms oh mu mv mw oa ob oc bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">At work, you\u2019re constantly exposed to new developments in a variety of systems and processes that expand your experience. Especially in areas like marketing, finance and team management.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"c217\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph lz ma fr mb b mc md me mf mg mh mi mj mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw fk bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">Note! Be sure to check your staff contract for what claim your day job may have on any intellectual property you create under its employment, outside of hours.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"oj ok ol om on lt ll lm paragraph-image\">\n<div class=\"lu lv ee lw bh lx\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">\n<div class=\"ll lm oi\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/miro.medium.com\/v2\/resize:fit:640\/format:webp\/1*eoZLJBh48n2zO4vwdadINA.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/miro.medium.com\/v2\/resize:fit:720\/format:webp\/1*eoZLJBh48n2zO4vwdadINA.jpeg 720w, https:\/\/miro.medium.com\/v2\/resize:fit:750\/format:webp\/1*eoZLJBh48n2zO4vwdadINA.jpeg 750w, https:\/\/miro.medium.com\/v2\/resize:fit:786\/format:webp\/1*eoZLJBh48n2zO4vwdadINA.jpeg 786w, https:\/\/miro.medium.com\/v2\/resize:fit:828\/format:webp\/1*eoZLJBh48n2zO4vwdadINA.jpeg 828w, https:\/\/miro.medium.com\/v2\/resize:fit:1100\/format:webp\/1*eoZLJBh48n2zO4vwdadINA.jpeg 1100w, https:\/\/miro.medium.com\/v2\/resize:fit:1400\/format:webp\/1*eoZLJBh48n2zO4vwdadINA.jpeg 1400w\" type=\"image\/webp\" sizes=\"(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/miro.medium.com\/v2\/resize:fit:640\/1*eoZLJBh48n2zO4vwdadINA.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/miro.medium.com\/v2\/resize:fit:720\/1*eoZLJBh48n2zO4vwdadINA.jpeg 720w, https:\/\/miro.medium.com\/v2\/resize:fit:750\/1*eoZLJBh48n2zO4vwdadINA.jpeg 750w, https:\/\/miro.medium.com\/v2\/resize:fit:786\/1*eoZLJBh48n2zO4vwdadINA.jpeg 786w, https:\/\/miro.medium.com\/v2\/resize:fit:828\/1*eoZLJBh48n2zO4vwdadINA.jpeg 828w, https:\/\/miro.medium.com\/v2\/resize:fit:1100\/1*eoZLJBh48n2zO4vwdadINA.jpeg 1100w, https:\/\/miro.medium.com\/v2\/resize:fit:1400\/1*eoZLJBh48n2zO4vwdadINA.jpeg 1400w\" sizes=\"(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" data-testid=\"og\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"bh kt ly c\" role=\"presentation\" src=\"https:\/\/miro.medium.com\/v2\/resize:fit:700\/1*eoZLJBh48n2zO4vwdadINA.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"331\" \/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"bed6\" class=\"mx my fr bf mz na nb nc nd ne nf ng nh ni nj nk nl nm nn no np nq nr ns nt nu bk\">Your App Is A Product, Not A Company (Yet)<\/h2>\n<p id=\"1f4a\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph lz ma fr mb b mc oo me mf mg op mi mj mk oq mm mn mo or mq mr ms os mu mv mw fk bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">Explains Bosco Tan, co-founder of the popular budget app, Pocketbook: \u201cA product can make some money in bursts, but rarely enough to quit the day job. A company, meanwhile, is something that is sustaining.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"nv nw nx\">\n<p id=\"cec0\" class=\"lz ma ny mb b mc md me mf mg mh mi mj mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw fk bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">\u201cThis distinction is super important for any first-time entrepreneur to understand; the foresight needs to be a vision to create a company out of the initial amazing app product.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2 id=\"7215\" class=\"mx my fr bf mz na nb nc nd ne nf ng nh ni nj nk nl nm nn no np nq nr ns nt nu bk\">Your Job Is A Safety Net<\/h2>\n<p id=\"afb1\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph lz ma fr mb b mc oo me mf mg op mi mj mk oq mm mn mo or mq mr ms os mu mv mw fk bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">Let\u2019s face it, it\u2019s nice to be able to eat. \u201cUntil you start making money for your startup, each day off work is a day with less cash. No cash and it\u2019s game over,\u201d says Djordje Dikic, co-founder of Palette \u2014 a hardware gadget dubbed the \u2018Shazam for colour\u2019 that went through the University of Melbourne\u2019s Accelerator Program.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"nv nw nx\">\n<p id=\"3c34\" class=\"lz ma ny mb b mc md me mf mg mh mi mj mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw fk bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">\u201cAutomate a daily cash summary to keep yourself accountable and focused and your startup capital in order. That latte you just bought? It cost you $4, and 15 minutes of your time. Was it worth it? Focus on cash above all things.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"956a\" class=\"lz ma ny mb b mc md me mf mg mh mi mj mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw fk bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">\u201cDon\u2019t quit your day job until you have poured as much of your own investment in cash and time into developing your concept through to proofing stage,\u201d adds Brandon Evertz, CEO of Big Review TV \u2014 a Sydney-based app and video review site with more than 11,000 members.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p id=\"8e5a\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph lz ma fr mb b mc md me mf mg mh mi mj mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw fk bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">So long as you can avoid burnout (which is a legitimate concern), staying at work longer reduces your risk and allows you to fail fast, pivot, recover and try again if things don\u2019t work out. This is also when you can save money for a runway to live on once you cut the safety net.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"42ba\" class=\"mx my fr bf mz na nb nc nd ne nf ng nh ni nj nk nl nm nn no np nq nr ns nt nu bk\">Do Or Do Not. There Is No Try.<\/h2>\n<p id=\"643c\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph lz ma fr mb b mc oo me mf mg op mi mj mk oq mm mn mo or mq mr ms os mu mv mw fk bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">Just ask Yoda. Some call it the \u2018no plan B approach\u2019.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"oj ok ol om on lt\">\n<div class=\"ot ou l ee\">\n<div class=\"ov ow l\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"eo n ff ea bh\" title=\"Do. Or do not. There is no try.\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.embedly.com\/widgets\/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FBQ4yd2W50No%3Ffeature%3Doembed&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DBQ4yd2W50No&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FBQ4yd2W50No%2Fhqdefault.jpg&amp;key=a19fcc184b9711e1b4764040d3dc5c07&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=youtube\" width=\"854\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ox oy oz ll lm pa pb bf b bg z dy\">\u201cShit doesn\u2019t get real until the shit is real,\u201d says Alan Jones, evangelist at Australian startup accelerator BlueChilli (and former Product Director at Yahoo! South Asia).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<blockquote class=\"nv nw nx\">\n<p id=\"120e\" class=\"lz ma ny mb b mc md me mf mg mh mi mj mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw fk bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">\u201cMaybe you\u2019re able to mentally quit your job and your employer will keep paying you to just show up while your heart and brain are working full-time on your startup, but that\u2019s not sustainable for long. No smart investor is going to commit to what you\u2019re doing by writing a cheque until you can show that investor that you\u2019ve made a bigger commitment yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"cf7e\" class=\"lz ma ny mb b mc md me mf mg mh mi mj mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw fk bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">\u201cWork out a way to save up enough money to live on instant ramen noodles for a year, then graciously and with respect give your employer notice of your resignation (you don\u2019t want to burn that bridge if you can possibly avoid it) then put a post-it note on your bathroom mirror with the number of days you have left before you run out of time (and money). Update that post-it each morning while you brush your teeth.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"aedd\" class=\"lz ma ny mb b mc md me mf mg mh mi mj mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw fk bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">\u201cShit is now real. Go forth and do.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p id=\"05ba\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph lz ma fr mb b mc md me mf mg mh mi mj mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw fk bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">Just ask Jane Lu, the 28 year old CEO of ShowPo \u2014 a Sydney-based online women\u2019s fashion retailer that now turns over more than $10 million a year. She founded the businesses using her credit card, while living at home \u2014 and pretending to her parents that she was still going to work every day after quitting her KPMG cadetship.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"nv nw nx\">\n<p id=\"8bf8\" class=\"lz ma ny mb b mc md me mf mg mh mi mj mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw fk bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">\u201cI just got so sick of being stuck in that boring grey cubicle,\u201d she told Business Insider. \u201cThere is no prescribed way to achieving success. Go against the grain and follow your gut. I\u2019m a good example of \u2018if I can do this anyone can.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2 id=\"022f\" class=\"mx my fr bf mz na nb nc nd ne nf ng nh ni nj nk nl nm nn no np nq nr ns nt nu bk\">Beware of the Sharks<\/h2>\n<p id=\"8198\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph lz ma fr mb b mc oo me mf mg op mi mj mk oq mm mn mo or mq mr ms os mu mv mw fk bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">Just be sure to choose your partners carefully. For instance, look to include some sort of penalty in your development contact if they don\u2019t deliver on time \u2014 or to the quality you\u2019ve previously agreed.<\/p>\n<p id=\"9fd5\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph lz ma fr mb b mc md me mf mg mh mi mj mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw fk bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">\u201cAlso be very cautious of the corporate advisors you come across,\u201d cautions Brandon from Big Review TV.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"nv nw nx\">\n<p id=\"a215\" class=\"lz ma ny mb b mc md me mf mg mh mi mj mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw fk bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">\u201cThere are shark infested waters out there and ethics don\u2019t seem to matter! NDA\u2019s are all well and good, but do your background research very, very thoroughly and do due diligence on any advisor you come across or are referred to. You want to see absolute proof (references and first hand feedback) that they can deliver what they promise.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"a440\" class=\"lz ma ny mb b mc md me mf mg mh mi mj mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw fk bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">\u201cUnusual advice, but essential and we\u2019ve learned the hard way!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Take the leap to start a business when you\u2019ve got yourself covered. The promise of financial security is up there, but at the core of it: pioneers are generating new business ideas. What does an entrepreneur do? Motivated by building something, leaving a mark and taking charge of our own destiny. So can you start [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":448,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-418","insight","type-insight","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hyperhq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insight\/418","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hyperhq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insight"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hyperhq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/insight"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hyperhq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hyperhq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/448"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hyperhq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=418"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hyperhq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=418"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hyperhq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=418"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}