The term “quiet quitting” has quickly infiltrated the career/workplace world, with dozens of LinkedIn posts and news articles analyzing the merits and pitfalls of the phenomenon.
Quiet quitting, or “acting your wage” challenges traditional notions of work. The trend emphasizes disengaging from your work, while completing your job responsibilities without going above and beyond. When an employee “quiet quits,” they are essentially performing the bare minimum of labor at work.
Quit quitting has proven to be highly controversial, with many business coaches and employers speaking out against the trend. Opponents of quiet quitting state that disengaging further from work may limit your ability to receive promotions or raises and increase the possibility of getting fired.
Yet, there may be an alternative way to “quiet quit.”
Quiet quitting, while pursuing a business outside of work hours, may give aspiring entrepreneurs the time, energy, skills, and financial stability to eventually run their businesses full-time. This way of quiet quitting may help aspiring entrepreneurs mentally recover and place boundaries at work, propelling them to transform their passions into a business.
Fulfilling job responsibilities, without going “above and beyond” may allow you to finally pursue your entrepreneurial interests. While quiet quitting comes with its’ risks, it may serve as a stepping stone along the journey of becoming a full-time entrepreneur.
Time and Energy
Quiet quitting and disconnecting further from work may provide you with the time and energy to focus on your business dreams.
Aspiring entrepreneurs should consider taking small steps to begin their quiet quitting journey. Consider taking lunch breaks away from the office, disconnecting fully from work during the day. This may free up more mental space, allowing you to focus more fully on your business. Try putting a pause on working overtime hours. Instead of working overtime at your job, work for yourself after your shift ends.
Co-founder and head of Public Relations at Unearth PR, Georgia Gadsby March, wrote that “quiet quitting” gave her the time to start her own business. Rather than continuing to work overtime at her previous job, March utilized out-of-working hours to launch her own PR firm.
The newfound time and freed-up mental energy may provide you with the motivation and drive to finally start your business. Spend this time even if it may just be an hour a day–devising a plan for your business, testing out your business model on a smaller scale, and meeting with potential customers, mentors, and investors.
By preserving your mental health and setting boundaries at work, you may be able to quietly transform your passions into an empire.
Transferring Skills & Building Connections
Quit quitting may allow you to change your mindset regarding being at work. Rather than viewing work/your 9-to-5 as an obstacle preventing you from pursuing your true business dreams, view the experience as a stepping stone. Be sure to take into account the skills gained at work and utilize them within your new business enterprises.
The connections gained in the workplace may be valuable in your future as a business owner. Continue to grow your network while at work. Remain mindful that these connections may support or provide you with insights valuable to your future business enterprises.
View your time in the workplace as a vehicle for the personal growth and knowledge needed to eventually pursue your dreams full time.
Financial Stability
One of the biggest challenges facing aspiring entrepreneurs is lack of funding—whether that be difficulties in creating cash flow within your business or securing funding to simply start up your business.
Remaining at your job, while pursuing your business outside of work, ensures that aspiring entrepreneurs still have a steady income coming in. While retaining the financial stability that accompanies having a job, entrepreneurs can take steps towards acquiring the funding necessary to pursue their businesses full-time. This could take the form of simply becoming more aggressive with personal savings or utilizing time freed up by quitting to develop pitches to present to potential investors.
Utilize this time to aggressively save, pursue profitable side hustles, and search for concrete ways to fund your business.
Considerations
While quiet quitting may offer up aspiring entrepreneurs with the time, mental energy, and financial stability to lead them on the path towards full-time entrepreneurship, quiet quitting is not a decision that should be taken lightly.
When considering quiet quitting, it is important to realize that quiet quitting will not aid you in getting a promotion or raise. Quit quitting can hinder current workplace goals and may increase your chances of getting fired.
But, if you are seeking to eventually move away from your current job and seriously begin your entrepreneurial journey, quiet quitting may be the path for you.
