You Can't Start A Business and Work A Job At The Same Time

You can’t run a business and work a job at the same time.

Running a business is complicated, but there are a few “musts” to it.

I was a software engineer before I started Foxbox Digital. I loved it. I gave it up when I founded Foxbox.

You have to move away from what you love to do. You’ll have enough obligations eating up your time just running the company, you can’t work for yourself as well. You love it—I understand. But it’s alright to move on because you have to be CEO.

It’s ok to let your previous job go.

What’s even harder is letting others do the job you love instead of you. When I founded Foxbox, I had to find someone to handle software engineering instead of me. It was hard. It will be hard for you too, but you’ll push through it.

People will quit, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Our first VP of engineering quit. Our thoughts didn’t align well, and our ideas were too different. He just didn’t have the same vision I did. That’s fine. When you inevitably have people quit on you, know that it’s ok. Take it in stride. Learn from it. You’ll find someone more attuned to you next time, and it will all work out great.

I have a stable VP of engineering now. His name is Doug, and he has about 55 engineers working under him at the moment. It’s working out great. I trust him. Our visions align. Our ideas match.

When you look for employees and coworkers, look for someone who will be to you what Doug is to me.

Find people you can trust.

Ultimately, there is one most important “must.” Let go of your ego. Learn to give someone else the reigns and say: “There you go, you can do this better.” Letting go of software engineering was one of the things most personal to me. But I did it.

You must too.