7 Steps to Run a Part Time Business

It may seem like it’s impossible to build a highly successful business by just working on it part time. You might be right.

But then again, you might be wrong. I’m not going to tell you it will be easy. I’m not going to tell you it won’t take a lot of motivation, hard work and organization. But, I am going to tell you that it’s possible.

Bud and Bunny Barth have done it.

The couple started their own media company in 1980, then they started a part-time USANA business in 1994. Now, they’ve got two successful businesses!

For these 2-Star Diamond Directors, the key is perpetual motion. Once you’ve started building, you just don’t stop. Make a plan, and then be sure to do something progressive each day.

1. Set Aside Time

For Bud and Bunny, lunch breaks are devoted to their USANA business. That’s when they plan lunch meetings and get things organized. They work late on weekdays and meet with their team on Friday nights or Saturdays.

Pull out your calendar and figure out what times work best for you. If you’re working a regular 9 to 5, make sure to schedule meetings outside of those hours. Try your lunch hour, or make yourself available for a few hours in the evening or on the weekends. Let your teammates know what hours are best to contact you. And stick to your schedule.

2. Identify Your Strengths

Bud and Bunny have each identified what they’re good at, and use it to better build their team. For example, Bud is great with people, so he shares the USANA opportunity with others. Bunny, on the other hand, is very task-oriented, so she runs all the behind-the-scenes details of their business.

Take some time to identify your strengths — or ask your family and friends — and then decide how you can best utilize them to your advantage.

3. Build Your Confidence

In order to build confidence you need to be prepared. Learn your material — study the Health & Freedom Newspaper, memorize Dr. Wentz’ story and research our nutritionals. That way, when you present, you can look people in the eye and deliver your message from the heart. Also, be sure to dress the part to help boost your confidence.

4. Compartmentalize

For the Barths, overlapping their companies is a no-no. It can be confusing for clients and detrimental to both businesses.

It’s important to separate your jobs. Don’t try to multitask or work your business on the clock. When you’re at work, be at work. When you’re building your USANA business, build your USANA business. Each activity deserves your full attention if you want to succeed.

5. Stay Organized

Be sure to keep track of all your expenses, purchases and appointments. Find a method that works for you. Some people prefer to keep everything in their phone or on their computer, others like to actually write it down and keep it organized in folders or files. Whatever system works for you is the right system.

USANA’s business tools — such as Team Manager and Communication Edge — can make organization easy too. Check back next week as we launch The Hub to take advantage of these amazing tools.

6. Learn from Setbacks

Don’t take rejections personally. Instead of getting discouraged, learn from your challenges and move on.

If someone isn’t responding, they might not be ready. Don’t spend all your time and emotion on someone who isn’t interested — simply ask if you can check back in later, and focus your energy elsewhere; otherwise you’ll get drained.

7. Stay Motivated

Even though you may be starting your business on the side for now, it doesn’t mean it’s a short-term commitment.

So plan on being dedicated for at least a couple of years to see it grow. Once you begin to see the fruits of your efforts, it gets exciting and motivates you to push it even further.

“People are rewarded for their efforts,” Bunny says. “You need to be a self-motivator and self-starter.”

Bunny wants to make it clear that building this business is not easy, but it’s definitely worth it. “In the beginning you’re working hard for very little, but in the end you work less for more,” she says. “We’ve certainly seen that happen.”

Treat your business like a business, and in the end — after you’ve laid the groundwork — you can reap the rewards. It won’t always be easy, but it will be worth it.

“There’s not a way to not be overwhelmed,” says Bunny. “But the people who succeed are the ones who push through that…you only fail when you stop.”

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