I could use some advice. I’m a college senior getting ready to graduate this coming May with a degree in business administration. I’ve been focusing on entrepreneurship and product strategy to help advance my own small startup, which I formed last year after funding one of my own ideas through Kickstarter.
The major problem is balancing all my competing priorities. Last year was stressful but definitely manageable, since I wasn’t about to graduate. I probably should’ve prepared for this scenario back then while ,I was still brimming with free time.
I’m a fairly organized person but I might have underestimated exactly how much time and effort would be necessary to balance school and running my startup. Now I’m desperately looking for solutions before the pressure undermines either of them or possibly both.
You’re extremely bold to have decided to launch a startup while still in college. Luckily for you, fortune favors the bold. When it comes to striking the perfect balance between your studies and your startup, there’s no doubt that you’d have been better off starting sooner rather than later. One immediate suggestion is to review these seven tips for balancing college with your startup dreams.
While some of the items might seem irrelevant with graduation right on the horizon (e.g., finding partners), others could prove to be invaluable. You’ll need to be realistic about your circumstances and expectations if you plan to see a favorable outcome. In other words, assess the state of affairs and determine what immediate actions you can take to begin advancing your goal.
Inc. editor Jeff Haden revealed 90 smart ways to radically boost your productivity, which you might find helpful right out of the gate. This list is reasonably comprehensive, although you’ll notice some of the items are much easier to implement than others. That’s why you need to be realistic. Similarly, Entrepreneur published these 15 time management tips for achieving your goals. Browsing both resources carefully should help you frame an appropriate mindset.
Though it should go without saying, it’s imperative for both your studies and your startup that you avoid burning yourself out. Forbes contributor Vanessa Loder explains how to prevent said burnout by identifying these 13 commonly associated signs. Don’t take any of them for granted. Burnout is a very phenomenon that can compel you to abandon ship.
Upon contemplating these various perspectives, you may discover that certain tasks and/or activities lend themselves to outsourcing. Unsure what that is? Another writer at Entrepreneur outlined 10 things to outsource to a virtual assistant. This could be a key long-term tactic, should you be able to enlist the right person. Better yet is the fact that it’s never been easier to find virtual assistant services. No doubt this has to do with the relentless advance of technology in the professional space. Don’t be afraid to tap into other free online resources should you want a second opinion. And, of course, the career center at your university can likely aid you.
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” -- Peter Drucker
