The Hidden Benefits of Being an Unemployed Solopreneur

Since leaving my 9 to 5 job, I've been spending a lot of time working. In fact, I've been working so much, I wonder how I was able to accomplish it all before.

But one thing has come to my attention, and there is really no way I could have possibly noticed it before.

I've come to realize there's a hidden benefit to being unemployed.

No, it's not my flexibility to watch more TV, work on my chip shot, or play more video games (even though I am really enjoying my Xbox One).

The hidden benefit lies in my ability to spend more time with Ashley, my wife.

How does that work? Let me explain.

When I had my day job, I would work a lot. 45 hours a week was normal.

Skipping lunch breaks was common. Working through the lunch hour meant getting more done, or leaving a few minutes earlier at the end of the day.

When I'd finally get home around 6:30 in the evening I'd be fairly exhausted. However, with an intense focus on my dream of building an online business, I would eat a quick dinner, head upstairs to my home-office, and get straight to work, typically working until 10 or 11 at night.

Even the weekends would often be spent locked away in the office. I'd sit at my computer and write blog posts or work on the next episode of my podcast.

Though I did make an intentional effort to spend quality time with my wife, it was not always my main area of focus.

Sure, we went to the movies almost every Friday, had a nice dinner, and spent hours enjoying each others company.

But, Ashley knew, Monday through Thursday, most of Saturday, and a good chunk of Sunday, would be spent working on my blog or building my other online business I'll be sharing with you soon.

And that brings me to the hidden benefit.

It took me a while to notice, but I'm now able to spend more quality time with my wife.

Now that I'm able to work on my business during the day, I don't have to wake up as early or stay up as late to get things done. Before, I was getting up at 6, working all day, and then coming home to work all evening.

Now that I'm able to focus on building my business from 9 to 5, I'm free to spend time with Ashley in the evenings.

For example, this past Thursday, when Ashley got home from her day job, we went out to eat for our anniversary and had a relaxing evening before going to bed early.

Through this process of leaving my day job, I've learned, or rather, reaffirmed, that as long as I have Ashley I can do almost anything. And now, instead of spending my evenings and early mornings working, I'm able to enjoying time with her.

If you're in a similar position and you are struggling to find hidden benefits in what you're going through, think of what your new time has given you.

Instead of focusing on all of the things you are no longer able to do, focus on the things you are now free to do.

I am absolutely certain that no door closes without another door opening. Or, at least a window. Even if another door or window doesn't open, we can make one.

As I wrote about in this blog post, we have to be ready and seize the opportunity when it presents itself.

No one is going to give you the tap on the shoulder and say “it's your time.” We have to make the most of what we have, even if that means finding the hidden benefits.

Question: What opportunities have you found when you least expected to?