👉 Ready to build something of your own alongside your job? Start here → https://dropshipunlocked.com/start?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep208-can-you-build-an-online-business-with-a-full-time-job
🗣 Can you build an online business when your full-time job already takes up most of the week? Lewis Smith and James Eardley share how they approached that challenge themselves — and why keeping your salary can give you room to make better decisions.
They discuss finding time without relying on motivation, choosing a business model that fits your goals, and building systems that can eventually reduce your day-to-day workload. Plus, they answer a listener’s question about telling your employer you’re starting an ecommerce business.
🎥 Prefer to watch instead? Watch on YouTube → https://youtu.be/cIWZAJbWijA
🧭 Topics Discussed
★ Your Salary Can Give You Breathing Room — Why Lewis and James see keeping a job as a way to build patiently, rather than rushing decisions because you need immediate income.
★ Finding Time You Can Actually Protect — How a time audit, a look at your phone’s screen time and one clear task per session can help you make steady progress.
★ Choosing The Right Business Model — Lewis explains the importance of considering time, capital, scalability and whether you want to be the face of a brand.
★ Learning From The Wrong Starting Point — James shares what happened when he sold low-ticket products from overseas, including delivery delays, unhappy customers and difficulty scaling profitably.
★ Building Beyond Your Own Working Hours — How AI tools, repeatable processes and eventually a virtual assistant can help with the work around the business.
★ The Motivation Behind Making A Change — Lewis and James reflect on their former jobs, early-morning work sessions and the desire to regain control of their time.
★ Listener Q&A: Should You Tell Your Employer? — Lewis shares his view, while stressing the need to read your contract and check your own circumstances.
🛠 Links & Resources Mentioned
🛒 Shopify → https://dropshipunlocked.com/shopify
📞 Professional Phone Line → https://dropshipunlocked.com/circle
📖 The 4-Hour Workweek — The book James mentions when discussing Lewis’s route into online business.
🤖 ChatGPT Work — Lewis and James discuss using AI agents to help with business tasks.
🛍 AliExpress — James shares his experience of sourcing low-ticket products through the platform.
💡 Key Takeaways
★ Give Yourself Room To Get The Foundations Right — A salary can reduce the pressure to rush niche research, build a store too quickly or launch ads before you’re ready.
★ Make Each Work Session Count — A specific task, such as uploading products or working on your website, gives limited time a clear purpose.
★ Choose A Model That Fits Your Life — Consider how the business uses your time, what it costs to start and whether it can grow beyond your own hours.
★ Build The System Before Expecting Freedom — Lewis and James describe the upfront work involved before tools, processes and support can reduce your involvement.
★ Know Why You Want To Do This — A clear reason for wanting more autonomy can help you keep showing up when learning something new feels uncomfortable.
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Website → https://www.dropshipunlocked.com/
🚀 Free Training
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