Omar Zenhom explains why entrepreneurs need a 6-12 month financial runway before launching. Set aside side-project income, live frugally early, and treat those savings as oxygen that buys time and mental space to actually grow your business.
The Runway stage. You want to save 6 to 12 months of expenses so that if for any reason you leave your job, you still can cover your expenses. At least six months. I call this your escape fund. When I did it, it was my chance to be able to give myself six months to survive without a paycheck. Every dollar I made from side projects went into a separate account. That money was oxygen for me. When I left my job, it gave me permission to focus on what I really want to focus on my business. The first couple of years of full time entrepreneurship was really frugal. And the reason why we did this is because it gave us more oxygen. That money that you're saving is oxygen. It's fuel. It's your chance to think clearly so that you don't have to worry about, you know, the roof falling over your head, right? You have some time to start growing your business.
