Hi friend,
If you're looking to build a side-hustle or quit altogether, then quit whining about your 9-5 and use it to your advantage.
Your 9-5 is actually one of the best launchpads you have right now.
Stable income.
Evenings.
Weekends.
It's what I did too when I had a full-time job. Editing in the morning, writing in the evening, freelancing over weekends. I did it for 7 months before I could quit.
Here's what you can do to break free, eventually.
Or just support your 9-5 with another source of income!
Pick what you already know
The biggest mistake beginners make is trying to do everything at once.
Newsletter + YouTube + freelancing + a course.
I don't blame you... It's because the creators you follow are doing it all and, you feel you need to do it too.
Pick one skill, one platform, and go all in for 90 days.
If you’re not sure what to pick, start with whatever you can do with the skills you already have.
Writing, design, coding, social media, editing - something you’ve already been paid to do inside your job.
I chose writing because I enjoy writing!
Deep work for 5 hours a week
No scrolling, emails, or notifications during this time.
Deep work means immersing yourself in a task entirely without distractions.
“The urge to check Twitter or refresh Reddit becomes a nervous twitch that shatters uninterrupted time into shards too small to support the presence necessary for an intentional life.”
― Cal Newport
Five actual hours, scheduled, non-negotiable. Block it in your calendar.
For instance - I used to edit articles before my workday would start because I like to edit in the morning with a fresh brain. It helps me spot my mistakes better.
Five hours a week is 260 hours a year. That’s enough to build something real.
Create before you pitch
People always write to me that they want work, but they have no proof of work.
Someone with zero content on LinkedIn wants to be a ghostwriter. Another person without a personal brand is a personal branding coach 👀
Before you reach out to anyone — brands, clients, collaborators — you need 20+ pieces of content that show what you do. Ideally 50! And if I can be honest, it takes 100+ pieces to get good enough and get work.
“It's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. It's what we do consistently.” ― Tony Robbins
No point sugarcoating it.
This is your proof. It doesn’t need to be perfect. It needs to exist. Post on LinkedIn. Start a newsletter. Put your work somewhere public.
Send one pitch a week
Once you have proof, start pitching.
One potential client at a time.
I used to apply for 5 jobs at once on Upwork back in the day because I so desperately wanted a gig. I don't recommend that because that's a bit much... but one a day shouldn't take more than 15 minutes.
Sad reality - Most won’t reply. Some will say no.
A few will say yes.
It’s a volume game in the beginning.
I think hearing no is also so important because it helps you have a thick skin. The creator economy is filled with rejections!
Finally - start now, figure it out later
The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.” – Oprah Winfrey.
I know you have a million questions in your mind.
But what I recommend is... just start. Write. Hit Publish.
You'll eventually figure it out.
Nobody knows it all right at the beginning! What matters is that you start and keep going. It won't make sense until it eventually does :)
All the best!
Love,
N