I built a six-figure remote business and walked away from the 9 to 5 at age 46. Every Tuesday, I email a story, tip, or idea to help you climb down the corporate ladder and live life on your terms.
Not advice — just something I’m sitting with
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Hi Reader, Sharing a quick insight with you this week, as I have to catch an early-morning flight. Laura and I will be travelling for about 10 days, which means I’ll be working mostly from coffee shops, my favourite place to work! Just my laptop, great coffee, and plenty of background noise... music to my ears. Earlier today, I was watching an interview with Seth Godin. One question he asked stuck with me enough that I paused the video and just sat there for a minute. He said, "What will the version of me 10 years from now be glad I did today, even if it’s annoying, uncomfortable, or unrewarding right now?" I immediately noticed where my brain didn't go. It didn’t go to buying nice things or upgrading my lifestyle. Or doing something to impress people. Looking back 10 years, I'm really glad I decided to start my side hustle (that was actually 7 years ago), and write on my laptop close to 365 days/year. Because I did that for four long years, I no longer have a boss or work a 9-5. When you’re in the middle of it, it doesn't feel heroic. Most days, it just feels mildly inconvenient. Sometimes, it's just downright painful or pointless. But looking back now, I can see that the biggest changes in my life haven't come from big moments, but from decisions that felt small at the time and only made sense later. I don’t have a big takeaway here. I just want to pose the same question to you: What’s one thing you could do this week that future-you would be relieved you didn’t put off again? I’ll check in again next week, likely from a coffee shop! : ) 💛 Colin 💡ResourcesFREE! 2-Minute Side Hustle Quiz FREE! 7-Day 9-5 Escape Roadmap Video Course 30-Day Launch Playbook — Freelancer Edition Free 30-Minute Side Hustle Clarity Call |
9-5 Escape by Colin Graves
I built a six-figure remote business and walked away from the 9 to 5 at age 46. Every Tuesday, I email a story, tip, or idea to help you climb down the corporate ladder and live life on your terms.
Yesterday afternoon, while I was working away, I started getting messages from complete strangers on LinkedIn and other social media platforms. Most of them started with something like: “Hey, I just read an article about how you turned your side hustle into a full-time business and quit your job...” At first, I had no idea why I was suddenly getting all these messages. Then I realized my 9-5 exit story had just been published by the U.S. edition of the Daily Mail and picked up by MSN as well....
Hi Reader, Almost every time I go to the mall, I notice a young woman working at one of those perfume kiosks in the middle of the walkway. She’s probably 22 or 23. Part of her job is to call out to people walking by and ask them if they want a perfume sample. And almost everyone says no. Politely, but still no. But here's the thing. She keeps doing it. She simply smiles, nods, and invites the next person. No drama. No skipping a beat. I can almost guarantee you that this woman will be...
Hi Reader, Here's a phrase I’ve been thinking about a lot lately: Don’t let planning get in the way of progress. It reminds me of when I was in high school. Anytime I had a big assignment or an exam to study for, I would suddenly decide my desk absolutely had to be cleaned first. Or my entire room. Not because it really mattered, but because it felt productive. I could tell myself I was “getting ready” to do the work, without actually doing the work. Starting a side hustle often triggers the...