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.
Here's the catch-22 that is preventing you from taking action...
|
Happy Saturday! We're back and unpacked from our trip to Nova Scotia! If you missed my last email, Laura and I took her parents to the East Coast earlier this month. We flew into Halifax, rented a car, and spent eight days touring the province - four days in Cape Breton (drove the Cabot Trail) and then four days back in Halifax. The trip wasn't quite as relaxing as our last visit five years ago, as our role was more "tour guide" than tourist this time. ;) But we had a wonderful time, nonetheless. Anyhow, on to more important things. : ) Recently, I spoke to someone who desperately wants to leave their traditional job and start a lifestyle business. But as is often the case, they are struggling to get started. As we talked more, I realized that what kept this person from taking action wasn't fear, and it wasn't imposter syndrome. It was their need for clarity. They wanted to know how things would unfold before they started. Therein lies the Catch-22. When starting a business or any major venture, we often want clarity before taking action. The problem is that clarity can only come after we take action. Worse, this need for clarity can leave us feeling completely stuck. It's happened to me many times, in fact, I still deal with it. If you're sitting around waiting to figure it all out before starting, remember this... Your business plans will probably not unfold the way you think they will. I rarely see people succeed with their first business idea. Instead, they start one thing and figure out what they were meant to do through trial and error. When I started my first side hustle in 2016, I had no intention of becoming a full-time writer. But I just got started and failed at a few side hustles. I learned how to pivot and eventually figured out where I fit. So, if you're putting off starting something because you need clarity, let it go! Find something small you can do in the next week to get started—even if it's selling something on Facebook Marketplace, writing a blog post on Medium, or posting on social media. Anything that will get you moving forward. Have a wonderful weekend! - Colin |
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.
Hey everyone! A quick thought for today... The dream isn't a business. Most people think they want a business, but what they actually want is a life. A life where they wake up excited. Where they choose how to spend their time. Where they work because they want to, not because they have to. A business is just a tool. The life is the goal. What are you designing — a business or a life? Best, Colin _________________________ 🚀 Ready to take action? Here’s how we can connect: → Join the...
Want to know one of the biggest mistakes I see mid-career professionals make when thinking about escaping their 9-5? They completely undervalue their skills. You’ve spent 15, 20, maybe even 25 years developing deep expertise in at least a few areas—but when it comes to starting a business, suddenly, you think you have nothing to offer. I get it. I made the same mistake. Early on, I fumbled around with unprofitable side hustles—mainly because they weren’t aligned with the skills I had already...
Hey everyone, I'm excited to share something to help you take the first step toward leaving the 9-5! Step 1 of my 7-step roadmap to escape the 9-5 is all about going up to 30,000 feet to get clear on your vision. After all, if you don't know where you're going, how will you ever get there? 🤷♂️ That's where my "Blue Sky" document comes in. It's a simple but powerful tool that can help you map out where you want to be in 5 years and start reverse-engineering the steps to get there. How to...