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 why most side hustles stall, and how to avoid it
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Here’s the real difference between an amateur and a professional: Amateurs work when they feel inspired. Escaping the 9-to-5 doesn’t mean escaping professionalism. If anything, it means doubling down on it. When I was still in my banking job, I built my writing business the same way I handled my day job: I showed up Even when I was tired. Even when I didn’t feel creative. Even when it would’ve been easier to shut the laptop and watch Netflix or the hockey game. There was nothing flashy about it. No “crushing it.” No 14-hour marathons. I was just consistent, day in, day out. I treated my side hustle as if it were already my full-time business, and as a result, it became my full-time business. So let me ask you: Is your side hustle something you tinker with when you have energy left over, or is it the thing you’re building toward? Because how you treat it now is a preview of the future you’re going to create. Hobbies let you act like an amateur. If you’re looking to make that shift from amateur to pro but aren’t sure what it looks like for you, I’m offering a free 30-minute coaching consult. No pressure, no pitch. Just clarity and next steps. 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.
Hi Reader, If you’ve ever thought about starting a freelancing side hustle or business, even casually, you’ve probably felt this at some point: You want to build something, but you have no clue where to begin. So you read, watch videos, save ideas. And somehow… nothing actually happens. I’ve seen this over and over again, both in my own journey and with the people I talk to every week. The problem usually isn’t motivation. It’s the lack of a clear starting point. That’s why I created...
In the 9-5 world, your career trajectory is largely out of your control. It hinges on your manager’s bias, corporate reorganization, and higher-ups' opinions of how well you fit. You can do everything right, and still push against the invisible walls of politics, quotas, personality conflicts, and decisions you have no say in. When you work for yourself, those walls disappear. There are still challenges, of course. Clients cancel, plans shift, and the work isn’t always glamorous. But the...
Hey everyone, I want to share something a little personal this week. Partly because I think it can help some of you, and partly because it’s something that took me longer to figure out than I'd care to admit. Most of you know I’m a writer, editor, and coach. What you might not know is that I’m absolutely terrible at self-promotion. I have about 250 Instagram followers, no TikTok account, no podcast, and no YouTube channel. Almost no social media presence whatsoever. And yet, somehow, I turned...