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.
I had to adapt or get left behind
|
I left my 9-5 four years ago, and freelance writing is still my primary business. But it doesn’t look the same as it did when I left. The types of clients I work with have changed, and the way companies create and distribute content has shifted dramatically, especially as AI becomes more prevalent. All of this has forced me to adapt, or get left behind. This is something that you need to understand when starting a business! The version you start with today will probably look very different two years from now, no matter what your business is... and that's okay! When I started freelancing, I mostly wrote and edited SEO-based articles. Today, I handle content strategy, write and manage newsletters, YouTube scripts, website copy, and email marketing campaigns; I even film TikTok content for some clients! And yes, I still write plenty of articles, too. In other words, I've had to figure out where my skills are still valuable as AI changes how content gets produced. I’m still a freelance writer, but the world I'm in is changing fast. So, how about you? Your first offer is based on what you know today. Once you start working with customers, you’ll learn what they value, what they’ll pay for, and which problems they still need help solving. Over time, some opportunities will disappear, but others will open up. You can't predict every change before you start, so don't even try. But you need to pay attention to trends and respond. Listen to your clients. Notice which services are becoming easier or harder to sell. Keep developing skills that make you useful. And don’t become so attached to your original plan that you ignore what the market is telling you. How has your industry changed in the last few years? And what do you think you need to do differently next? Hit reply and let me know. I'd love to hear from you! Until next week, Colin The latest from YouTube...🤝 Work With MeCareer Exit Strategy Session Feeling stuck in your career but unsure what to build next? In this private 75-minute session, we’ll assess your current situation, explore how your skills and experience could create income outside your job, and identify the three priorities that will move you forward. You’ll also receive a recording of the call and a written action summary afterward. 👉 Book Your Career Exit Strategy Session 💡 Resources30-Day Launch Playbook — Freelancer Edition FREE! 2-Minute Side Hustle Quiz FREE! 7-Day 9-5 Escape Roadmap Video Course |
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....
When I was still at my 9-5, I felt like my time was completely controlled by someone else. Conference calls, emails, constant interruptions… by the time I got home, I felt too drained to do anything else. So I’d check out for the night and promise myself I’d start working on my side hustle tomorrow. Sound familiar? At the time, I believed that I didn’t have a choice… that my mental exhaustion was just the reality of the job. But looking back, that wasn’t entirely true. I didn’t have full...
Over the past month, I’ve confronted something that I’ve believed about myself for years... that I’m a night owl, and just not a morning person. I’ve said so many times, to myself and to other people, that it started to feel like a fixed trait. Just part of who I am. I stay up later, I get going a bit slower in the morning, and I’ve always structured my days around that. But recently I started questioning it. Not in some big, dramatic way. I just wondered what would happen if I stopped...