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.
One woman sells perfume in a mall. The other is rowing across the Atlantic Ocean alone...
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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 successful in life. Not because she's selling cologne, but because she's getting comfortable with discomfort. Most people run from rejection. She doesn’t. It reminded me of someone else who’s choosing discomfort in a much bigger way. I recently came across the Instagram account of a young woman from Nebraska (who's not a professional athlete), who decided to row across the Atlantic Ocean… by herself. She's participating in an event called the World’s Toughest Row. She’s sharing her journey on Instagram. She’s scared. She’s nervous. Yet she’s out there doing it anyway. If she can choose fear and still move forward, then you and I can absolutely take small, imperfect actions in our businesses. Things like: • publish a blog post Progress doesn’t require perfection. It requires courage, and both of these women are inspiring me to show up even when it’s uncomfortable. That’s the real advantage. And it’s something you can build too. Have a great week! 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 👉 Book your free 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.
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....
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...
Hi Reader, I talk with a lot of people who dream about leaving the 9-5. They want more freedom, more control, and more meaning in their work. But leaving a stable, well-paying job for the uncertainty of self-employment is scary. It took me four years of preparation to say goodbye to my employer for the last time. Needless to say, it wasn't a decision I took lightly. As the sole breadwinner for a family of 5, my decision depended largely on one thing: Risk reduction. If I only had myself to...