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 best (and second-best) time to start your side hustle
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Here’s some good news about your side hustle. The best time to start was a year ago. The second-best time? Today. If you’ve been meaning to start but haven’t, don’t beat yourself up. That’s water under the bridge. Here’s the thing… Each day gives you 24 brand-new hours. An 8-hour workday, plus a half-hour lunch and a half-hour commute to and from work each way, eats up about 9.5 hours. Sleep takes another 8 hours. That leaves roughly 6.5 hours. This is your opportunity zone. And since you’re reading this, odds are you’ve still got a few of those hours left today. Now, I know what you might be thinking. “I’ll start next week. Or next month. Or at the beginning of the year.” That’s okay, but whether you start or not, the time will pass anyway, like sands through the hourglass. I’ve been in this exact situation many times, and what made the difference for me was developing a bias toward action. Chances are, you’re reading this on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Ask yourself, “What can I do to get my side hustle started today, right after I finish reading this email?” Here are three micro-actions that take less than 30 minutes, but will get you moving! 1. Make a skill list. I like to use a box of index cards and a Sharpie marker for this exercise, but you can also grab a notebook or open a blank doc on your phone or laptop. Write down everything you know how to do. Don’t stop for 30 minutes. Then look for patterns or circle what excites you — that’s your starting point for identifying your skills and the markets you can serve. 2. Create a quick video. Pull out your phone and record a short, vertical clip. You can talk while filming what’s around you, but bonus points if you record in selfie mode. Super bonus points if you post your video to TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook. 3. Sell something. None of these steps needs to make you rich or go viral. What matters is simple: you took action. You got started. Oh, and when you’re ready … Let’s schedule a complimentary 30-minute roadmap call to see how I can help you get clarity on your 9-to-5 escape plan! If you’ve taken action on the exercises in this email, you’ll get an immediate return on your 30-minute investment with me! Have a great week! 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.
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