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.
Why doing less might be the smartest move you make this week
|
Hey everyone, I recently read an article that jumped out at me. It said that most of us don’t become more positive by adding positive thoughts. We become more positive by removing negative ones. That hit me. We’re flooded with negative thoughts every day: doubt, fear, comparison, guilt - not to mention what we see on our social media feed or the 24-hour news cycle. Trying to outnumber those with a few extra positive affirmations is like trying to bail water from a sinking boat with a coffee cup. Psychologists say it’s more effective to clear out the negative stuff first, to quiet the noise that keeps you from seeing things clearly. In other words, addition through subtraction is the best way to grow. The same idea applies to your business or side hustle. Most people try to make progress by doing more.
I know I'm guilty of this. The problem is that doing more doesn’t always mean moving forward. In fact, it often creates more noise and distraction that keeps us from doing what actually works. I’m learning that real progress happens when I cut things out, when I stop mistaking activity or busyness for real progress. So what does addition through subtraction look like in your business? It might mean cutting back on the platforms that aren’t bringing in clients. Maybe it’s trimming your offer list down to the one that truly sells. Or maybe it’s just saying no to the “shoulds” that fill your week but don’t move the needle. That’s a big one! If removing a few negative thoughts can make you feel lighter, imagine what removing a few unnecessary tasks could do for your business. So here’s your challenge this week: Don’t ask, “What can I add?” Ask, “What can I remove?” That’s where the real growth usually starts. Need a little help? Let’s simplify it together. Book a free 30-minute call and we’ll uncover what to remove so you can focus on the work that actually moves you closer to your 9-5 escape! [Book your call here!] Have a great week! |
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...