📺 Watch My New YouTube Interview! How I Left The Corporate World to Build a Business on My Laptop


Hey everyone!

I recently had the opportunity to share my solopreneurship story with Andy Hill on the Marriage, Kids, and Money podcast. The episode went live this week, and you can watch it on YouTube or listen to the podcast!

If any of the following sounds familiar, you need to watch this interview!

  • You feel completely stuck in your corporate job and can't find a way out.
  • You like your job, but dream of living the "laptop lifestyle".
  • You're struggling to come up with a good side hustle idea.
  • You've started a side hustle, but don't know how to scale it into a full-time venture.
  • You're perfectly happy with your situation, but want to learn more about solopreneurship and online business.
video preview​

Here are some of the highlights from our discussion:

  • How a toxic manager prompted me to create another career path
  • My failed side hustles
  • My 3 key ingredients for the perfect side hustle
  • The lightbulb moment that led me to freelance writing/editing
  • How I leveraged my career to succeed in my online business
  • How I balanced my side hustle with a full-time job
  • Why you need to find the torture you're comfortable with
  • Making the jump from a 20+ year corporate job to full-time freelancing
  • The flexibility of a lifestyle business
  • The power of a supportive spouse
  • What my typical day looks like now
  • How my views on retirement have changed
  • Why a $500/month side hustle is so valuable

🚀 Watched the video and ready to take action? Here's how we can connect:

→ Join the conversation: My Facebook group, The 9-5 Escape Project , is a place for like-minded people who want the freedom to work on their terms. It's also the easiest way to connect with me, as I hang out there almost daily. Hop in and start connecting

→ Follow along: I share insights, strategies, and behind-the-scenes looks at life outside the 9-5 on Instagram — come say hi!

→ Serious about your escape? If you're ready to create a roadmap out of your 9-5, let’s talk. Book a free intro call to see if my 1:1 coaching program is the right fit for you. [ Book your call here! ]

No matter where you are on your journey, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Let’s do this!

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.

Read more from 9-5 Escape by Colin Graves

July 2016. The sun, almost directly overhead, was beating down hard. I could feel the sweat gathering on my forehead, and I hadn’t even hit the stage yet. My black button-down and dark jeans weren’t helping. My bandmates and I stood backstage — if you could call it that — it was a white tent tucked stage right. Security and staff buzzed around, focused on their tasks. At least we had cold water. After about 30 minutes, the signal came. The five of us climbed the stairs and stepped onto the...

Hey everyone! A quick thought for today... The dream isn't a business. Most people think they want a business, but what they actually want is a life. A life where they wake up excited. Where they choose how to spend their time. Where they work because they want to, not because they have to. A business is just a tool. The life is the goal. What are you designing — a business or a life? Best, Colin _________________________ 🚀 Ready to take action? Here’s how we can connect: → Join the...

Want to know one of the biggest mistakes I see mid-career professionals make when thinking about escaping their 9-5? They completely undervalue their skills. You’ve spent 15, 20, maybe even 25 years developing deep expertise in at least a few areas—but when it comes to starting a business, suddenly, you think you have nothing to offer. I get it. I made the same mistake. Early on, I fumbled around with unprofitable side hustles—mainly because they weren’t aligned with the skills I had already...