For the last two years, I’ve been running my small web design operation. I knew there was good money in it even for someone whose design skills are paltry at best. I didn’t get serious about running an efficient, effective operation until recently though. In this time, my effectiveness as a business owner has increased by orders of magnitude.
I’m able to charge for my time, my expertise, and sharing information about the things I really enjoy doing: helping people implement solutions that sometimes involve technology.
Things weren’t always like this though. I’ve burned myself out several times before. Given up on running the business. Avoided taking on new clients. Pared down my site to where it was but a shell of what it once was.
Well recently, I got sick of my job. Deathly sick of it.
So I started working smarter. Not harder. I started making better decisions. Looking at where my money was going. Investing in the best tools to run my business. Being more focused and transparent in my marketing. Actually charging for the things I knew I should be charging for.
And you know what? It worked.
It worked in a major way. My income has shot up dramatically over the past two months, and I could probably still run my business if I wasn’t leaving my job with Accenture.
That’s not what I want, though. I’d be doing my clients a disservice, and I’d be selling myself short. I’m amazed at how much progress has been made ever since I made up in my mind that staying with my desk job wasn’t an option. One of the goals I set at the Liftoff Retreat was to replace my full-time income with side hustle income.
I had no idea it would be such a straightforward process.
Even though I sometimes have superhuman confidence, I feel like I underestimated myself on this one. I was unwittingly holding myself back by not putting myself in positions where I had no choice but to succeed. So now I’m making a habit of it. I’m also challenging my friends in the same way.
And I’m challenging you too. Don’t sell yourself short. You know that five year goal of yours? The thing you want to do before you die? Try doing it by next month.
Or better yet, next week. Set a short timeline and watch what happens.
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Well said! Cliché but….Attitude determines altitude.
Thanks Rashan. There’s a lot of truth in that saying, regardless of how cliché it is :-D
Wooooo! My brother from another mother – thanks for this inspiring post Willie. Definitely want to chat with you sometime next week if possible. The site redesign looks awesome too, btw.
I’m in the same boat with jumping out on my own, although in this case – I hadn’t been doing it on the side for 2 years prior to going all in. I just got sick of my situation and had built enough “street cred” in the industry to make some things happen. I’m learning a TON now and getting the site redesigned as well.
Hey bro, thanks for the note—I’d be happy to chat next week or whenever. I keep hearing about you having made the leap, but i can’t wait to hear about the details.
Getting fed up with a crappy situation is one of the best ways to make things happen, no? Will shoot you my number if I haven’t already.
This is a timely post for me. I’ve been working on the side for a little over a year, but only in the last 3 months have I been gaining serious traction. So now I’m weighing the pros and the cons of staying in the day job. It feels like the “safe” thing, regular, dependable money and all that, but I wonder, am I doing my family an injustice? Could I actually earn more on my own, given more time to work on that side hustle?
It’s so inspiring to hear about others who are finding success. Thanks for sharing your new determination and success.
Hey Dava-
Thanks for the note. I think the issue of risk has to be evaluated very carefully in situations that involve other persons (like a family) but I’m of the opinion that people work best under pressure.
One of the big paradigm shifts for me was realizing that I didn’t have to work harder and longer to reach my goals; working more effectively was my ticket to freedom.
I would highly recommend REWORK if you haven’t read it already. It was a timely message for me.
Inspiring post! Love the idea of not selling ourselves short. So easy to do, but keeps us living small! Thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks so much Jennifer. Limiting ourselves is a crime before humanity :) I’m glad you stopped by.
You’re going to inspire a lot of people, and watching you take control has been inspiring to me. I wrote a blog post a while back questioning where the visionaries are. You know… The people who will leave a real legacy someday. I’m quite confident that you’re one of them.
It is amazing what can be achieved when people make the decision to live life on their own terms. Everyone is capable of being great, it’s just a matter of choice.
Hey Chris, I really appreciate that.
Bingo. It starts with the decision.
Thanks for the inspiration. I’m proud of you bro! Keep it up!
Thanks Milton. Little by little, man.
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