I wasted years of my life working for other people and doing things I didn’t want to do. I couldn’t even remember what I did from one day to the next. Weeks and months few by. It was all so meaningless.
When I look back now, nearly a decade after cubicle life, I ask myself why it had to be this way? Why did I suffer the boredom and humiliation for so long without questioning? Can I stop this pain for other people?
I have always avoided advising people to leave their jobs and “live the dream”. Everybody has different overheads, different priorities and different responsibilities. It’s impossible to tell people whether they should do this. But it is possible for me to explain how I did this and, if it helps one person, then the hours writing this won’t be wasted.
Making the “big break”
One option is to save up a sum of money, leave work, sell up and embark on some amazing idea that will be the next [insert iconic product here].
People who try this have visions of themselves running vast corporations, heading meetings and taking on “bastard” mode because they think that’s how businesspeople behave.
Don’t have visions of yourself; have a vision for yourself.
The reality for the people who try the “big break” is getting bogged down in details, running out of money and having to return to the cubicle with their tail between their legs saying, “well, at least I tried, dammit!”
The slow determined climb
Instead of a “big break” it makes sense to transition from full-time employment through part-time employment or freelancing before you go it alone.
And instead of having to dream up some amazing idea that will be the next [insert iconic product here], you simply provide services for other people – via your company.
What I mean is: freelancing. It’s not sexy, it’s not scalable, it’s not passive income, but it works.
Start a blog
You knew that was coming, didn’t you? 😉 Set up a custom responsive self-hosted WordPress website and work morning, noon and night on making it the best you possibly can.
Titles are important – the title of your website as well as the titles of your blog posts. Make sure the title of your website (WordPress > Settings > General > Site Title) is descriptive of the job you can do for people. For example:
- Freelance technical copy-writer Baltimore
- Freelance Drupal developer Bangalore
- Double-entry book-keeping Brisbane
Can you see what I’m doing here? Because of the importance Google places on titles, you are more likely to connect with someone in your local area wanting your skills by placing buying keywords in the site title.
And it doesn’t end there. Write blog posts with titles that will bait potential clients. Think this is impossible with billions of web pages competing for eyeballs and Google’s preference for well-established websites? Think again!
I show in this course that, with just a few blog posts and one link, you can get traffic for keywords with buying intent to a new website.
What was easy in 2005 is perfectly possible in 2015. Too many people start blogs and write general blog posts and give up due to lack of interest – theirs and other people’s. Keep your titles specific.
Start collecting emails from your website and update them about your latest blog posts. Why? It will benefit you later, but not now. Now you’re just starting out so you need to work.
Freedom starts with freelancing
Money isn’t everything. It’s not even the main reason why we work for ourselves (that’s freedom). But you’ll feel a hell of a lot better when you start making it.
Use all your contacts, go to meet ups and perform basic local SEO on your blog (see above). Try to attract people to hire your services.
There’s no feeling like it: Doing a better job for clients than the legions of cubicle dwellers in bloated corporations. You are young, lean and nimble.
The work you get is more interesting. You stretch your existing skillset and you are forced to acquire new expertise. You’re personally identified with the work and the client knows it. Trust develops.
Meanwhile, build passive income foundations
All the time you’re working for clients, create quality content on your blog and collect email addresses.
The blog posts sit on your site forever. As months and years pass they will attract traffic, comments and links – you gradually become an authority.
As you create more and more content, your email list swells into a legion of loyal and enthusiastic fans who are glad to receive valuable updates from you.
Asking the audience and creating products
Ask your email list “what are you struggling with right now?” The answers will help you build your first product.
All this experience – working for clients, understanding your clients problems, blogging, engaging with an email list and understanding your audience’s problems – will inform the subject matter of your first products.
You can do it
Typically, successful entrepreneurs become successful after multiple attempts or success comes after beavering away for a period of time.
I believe the “freelance first” model works well for some types of entrepreneur – it certainly worked for me. It provides money, experience and momentum early on whilst you develop the eco-system, skills and following to successfully build and market products.
What do you think?
Thanks for the information, you always are so organized in how to do this and it is helping me move forward day by day. I would just add that a recent article stated that more Boomers are starting businesses than younger groups so writing with us in mind would be helpful as well.
Hi Zula, I wouldn’t want to put anyone off, but typically people from 28-45 will be more likely to take the plunge.
Hi Rob,
Great article, Leave Job do not an easy task, but only you take action, you will become successful. Freedom always is the most important thing in our life.
Have a good day.
It’s certainly not easy. But if you really want to do it, you probably will. Have a great day yourself, Robert. 🙂
I second that. The freelance first worked for me (second time around).
Just need to find a way to get a passive stream up and running.
Joe
Thank you, Joe, that’s good to know. Best of luck with the passive steam(s).
Brilliant post, Rob, it’s a shame that more people don’t have it in them to get up and try something like this – for some it’s too much like hard work and for others they don’t want to risk their ‘security’ even though it’s usually not that secure at all.
I’m not sure if I “had it in” me, Josh, I was forced to do this because I was so incredibly bad at working traditional jobs! Yes, security is usually illusory. 🙂
Nice article Rob, that is some of what I did, except there wasn’t any internet when I left the corporate world. I would also say if you are thinking of pulling out of the corporate pit is to start reducing your expenses. Get rid of your debt, and reduce your costs. You need to be able to hang in there for at least a year if you are going cold turkey. But the other way you talked about is to start building something on the side that you can grow to be bigger than the regular job. It also helps to have the people in your life on your side. I met my wife while I was freelancing so she bought into the package. She knew I didn’t have a real job and was building my own thing. And there were no kids yet. But it has been a great 30 years being my own boss, way more satisfying than anything I did in corporate life.
Good on ya, Bruce! 30 years, that’s great!
Yes, really good advice about cutting down expenses. Again, the funny thing about people who are paid relatively well in the corporate world is that they spend money on stuff they don’t really need.
But, at the end of the day, we feel like we enjoy our work more and we are building something for the future in doing what we do.
Very inspirational, Bruce, and a great article, Rob! I’ll be referring to this often as get my feet wet in the entrepreneurial space.
Thank you, Bruce
Hey Rob,
Great article on working for yourself. I too have started down this road with a lot of help from you. I just started my site back in Feb and am working on building up my blog with good content as you often suggest. I do have a quick question, if you don’t mind in regard to comments. How do you tell which ones to keep and which ones are spam?
Again, this is great article and I hope that someday, I too, may be able to say that I work for myself.
Hi Rob, congratulations on what you’ve done so far.
Spam comments should be pretty obvious. Usually the “name” is a bunch of keywords and you can tell they haven’t read the article because they don’t refer to anything in the article specifically in their comment.
Hope this helps and thanks for the comment.
Hey what’s up Rob, I was talking to my wife about this yesterday (my “escape” from the full time job back to full time entrepreneurship) and we agreed on getting rid of debt first, save up to 90 days worth of money and then cut the cord.
I know I could do this sooner but I don’t want to stress her that much.
Sergio
Hey Sergio, mi hermano, that’s good advice as well, similar to Bruce’s. I was lucky, I never had any debt and I was very used to feast and famine through freelance work but communication is key when you have to take a spouse on board.
Well done, brother, sounds like you are making great strides at the moment.
I’ve chosen a parallel career of an indie author. But I think there are a lot of similarities between freelancing and being an indie. I’ve made even an allusion to it in my next book.
Cubicles are soulless. People there may be great, but in the end the sole purpose of such enterprise is making money for the owner. Yikes!
I wholeheartedly agree with you that work “for yourself” is much more rewarding and meaningful.
Freedom!!
Hey Michal, yes a lot of parallels between what you and I have done. I hope you enjoy total freedom before too long. Thank you for the comment.
Hi Rob – Visiting via #vcbuzz I love your work! Great article, thanks for the motivation. We are soooo close to me stepping away from the JOB for good… can’t wait! Cheers, Holly
Hello Holly and welcome! And best of luck with taking the plunge. 🙂
Hi Rob
This is such a great post and it’s exactly what I’ve done myself – Freelance and then work on other passive income projects as you go.
Hope you enjoy your two month trip around SE Asia mate. I returned from Thailand two weeks ago and I’m already missing it. Planning to head around Europe during May though, so it’s all good 🙂
Dan
Good to know about your success with your business and your travels, Dan. I’m sorry we didn’t get to meet in Thailand but I’ll see you somewhere sometime 🙂
Great post! 2 years ago I made the jump from full time employee to full time free lancer. I am now working on creating some passive income streams and becoming less reliable on clients.
Asking my email list was the thing that got me motivated to create my first product. It is still in the works but will be here soon!
Chris
That’s great to know, Chris. Asking the email list is so interesting. You get so many interesting answers and then the same ones that pop up again and again 🙂 thanks for your comment.
Hey Rob,
I too have begun my “entrepreneurial” journey by freelancing. Right now, freelancing is giving me the opportunity to hustle. Honestly, getting a job, is a lot easier than sourcing work to feed your family.
However, the freedom of choice, and calling the shots is unparalleled. One of the most important things I would feel freelancing has taught me is to be instinctive, if you feel, then go head first. It’s risky, but I’m currently going by the mantra – “Hustle till you have financial muscle”
Next stop – Passive income – still in the works is a Udemy course, but it kinda feels like the wait for becoming Dad, you know it’s going to happen, just don’t know what to expect.
Very insightful, Divesh, yes, freelancing teaches you some hustling tricks and sharpens your instincts. I know exactly what you mean. Best of luck with your Udemy course but, remember, that’s just the first one, you have to keep going after that.
Yes. getting gigs on our own is very difficult divesh. getting job is easy
“Can I stop this pain for other people?” Yes!! Thank you Rob for a great post.
I too sat in the cubicle for WAY too long. I love your suggestion of freelancing to get kick started. It doesn’t take much. Your first client, then your next, then another one… before you know it, you’re ditching the cubicle forever!
I would only add to be sure to freelance where you have some minimal skill (the rest you can learn online), some minimal desire (it will grow when you make money from it), and actually has a paying market (probably the most important of all!)
To freedom!
Hi Sean, yes, I definitely agree with you that you’ll need some sort of skill. Although there are successful entrepreneurs out there aged 16 of something scary like that. I would have been unable to do this without a skill that I’d learned. However, I didn’t learn that skill particularly well and I learned better when I was working for myself (eg. web design).
Thank you for your comment. To freedom!
Hi Rob,
I begun selling some stuff online. Then I took money from others to expand my income. Now, I’m jobless and some people want their money back!!
What can I do now ? Specially that I don’t want to leave the freedom that I live now!
I need your advise…
TIA
As I said in the beginning of the article. I never advise people to do this for exactly this reason. If you took money from other people without knowing you could pay it back, then it’s your fault and you need to pay it back. Simple as that.
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…
Yes you are right it’s my fault, and I have to pay 🙁
But I need your advise how can I manage and deal with this situation?
Is it ok if I take money from other and tell him that I will pay after 1 year maybe?!
Or I have to find a job until I finish my debts and then try again correctly?
I’m confused actaully!
I need some tips some advices from your experience which can help me to pay for them and still follow my dream.
Thanks
You’re questions are completely ridiculous, sorry! How on earth can I tell you who to pay back first when I don’t know anything about your situation? I can’t tell you how to pay off your debt. I can only tell you to pay it off as soon as possible.
I think you didn’t read my post….
But thank you cause I learned many things from your website and e-books
sorry! 🙂
“Some one”:
First step is that you recognized that you know the right thing for you and them is to pay back the money. Next step is to look at some ways to make income.
First steps:
-What did you do before you sold stuff online (ie. what was your vocation/job)?
-Can you work for some of the people that gave you money & help pay off what you owe them? Can they give you temp jobs?
-What are your strengths & what do people think your strengths are (are you a programmer, artist, marketer…etc..)?
-Go to freelance.com & post your services
-You said that you sold some stuff online, did you build an email list? Do you have credibility with your list? Can you sell them affiliate products from clickbank.com?
-If applicable, join uber & lyft
Next steps:
-Write a blog (build your credibility & expertise)
There are many options you just need to take it step by step.
Hope this helps.
-EB
Thank you for helping “someone”, Eric. Your advice is great. It’s probably what I should have suggested but I couldn’t understand why he was asking me about debt repayment.
Thank you so much for your help, Eric.
I like this post and hope more people will try and work for themselves. I am trying my hand at freelance writing. The only problem right now is collecting the information to understand how to begin and find clients, etc. Buying other’s how to guides is not an option because I just don’t have the extra cash but I am using google and any free resources I can get my hands on. I hope others do the same and try not to become overwhelmed. There are a lot of things that you can do. Start with something.
I agree with MJ’s last line that you have to “start something.” I too am cramped for funds, but I told myself this year that I was going to spend $25 a month on my education into coding. So 2015 is my “Year of Code.” I am currently improving my CSS skills so that I can become a better web designer, and I am doing it at my own pace and part-time while still working a full-time job. Its nice to have the security of a full time job while I can pursue my dream of maybe in two years, going it on my own.
Good luck to everyone!
Indeed, Rob, good luck to everyone!
Hello MJ. To be honest, this will benefit you. If you find out how to do it on your own without buying products, then you will learn better. Here’s an article on How Web Designers and WordPress Developers Can Get Clients Online which applies to anyone in any line of work.
Hey Rob, thanks for another great post. I took the “big break” into freelancing in 2006 but spent a year saving and planning for it before the jump. My daughter was still a baby at the time so I couldn’t moonlight. I depended on savings until I had built up some clients.
Keeping expenses down is so important. I learned this the hard way and had to return to the cube farm for a while in 2011. I escaped again in 2013 and haven’t looked back since. Next stop – passive income!
Sorry you had to revisit the cube farm, Mary, but at least you got out again. Well done! And good advice about expenses. 🙂
Rob,
I am your fan. Earlier in udemy I bought your course on brand building.
after finishing the course I implemented it to a client which is a local business.
in the past 6 months they got many new customers all due to brand building course.
today also they called me for brand building continuity contract.
many call this as social media marketing. I dont call myself as such.
particularly your emphasis on title is correct. they are getting calls for products listed in title of product pages and blog posts.
contrarily I have not used this brand building for myself. I am a java developer.
this blog post is reminding me of brand building for personal website for consulting gigs and job interview calls.
regards
vinodh
Thank you, Vinodh, you never know. This could be a way for you to expand your business. 🙂
Hi Rob,
I have been following you for sometimes now. I have started in a small of my own.
I hope to receives many more helpful tips from you in the future.
All the best.
That’s good, Fela, yes, more free tips coming here soon! 🙂
Hi Rob,
Freelancing, huh ?
It’s like a part-time job, where you are the who has the client, not your boss. Very interesting. I need
to learn more about this. It seems like a great idea, and I have read that it has helped many people break away from the corporate world.
I am already working on less debt, in order to have more money available to begin my first online
business via a website. I have already eliminated some of my “no longer needed” expenses (i.e. cable
TV). It feels good to have some extra money using the same budget.
It looks like I will be able begin my online business this year. Awesome. I am so exited. I thank you for your content. It is so inspiring and most important, very informative, with a lot of great needed details. Thank you so much.
All the best Rob. I wish you much more success.
Hi Rene, the word “freelancer” may mean different things to different people. For example, you can freelance, as I did, by going to work at various different places and get paid by the hour. That’s not what I’m recommending. You got it right: you are a company offering a service to clients and carrying out that service on your own premises.
What do you mean “you will be able to begin your online business this year”? Why not not? 🙂
LOL. You are right. “Why not now ?”. Actually, I am working on it now. I am creating my first digital product. I started a few days ago. It’s a small how to book. Once I finish that, I will be working on my first 5 posts and make them available to the world, along with my first product. I will then start my next batch of 5 posts, and begin thinking about my next product. I am debating about making my first product a freebie in order to get their email address. If I make it a freebie, then I would like to sell my next digital book for a small fee. I would like to make some money this year, even if it is just a little bit of money. I would like some confirmation that I am providing a good service to someone.
Anyway, as I said, I am working on my first digital product and I will also be working on my first set of posts. Go Go Go. Thanks for the encouragement, Rob. Love it.
I would always advocate offering freebies, Rene. And keep on creating free content as well as paid all the time. 🙂
Thanks for that inspiration Rob! I think its quite scary for most people because this way of working and living has not been part of our education and culture. Therefore, I think your advice to do it in stages is valid. I have started freelancing (as a web designer, video producer and social media consultant), and I also maintain a regular teaching job which pretty much pays the rent. My plan is to start creating passive income streams later in the year when my freelancing skills and marketing foundation are sorted. It’s people like you that remind us we are not completely irresponsible nutcases!
Far from being an irresponsible nutcase, Gerald, you’re paving the way for more financial freedom and happiness for yourself and others in the future! If you give up the day job, you won’t be polluting the atmosphere by commuting everyday and you’ll be providing employment for others. 🙂
Great to see your business coming on nicely. 🙂
Thanks Rob. Plus, the way I envision my business, I can do it from anywhere that has a fast Internet connection. How liberating is that! Beach life, here I come!
Woo hoo !
Rob,
Nice going. It helps to hear from people who have actually lived these experiences and paid the price for them – so that we can get the value. Thanks. This is encouraging to find people facing the same challenges.
Ken
Thank you, Ken, for the comment. Glad it helps. 🙂
Awesome post thank you so much for this kind job its really helpful for readers please keep posting like this keep it up.
Thank you, Syed. I hope it helps you. I promise I will keep posting like this.
Really inspirational, I have literally just started up my own website with a range of products, it is tough and the whole journey from concept to launch has been a long one but hopefully the rewards will start to come through. It is in no way easy, I have been working a 16 hour day for the last few months but how do you get anywhere in life if you do not try?
I urge anyone with a dream or a goal to push on forward and make your dreams a reality!
Thank you, I’m glad you’ve found this article inspirational. Yes, it is difficult at first but I bet you have learned heaps about product creation and marketing and this will stand you in good stead in the future. 🙂
Hello Rob, Greetings..
I love your blog and this is really a great post. I always thought to quit my job and start freelancing. I am doing part time freelancing online through a crowd sourcing website.
I just started my job, only 6 months experience. I am not sure if I quit t my job, always wondered job will give you some experience to move on in career path. But these days I am learning more on myself than what I get to learn from my job, But like you said, this will work for me. Slowly start freelancing and then move on.
Thank you for sharing your experience, I am lifted by this post.
Regards,
Vishnu
Hello Vishnu, I’m glad you were lifted by this post and I’m glad you’re reading my blog. I would continue freelancing, as you say, you are learning from it. I would, also, set up your own site and try to get the same sort of freelancing jobs from it and you will be able to charge a lot, lot more than you’ll be getting from the crowd-sourcing sites.
Follow your ideas, keep on doing work that interests you, build up the income on the side. You’ll know when the time is right to quit your job. 🙂