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For years, I thought there was no other way. No matter how much money I made, I still had to ask permission to take a day off or to call in sick. That constant need to get approval for the most basic things made me realize something crucial: no amount of money can replace true freedom.
3 years ago, I quit my 9-to-5 job, and I’ve never looked back. There’s a feeling of liberation that’s hard to put into words—being your own boss, not having to explain why you need a day off, and not having to ask permission to live your life on your own terms. This freedom is priceless.
But I didn’t start with special skills or connections. I wasn’t particularly tech-savvy or entrepreneurial when I began. That’s why I’m on a mission to let you know there is a better way—and it’s available to anyone willing to take the steps. If you’re stuck in a job you don’t love, wondering if there’s a way out, this is for you.
Here’s an honest truth: entrepreneurship and building your own business is not always easy or glamorous. It takes work, dedication, and patience. But if you follow the right blueprint, you can quit your job and make more money doing what you love. If I did it, so can you.
Step 1: Don’t Quit Your Job—Not Yet
This might sound counterintuitive, but the very first step is not to quit your job immediately. No matter how great your business idea seems, you should only quit once your new venture is earning as much or more than your current income.
When I started, I actually quit my job when I was only making about $500 from my business. I took a risk because I had enough confidence to trust the process and knew it would take time to grow. My husband and I lived on one income and saved all my paychecks to create a financial cushion. But not everyone can do that. So, if you can’t, stay at your job while you build your business. Think of your 9-to-5 not as a trap, but as your first business partner—funding your journey to independence.
Step 2: Figure Out Your “Number”
How much money do you actually need each month to live? You’d be surprised how many people have no idea. Start by calculating your monthly expenses, including:
- Fixed costs like rent or mortgage, phone bills, utilities
- Variable costs like groceries, entertainment, dining out
- Savings goals, taxes, and health insurance
Many people stay in their jobs solely because of health insurance, but the truth is, there are options for self-employed individuals. I’ll link to a helpful article below that explains this in detail.
Once you have a clear number representing your basic needs plus some room for growth, use it as your income goal. This figure will guide you in choosing a business idea that can realistically replace your salary.
Step 3: Find a Profitable Business Idea You Can Start While Working Your 9-to-5
Building a business while working full-time can seem overwhelming. How do you find the time?
The secret is simple but powerful: make the time. People do what they prioritize. For me, this meant waking up early to work on my business, using my lunch break productively, and dedicating time in the evenings after family responsibilities were done. I cut out watching TV and hanging out with friends to focus on my dream.
At the time, I was pregnant with a toddler, exhausted, and juggling a full-time job, wife duties, and motherhood—but I made it work. If I can do this, you can too.
The bigger question is: what business do you start? Many say “just sell a service” because it’s low cost and straightforward—but which service?
I didn’t have all the answers when I started, so I looked at what others were doing successfully. I saw bloggers making $100,000 a month and thought, “If they can do it, maybe I can too.” Instead of reinventing the wheel, I followed their proven business models, adapted them to my style, and executed. My first year wasn’t a huge success, but the next year I made over $200,000, and my life changed.
So, find a business model that works, then ask yourself if you’re willing to put in the work it takes to succeed. For me, that meant creating videos answering questions people were searching for online, doing the research others wouldn’t do. One simple video made me $7,000, and when I improved it with better equipment, I made $115,000.
If you want to learn my strategy for building an online business, I have a free eBook you can download (link below). I also built a community where I interview six- and seven-figure entrepreneurs in different industries. Members get access to live calls and can ask questions directly, learning from real success stories.
Step 4: Learn the Hard Things and Master Your Skills
When I first wanted to build my website, I faced a steep learning curve. WordPress was intimidating, and it took me days to figure out simple things. But I didn’t want to pay someone else, so I pushed through and became a front-end developer of sorts—even though I don’t know any coding!
Eventually, my website became my portfolio, and people started asking me to build their sites. I charged up to $11,000 for websites that took only a few days to make. The point is, learning hard skills can pay off big.
Most people don’t have the patience to learn tough things, but if you do, you can solve real problems and get paid well for it. Ask yourself: What skill am I willing to learn? What problem can I solve that people will pay for? If you learn how to do that, you can build a business around it.
Step 5: Set Timelines and Milestones—and Stick to Them
Once you know what you want to do and what it takes to reach your income goal, create a detailed plan with timelines and milestones. Tools like ChatGPT can help you generate a 90-day plan for building a business, for example, “Give me a 90-day plan to make $6,000 per month as a virtual assistant.”
But don’t just rely on theory—learn from people who are actually doing what you want to do. Follow your timeline closely and trust the process, not just the progress. It often takes time before you see significant income, but consistency is key.
Every day, do something for your business—even if it’s small, like listening to a podcast or answering an email. Your business is like a plant: it needs daily watering to grow.
Now, let me ask you: What is one thing you would love to do if you didn’t have a 9-to-5?
Maybe it’s spending more time with family, sleeping in, traveling, or starting your own business. Whatever it is, write it down and hold onto that vision.
If you want to learn exactly how I would start over today to make $10,000 a month, I have another guide that breaks down my strategy step-by-step (link below).
Leaving your 9-to-5 isn’t just about quitting a job—it’s about creating a life of freedom, control, and fulfillment. It’s hard work, but it’s worth every sacrifice.
Remember, you don’t have to do this alone. Whether you want to follow my strategy or explore other proven paths, there’s a community and resources out there to help you succeed.
The choice is yours. Are you ready to take the first step toward your freedom?