What if you could chuck it all and support yourself on your own terms, doing something you truly care about?
It’s possible, and we can prove it.
Here, 11 entrepreneurs share their best advice for veering off the beaten path and building an income doing something you love.
Commit yourself completely to your business.
Felicia Spahr
Felicia Spahr quit her job in 2012 and became a leadership and charisma coach, teaching others to develop the skills she comes by naturally. Her business typically earns $8,000 to $10,000 a month.
She advises:
The most important aspect is committing to the idea that you want to do something like this, and seeking out the help you’d need in order to do it. In my mind, it was ‘I’m going to succeed or I’m going to die,’ and I think that contributed quite a bit to my success.
Start small.
Danny Margulies
Danny Margulies had always dreamed of being a writer. In his second year as a freelance copy writer, despite having no experience in the field, he earned over $100,000.
He advises:
Start small. Go after simple jobs that can be done in a few hours or less, and build from there.
Pursue something you’re good at doing.
Jeff Goins
Jeff Goins quit his job to become a writer after a friend told him he already was one — he just had to write. He ended up writing three books and earning so much that his wife also left her job and their income still tripled.
He says:
Do what Parker Palmer calls “listening to your life” so you understand what you’re actually good at and passionate about. The worst thing would be for you to chase the wrong thing.
Don’t neglect your basic business skills.
Sarah Jones / Introverted Alpha
Sarah Jones began her career as an artist, until she realized that ultimately, she wanted to help people. Today, she’s a dating coach in the Bay Area who earns up to $20,000 a month. “I feel so relieved and happy to have found this,” she says.
She advises:
I think a lot of people who want to do coaching have the spiritual thing going on, but the practical, systematic, structural, pragmatic side takes a lot of work. Make sure you have the skills you need to know you can help people, and then open your mind to learning from people who you respect.
Be willing to do the boring stuff.
AJ Amyx and Andy Zitzmann
Over the course of their careers, AJ Amyx and Andy Zitzmann have been everything from rock stars, to advertising pros, to corporate managers for major companies.
Now, they run a coaching business that earns up to $30,000 a month, even though they live in two different states.
Amyx advises:
You have to have something that people want to buy. You have to learn to get traffic, you have to learn to convert it, you have to learn to manage the business. You have to be willing to do the work and learn the skill set to actually have a lifestyle business.
Capitalize on the expertise you already have.
Bushra Azhar
Bushra Azhar was working full-time as a consultant when she built a side business that now earns around $12,000 in a typical month.
If you aren’t ready to ditch your day job, she has some advice:
Make sure you’ve built your business in something complimentary to your day job. That way, it’s not a physical struggle to detach yourself from your day job and move into your side gig. You could work on a client email, and then in ten minutes you can work on your online gig. If it’s too different, it’s harder to shift gears.
Don’t wait for the perfect opportunity.
Navid Moazzez
Navid Moazzez dropped out of law school to build a branding business that now earns up to $40,000 a month.
He advises:
There will never be a perfect time or moment to get started. Take one small step today, act before you’re ready, take massive action, and just do it!
Be consistent from day one.
Jason Fitzgerald / Strength Running
Despite beginning his career in consulting and accounting, Jason Fitzgerald never stopped running. Then, he became a full-time virtual running coach, earning over $10,000 a month.
He advises:
From the day I published my first post, I published two articles per week, every week. It didn’t matter if it was Christmas or my honeymoon, it was a consistent schedule. That goes not only for the publication of articles, but also reaching out to other bloggers to build relationships and to coaches asking for opportunities to write guest articles. I’ve seen a lot of people who want to have some type of online business and work at it for a month, and then get too busy and lose steam. You can’t build a business if you’re not constantly in it. If you’re not thinking about it every day, you probably don’t have the chops to get it done.
Create your own opportunities.
Selena Soo
Selena Soo went from working in public relations to serving as a business and public relations coach whose business earned over $300,000 last year.
She credits its growth to her willingness to reach out to people she admired and offer to help them in any way she could.
She advises:
I think that rather than waiting for opportunities, we can actually create our own opportunities by being proactive, by identifying who are the people that we really care about and admire. It’s not just about the people who can always do the most for you. Who do you feel just drawn to, passionate about, maybe you see a piece of yourself in them and they inspire you? The opportunity to help them is the reward. You don’t need anything in return, but to be a part of their world and support them. When you’re clear about who those people are, then give generously to them.
