Justin Welsh

The $10M Solopreneur | Helping 100,000+ burned-out corporate professionals build six-figure, one-person online businesses.

Over the last decade, I helped build two companies past a $1B valuation and raise over $300M in venture capital. 

Then, in 2019, I burned out.

So, I decided to walk away from my high-paying executive job.

But, before I could, I had a hypothesis.

I believed building an audience online would be an incredible asset. That attention was the new currency and would play a major part in my success as an entrepreneur.

So, I started building my brand on LinkedIn in early 2019. 

And the results were pretty phenomenal.

In just 6 months, I grew from zero followers to over 20,000.

And on August 1st of 2019, I walked away from my executive role at a fast-growing startup.

Since that day, I've spent my time building a number of one-person Internet businesses.

My results:

→ $10.3M+ in business revenue at a ~86% profit margin.
→ 750K+ people following my journey on LinkedIn
→ 535K+ people following my journey on Twitter
→ 175K+ people read my weekly newsletter
→ 900M+ impressions in the last 6 years

If you want to learn more about how I did this, you can take one of my self-guided courses.

THE CREATOR MBA DIGITAL COURSE

The Creator MBA teaches you frameworks for turning your knowledge and expertise into a quality product that people will buy. Come learn to build a lean, focused, and profitable Internet business.

→ Start watching here: learn.justinwelsh.me/creator-mba

THE OPERATING SYSTEM DIGITAL COURSE

In this 120-minute course, you will learn the complete LinkedIn operating system that I used to grow from 0 to 750K followers and earn $10M+ in income with zero advertisements. Join 40,000+ students and 70+ LinkedIn Top Voices in my LinkedIn course rated 4.98/5 stars.

→ Start watching here: learn.justinwelsh.me/linkedin

THE CONTENT OS DIGITAL COURSE

In this 85-minute course, you will learn the 8-part content creation machine behind 600M+ impressions on LinkedIn and Twitter, and building a 175,000+ subscriber newsletter. If you're looking for systems to produce 10-15 pieces of high-quality written content every single day, this is the course for you.

→ Start watching here: learn.justinwelsh.me/content

Email: support@justinwelsh.me
X: @thejustinwelsh

Founder

Join 75k+ subscribers to the Saturday Solopreneur. Every Saturday morning, you'll get 1 actionable tip on audience and revenue growth for your online business.

Two years is nothing.

And also everything!

I started at 38 with zero followers and absolutely no idea what I was doing.

Two years later?

I reached 100,000 followers and achieved $1 million in revenue.

I never could have predicted that on day one.

In fact...it felt like the complete opposite was bound to happen.

The only reason I kept going was because it was fun and interesting.

Here's what most people don't understand:

You can't see the finish line at the start.
You have to trust the process & enjoy the ride.

Build when no one's buying.
Publish when no one's watching.
Keep going when everyone's quitting.

Because two years is both nothing and everything.

Nothing in the grand scheme of the work you'll do.
Everything in terms of what it can change.

Two years of consistent action?

That's 730 days of compounding.
730 chances to get better.

And at the end of those two years?

You won't recognize your life.

New income. 
New freedom. 
New options.

All because you didn't quit when it felt slow.

So if you're just starting or feeling stuck, remember this:

Two years from now, you'll wish you had started today.

Six years ago, I couldn't imagine this...

$11.4M+ business, 800K+ followers, freedom to spend my time as I please.

All because I was "dumb" enough to keep trying.

Your turn. 

Want the complete system that helped me build it?

Join 7,500+ entrepreneurs here: https://buff.ly/EFNO1Of 

(It's 75% off for early Black Friday)

The people winning aren't smarter.

They just never stopped learning.

I see this pattern everywhere.

The person who thinks they know it all?

Stuck at the same level for years.

The person who's constantly curious?

Rising fast.

Here's why:

The world changes every day.

What worked last year doesn't work now.
What you learned in school is already outdated.
What got you here won't get you there.

So you've got two choices:

Keep learning.
Or get left behind.

I'm 44 and I still spend hours every week learning.

Reading books.
Testing new strategies.
Staying curious.

Not because I have to.

Because that's what keeps me relevant.

The moment you think you've figured it all out is the moment you start falling behind.

Your competition isn't standing still.
The market isn't standing still.
Technology isn't standing still.

So why would you?

Stay sharp.
Stay curious.
Stay growing.

That's how you keep rising.

If you want to join over 175,000 online entrepreneurs lifting their audience and business-building skills each week, consider joining my newsletter, The Saturday Solopreneur.

I send out one tip to help you grow your audience and revenue every Saturday.

4 minutes or less guaranteed.

Join free here: https://buff.ly/3ZzyLhl

The real flex?

Being yourself.

Most people build for the image.

The likes.
The followers.
The validation.

They post what sounds impressive.
They share what looks good.
They hide what's real.

But here's what I learned:

Authenticity is the only competitive advantage that can't be copied.

When you're real, people trust you.
When you're honest, people connect with you.
When you're yourself, people buy from you.

I stopped trying to sound like everyone else at 38.

Started writing like I talk.
Sharing what I actually think.
Building in public with all the messy parts.

That's what grew my audience to 800K.

Not by being impressive.

By being real.

The flex isn't the image you project.

It's the courage to be yourself when it's easier to fake it.

That's the foundation of everything I teach.

The Creator MBA shows you how to turn who you actually are into a business people truly want to buy from.

111 lessons on building an authentic brand that attracts, connects, and converts.

It's how I turned my experience, expertise, and personality into an 8-figure business.

Zero fakeness required.

It's 75% off for early Black Friday: https://buff.ly/JZMm8gU

(ending soon)

Be yourself.
Build from there.

You're not behind.

You're still becoming.

I see people in their 20s panicking because they haven't "made it" yet.

People in their 30s thinking they missed their chance.

People in their 40s believing it's too late.

But here's the truth:

Life doesn't follow a timeline.

- Lost at 22.
- Broke at 28.
- Unsure at 31.
- Rising at 35.
- Entrepreneur at 38.
- Building a dream life at 44.

There's no deadline for success.

I was 38 when I started my business.

Burned out. Starting from scratch. No clue what I was doing.

By 44, I built a $10M+ business.

Not because I was ahead.

Because I trusted the process and kept moving.

Most people quit because they compare their chapter 3 to someone else's chapter 20.

But your story is yours.

Stop rushing.
Stop comparing.
Just keep building.

Greatness isn't rushed.

It's earned one day at a time.

This is exactly why I built The Creator MBA.

111 lessons showing you how to turn "starting over" into "taking over."

Everything I know about becoming an entrepreneur:

- Building an audience
- Choosing a profitable niche
- Creating your first offer
- Making it irresistable

It's 75% off for early Black Friday: https://buff.ly/JZMm8gU

(ending soon...)

Your timeline is perfect.
Now go build something on it.

The $10M Solopreneur | Helping 100,000+ experts turn their experience and expertise into income.

Stay locked in.

No time for drama.
No time for gossip.
No time for comparisons.

Just you and your progress.

Most people waste energy on things that don't matter.

Scrolling.
Complaining.
Watching what everyone else is doing.

But the people who win?

They're too busy building.

I learned this the hard way.

When I was stuck, I was distracted.
When I was growing, I was locked in.

The difference wasn't talent.

It was focus.

Discipline isn't about doing more.

It's about eliminating everything that doesn't move you forward.

Your growth demands your full attention.

Everything else is noise.

Every Saturday morning, I send one focused email to 175,000+ entrepreneurs.

No fluff. No filler. Just one actionable idea to help you build.

It takes 4 minutes to read.

It's free.

And it's designed to keep you locked in while everyone else gets distracted.

Join here: https://buff.ly/VzhEczR

Stay focused.

Keep building.

the-saturday-solopreneur

audience-income

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Justin Welsh - The $10M Solopreneur | Helping 100,000+ burned-out corporate professionals build six-figure, one-person online businesses. | LinkedIn

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Talks about #branding, #business, #socialmedia, #entrepreneurship, and #personalbranding

Talks about hashtag branding, hashtag business, hashtag socialmedia, hashtag entrepreneurship, and hashtag personalbranding

Manage notifications from Justin

Building a portfolio of one-person businesses to $5M+ in revenue.

Experience is brutal.

It gives you the test first.
Then the lesson.

You launch and fail.
Then you learn why.

You post and get ignored.
Then you learn what works.

You build and hear crickets.
Then you learn what people actually want.

There's no shortcut around this.

Nothing replaces experience.
No mentor can do it for you.
No amount of planning prevents it.

You have to DO it.
You have to LIVE it.

I failed for years before I figured out what worked.

Lost money on bad ideas.
Built things nobody wanted.
Wasted time on the wrong strategies.

But every failure taught me something I couldn't learn any other way.

That's how you get good.

Not by avoiding mistakes.
By making them faster and learning from them.

The test comes first.
The lesson comes after.
That's the deal.

I finally recorded 111 (hard-earned) lessons on building an audience and business from scratch, so that you don't have to go through as many of them.

- Choosing a profitable idea
- Separating yourself from the pack
- Using content marketing to guide people
- Funnel building + conversion optimization
- Scaling from 5 to 6 to 7-figures over the years

75% off today for early Black Friday.

Start watching here: https://buff.ly/JZMm8gU

Everyone says pick two.

Let's build all three!

If you build it right, you can:

1) Make a lot of money
2) Help a lot of people
3) Have a lot of fun

Most people think they need to choose.

Help people, but stay broke.
Make money, but hate the work.
Have fun, but build nothing meaningful.

I believed that for years.

Spent 15 years making great money in corporate.

But I wasn't helping many people.

And I definitely wasn't having as much fun.

Then at 38, I asked:

What if I could have all three?

People said I was naive.

I ignored them.

Instead, I built a business that:

• Teaches people to build businesses (help)
• Has made over $11.6M in revenue (money)
• Let's me work when I want from where I want (fun)

Turns out, you can have all three.

You just have to build it intentionally.

Find something you're good at.
Package it so people will pay for it.
Build it in a way that doesn't consume your life.

Most people fail because they optimize for one and ignore the other two.

But you can have all three.

The Creator MBA shows you exactly how.

111 lessons on building a business that makes real money, helps real people, and doesn't steal your life in the process. 

8,000+ students are already inside making it happen.

Black Friday ends in 16 hours.

After midnight tonight, the 75% discount disappears forever.

Get in now: https://buff.ly/elfDofH

Stop choosing between money, impact, and freedom.

Build all three.

You've got 16 hours left at this price.

Slow progress beats no progress.

Every time.

Most people quit right before it works.

They post for 30 days. No traction.
They build for 90 days. No revenue.
They show up for 6 months. Nothing.

So they stop.

And they never know how close they were.

Because results don't show up on schedule.

They show up after consistency.

I posted on LinkedIn for 8 months before anything happened.

8 months of doubt.
8 months of crickets.
8 months of "will this work?"

Then it clicked.

Not overnight. Not all at once.

But it happened.

And it only happened because I didn't quit.

The people who succeed aren't the most talented.

They're the ones who stayed in the game long enough to win.

If you're ready to understand how to use data and analytics to grow on LinkedIn, join 45,000+ students (including 200+ LinkedIn Top Voices) inside of the LinkedIn Operating System to shortcut the game and (finally) grow.

Start here: https://buff.ly/8weY0jL

It won't happen overnight.

But it will happen if you follow this plan.

The goal is no more meaningless work.

Let me explain:

I spent 16 years in corporate.

Endless meetings about meetings.
Projects that went nowhere.
Tasks that didn't matter.
Work that felt hollow.

I wasn't tired of working. I was tired of working on things that didn't matter.

Then I left and built my own thing.

And guess what? Sometimes I work MORE now than I ever did.

But it doesn't feel like work.

Because I own it.
Because it matters.
Because I decide what gets my time.

That's the difference.

Meaningful work energizes you.
Meaningless work drains you.

Most people aren't looking to retire and do nothing. They just want their effort to count for something.

So if you're exhausted, ask yourself:

Am I tired of working?
Or am I just tired of THIS work?

The answer changes everything.

I built The Creator MBA to show you exactly how I made that shift. 

111 lessons on building an audience, creating products people want, and replacing your corporate income with work that actually matters. 

This is the complete system I used to go from burned-out employee to 8-figure business owner working on my own terms.

It's 75% off for early Black Friday. 

Watch it now: https://buff.ly/JZMm8gU

This is your chance to build something meaningful.

You can't build a one-person business.

People won't pay for your work.

Making it as a creator is impossible...

How wrong they were.

Here's what I've learned over 6 years:

The loudest critics are the most afraid.
The biggest skeptics are the least accomplished.
The harshest words come from those who never tried.

The truth?

Growth forces people to question their own choices.
Achievement challenges their limiting beliefs.
Success makes others uncomfortable.

So they try to stop you.

Not because you can't.

But because they're scared you WILL.

I built my business anyway.

You should, too.

Want the exact playbook?

The Creator MBA is a 111-lesson course on building a profitable one-person business from scratch.

Every framework I used to go from $0 to $11.5M in revenue.
Every system that turned my ideas into paying customers.
Every strategy that actually worked (and what didn't).

This is the course that 8,000+ students used to replace their income, quit their jobs, and build freedom on their terms.

Right now it's 75% off for early Black Friday: https://buff.ly/JZMm8gU

But this price will disappear soon.

After that, it goes back to full price.

Time to prove the critics wrong...

Image credit: blake_bookclub

LinkedIn

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You can be rich and miserable.

Or rich and present.

Choose wisely.

I know people making seven figures who are absolutely miserable.

Always working.
Always stressed.
Always chasing the next milestone.

They got the money.

But they lost everything else in the process.

Here's what nobody tells you about success:

More money doesn't automatically mean more freedom.

In fact, it usually means the opposite.

More clients.
More complexity.
More problems to solve.

Unless you build it differently from the start.

I spent years grinding before I figured this out.

Working weekends.
Saying yes to everything.
Constantly "on."

And you know what I realized?

The hustle culture BS is just that. BS.

You don't need to work more.
You need to work smarter.

So I rebuilt everything around systems, not hustle.

Now I work 4-6 hours a day.
Take weekends off.
Actually enjoy what I've built.

And the business? Still grows.

Because I stopped confusing activity with progress.

Don't sacrifice your life for your business.

Build your business around your life instead.

Want to build a business that runs without running you into the ground?

I documented the 111 exact systems that let me work half the hours while growing to $10M+.

7,000+ entrepreneurs are already using it: https://buff.ly/G7e899d

Nobody takes you seriously yet. 

That's your advantage.

Because tomorrow's multi-millionaires are today's one-person businesses that nobody's taking seriously yet.

The consultant at their kitchen table.
The creator with 2,500 followers.
The freelancer who "needs a real job."

I've seen this movie before:

2018: "Don't do business on LinkedIn."
2020: "That business isn't sustainable."
2022: "One-person businesses can't scale."

Meanwhile, these "fake" businesses are doing:

• $50K months with no team
• $1M years with no office
• $10M lifetimes with no investors

The pattern never changes:

Year 1: "That's cute."
Year 3: "That's lucky."
Year 5: "How did you do that?"

We're not building something they recognize.

No org charts.
No pitch decks.
Just ridiculous margins.

By the time they take you seriously, you'll be too expensive to hire.

I went from "mid-life crisis" to $10.5M.

While they laughed and doubted.

Your "little" business isn't little.
It's early.

Want to be tomorrow's success story here on LinkedIn?

Steal the playbook → https://buff.ly/cjolSEv 

Let them laugh.

You'll be too busy building to care.

Everyone's worried about looking stupid.

Meanwhile, stupid people are getting rich.

They're launching "dumb" ideas.
Building "basic" businesses.
Charging "crazy" prices.

While you're worried about looking silly...

Remember this:

That executive you're trying to impress?

She forgot your name already.

That peer you're competing with?

He's too worried about his own image.

That random connection judging your pivot?

They'll scroll past you in under a second.

We spend decades performing for an audience that doesn't exist.

• Crafting the perfect career story
• Following the "right" path
• Playing it safe to look smart

But the truth is, everyone's too busy worrying about their own show to watch yours.

This isn't depressing.

It's freedom.

Pure, unlimited, life-changing freedom.

Because once you accept that nobody's watching, you can finally:

Build the business everyone said was silly.
Share the story you've been hiding.
Make the pivot that scares you.
Charge what you're actually worth.

Stop being the person you think they want.
Start being the person you actually are.

The market rewards authenticity, not approval.

I learned this the hard way, and it's exactly why I turned sharing my real story on LinkedIn into an 8-figure business.

Want to stop performing and start building something real on LinkedIn?

I broke down the exact system that took me from zero to 800K+ followers by just being myself.

See how it works: https://buff.ly/BhszdAa

What would you create today if you knew nobody cared?

Talk about and build that.

Every change in my life starts the same.

Fear.

Quitting my job? Terrifying.
Moving to the mountains? Uncomfortable.
Starting my business? Felt impossible.

But fear isn't a stop sign.

It's an arrow.

The phone call you don't want to make.
The idea that won't leave you alone.
The move that feels risky.

They're not obstacles.

They're invitations.

So I follow a simple rule:

If something makes me nervous, I lean in.

Not because I like fear. I don't.

But because I know what's on the other side.

Growth.
Freedom.
The life I actually want.

What you resist gets bigger.
What you confront gets smaller.

I spent 15 years avoiding the thing that scared me most.

Starting my own business.

Then I finally did it.

And it changed everything.

Now when fear shows up, I don't run from it.

I follow it.

What's scaring you right now?

Maybe that's exactly where you need to go next.

Starting my business was terrifying.

But staying stuck was worse.

The Creator MBA is everything I learned going from scared corporate employee to $10M+ business owner.

111 lessons. No fluff. Just the roadmap I wish I had when fear was the only thing standing in my way.

It's 75% off for Black Friday: https://buff.ly/JZMm8gU 

(ending in 3 days...)

Your future is on the other side of that fear.

Go get it.

You think you're playing it safe.

You're not.

The longer you avoid risk, the riskier your life becomes.

Think about it:

The "safe" job that makes you irrelevant.
The business you don't start.
The post you don't publish.

Every day you play it safe, the world moves without you.

Your skills get stale.
Your ideas stay hidden.
Your network stays small.

Then one day, you realize the "safe" choice was the riskiest thing you've ever done.

I see this with people who want to build online but never start.

They wait to feel credible.
They wait for more to say.
They wait for the perfect post.

Meanwhile, people with half their experience are building audiences and creating opportunities.

The risk isn't publishing and failing.

The risk is staying invisible.

I took the risk six years ago.
Started posting with no idea what I was doing.

It felt uncomfortable.

But staying quiet? That was actually risky.

If you're ready to start building visibility, the LinkedIn Operating System gives you the exact playbook. 

45,000+ students, including over 200 LinkedIn Top Voices, used it to go from undiscovered to growing and monetizing their LinkedIn: https://buff.ly/ALO2j0P

Remember:

The riskiest thing you can do is never start.

You'll never feel ready.

So start anyway.

Everyone waits for the perfect moment.

The right skills.
The perfect plan.
Complete confidence.

But here's the truth:

You start.
You suck.
You figure it out.
You get better.

That's how it works.

I wasn't ready when I quit my job.

I wasn't ready when I posted my first piece of content.

I wasn't ready when I launched my first product.

But I did it anyway.

And that's what made all the difference.

Waiting for ready is just another word for never starting.

The people who win aren't more prepared.

They just move faster.

And here's what helps you move faster:

A proven system for building your audience.
A content strategy that doesn't require perfection.
A business framework you can launch before you're ready.

That's what turns messy action into real results.

The Creator MBA is that system.

19111 lessons showing you how to go from zero audience to real income. 

Build while you work. Launch before you're ready. Scale as you learn.

8,000+ students are already inside making it happen.

And you've got 25 hours left to grab it at 75% off.

Black Friday ends Monday night. 
After that, this price is gone forever.

Get it here: https://buff.ly/elfDofH

Stop waiting to feel ready.
Start building today.

Do'ers vs. dreamers.

It's not talent or connections.

Do'ers ship before they're ready.
Dreamers wait for the "perfect" moment.

I've watched countless people with million-dollar ideas do absolutely nothing with them.

They talk about it nonstop.
They work on the concept forever.
They wait for "just one more thing" to fall into place.

Meanwhile, someone with half the talent and 25% of the vision launches something mediocre.

And wins.

Because done beats perfect every single time.

The market doesn't reward the best idea.

It rewards the best execution.

I didn't have the perfect product when I started.

But I shipped it anyway.

And that imperfect action turned into an eight-figure business over 6 years.

If you're tired of sitting on your expertise while others are out there building and earning, I recorded a complete behind-the-scenes class on creating, launching, and scaling your idea.

It's called The Creator MBA, and it shows you exactly how to execute.

Learn to package your knowledge, create products that sell, and launch without waiting for perfection.

8,000+ online entrepreneurs have used it to stop planning and start profiting.

Right now it's 75% off for Black Friday.

Get it here: https://buff.ly/EFNO1Of 

Stop dreaming. 
Start shipping.

Nobody wants to hear this. But it's true.

Success is boring.

It's not the big breakthrough.
Not the viral moment.
Not the genius strategy.

It's showing up. Again, and again, and again.

Even when nothing's working.

I started my business by writing on LinkedIn for 6 months before anything happened.

Zero traction.
No one cared.
Barely any engagement.

But I kept going.

Not because I'm special. Because I knew the only way to lose was to stop.

Most people quit right before it works.

They publish for a few weeks.
See no results.
Convince themselves it's not worth it.

Then they watch someone else blow up and think, "They got lucky."

No. They just outlasted you.

That's the game!

Patience isn't passive. It's active endurance.

Doing the work when it doesn't feel like it's working.
Showing up when no one's watching.
Trusting the process when you can't see progress.

That's how you win.

Not with one big move. With a thousand small ones.

So if you're frustrated because things aren't moving fast enough...

Good. That means you're still in it.

Stay patient. Keep moving.

The people who win are just the ones who refused to quit.

I documented every single system I used to stay consistent for 2,281 days straight. 

The Creator MBA is 111 lessons showing you exactly how to build an audience from zero, create content that compounds, and turn consistency into an 8-figure business. 

This is how you go from invisible to inevitable.

It's 75% off for early Black Friday. 

Stop waiting for the breakthrough. 

Start building it with a plan: https://buff.ly/JZMm8gU

Everything is easy when the crowd's cheering.

But the real work? 

That happens in silence.

I remember the looks.

Friends asking "are you okay?"
Family mentioning job openings.
Posts with 3 likes.

Those moments? That's where growth happens.

I wrote for 8 months to crickets.

A few likes.
No comments.
Just me wondering if anyone would ever care.

That's where most people quit.

But after a year of showing up anyway, something clicked.

The compound effect kicked in.

That silence switched into an 8-figure business.

The best decision I made? Not stopping when it made no sense to continue.

If you're in that quiet phase right now, feeling invisible...keep going.

I documented the entire process of going from crickets to $11.7M+ over six years.

The Creator MBA is 111 lessons on how to build an audience and business even when nobody's watching. 

The systems that work when it feels like nothing is working.

It's 75% off for 4 more days: https://buff.ly/JZMm8gU

The world needs what you're building. 

They just don't know it yet.

Money isn't the goal.

It's the exit strategy.

Exit from meetings that waste your time.
Exit from bosses who don't value you.
Exit from work that drains your soul.

Most people get this backwards.

They chase money for money's sake.

I'm not here to judge, but you can use it differently.

Money can be permission to say NO.

No to toxic clients.
No to Sunday scaries.
No to anything that doesn't align with your values.

I didn't build a business to buy things.

I built it to buy options.

The option to walk away.
The option to choose better.
The option to live on my terms.

When you can walk out of any room, any deal, any situation...

That's leverage.

Not the balance in your account.
But the freedom to use it as your escape route.

Make money.
Not to impress people.
But to never be impressed by the wrong opportunities again.

Want to build your own exit strategy?

I've shown 55,000+ people how to create income that gives them options through my systems and frameworks.

Now, I'm sharing all of them for 60% to 75% off for this early Black Friday.

Check out the deals here: https://buff.ly/YaSqpak

Your exit is waiting.

Time to go for it.

Hamada SOILIHI

DKSpeaks Media

Consultation Services, Training and Courses on Digital Marketing - Podcasting, Blogging, Affiliate Marketing

Co-Founder

DKSpeaks

Affiliate Marketing Specialist

Niche Affiliate Marketer creating niche affiliate sites, Content Lover and Content Creator

Niche Affiliate Marketer

The Podcasting University

Running the Popular Podcast on "Tips to starting a Podcast in India".

I help you make money online from writing content | AI enthusiast | Side Hustle Coach | Creator of the Escape Plan Blueprint | Posts about leadership, AI and Time + Money Freedom (DM if you are looking for either)

“Unfortunately, we have to let you go. Thanks for everything you’ve done.”

That one sentence ended 17 years of loyalty, hard work, and belief that my job would always have my back.

In that moment, I realized something that changed everything:
Job security is an illusion. Time freedom is the real asset.

I didn’t want to jump into another job. I wanted to build something that couldn’t be taken away from me with one meeting.

So I started experimenting. Content. Affiliate marketing. Side hustles.
Not overnight wins but sustainable systems.

Today, I help 9–5 professionals and freelancers escape the time-for-money trap by building leveraged income streams using content and affiliate marketing.\
No hype. No burnout. Just real strategies that work even if you're starting from scratch.\

My goal isn’t just to help you make a little money on the side.
It’s to help you build time freedom and income that works when you don’t.

✅ Download my free Escape Plan Starter Kit from my Featured section
💬 Or DM me “ESCAPE” and I’ll help you plan your next step

- R Dilip Kumar (DK)

---

FOR ANYONE who has time for more information about me!

WHO AM I?

For those who love the essence of stories but are pressed for time, here's the gist: I'm a Blogger, Podcaster, Affiliate Marketer, and your go-to expert for building side hustles through Affiliate Marketing, Podcasting, and Blogging. 

→ 15+ years as an online marketer, using affiliate marketing to generate a steady flow of passive income. 
→ I blog about insights, tips, and the stories of success and failures in online marketing.
→ Top 1% podcaster, more than 700 podcast episodes produced, with 3 million+ downloads.

So what's my strength, you ask?

My love for storytelling + my marketing knowledge + corporate leadership experience. 

A background in Finance and over 20 years of professional experience, including 15+ years leading teams, I know a thing or two about guiding, teaching others and mentoring.

But here's the deal: I'm all for making real connections. 
I'm here to build real relationships, share knowledge, and yes, have that virtual coffee chat.

I'm ready to share what I know and help you make your mark online.

Let's make your side hustle dreams come true together. Just reach out, and let's have a chat.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope we get to talk soon!

Cheers,
Dilip
------------------
And if you want to know more about what I write, you can check out my FREE newsletter:

Visit https://theloudspeakeronline.com. I help you enjoy the process of content creation through this newsletter.

R Dilip Kumar

The imposter syndrome didn’t hit me when I was starting out.

It hit me after 20 years of success.

Sounds strange, right?

I’ve been in affiliate marketing since 2003.
Built multiple income streams.
Earned consistent money.
Created systems that ran on autopilot.

But for years, I stayed behind the curtain.
Never called myself a coach.
Never positioned myself as an authority.
Just kept doing the work.

Then one day when I got laid off, I felt like more people might need the knowledge I was holding.

It made sense to teach what I’d learned.
To share the lessons.
To help others avoid the mistakes I made the hard way.

And that’s when the voice showed up.
“Who are you to teach this?”

It didn’t matter that I had two decades of results to back me up.
That I had proof, systems, and success stories.

I still felt like a fraud.

Here’s what I realized later:
Imposter syndrome doesn’t show up when you start.
It shows up when you step up.

Because moving from doing to teaching feels like crossing a line.
You’re no longer hiding behind execution.

You’re standing in front of others, saying, “Here’s what works.”
And that’s scary.

The irony?
The loudest people online aren’t always the most experienced.
They’re just the most confident.

Meanwhile, the people with real results.. the quiet ones who’ve actually done the work, hesitate to speak.

But the truth is:
The world needs credible practitioners.
People who’ve failed, adapted, and built something real.

Your hesitation isn’t proof you’re an imposter.
It’s proof you actually care.

And that care is what makes your voice valuable.

So if you’ve been doing something for years but feel “unqualified” to teach it?
That’s not doubt.
That’s humility and humility is what makes you trustworthy.

Step up.
Your experience is your credibility.

P.S. What’s something you’ve done for years that you still hesitate to teach?

Drop it below, it’s probably the exact thing the world needs to hear from you.
----

➕ Follow me for real-world insights on building, teaching, and monetizing your experience without fake authority or fluff.
♻️ REPOST if you’ve ever felt “not ready” to teach what you already know.

Ready to turn your experience into income?

Grab my free Zero to $100 in 30 Days Blueprint - a simple, step-by-step plan to start earning online.

 https://lnkd.in/gSGTQ_R4

Laid off after 17 years → built multiple passive income streams → now helping mid career professionals in their late 30s do the same | Posts about Leadership, AI and Time + Money Freedom (DM “ESCAPE” to start)

Your job shouldn’t be your only income stream.

But most people wait for “more time” instead of building smarter systems.

We think side income means late nights, big risks, or extra hours we don’t have.

But the truth is simpler.
Some of the best income streams fit into a full-time life, not on top of it.

So here are 7 income streams you can build while working full-time (even with a busy schedule):

1️⃣ Affiliate Marketing
Pick one niche → one trusted product → create value around it.
Perfect for beginners.

2️⃣ Digital Products
Checklists, templates, guides, notion systems.
Build once. Sell forever.

3️⃣ YouTube Automation (Faceless Channels)
Scripts + AI + basic editing
No camera. No recording. No problem.

4️⃣ Coaching/Consulting (Micro-Offers)
One problem → One outcome → 30-minute call.
Low friction. High value.

5️⃣ Newsletter Sponsorships
Start small. Grow steadily.
You can land sponsors even with 1,000 subscribers.

6️⃣ Printables & Low-Content Digital Products
Planners, trackers, journals, worksheets.
Simple to create. Easy to sell.

7️⃣ Micro-Niche Blogs
Small niche. Low competition.
2–3 posts/week → affiliate income + long-term traffic.

You don’t need all seven.
Just pick one, give it 90 days, and let consistency compound.

A year from now, your job won’t be your only income source.
---

➕ Follow me for simple systems that help full-timers build real income.
♻️ REPOST if you found this helpful.

If you want a simple starting point...
Grab my Zero to $100 in 30 Days blueprint... the exact system I used to build my first income stream:

https://lnkd.in/gSGTQ_R4

7-income-streams

I’m 50 years old and a content creator.

And that makes me weird, at least to people who ask what I do.

When I tell them I make videos, write posts, and help people build side hustles,
they pause.

Then smile politely.
Then ask, “Aren’t you a little too old for that?”

But here’s what they don’t understand..

The internet doesn’t care how old you are.
It only cares about value.

We live in a time where:
→ A 60-year-old woman teaches cooking to 1M followers.
→ A retired teacher earns through podcasting.
→ A grandpa in Japan creates review videos on YouTube.

Age is not a limitation.
It’s an advantage, if you use your experience as your superpower.

The problem?

Most people stop before they even start.
They think it’s “too late.”
They worry what people will say.
They underestimate the power of their journey.

But remember:

Your age doesn’t make you irrelevant.
Your hesitation does.

So if you’re 40, 50, or even 70...
...and you still dream of starting something..

Do it.

Write that blog.
Launch that podcast.
Start that YouTube channel.

Because the world doesn’t care if a creator is young or, old.
It needs wiser ones.
---

➕ Follow me for simple systems to start and scale your side hustle at any age.
♻️ REPOST if you found this helpful.

Want a practical guide to start?

Grab my free blueprint “Zero to $100 in 30 Days”...a step-by-step plan to earn your first dollar online without quitting your job.

(Link in comments)

Youre-Not-Too-Old-to-Start

The internet is a graveyard...

Not of websites but millions of dreams.

Dreams that were started with hope...
..and buried in silence.

Everywhere you look, you’ll find:
– Blogs that once had promise.
– Podcasts that ran out of steam.
– Side hustles that never saw daylight.

Not because people lacked ideas.
But because they ran out of patience.

Starting is easy.
Sustaining is brutal.
Finishing is rare.

Most creators quit too soon..
...when results don’t show up fast enough.

But the ones who make it?
They outlast.

Here’s how to not end up buried in the internet graveyard:

→ Commit for 2 years minimum. Success compounds slowly... until it explodes.
→ Focus on 1–2 core platforms. Win somewhere before trying to be everywhere.
→ Create even when it feels pointless. Mastery happens long after the applause fades.
→ Ignore the overnight success stories. They’re either luck... or lies.
→ Treat content as seeds, not trophies. Plant daily. Let time do the growing.

Every piece you create is a vote for your future.

Don’t stop casting votes.

The graveyard is full because people stopped too soon.

Stay. Persist. Win.
----

➕ Follow me for timeless systems to build and sustain your side hustle.
♻️ REPOST if this reminded you not to quit too soon.

Download my free guide - “Zero to $100 in 30 Days” and learn how to turn content into your first dollar online (link in pinned comments).

5 tips to play the long game

90% of the people I talk to, never really start!

And it has nothing to do with fear!

They just don’t need it badly enough to begin!
Because their current life is comfortable.

No urgency.
No pressure.
No fire in the belly.

If they don’t change a thing, they’ll still survive.

But survival isn’t the same as living.
It’s just staying afloat, without ever moving forward.

They scroll content.
They binge podcasts.
They say “someday” more than they say “now.”

And they wonder why nothing ever changes.

Here’s the truth:
→ You don’t need more motivation.
→ You don’t need another post.
→ You don’t need another "how-to" reel.

You need a reason that won’t let you sleep.
A reason that makes comfort unbearable.
A reason that sets your soul on fire.

Because the moment your why becomes non-negotiable...

Your how shows up on its own.
---

➕ Follow me for simple, practical lessons on starting and scaling a side hustle.
♻️ REPOST if you found this helpful.

If you want a proven, beginner-friendly plan to earn your first $100 online in the next 30 days, download my free guide Zero to $100 in 30 Days:
https://lnkd.in/gSGTQ_R4

6 steps to stop dreaming and start doing

Uncomfortable truth for creators:

A viral moment can make you feel good for a day.
But a healthy creative system keeps you fulfilled every day.

Most creators chase attention, likes, shares, comments.

Then one day, when the numbers go down,
They get, frustrated and demotivated.

Then the down-spiral happens...
..and eventually they quit!

Why?

Because consistency beats virality.
Systems outlast trends.
And peace sustains progress.

Here are 6 ways to build a content routine that lasts:
→ Stay patient. Growth is invisible before it’s exponential.
→ Focus on consistency, not perfection or performance.
→ Build systems that support you, not stress you.
→ Focus on creating value, not chasing metrics.
→ Let go of hustle guilt. Sustainability > speed.
→ Create a schedule you can actually stick to.
→ Celebrate the process, not just the results.
→ Prioritize rest, or you’ll resent the work.

You don’t need more virality.
You need more intentionality.

Build your workflow around peace, not pressure.
And watch how your content and life transforms.
----

➕ Follow me for simple systems that help creators build freedom without burnout.
♻️ REPOST if you found this helpful.

Want to start your side hustle?

Grab my free guide “Zero to $100 in 30 Days”, your 4-week roadmap to make your first online income:

👉 https://lnkd.in/gSGTQ_R4

No alternative text description for this image

First they ignore you. Then they laugh.

Then, if you don’t quit, someday they listen.

When you start something new, people won’t get it.
They’ll doubt you.
Mock you.
Even laugh at you.

It’s not because your idea is bad.
It’s because it’s different.

And people fear different.
They fear what they don’t understand.

Every discovery, invention, and movement...
..was first ridiculed.

So if you’re getting laughed at.. good.
That means you’re on the right path.

Here’s how I’ve learned to deal with being doubted.

Keep this playbook in your back pocket always.

→ Don’t argue. Build.
Time answers louder than debates.

→ Use doubt as data.
Their disbelief exposes your next FAQ.

→ Laugh with them.
Never take offense. Take notes.

→ Stay consistent long enough to look credible.
Time builds trust.

→ Let your results speak.
People can ignore opinions. They can’t ignore success.

Because someday soon...
They’ll stop laughing.

And they’ll start asking how you did it.
Keep going.
-----

➕ Follow me for more mindset shifts that fuel your side hustle journey.
♻️ REPOST if you found this helpful.

Want to start your side hustle the right way?

Download my FREE Zero to $100 in 30 Days Blueprint... your step-by-step playbook to make your first $100 online.

👉 https://lnkd.in/gSGTQ_R4

The real game is won in the middle.

But that’s also where most people quit.

Because the middle is:

– boring
– stressful
– monotonous
– demotivating
– uncomfortable

But it’s also where you:

– grow
– evolve
– mature
– figure things out

...and eventually, succeed.

You started.

So the difficult phase is taken care off.
Now it is just a matter of going on.

Don’t quit in the middle.
That’s where you become who you’re meant to be.
-----

➕ Follow me for systems that help you stay consistent when motivation fades.
♻️ REPOST if you needed this reminder today.

If you’re tired of starting strong and quitting midway, grab my free guide - “Zero to $100 in 30 Days”

👉 https://lnkd.in/gSGTQ_R4

It’ll show you how to build momentum that lasts, not just motivation.

Everyone-loves-the-start

Everyone's hunting for the perfect strategy.

The magic content calendar.
The viral formula.
The secret posting time.

But here's what I learned after 700+ podcast episodes:
Strategy without consistency is just a fantasy.

Let me tell you what happened in my early podcasting days.
I spent 3 weeks crafting "the perfect content strategy."
Color-coded spreadsheets. Content pillars. Detailed workflows.

It was beautiful.
And it lasted exactly 11 days.

Because I forgot one thing:
A complex strategy you don't follow beats a simple one you do... never.

Fast forward to today.

My entire content system fits on one page.

→ Record every Tuesday
→ Edit by Thursday
→ Publish every Friday
→ Repurpose on Monday

That's it.

No fancy tools. No elaborate plans.

Just the same four steps. Every single week.
For three years straight.

And you know what?

That boring consistency built more momentum than any "viral strategy" ever could.

Here's the uncomfortable truth:
You don't need more tactics. You need fewer decisions.

The secret to consistency isn't motivation.
It's removing friction.

Think about it:

When was the last time you brushed your teeth and thought, "Wow, I'm so motivated today"?

Never.

You just... do it.
Because the system is simple. The friction is zero.

That's what your content creation should feel like.
Not a daily debate about what to post.
Not a search for inspiration.
Not a question of "should I or shouldn't I?"

Just: It's Tuesday. I record.

Does that mean you never adjust your strategy?
Not really.

Adjust the strategy when it's working and you have data.
Not when you're three days in and feeling stuck.

Most people change their strategy before they've even tested it.

They post for a week. See no results. Switch directions.
Then wonder why nothing works.

The real game-changer?
Commit to something simple for 90 days.

No exceptions. No excuses.
Just show up and do the thing.

You'll learn more in those 90 days of consistent execution than you will in 6 months of "strategy optimization."

Because consistency reveals what strategy conceals:
What actually works.

So before you chase the next growth hack, ask yourself:
Am I executing my current plan consistently enough to know if it works?

If the answer is no, you don't need a new strategy.

You need to remove friction from your current one.

P.S. What's one thing you could do consistently for the next 90 days if you just simplified the process? 

Share below. I'd love to hear what you're committing to.
---
➕ Follow me for real-world systems that simplify consistency and help you create without burnout.
♻️ REPOST if you know someone who keeps “strategizing” but rarely executes.

Want to turn your ideas into income (without overcomplicating your process)?

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https://lnkd.in/gSGTQ_R4

6 steps to effortless consistency

If you only have 1 hour a day...

...build a system that turns it into momentum.

Most creators think they need more time.
They don’t.
They need a routine they can repeat even on low-energy days.

When I started, I had:
A full-time job.
Family.
Chores.
And zero energy by 9pm.

But I had a dream I couldn’t let go off.

So instead of waiting for “more time”...
I created better habits.

Atomic Habits taught me this:
Small daily actions create massive long-term results.

So I built a 90-minute routine.
Simple.
Repeatable.
Sustainable.

Here’s the exact one I still use when I am short of time.

→ Money Content (25 mins)
↳ Do one thing that can make money - Promo post. Email. Sales page.
↳ One revenue action. Every day.

→ Value Content (20 mins)
↳ Teach. Inspire. Share.
↳ Let people find you and trust you.

→ Connection (25 mins)
↳ Reply. Engage. Start conversations.
↳ Relationships build authority not algorithms.

→ Learn (20 mins)
↳ Improve one skill:
↳ Copywriting, storytelling, sales, funnels.

1% daily.
That’s it.

90 minutes → momentum → growth.

Even when you're busy.
Even when you’re tired.
Even when life is full.

Because consistency doesn’t come from motivation.
It comes from a system designed for real-world life.

PS: What habit helps you stay consistent right now?
---

➕ Follow me for practical systems that help you grow without burnout.
♻️ REPOST if you found this helpful.

If today’s routine spoke to you, you’ll love my Anti-Hustle Growth Model, a simple productivity framework designed for busy creators with limited time and endless responsibilities.

It shows you exactly how to grow consistently without killing your energy.

Grab it for free here: https://lnkd.in/gn-i7ACv

If-you-think-you-need-more-time-to-start-youre-already-losing

I traded 60-hour weeks for a paycheck.

Then realized I was trading my future for someone else's profit.

For years, I thought that was the deal.
Work hard. Stay loyal. Climb the ladder.

But here's what nobody tells you about that bargain.

Every hour you spend building their empire is an hour you're not spending building yours.
Every late night solving their problems is a late night you could be solving your own.
Every weekend you sacrifice is a weekend you're not investing in your freedom.

I'm not saying corporate jobs are bad.
I'm saying trading ALL your energy for a paycheck is.

The shift happened when I started redirecting just 10 hours a week.

Not quitting. Not burning out more.

Just taking 10 hours I was giving to exhaustion and giving them to myself instead.

→ Sunday mornings before the family woke up 
→ Two evenings after everybody went to bed 
→ One hour during lunch breaks

Those 10 hours went into building something I owned.

Not someone else's quarterly targets.
Mine.

Three years later, those 10 hours had built enough income to walk away when the layoff came.

Not because I was lucky.
Because I stopped trading my entire future for someone else's present.

You don't need to quit your job to start building yours.
You just need to stop giving every hour to theirs.

What's one thing you're building that's yours?
----

➕ Follow me for practical side-hustle systems that actually fit a busy life.

♻️ REPOST if you found this helpful.

P.S. If you want to build something of your own in the next 30 days, grab my free guide Zero to $100 in 30 Days: https://lnkd.in/gSGTQ_R4

Your audience doesn’t grow first... you do.

Because every breakthrough outside begins with a shift inside.

For a long time, I didn’t get this.
I kept waiting for the right strategy.

The right idea.
The right moment where I finally “felt ready” to post consistently.

But that moment never came.

I consumed content daily.
I admired creators daily.
I planned daily.

And yet... nothing changed.

Because consuming isn’t growth.
Planning isn’t growth.
Saving ideas isn’t growth.

Growth begins the day you decide,
“I’m not just watching anymore. I’m creating.”

That identity shift changes everything.

From doubting your voice → to using your voice.
From chasing motivation → to building rhythm.
From hiding your ideas → to sharing them freely.

If you’re stuck, here’s what actually flips the switch:

→ Create before you scroll. Start your day as a creator, not a consumer.
→ Publish imperfectly. Your first 50 posts build your confidence, not your audience.
→ Share your lived experiences. People don’t follow perfection. They follow honesty.
→ Think small, not viral. One helpful post a day beats one “perfect” post a month.
→ Believe your words matter. Because they do. More than you think.

When you grow, your audience follows.
Not the other way around.

So start today.
Post something small.
Say something real.

Shift from consuming creators...
to becoming one.
---

➕ Follow me for clarity, momentum and side-hustle growth.
♻️ REPOST if you found this helpful.

PS: Want to build your first income stream? 

Grab "Zero to $100 in 30 Days", my free guide that shows you exactly how to make your first $100 online: 
https://lnkd.in/gSGTQ_R4

Your-audience-isnt-your-biggest-barrier

If I were starting from scratch today...

I wouldn’t write a single post before doing this.

For a long time, I believed content was king.
So I wrote daily posts.
Shot videos.

Shared value.
Every. Single. Day.

The result?

Some reach.
A few likes.

But no real business growth.

Then I made one shift:
I started an email list.

Just a lead magnet and a form.

And everything changed:

→ I owned my audience
→ I made my first affiliate sales
→ I launched without relying on the algorithm
→ I built trust where it matters most... the inbox

The drop in impressions on LinkedIn didn't impact me..
..because I was no more writing for impressions.

I was counting the subscribers on my list.

And yesterday that list reached a 5,000 subscribers.

If you’re only creating content without building an email list,
...you’re renting attention.

Build your list.
That’s the foundation.

The rest?
Just noise.
----

👉 If you don't have a lead magnet yet, you're missing the easiest way to build real ownership.
I just created a free cheat sheet: '10 Quick Lead Magnet Ideas You Can Build in 30 Minutes.'

It's simple. It's fast. It's built for action.

Download it here - https://lnkd.in/g4uXS_Kc

♻ Follow me and REPOST to help others.

[check the carousel for a simple guide]

You-dont-build-a-business-with-content

At 28, I was used as an example of “failure”...

...by every relative I knew!

I was the “bad example” in family gossip.
They mocked me. Warned their kids not to be like me.

I was quoted as an example of “what not to do with life”.

Not because I was bad.
But because I dared to think different!
Because I dared to dream of freedom - financial, emotional, and creative.

I was an above average student.
I followed every advice that people gave.

But it did not take me anywhere.
So I dared to dream!

My dad’s pay couldn’t take us any higher from being lower middle class..

After slogging it out for 20 years..
..he was just let go without a notice.

And that’s the day I decided:
→ that I will build something of my own
→ that I will not let others decide my future
→ that I won’t let anybody else control my time

But it wasn’t easy.
I failed... and failed again.

I worked low-paying jobs. I had no financial safety net. No backup plan.
Just grit, late nights, and the belief that I was not a failure.

Ten years later, I proved it.

The critics? Gone.
The dream? Real.
And the lessons? Priceless.

I never showed off to anyone..
..because I didn’t do it to prove anything to anyone.

I just wanted to prove to myself that I was not a “failure”!

Here are 3 truths I learned on this journey:
→ Your dreams will always sound weird to others. Chase them anyway.
→ Stay far from dream-killers. Even if they’re family.
→ You can fail 1000 times but you only need one win to change your life.

So if someone mocks your dream...
Don’t change the dream.

Change the people you're listening to.
----

➕ Follow me for simple, practical ideas to build a side income and reclaim your freedom.
♻️ REPOST if you found this helpful.

P.S. If you're ready to stop listening to people who never built anything and start building something of your own, then download my free guide “Zero to $100 in 30 Days.”

It’s the simplest, real-world blueprint to get started.

Download here → https://lnkd.in/gSGTQ_R4

3 Tips to get rid of Dream Killers

The most dangerous burnout isn't from working too much.

It's from working consistently... 
...on the wrong things.

When social media exploded, I had to move over from long-form content.

I didn't want to.

My affiliate marketing business was running fine.
I understood long-form.
I knew how to make it work.

But suddenly, everyone said short-form was the future.
Instant gratification.
Quick posts.
Trending formats.

So I did what everyone does when they feel left behind.

I adapted.
I posted daily.
I stayed consistent.
I followed the playbook.

And I saw... nothing.

No progress.
No growth.
Just effort without outcome.

Then my income dipped.

That's when I realized what was happening.

I wasn't burning out from overwork.
I was burning out from chasing trends instead of doubling down on my strengths.

I was posting for metrics.
Not for money.
Not for purpose.
Just... to post.

And that kind of consistency is exhausting.

Because when your system has no real goal tied to it, every action feels empty.

You're checking boxes.
Not building outcomes.

I see this everywhere now.

Creators stay consistent for 6 months. 8 months. 10 months.
Then slowly... they fade.

Not because they ran out of time.
Because they ran out of meaning.

Followers don't give you purpose.
Goals do.

When your system is tied to a real outcome, a financial goal, a tangible result...
...the process stops feeling like a grind.

It starts feeling like progress.

So before you build another content calendar or, commit to another 90 days of posting...

Ask yourself:

→ Am I chasing a metric or, a result?
→ Is this system building toward money or, just visibility?
→ Am I playing to my strengths or, copying what's trending?

Consistency without purpose burns you out from the inside.

But consistency with a clear goal? That's freedom.
---

➕ Follow me for systems that connect effort to income, not just engagement.
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Ready to build a system with real purpose?

Download my free Zero to $100 in 30 Days Blueprint... a step-by-step plan to turn content into income.

(Link in comments)

The-most-dangerous-burnout-isnt-from-overwork

I got "Exceeds Expectations" on my performance review.

Six months later, I was laid off.

Along with 40 others who had stellar reviews.

Here's what your manager can't tell you during that review meeting:

→ Your performance doesn't guarantee your position.
↳ Companies make financial decisions, not performance-based ones.
↳ When budgets get cut, even top performers go.

→ That "exceeds expectations" rating? It's about today.
↳ Not about next quarter's restructuring.
↳ Not about the merger being discussed in closed-door meetings.

→ Your manager might be fighting for you behind the scenes.
↳ And losing that fight to spreadsheets and cost-cutting mandates.
↳ They can't warn you. HR won't allow it.

→ Job security is a myth built on hope.
↳ 17 years of loyalty meant nothing when the numbers didn't add up.
↳ Your dedication won't protect you from a board decision.

I'm not saying don't perform well at your job.
I'm saying don't let a good review make you comfortable.

Build something on the side while you still have the stability.
Because the company that praises you today can let you go tomorrow.

Some in the company might feel bad about it.
But they'll still do it.
----

➕ Follow me for side-hustle freedom and income-building insights.
♻️ REPOST if you found this helpful.

If you want to build your first income stream on the side, grab my free guide “Zero to $100 in 30 Days.”

It shows you the simplest system to start earning online even if you have no audience and limited time.

Download it here: https://lnkd.in/gmXB3qSN

The-scariest-layoffs

Everyone wants to replace their salary.

I started by replacing my grocery bill.

$200 a month.
That was my first milestone.

Not quitting my job. Not going all in. Not some dramatic leap.
Just enough to cover groceries.

Here's why that mattered.

When you chase "replace your salary" you're chasing a number that feels impossible.
$5,000. $8,000. $10,000 a month.

You work for three months, see $127 in your account, and quit.
Because the gap feels too big.

But $200?

$200 feels doable.
$200 keeps you going.
$200 proves the system works.

So I hit $200. Then aimed for $500.

$500 covered groceries and utilities.
Then $1,000. That was car payment and insurance.
Then $2,000. That was rent.

Each milestone made the next one feel less scary.

Not because it got easier.
Because I had proof I could do it.

By the time the layoff came, I was comfortably placed to replace my salary.

Not from one big win.
But from stacking small wins over three years.

→ Month 6: First $200
→ Month 9: Hit $500
→ Month 15: Crossed $1,000
→ Month 22: Reached $4,500

The people who quit are chasing the finish line.
The people who win are chasing the next $200.

Small milestones compound into freedom.

But only if you stop measuring yourself against the impossible number.

PS: What's your first small milestone? Share it in the comments and let it act as an accountability metric!
----

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Here’s the link: https://lnkd.in/gSGTQ_R4

It’ll show you the exact steps to make your first $100, without quitting your job or burning out.

I managed a team of 30 people.

I handled budgets worth millions.
I presented to C-suite executives without breaking a sweat.

But I spent 45 minutes staring at a blank screen last week.
Couldn't write a simple LinkedIn post.

Here's what nobody tells you about leaving corporate:
The skills transfer. The confidence doesn't.

In your job, you had structure. Playbooks. Approval chains. Teams to delegate to.

Now?
It's just you and a blank screen.
No manager to say "good job." No process to follow and absolutely no safety net.

So you freeze.

You overthink a 150-word post like it's a board presentation.
You record a video 12 times because it doesn't feel "professional enough."
You spend hours researching before taking action because that's what corporate taught you.

This isn't imposter syndrome.
This is reverse imposter syndrome.

You're not doubting if you're good enough.
You're doubting if you can do something this simple when you've done things so complex.

The truth?

Building your own thing requires different muscles.
→ Writing in your own voice, not corporate speak
→ Putting yourself out there without a brand to hide behind
→ Making decisions without consensus
→ Being visible before you feel ready

You're not broken. You're learning.

Stop measuring yourself by corporate standards.

You're playing a different game now.

P.S. What "simple" task feels impossibly hard for you right now? Comment below. You're not alone in this.
---

If today’s post made you breathe a little easier...
If it reminded you that building on your own is not weakness, but rewiring...

Then stick around.

I share daily lessons on building a side hustle that actually pays you, without the corporate mask, the overwhelm, or the burnout.

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The moment you stop pushing, the fall begins.

..and that’s where you lose the game!

You skip one post.
Then you delay another.
Then you stop showing up.

It doesn’t happen all at once.
It happens in small slips.

Every time you let yourself off the hook,
..you teach your mind that it’s okay to stop caring.

Here’s something I’ve learned in 17 years of doing this:
The effort you put in today becomes your new normal tomorrow.

If you drop your effort today,
...you’ll drop it a little more tomorrow.

So keep it high.
Then guard it.
Then lift it again.

Because when you stop improving,
...you start drifting.

And drifting never takes you where you want to go.

P.S. What’s one thing you never compromise on, no matter how tired you are?
----

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👉 https://lnkd.in/gSGTQ_R4

It’s the system I used to create steady progress, without burnout or overwhelm.

How-to-Stop-Drifting

"Where were you for 4 months?"

I asked my badminton buddy today.

We used to play twice a week.
And then one day he suddenly vanished.

His answer stopped me cold.

"My company fired a few people. All the workload came onto us. For 4 months, there was nothing but work. No family. No games. Finally got some respite after they hired new folks."

He paused.
"I've gained 4 kgs."

Four months of his life.
Gone.

No evenings with his kids.
No weekend games.
No time for himself.

Just work filling every hour because someone decided to cut costs.

And here's what hit me hardest.

He said "finally got some respite" like he was grateful.
Like getting his life back was a privilege, not a right.

This is the reality of a single income stream.

One boardroom decision and your entire life gets hijacked.

You think you're indispensable until you're carrying three people's workload.
You think loyalty matters until you realize you're just a line item being optimized.

I'm not saying quit your job tomorrow.

I'm saying build something on the side that can't be taken away by someone else's spreadsheet.

When I built my affiliate marketing business while working full-time, I wasn't preparing for a layoff.
I was preparing for freedom.

The layoff came anyway.
But it didn't destroy me.

My friend is back to playing badminton now.

But those 4 months?
He's never getting them back.

How many months of your life are you willing to bet on someone else's decision?

P.S. If you're thinking "I don't have time to build a side income," remember my friend didn't have time for his family either. Time doesn't appear. You take it back.
---

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It shows you the exact steps to make your first $100... even with limited time.

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The Battle

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Justin Welsh's LinkedIn Performance

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