Leaving the boring 9-to-5 job to be your own boss has become a trend today.

The internet is flooded with stories of people achieving financial freedom and a more fulfilling life by working for themselves.

It's hard not to feel the urge to quit your boring job and start a self-employed life, especially when you're stuck in the mundane corporate run.

I get that, but I'd still say don't rush into it without analyzing the competition and instability you might have to face.

• There are now 26 million full-time freelancers in the US, a 91% increase from 2020.
• Only 4% of creators make $100,000 a year, reports Goldman Sachs.
• 64% of freelancers feel lonely because of their work and 62% of them feel stressed as per a 2021 report.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't consider following your passion.

I quit my job in 2021, and so far, it's been the best decision of my life.

All credit goes to the practical approach I followed to make the most of my creative skills. This article is all about how to start your self-employed life without burdening your passion or compromising your financial stability.

Lay the foundation of your business while having the stability of your day job

Being your own boss gives you freedom to work on your own terms, but it comes with a price. You can't be sure about how much you'll earn at the end of every month.

I've been leading a self-employed life as a writer for more than 3 years now, but I still don't have a fixed monthly income. In some months, I make more than $10K while in others, reaching $1K gets difficult.

The work anxiety hits you bad when you don't have a backup fund. This could lead to severe stress, especially when you're getting started. You might end up regretting your decision.

A better plan would be to leverage the stability of your 9-to-5 for a little longer before you get into freelancing full-time.

• Learn the basics of freelancing.
• Work on your skills while being on the job.
• Build your personal brand online and start networking with industry experts to whom you can later pitch your services.
• Start taking projects on a part-time basis. Build your portfolio and social proof.

This will make your transition smoother and more confident as you won't be starting your self-employed life from scratch.

You'll have a solid roadmap and strategies to build upon, which will help you survive even if you face a financial dry spell in the beginning.

Leverage your salary as an additional income stream

As a budding creator in this highly competitive digital world, you can't rely on just one income source–that's too risky to sustain.

The more the sources, the better you're covered.

Instead of quitting your stable job, use it as a financial safety net while you gradually build your business on the side.

Try to balance between your job and your passion until you start seeing some tangible results.

It's super important to ensure your business can consistently generate income before taking the leap because you need to pay bills.

• Start saving strategically to build a financial cushion that covers at least 6 months of your living expenses.
• Build an emergency fund that you'd redeem only for non-negotiable expenses like your health or family emergencies.
• Invest your salary on the behind-the-scenes expenses of your business- marketing, product development, launches or other essential tools.

Build a niche out of your lived experiences

Spending almost 8 hours in your office can be a goldmine for ideas to write about.

You just have to keep your creator lenses on while working.

Create content on insights you've gained, challenges you've overcome within your team, and experiences that others can relate to.

This will help you figure out your niche and build a community of people who'd love to engage with your content.

Such stories work great because they're unique, highly relatable, and leave a lasting impression on your audience.

It's like having access to unlimited stories to build a strong personal brand online and get closer to your dream of doing it full-time.

I've written a few stories out of my lived experiences like:

• How I managed to find time for my side hustle while working full-time.
• The challenges women face in the workplace due to gender bias.
• The strategies I followed to start a content business alongside my day job.

These articles have helped me stand out among other creators because of the uniqueness they brought

They also remain to be some of my best-performing articles, to date.

Embrace the built-in social perks of your day job a little longer

You might not realize it but working in a 9-to-5 gives you enough weekly breaks, fixed working hours, and a freedom to have life outside your work.

You get to meet so many people every day, catch up with friends on weekends, and have a social life.

All of this fades into the background once you get into the self-employed mode.

You'll struggle to find reasons to get out of your house, at least in the beginning.

Most of your day will be spent in front of your computer — planning your content, meeting deadlines, and handling failures and rejections alone.

You'll hardly get any time to be a part of your social circle and meet friends.

It's better to make the best of both worlds without putting a toll on your mental and emotional well-being.

You can do so by working on your passion project while staying in your job just a little longer.

Closing thoughts: Keep your 9-to-5 for as long as you can while building a business on the side

It's crucial to consider the complete picture of self-employed life versus the 9-to-5 job to choose the best option for you.

Both come with some pros and cons.

A stable job offers a steady paycheck, built-in structure, and social interactions, even if it seems boring at times.

Working on your passion gives you flexibility, freedom, and the potential to earn more. But it also brings uncertainty, isolation, and the pressure to constantly hustle.

The good news is you can start working for yourself without missing out on the financial stability of your job.

Here's a detailed plan for how you can do it:

1. Start prepping yourself to work on your creative pursuit as a side hustle while having the stability of your day job.
2. Consider your salary as an additional income source to pay bills and maintain your lifestyle.
3. See your everyday experiences at your job from a creator's point of view to get unique ideas.
4. Make the most of what your 9-to-5 job offers outside of office hours that you'll miss once you start working in isolation as a solopreneur.

A challenge for you; a challenge for me

For the next 100 days, I pledge to publish 60 articles. And I invite YOU to join me on this journey.

A bunch of dedicated writers have taken up the 100 Day Challenge. They make their pledges and stick to them. I help them with feedback and resources to 10x their growth.

Do you want to join us on this journey?

Make your pledge today.

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