Waking up at 2:30 AM, driving through the darkness to my job at UPS, I would pray every morning for a way out. With bags under my eyes from getting just 4 hours of sleep, I was living the opposite of the freedom I dreamed about. I would load trucks until 8:30 AM, take a quick nap, and then work the rest of the day on part-time freelance work – all while trying to be present for my wife and our first child.
Maybe you can relate to this scenario.
Whether you're feeling trapped in your 9-to-5, recently laid off, or just knowing deep down that there has to be more to life than working tirelessly for a paycheck that barely covers the bills – I've been there.
The Real Journey to Business Ownership
Here's the truth that most “quit your job and get rich quick” stories won't tell you: building a successful business is like trying to roll a snowball down a hill in winter. At first, it takes a lot of work just to form that initial snowball. Then you put it on the ground, and it doesn't move without you pushing it. You have to keep pushing it, reshaping it, and sometimes it feels like it's barely growing or moving at all. But with persistent effort, that snowball starts gaining size and momentum until it eventually rolls on its own.
My business journey wasn't a straight line to success.
I took a corporate job after nearly burning myself out, juggling UPS and some minor freelance work. Many would say I was “giving up on the dream,” but that corporate job gave me experience and invaluable knowledge I still use today. It was a blessing to my family and a much-needed stepping stone on the path.
The leap of faith
I stayed at that job for years but felt sad inside that I was missing my children growing up; all those little moments passed me by while I was in an office miles from home.
Burnout and a trip to the ER were my catalysts for leaving my job (here's that story). I left my corporate job and took a job that allowed me to work from home, but that company quickly ran out of money to pay their employees 🙁
Once again, I was faced with the choice of looking for another office job and returning to a soul-sucking commute to the city or rebuilding my freelance business from the ground up. After weighing the options, my wife and I decided to take the leap of faith. I would move past part-time freelance work and fully commit to starting my own business full-time.
Was it scary? Absolutely. There were nights I lay awake wondering if we could make the mortgage payment. But we pressed on in faith.
Momentum creates freedom
I won't sugar-coat this: The first few years were tough. I was making it work, but just barely at times. Also, I made plenty of mistakes along the way that sent me down the wrong path. I hope to spare you that time and effort by sharing more of those lessons with you, but that is not the focus here.
I pressed on and kept pushing the business forward. This meant rejection at times or low-paying jobs. Yet, day after day, things were starting to change because I showed up consistently.
Here's what happened over time:
- Grit was formed
- My productivity increased
- Then, my pool of clients grew
- I started earning more year over year
The snowball was getting bigger and was starting to roll on its own.
How I Gained Freedom
Before I go any further, let's discuss what real freedom looks like because it might not be what you think.
Active vs. passive income
You've probably heard that trading time for money is bad, and passive income is the only way to go. Here's a reality check: active income – yes, actually doing work for people – is typically the fastest path to building a sustainable business.
While I do have passive income streams now, they took years to develop and still require significant work to maintain. Don't fall for the myth that passive income means no work. Start with active income – it's how I built my business, and it's how many successful entrepreneurs gain financial freedom. Contrary to every YouTube video out there 🙂
How does owning a business give you freedom if you're still working for people? I'm glad you asked!
When you own a business:
- You own the work
- You own the outcome
- You own the rewards for your effort
Truthfully, no matter what type of income method you pursue with your business, you are not limited by an employer's constraints. This opens the door wide to financial and time freedom.
The Ready, Set, Grow Framework
Through my journey and helping others start their businesses, I've developed a simple framework called Ready, Set, Grow – the title is very creative and complex, I know 🙂
Let me break it down:
Ready phase: seeing possibilities
You're likely in this phase right now. Maybe something happened at work, or you're tired of financial struggles, or you simply want more freedom with your time. This is where you move from “I could never do this” to “Maybe I could…”
Set phase: taking action
This is where you:
- Choose your business direction
- Identify who you'll serve
- Set up your basic business presence
- Create a simple plan to get your first clients
Grow phase: building momentum
Here's where that snowball really starts rolling. You move beyond your first clients and begin setting bigger goals. The interesting thing about growth? It cycles back through the ready and set phases as you expand into new areas.
The Goal is Time Freedom
Here's a strange part of a business journey that I don't hear anyone talking about. The goal of all businesses is to make money, and that means you're pursuing financial freedom. That's a good thing, and it's the direction you should go. However, what happens when you train yourself to keep pursuing more—more clients, more work, more money?
Here's what happens – while pursuing financial freedom, you unintentionally give up your time freedom. Then it's like you're right back in the office, a slave to the clock.
You see, one of my biggest lessons came when I had “made it” – I wasn't rich, but I was earning good money, and our bills were covered plus a bit more. However, I was now trained to keep taking on new work, and I buried myself in too much of a good thing.
Don't accidentally trade one freedom for another.
Pro Tip
I had accidentally traded my time freedom for more income. I learned that time becomes more valuable than money once your basic needs are met.
Start with balance
My wife and I received wise advice from a friend years ago that applies in many areas of life.
Begin the way you intend to proceed.
This is why I'm passionate about helping others build sustainable and balanced businesses from the start. You don't have to sacrifice your family time or work yourself to exhaustion to achieve both freedoms.
Does This Sound Good?
If this resonates with you – if you're feeling that stirring of possibility mixed with “but how do I actually do this?” – I've created something specifically for you. I've taken everything I've learned over 20 years of building successful businesses and distilled it into a video course called “From Stuck to Startup” that will show you:
- How to move past the fear and uncertainty of starting
- The exact steps to set up your business foundation
- Ways to get your first clients without sacrificing your values
- Strategies to grow while maintaining work-life balance
Building a business that provides for your family while giving you time freedom is possible. I've done it, and I want to help you do it too.
Check out the course below:
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
Chinese Proverb
