Here's the smart way to build freedom & resilience
Read time: 3 minutes
Harsh truth: If your entire livelihood is dependent on one job, one client, or one business—and therefore one stream of income—you're not truly in control.
You don’t have the freedom, security and autonomy that you perhaps think you do.
We’re conditioned to feel a sense of safety when that single paycheque hits the bank account each month. But what if:
- The organisation let’s you go.
- Your business doesn’t work out.
- That one client doesn’t renew their contract.
Your entire livelihood collapses and—like a pack of cards—everything falls down.
This has been one of my biggest realisations over the past few years. I transitioned through a few “stable” careers—but never felt I had the autonomy I truly wanted.
To me, autonomy is about:
- Self-determination
- Freedom of choice
- Independence
When all your eggs are in one basket, this can never be the case.
And that’s why I intentionally diversified what I do. It’s been a game changer—and something I would encourage anyone else to do too.
Here’s how to get started, in 4 simple steps.
Step 1: Shift your mindset
First things first: make space for what matters. This means removing the “clutter”, and putting aside things that no longer serve you.
Start by identifying anything that don’t align with your future goals, and letting them go.
This could mean:
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Cutting out people who aren’t supportive.
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Letting go of any self-limiting beliefs.
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Reducing social media scrolling.
Creating these mindset shifts & boundaries, leaves room for the things that truly matter.
Here’s a post I wrote last week about shifting mindset.
Click to see post
Step 2: Diversify your skillset
Invest in yourself, and develop the skills you need to diversify what you do.
This could be in:
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Writing
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Public speaking
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Content creation
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Coaching other people
Identify where your gaps are, and invest in plugging those gaps.
I can’t understate how much my life changed when I started investing in myself in this way.
Step 3: Create something that YOU own
Create your own IP; something tangible, an asset that you own wholly, and that sets you apart from others. It could be:
A book
A podcast
A Youtube channel
An online community
A weekly or monthly newsletter
Use it to stand out, make noise and be in as many places as you can be.
This asset should be used to share value with others regularly and at scale.
Doing this allows you to get visible, showcase your expertise publicly, and grow a brand that resonates with people.
This part is not easy. It takes consistency, time, resolve, and many reps.
But I've found it’s by far the best way to gain leverage for yourself and for any business. It’s a step that opens you up to a whole world of opportunities— and it’s something you will never regret doing.
Step 4: Begin a side hustle
Leverage the outcomes from steps 1 to step 3—and channel these into a side hustle, that diversifies your income and experience.
Whether you’re an employee or a business owner, I believe everyone should have a side hustle that makes them 1-3K per month.
De-risk yourself by becoming synonymous with something that generates a little income, should you need it. It could be anything:
- Courses
- Consulting
- 1:1 coaching
- A digital product
- Keynote speaking
None of these require a 50-page business plan, a co-founder, or 12 months of planning. All of these can be started alongside other commitments, and scaled from there.
The trick is to start small, and begin right where you are. Take an agile approach and be willing to adapt. Talk to customers, try something out, get feedback, iterate and go again.
In summary:
You have zero autonomy if you put all your eggs in one basket. Generate value in different ways, so you never have to rely on a single income stream.
In the current age there really are no gatekeepers. The barriers to entry are so low. It’s the best time in history to design the life we want, rather than settling for what we've been given.
Start by building an audience and creating something of your own.
If you need insights or assistance in making yourself more visible through personal brand, get in touch, I'd be happy to help.
Speak soon!
Dupé
PS: whenever you're ready, feel free to enquire about working together: Get guidance on how to be more visible and grow your brand. Whether you’re looking for 1:1 coaching, or ready-to-post content, hit reply and let’s chat!
