My wife and I have been talking a lot about breaking free from my 9–5 and starting our own business.
We have been talking about it for at least five years, but lately, the draw for it has been the strongest it has ever been.
Mostly because we need financial breakthroughs but also because we are tired of me working for someone else’s agenda.
We realize there is a responsibility and freedom in running out own business, and we know it will take a lot of work.
Yet, we have been looking at our life circumstances, seeking God, and talking with friends and family to try and discover what we should do.
All this seeking has finally led to a word of special knowledge.
Special Knowledge: Work with what you have in hand.
While on vacation, I was journaling and praying, and I felt like God gave me this phrase: work with what you have in hand.
That was it. Nothing else came with this thought, and I shared it with my wife, and we have been writing down lists of what this could mean.
Now, I am reluctant to step into saying this means my writing side hustle. Yet, this morning, while I was contemplating what this phrase meant, I had another thing pop into my mind:
“You can’t succeed on your own, you need to do it together.”
It stopped me dead in my tracks. I set down my coffee and walked around my living room for a bit to grasp what this meant.
And then it hit me.
I Can’t Be A Solopreneur
I have been writing on the side of my 9–5 since April 2017. That’s five years. I have made less than $1,000 and more than $20,000 during this time.
Yet, things never quite get to the jumping off point.
Most of the time, it was because I capitalized on a platform in the years with significant income. And then that platform’s income tanks after they change things up.
And, I feel specifically called into writing and publishing books.
As I have spent more time writing, I have realized that this is a business I want to spend more of my time doing. I love writing, and I love the reality that self-publishing books give me a chance to reach people with my writing.
But it never takes off like I think it will.
Realization: I cannot succeed alone.
This morning, I realized I haven’t seen my writing side hustle turn into a business because I have been doing it alone.
I write all my blog posts, books, and social media. Yes, I have a cover designer and editor for my books, but other than that, it’s only me.
While I have had some success with writing, I have not seen the success I desire. And I finally realize this:
To break free of my current situation, I need to work with my wife to see my writing succeed into something more.
You see, I have believed a lie that every creator online should be able to do it on their own. We see it all over the place, and it has somehow, in my mind, become the standard.
The Truth: I can only go so far with my skills.
Look, I’m not downplaying myself by any means. I am saying that where I have blindspots, I know my wife can give me insight into improvements.
For years, I have been doing the same thing repeatedly. And it’s not making a huge splash. It’s been slow and steady, which is good.
But, there comes a time when slow and steady will ultimately break down. Sometimes, we need to take leaps and bounds. And this is one of those situations where that could happen.
My skills, ability, and talent will only take me so far.
Yet, with the help of my wife, we can start to run things more like a business looking at things more objectively. And she can give me insights into things I am blind to in my writing.
This is good. This is important. Especially for me. And for our ability to break free from our current situation.
Why am I sharing all of this?
No one else is talking about it.
I have never heard any other side-hustling creator talk about the fact that they need help early on in their creator journey.
Many people start blogging and writing at the beginning of every year, only to give up because they don’t see success or anything else.
And I believe this can be avoided if they bring others into the mix. It doesn’t have to be your spouse. Maybe it’s another writer, a mentor, or a coach.
But, sometimes, we need to enlist the aid of others to find success in the work that we are doing to take things to the next level.
I want to empower you to do that.
Don’t repeatedly spend five years doing the same thing and driving yourself insane. Make changes and plans to take your work to the next level.
More people can and should be succeeding. And maybe the lie that we have to do it on our own should be slapped in the face so you can take off and start running!
So, let’s go for it. Look at your creative journey and see if it’s time to bring in some reinforcements.
J.R. Heimbigner is a #1 Bestselling Author on Amazon who loves helping people grow in their faith and helping writers become authors. You can connect with him on Medium, his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Substack!
Start Here!
Are there other books to read? Sure, are. I have two short lists of them in my Writer’s Starter Pack on Gumroad (It’s free, you should check it out). The only other book I want to highlight is my own.
It’s called Transform Your Medium Stories.
Initially written for writers on the Medium platform, the content of this book works for any online content. And it is a great short guide to help you write and publish your first book. So grab your copy today!
***Please note: there may be affiliate links in this post.***