Summary

The author tripled their income over four months by leveraging a side hustle in writing, which was made possible through a positive self-image, the courage to choose their desired lifestyle, and the creation of opportunities by adding value to clients.

Abstract

The article discusses the author's journey to significantly increasing their income through a writing side hustle. Initially earning just $8, the author's income grew substantially, surpassing their corporate job earnings. This transformation was attributed to three key factors: cultivating a positive self-image through visualization techniques, which enhanced performance and optimism; choosing to take control of their life and financial future rather than relying solely on traditional job appraisals; and proactively creating opportunities by building relationships and providing exceptional value to clients, leading to higher-paying gigs and a more fulfilling work-life.

Opinions

The author emphasizes the importance of a positive self-image, suggesting that it directly influences one's ability to achieve financial and personal goals.
They challenge the conventional wisdom of waiting for job appraisals to achieve financial goals, advocating for the courage to redesign one's life and career path.
The author believes in the power of visualization as a tool for success, using it to reinforce their identity as a writer and to motivate themselves to work beyond the constraints of a day job.
They highlight the significance of building genuine relationships with clients, which can lead to unexpected and lucrative opportunities.
The author suggests that by seeing oneself as deserving of success and actively creating opportunities, individuals can elevate their income and lifestyle.
They assert that self-esteem, grit, dedication, persuasion, and discipline are learned behaviors, implying that anyone can improve in these areas to achieve their desired outcomes.
The author encourages readers to envision the life they want, behave as if they are already living it, and continuously look for ways to create value, thereby aligning their actions with their aspirations.

3 Unusual Approaches That Helped Me Triple My Income for 4 Straight Months

Exercise the courage to choose your life

What would an extra hundred dollars mean to you? Maybe an extra thousand? What if you earned them by doing things you enjoy which don’t feel like work? It would improve your life, right?

I remember when my first month of writing online made me $8. I was so happy! That’s a few free coffees.

Now, the digits and amount have increased, but each time I’m in awe of how doing something I love can pay me so well. From February till now, I have constantly earned 3x that of my corporate job by spending time on my writing side hustle.

Before I started, I read articles about people speaking about their side hustles and making extra money. But I felt that they were the outliers. If it was that easy, why isn’t everybody doing it? It’s later I realized that it’s not easy at all. It requires you to stay and work during ups and lows, which is why everybody isn’t doing it — because they expect instant results.

If it weren’t for these stories of others, I would have never started. If it weren’t learning about other’s mindset shifts, behavioral changes, strategic decisions and failures, I wouldn’t have been able to build my side hustle to the extent that I can quit my job.

I want to invite you to know the three most important things that helped me constantly increase my income.

How you feel about yourself changes everything

Pause right now; how do you feel? When you think about yourself, what do you think? What are those words? Are they negative or positive?

How you think about yourself impacts your self-image, which leads you to pursue behaviors aligned with that. So if you’re constantly feeling sorry for yourself or feel that your work is worth little right now and will go up only with time, then that will be your reality.

I curbed this with the help of a visualization technique. Many successful athletes use visualization as it helps optimize performance, decreases stress, and increases optimism.

I woke up and told myself, “I am a writer,” and imagined myself happy and typing. I visualized and happy, fulfilling, and relaxed lifestyle where I’m being paid well.

I visualized myself to be a prolific writer whose readers and clients are happy. And that thought got me to work each day, without work feeling like work. That’s the only way I had the motivation to work post the long hours of my day job.

You need to feel you deserve more; you are worth more, and that you can achieve what you put your head into. Visualize your success and how you see yourself in an ideal future and treat your days that way.

You can exercise the courage to choose your life

How many more job appraisals will it take for you to reach your financial goal? Does your current lifestyle often hamper you from setting a dream financial goal in the first place?

It’s not your fault because we’re all made to believe that this is how it works. Work hard, stay below your means, wait for your appraisal — and repeat this for your entire life.

You can exercise the courage to choose your life, and once you do, things will change for you.

You can either stick to doing many low-paying gigs until you can up your rate because that’s what most say is the way to go. Or you can choose to see how you want your life to be. When I started freelance writing, I decided I won’t quit my job for another struggle but for a lifestyle change.

For me, it was working for 3 to 4 hours for others and 2 hours for myself. It was working with less than 5 solid clients instead of multiple one-time clients. It was about building a relationship of trust and learning from people I work with instead of just plainly writing for them.

How we want to live is a choice we have, and once you realize it and work around it, you will get closer to living that choice. Once you see it in your head, once you choose it, you will make decisions coordinated to that choice, which will yield results.

You create opportunities for yourself

My highest paying gig came from a millionaire techie who wanted me to help him with his brother’s university admission cover letter. The gig came months later because we spoke and built a relationship, and I showed my work ethics with the previous assignment.

Another opportunity came when I created a communication strategy for a business. They didn’t even ask me for it, but I know it would’ve helped. Further on, I give ideas on what we should do because I don’t expect a business owner to know the ins and outs of content. That’s what he’s hired me for.

People don’t always know what they want, so you offer it to them. Put something shiny on their table which will help them grow their business. Be an investment for them and not just another payment.

The opportunities you take, use them to create more opportunities for yourself. Do it with diligence and passion, do it because their wins are your wins.

And at the end of the day, a good egg is always treated well.

Lastly

Most people set low standards for themselves, which is understandable, as we’re a product of our environments, and the environment doesn’t comprise many outliers.

But your self-esteem, grit, dedication, persuasion and discipline are learned behaviors. That means that you can find your shortcomings and turn them around… if you want to.

Have the courage to envision the life you want to live, behave like you’re living it and create opportunities even when you and your clients don’t see them. You’re creative; that’s what you do — you create.

These three things have constantly helped me up my game as a creative, and I hope they can help you too.

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