The Freedom Show by Radical Tribe | How to Start a Business, Escape 9-to-5 and Create Your Own Freedom.

EPISODE 43: Pamela Slim wrote a pioneering book called Escape from Cubicle Nation back in 2009. The book was about how corporate employees can start businesses and work for themselves. In today's episode, we chat about some of the burning questions you – the readers – have asked me over the years. Here's what we talk about: How to decide what field to get into (or) How to answer the question, “What business should I start?” Should you start a business if you're an introvert? How to combat the fear of failure with a practical risk mitigating strategy [especially for those with a low tolerance for risk]. Career security: 9-to-5 versus your own business. What is a personal brand and how to create one. On ‘failing spectacularly' when you start a business. Why entrepreneurs should be like scientists. 3 key actions you can start taking today to start a business and work for yourself. And tons more…  

EPISODE 42: Here's my guarantee about today's episode. It will not only inspire you but will also push you to think about important questions you don't usually ask yourself. I'm amused that this is the 42nd episode. I can quite comfortably title this episode “The Answer to Life, The Universe and Everything”, for one of my favourite authors is Douglas Adams :). If you haven't read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, forgive me for that inside joke. It's an important episode because the takeaways are profound and could put you on the path to figuring out what you really want your life to be about. We need people like Colin Wright (today's guest) to help us take a step back and examine where we are in our careers, business and life. Colin is a full-time traveler; he travels to a new place every 4 months based on suggestions from his blog readers. He quit his unfulfilling business 6 years ago to start doing something he had no experience in: writing books. This is the kind of interview I crave for and with Colin, I got it. Here's what Colin and I talk about: Why and how Colin quit his business, even though the money was great. What the transition from his old business to full time travel and writing was like, and the first thing he started doing. What he realized when he met a couple of billionaires, and how his thinking progressed from that point on. How to stay calm when making a big career and life change. The key thing you need to recognize in these situations. His thoughts on Time vs. Money. How he built an audience of more than a million people. How to build your personal brand through effective storytelling. Starting a business…how to reconcile passion vs. skill. 3 key actions you can take to build a business that makes you happy.

EPISODE 41: In episode 39, I spoke to Derek Sivers, a solopreneur, about how he thinks about business and functions as an entrepreneur. In today's episode, I have a chat with another solopreneur Kelly Newsome of Ritual Care Co. and Higher Ground Yoga. Kelly is a former lawyer who runs a 6-figure wellness business today. This is her story about how she got to where she is now. Here's what you will learn in today's episode: How Kelly transitioned from being a lawyer to a full-time wellness consultant. How she got her first couple of clients. Her philosophy around pricing and how she prices her services. How she built a client base that has stayed with her for years, and how you can do the same. Her biggest mistake that gave her grief and stress, and how you can avoid going through the similar pain. Three favourite productivity trips for 9-to-5ers who want to start a business. Why you should not be afraid to start a side business. Top 3 actions you can start taking today to start a business like hers. To get these interviews straight to your inbox, go to radicaltribe.com/subscribe

EPISODE 40: Andy Hayes' was stressed and ‘was holding on for dear life' at his 9-to-5. He got migraines and skin rashes. It finally dawned on him that he had to quit. Although he was terrified about striking out on his own and pursuing his life's purpose, he jumped in headfirst. His worst fear – losing everything and becoming homeless – didn't see the light of day. Not even close. His online media company Plum Deluxe is thriving, and Andy's here to show you why you can do this too. Listen in. Here's what you will learn: Andy's baby steps to starting an online media company – Plum Deluxe - and how you can do what he did. Why Plum Deluxe sells tea, and how this ties into the company's brand. What to do when the fear of failure grips you. Plum Deluxe's revenue model – what's working and what isn't. How Andy built an audience of 100,000 people. What it takes to succeed as an independent online media publisher. 3 key actions you can take to start an online publishing company.  

EPISODE 39:    In this episode, I talk to Derek Sivers, founder of CD Baby, an online independent music retailer that was started in the late 90's. Here's what we talk about:        Why his business CD Baby took off and became wildly successful, while his six earlier businesses didn't.        Some of the biggest challenges he faced while growing CD Baby (one of which he's never written about before).        When to quit your business and start doing something else.        Why he gave away all of the business' sale proceeds ($22 million) to charity.        What he does to plough through some of the boring tasks in his business even when he doesn't ‘feel like doing them.'        The two best books you can read if you're looking to become a solopreneur (one person business).        And lots more…   To get interviews like these straight to your inbox, go to radicaltribe.com/subscribe About Derek Sivers: Derek is a musician, programmer, writer, entrepreneur and student! He's the founder of the online independent music selling platform CD Baby. You can learn more about Derek at sivers.org or email him at  Derek[at]sivers[dot]org

David Fugate tells us his story of how he struck out on his own to become a literary agent. He also talks about how the world of publishing is changing and what authors need to know if they want to go the traditional publishing route. He's a self-published author too and spells out the pros and cons of both getting your book out there via both the self-publishing and the traditional publishing routes.

Pavan Pudipeddi quit his corporate gig at Texas Instruments to join a couple of friends in the wireless power space.  His company Powersqare recently launched a wireless charger for multiple devices such as tabs and cell phones.  Here's his story - from corporate executive to hi-tech entrepreneur. 

Selena Cuffe started Heritage Link Brands to introduce Americans to wines from South Africa.  Listen to how she used the power of stories to differentiate her line of wines from the myriad of others and win in the marketplace. 

EPISODE 35:  (Go to http://www.radicaltribe.com/episode35 for transcript)  When Kris Murray wanted to escape 9-5, she did what most of us wouldn't normally think of. Instead of starting a business from scratch, she invested part of her inheritance in buying one. The business she purchase - a website targeting daycares - generated $800 per month in revenue. Within 6 years, Kris turned that little business into a bustling $1 million+ information product and training company, Child Care Marketing Solutions. Here's what you will learn in this case study: Why buying a business is better than starting one from scratch: "Money follows _____." How Kris picked her niche. How she found businesses for sale. The strategic move she made that proved to be a game changer for her business. Anyone can apply this to their business. The exact steps she took to move the business from selling $27 products to $25,000 products. How she built an audience of 12,000 engaged day care owners and directors. How she created partnerships and joint ventures to sell her products. What her biggest mistake was, and how you can avoid making it. Key action steps you can take to build an information marketing and training business selling high-value products. (Go to http://www.radicaltribe.com/episode35 for transcript)

**UPDATE: Download Jason's new book, Creativity for Sale for FREE here: www.creativityforsale.com/radical EPISODE 34: Jason SurfrApp sold off his last name to the highest bidder twice, making over $100,000 in the process. If you listen to what prompted him to come up with and execute this wild idea (besides the profit), you won't judge him for selling out. Before that, he founded IWearYourShirt.com, a company where clients paid him to wear t-shirts and which generated over $1,000,000 in revenue. He also made a big chunk of cash by getting 20o+ sponsors for his new book, CREATIVITY FOR SALE (currently $13 on Amazon, but available FREE  to download for Radical Tribe listeners). I have a casual yet very interesting conversation with Jason where we chat about various topics, from his beginnings as an entrepreneur to coming up with crazy business ideas and profiting from them.  Here's what you will learn in this case study: Why and how he sold off his last name - twice. How Jason and his partner landed Kanye West as a client for their graphic design company. How Jason came up with and started IWearYourShirt.com and built it to an 8-person business that generated over a million dollars in revenue. How to come up with a business idea - do you start from the problem or solution? A method to his madness: how Jason follows a structured process to come up with and test wild ideas. The number 1 tip you implement to be more creative. Key principles for successful pricing. Why you shouldn't emulate or copy anyone while building a brand, and what you should do. Jason's biggest mistake, and how you can avoid this no matter what type of business you're building. How he structured his pitch to potential sponsors for the 'Sponsor My Book' project for his book, Creativity for Sale. What happened when he started tearing down personal walls and shared authentically with his audience, and why you should do this with your audience as well. Key Actions you can take to start a business based on your interest and passions.

EPISODE 33:  Ever feel you have no clue how to start a business? Scared? Confused? Well, Jamila Tazewell was like you, but she started anyway. A struggling artist-designer living in New York and working two jobs apart from running a side business, she wanted success badly. She had no idea what she was doing, but forced herself to venture out of her bubble and contact the stores she wanted to sell her wallets, handbags, jewelry, etc. to. Once you start, all kinds of magic will happen, she says. And it did. In this case study, you will learn:   How Jamila transitioned from having two jobs to working on her business full-time.  How she got her first big break from a large retailer and how she fulfilled the order.  Powerful tips on how to reach out to buyers of stores you want to sell your products in. As an artist, how to do business with stores. Selling on consignment vs. selling upfront.  How selling products via your own website differs from selling on Amazon.  How to work with your significant other if you both are in business together.  Key actions artists/designers can take to start a wholesale business in the next 4-6 weeks. And lots more...

EPISODE 32: Charlie Pabst designed coffee shops for a famous coffee company. He produced more work than several others, but got paid less. He waited for a while for things to change, but nothing happened. Enough was enough, so he started doing graphic and web design on the side and quit his job. No business experience, no prior graphic design experience. Here's his story...it could be yours, too.  In this case study, you will learn:  How Charlie landed his first client (Leo Babauta of Zen Habits) even though he had no major experience. How Charlie rationalized and mitigated risk even though he jumped head first into a world (starting a business) he knew absolutely nothing about.  Why Charlie never advertises, yet gets a flood of business coming his way. It's not rocket science, yet most people don't realize this.  The SINGLE most important thing you need to learn in order to run a successful service business.  The key action steps you can take to start a graphic/web design business, or any service business. 

Kristin Tara Horowitz and her partner Yishai Horowitz started a (rock climbing / bouldering) gym, SLO Op Climbing, in San Luis Obispo, a small town in California. From 10 free users in 2003, the gym has 800 monthly subscribers today. Customers get so much value from the gym that they actually funded its expansion a few years ago. This is a perfect example of an organization that provides so much value that it has no choice but to grow.  In this case study, you will learn: How Kristin and team got customers to be fanatical about SLO Op. What Kristin and her partner did to get an overwhelming response when they pitched their customers to fund expansion. Why 'eating' the competition is not important. What you should absolutely keep in mind when you start your business. Key action steps you can take to start a bouldering gym in 4-6 weeks. And lots more..

EPISODE 30: Megan Hunt wanted to go to Germany and become an English teacher. Instead, she ended up starting a global bridal and dress design company in Omaha, Nebraska. She's owned multiple businesses since then and now runs HelloHoliday.com, an online fashion retail business that she feels is closer to the bullseye, i.e. her ideal business.  Are you looking for your ideal business? Read on and learn how she's getting close to building hers, and how you can, too.  Here's what you will learn in this case study: How Megan turned a hobby in to a thriving global design business. What Megan would NEVER launch a business without. How to manage multiple businesses at once. Why Megan decided to control warehousing and fulfillment, as opposed to dropshipping. How to differentiate yourself from competitors (it's so simple, costs nothing and is not time consuming). How HelloHoliday.com buys products and engages with their customers. Key action steps you can take to start an online fashion store in 4-6 weeks.

Jonathan Pincas co-founded The Tapas Lunch Company,  a food importing business while pursuing his Ph.D around 10 years ago. He had no idea what he was in for. He admits if he knew what he was getting into, he wouldn't have started the business in the first place. He and his co-founder Jessica jumped in the deep end without knowing it and learned how to swim, or not drown. Today the business is closing in on £1,000,000 in revenues. His new book, More: The Self-investment Mentality describes the mindset he's cultivated over the years. Here's what you will learn in this case study: How Jonathan lives in Spain and manages Tapas Lunch Company that is primarily based in the U.K. How Jonathan and his co-founder re-imagined their product portfolio after making the wrong choices in the beginning. The biggest mistake Jonathan made, and you can avoid making a similar one (no matter which business you are in or are interested to start). How Jonathan learns about business, and about life; how he manages his time and gets things done. Key challenges you will face if you want to start a food importing business. What you absolutely must know if you'd like to start a location independent ecommerce company in the next 4-6 weeks.

Benny Lewis had a couple of mental blocks about a decade ago: he felt was bad at learning languages and wasn't good enough to write a blog. It turned out he was wrong on both counts. With twelve years of world travel under his belt, Benny now speaks around 10 languages fluently, built a hugely popular blog and just published his first book too. Moral of the story? Never doubt yourself. Just start and learn as you go. In this case study, you will learn: How Benny found what he loved to do (it's not as complicated as you may think). Why you should start a blog today, and how you can generate an income from it. Benny's biggest mistake, and what you can do today to avoid making the same one yourself. The benefits of traditional book publishing. How Benny stays productive despite having an intensive schedule that includes world travel, writing, speaking and coaching. What you can do today to start an income-generating blog based on your personal interests.

EPISODE 27: In 2008, Emma Reynolds made headlines in the Sunday Times having been named by Management Today as one of the 'Top 35 Women under 35' to watch. Her new Human Resources/Marketing consulting business was killing it in the U.K. A year later she was forced to shut down her business and found herself at the Wimbledon car boot sale trying to sell her belongings so she could pay for dinner. Fast forward to today. Emma is Co-founder & CEO of e3reloaded, a Creative/Human Resource agency based in Hong Kong that generates US$1 Million in annual sales. Listen to this case study to learn the twists and turns Emma's life has taken and to glean precious insights about how to start and build a global consulting/agency business. In this case study, you will learn:  Why it's not important to be degree-educated to start a business, and what is. How Emma and her business partner creatively financed their new consulting startup, e3 Unlimited (an unconventional and bold move, not for the faint-hearted). The biggest mistake that led to the downfall of e3 Unlimited, leading to bankruptcy. How Emma bounced back and started a similar business halfway across the world in Hong Kong, and what she did differently that time around that has led to tremendous success. Who she surrounds herself with and wants to emulate, and why. What it takes to start and build a consulting/creative agency, and how you can start one in the next 4-6 weeks.

Scott Meyer literally traveled near and far to find work he could do that would actually make a difference. And he found it five years ago. Today, Scott and his brother run two businesses with combined revenues of a million dollars. Doing work that matters. In this case study, you will learn: How a simple observation can spark a million dollar business. You don't need special powers to start a business, just an open mind. How Scott 'connected the dots' from all his past experiences and travels and started 9Clouds.com, a digital literacy and marketing company, with his brother. The biggest mistake Scott made, and what he would do differently if he were to start over. How you can be productive whilst starting a business, even if you have a day job. Who Scott would like to emulate and why. Clear action steps you can use today to start a business like Scott's in the next 4 to 6 weeks.

Long hours and inflexibility at his corporate job drove Andrew Youderian to quitting his job and starting an ecommerce business, and another one a couple of years later. Both businesses together ended up generating $1 million+ in annual revenues. In this case study, Andrew talks about how he did it. You will also learn: Two contrasting approaches Andrew took to build each of his businesses, and the results that followed. Should you start a business based on a product you're passionate about? The top 3 key success factors for building a profitable ecommerce business.  How to beat Amazon.com, an e-retailer that sells almost everything under the sun.  The pricing sweetspot: the ideal price point you should aim for.  3 key actions you can start taking today to start and build a profitable ecommerce business. Go to radicaltribe.com/episode25 for a detailed summary of the entire episode. 

Carin and Ridlon Kiphart jumped out of the 9-to-5 bandwagon when they realized travel & adventure was all they wanted. That was 20 years ago. Now known as 'The Adventure Couple', they run adventure travel tours across the globe. When not out on the field, they teach others how to live an adventurous live via their blog (link below).  Their journey towards doing work they loved started very differently from all the other guests on this show. Yet, it's the simplest way to start. On this case study, you will learn:  The easiest way to quit the job you don't like and start doing work you love.  What you can start doing way before starting your business which will pretty much ensure your success when you eventually start your own business.  Insights from building a following in the pre-internet era, and how some of those ideas are so relevant even today.  How to keep a customer for life.  What it's like to work together as a couple.  3 Actions you can take to start doing the work you love and live adventurously. 

When Nishant Joshi, a medical student in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic, realized cricket bloggers' voices weren't being heard, he took action. He assembled 20 of his favourite cricket bloggers to submit content for a book which he called “The Alternative Cricket Almanack”. He then published the book thirty days later. Decisive action has its reward. The book marked the birth of a new publishing brand, Alternative Cricket, that has grown like a weed over the past couple of years. Tens of thousands of fans tune in every day to hear what Nishant Joshi has to say on events happening in the cricket world. Nishant didn't care about whether he was “experienced”, what his background was, or whether he would fail or succeed. He didn't care what the world would think about a cricket book published by a medical student in the Czech Republic (where cricket's not played much). He just started. Just like that. Whatever your situation is, just start. It's the only way to make things happen. Here's what you'll learn in the case study: How Nishant spotted an opportunity and decided to fill the void. How he built an audience of 37,000+ followers on Twitter, 20,000 podcast listeners, and 6,000+ fans on Facebook. Why he rejected over £20,000 worth of advertising offers. How he uses reader feedback to tweak the brand's message and make it more coherent. How he manages his time as a medical student and cricket publisher. 3 Actions you can take to start a side project, no matter what your situation is.

Christopher Taylor's first job out of school was to sell beer on the beach. When he got ‘serious in life', he joined a large corporation and worked in Marketing. He'd recently started a family and had a mortgage to pay, so predictable income was very important to him. But still, he wondered whether spending his life selling co-branded credit cards for SUVs in the middle of a debt and environmental crisis was worth it. So what did he do? Well, he took one little step. And that's all it took to start a chain reaction that ultimately resulted in the co-founding (along with partner Victor Johnson) of Playtend, a mobile apps business focused on creating apps for kids. That was in 2008. Today, Playtend has around 70 apps* (including Build A Train, Monster Coloring Book, ABC 123 Blocks, Build A Zoo, etc.), millions of users and hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue. The beauty of this story is that Chris is a regular person like you and me. You can create a story like this for yourself. All you have to do now is take the first step. Here's what you will learn in the case study: How an everyday, mundane event can lead to a viable business idea. Chris' detailed, 4 step process of going from full time 9-to-5 employee to full time entrepreneur. (This one's a gem). The one thing you need to do even before you start your business (It may seem like a small step, but it's huge). Why Chris' employer loved the fact that he was working on a side business.  Why Playtend releases Paid apps before releasing Free apps. How Playtend went from generating a dollar a day to hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue. The dynamics of running a multiple mobile-app business (Hits vs. misses, Paid vs. free apps, app creation strategy, customer feedback, and SO much more). 3 Actions you can take to start your own mobile app business.

Lots of people working 9-to-5  jobs are unfulfilled in their careers, yet learn to deal with it. Kelly Gurnett calls this ‘the way things are' syndrome. Everyone around you is dealing with it, so you do too. When Kelly worked at a day job she didn't particularly enjoy, she couldn't cope like everyone around her did. So after years of living a life of quiet desperation, she took action, started a blog and chipped away at building her writing business. Two and half years later, as of May 2013, she officially became a full-time business owner. That's not all. In the process she found what she truly loves to do – her true calling. And now does more and more of it. You can make this your story, too. All you need to do is take the first step. Here's what you will learn in this case study: How to work out an arrangement with your employer so you can work flexible hours. An easy way to stand out from the crowd. How to start a freelance writing and editing business. How to quickly build an audience that supports you and comes back for more. The secret to quitting anything (it's not what you think). How to find out what your true calling is (it's easier than you think). 3 Actions you can take to go from 9-to-5 day jobber to hustling business owner.

I invited Phil Morse to the show because he's the co-founder* of the legendary institution Tangled, Manchester, U.K.'s longest running club night (celebrating 20 years in September), featuring popular artists such as Groove Armada, Above & Beyond, Gareth Emery, Way Out West, Plump DJs and many, many, more. I was curious to know how the DJ and nightclub business models worked, and how to get started in these businesses. There's plenty of info about those models in this case study with Phil, but I observed a  bigger picture midway through my chat. As Phil told me his story, I noticed he had constantly changed his business models based on his interests, age, profit potential, market trends and desired lifestyle. Oftentimes we think that once we start a business, we have to continue doing the same thing till death do us part. But no, you change your business model based on what your objectives are. And oftentimes, a business model that actually works appears years after you start your business. My point? Go start, and don't be afraid. *Not the founder as I mention in the show. 

Jon Thornton teamed up with someone he hardly knew during the summer after undergrad to work on a parking-based business idea together. The idea was to work on the business idea till the end of summer and see what happens. Seven years later, after several twists and turns, Jon and his partner Aashish Dalal are still in business together. They recently raised their first round of venture capital and are ready to take on the world. Here's what you'll learn in this case study: How Jon found freelance work while working on his side hustle, and what he did to keep the freelancing pipeline full Why your first idea almost always won't work, and how to keep experimenting and iterating to find one that does A smart way to find a co-founder, especially a technical one How to get LOTS of publicity from mainstream media without really sweating it Why having lots of competition is NOT a bad thing 3 Actions you can take to start and build a side business of your own, no matter what your background is.

I get lots of emails from people asking me about first steps, i.e. how to get their business off the ground. It can be nerve-racking, especially if you haven't done it before. But it doesn't have to be. All you need to do is take one step. And another. And another. You won't have all the answers on Day 1, but if you're persistent, it's very likely you'll figure them out as you go along. That's what Peter Morgan of The DJ Podcast is doing. He digs electronic music and DJing – hobbies that he's now turning into a business. He hasn't hit the big time yet, but that's not the point. The point is to show you how an enterprising young individual is building a name for himself through deliberate, consistent action. One step at a time. And yes. So can you.

If you've been searching for freedom from corporate hell by looking at examples, inspiration and success stories, you've probably come across Pat Flynn (he's everywhere), founder of the highly popular blog Smart Passive Income and author of the new bestseller, Let Go. Pat was laid off from his architectural 9-to-5 gig despite being one of the best performers in the company. He started several online businesses and now earns around $50k per month.  Pat's been interviewed a gazillion times and then interviewed again. I wanted this case study to be slightly different, so I dive deeper into not only his successes, but his mindset, habits, challenges, fears and failures. In the midst of all that, you will hear Pat talk about his core philosophy in business. It's so simple yet powerful. More importantly, it can be applied to your business. So start listening and create your own freedom. In this case study, you will learn: How Pat cultivated an entrepreneurial mindset after he was laid off from his corporate job, and how you can too. The key habits Pat developed during and after the transition from cubicle life to entrepreneurship – habits that every new entrepreneur should adopt to succeed in business. How to differentiate yourself from your competition (even if you're doing business in a hyper competitive industry) and why you have an edge coming in late.  Why he wanted to give up on his blog Smart Passive Income SIX times within the first year, and why and how he stuck around. A practical way to face your fears and do what you have to do to grow your business. His single biggest challenge in business (Hint: It has absolutely nothing to do with business). 3 Actions you can take to transition from an unfulfilling 9-to-5 corporate job to entrepreneurship.

Have you ever wanted to be a writer? Was that your answer all those years when someone asked you, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It's easy to dismiss wild thoughts such as, “I want to be a writer someday” and “I will be my own boss someday” and go about living the rest of your life in a 5×5 cubicle. Go back and read the last sentence again. It's SO easy to dismiss wild, silly and ridiculous thoughts. Especially when there are bills to pay. But what if you could give those thoughts a shot, in a very practical, methodical and non-risky manner? Would you try? That's what my latest guest, the brilliant Joanna Penn did. She had a day job she was miserable in. She desperately wanted out, so she experimented like crazy and started several businesses on the side. She fell flat on her face one time too many, until the day she decided to pursue an old, ignored dream of being a writer. This is her story – the story of a dogged author-entrepreneur who can now say, “I've always wanted to be a writer. And I finally became one.” In this case study, you will learn: How Joanna maneuvered her way around early business failures Her take on the best path to starting your business and escaping corporate life  How to write a non-fiction book even if you know nothing about the topic you wish to write about The business model behind a successful author-entrepreneur, and how you can generate consistent income by self-publishing your works The problems with mainstream media and why you shouldn't waste your time trying to promote and sell your products on national TV 3 Actions you should take before starting your journey in self-publishing And lots more…

Today's case study is a good one as it illustrates that no matter how long you've had a corporate job, it's still possible to escape and create your freedom. Bruce Rodgers escaped corporate life after nearly 30 years when he finally ventured out to start his web design and development business. Here's what you will learn from Bruce's story: The first steps Bruce took when he realized his health was failing due to workplace stress How he evaluated his skills and figured out the right business idea How he differentiates his business although it's in a hyper competitive industry Why he wasn't too stressed out when he quit his job and wasn't generating income from his newly started business What 30 years in the corporate world taught Bruce about running a business Top 3 tips for those looking to break out of 9-to-5 and start a business (especially if you've been there for way too long)

I hope you're enjoying these case studies by now, because I surely am. Every week it feels like I learn something new and go one step closer to creating a life and career that is exciting, interesting and fulfilling. That's what this is all about. I spoke to the founder of Prolific Living Farnoosh Brock last week, and boy was it an eye-opener or what? Here's someone who was a corporate superstar, making serious moolah and living the good life. And then she gave it all up to start a blog about careers and health. Here's what you will learn in the case study: How she built a thriving business despite being financially conservative, and why you don't need a ton of money to start and build an online business How her search for distractions from her corporate career led to a breakthrough, and how you can adopt this simple yet powerful idea The various experiments and trials prior to her “game changer” product; how inventiveness and persistence almost always leads to results How she keeps her brand cohesive and focused, even though she explores diverse and specialized topics within Careers and Health Exactly what to do and the questions to ask if you're unhappy with your career and want a change 3 key tips to start a side business or ‘side hustle' whilst keeping your day job.

For the uninitiated: “A gap year is time out to travel between life stages. It is also known as a sabbatical, time off, time out and a year out, referring to a period of time (not necessarily 12 months) in which people disengage from curricular education and/or work and undertake activities such as traveling, volunteering or working abroad.” (Source: Wikipedia) Get ready for a remarkable story and some serious business education. Amar Hussain is in the house. He started Gap Year Escape as a hobby blog in 2009 to document his world travels. The blog today is on track for six-figure annual revenues and is one of the largest Gap Year blogs on the planet. Enough said. Here's what you'll learn from the case study: How Amar went from a frustrated management consultant to a world-traveling, blog-writing entrepreneur. He describes in detail his epiphany in Mexico – the moment he decided to end his 9-to-5 misery and work on his side business full-time.  How he carefully planned his grand escape (20-country trip from Vancouver to Antarctica) with his buddy Andreas Kambanis (prior guest on Radical Tribe). Lots of practical tips here. How his blog makes money while he sleeps, and how you can easily start making money from your own blog and run your business virtually. How to use controversial tactics (fully legal) to boost your blog's traffic. How to use Search Engine Optimization – the top three things you can do to improve your site's SEO. Top 3 actions you can take to quit your 9-to-5 and jump into business.

A common theme that's emerged from my conversations with a dozen guests so far is that businesses usually start as side projects. There's nobody I've spoken to that has quit her day job cold turkey and started a business from scratch (except myself – I was stupid but lucky it worked out!). To illustrate further on how to start a side business and smoothly transition it into a full time gig, I invited Alexis Grant, a former reporter at U.S. News & World Report, to tell me her story. Alexis started off as a part-time social media consultant and freelancer and now runs a full time business (with a team of 10) that includes blog management, email marketing and social media products & services. In this case study, you will learn: How Alexis started her side business or ‘side hustle' – from ideation to launch How she mastered a skill she knew little about (and made a business out of it), and how you can too The easiest way to land your first client and the smartest way to look for gigs online Common challenges 9-to-5ers face before making the leap to business ownership, and how to address them How to network (even if you're an introvert) Alexis' product vs. service revenue mix, and why the latter is important in the early stages of your business 3 actions and tips to get started on your side business

When Vizag, India-based Purna Duggirala's twins were born, he decided he wanted to spend more time at home. His full-time corporate gig entailed too much travel, which he wasn't fond of. So a few months later, he quit and decided to work full time on his blog/side gig, chandoo.org. From a mere $10,000/year in 2009, the business generated approximately $600,000 in 2012. In this case study, you will learn: From personal blog to side business to full time business – the Chandoo.org story: the ups, downs and everything in between How Purna smoothly transitioned from working a full time job to running a full time business The best way to know which products to create (even if you have no ideas) The key factor involved in increasing his business' revenues by 400% from 2010 to 2011 The various challenges that cropped up in the early days, and how he dealt with them 3 wise actions you can take to start and own your freedom business

Greg Miliates, Part 2:  I broke out of 9-to-5 prison in 2009 by becoming a location independent strategic planning consultant. I can work from anywhere in the world and have clients more than 10,000 miles away, most of whom I haven't met in person. I've loved every bit of the last three and a half years as a consultant. There's never a dull moment as I'm always learning about new industries, businesses and challenges. I am a big fan of Greg Miliates and love the work he's doing over at StartMyConsultingBusiness.com where he inspires and teaches thousands of people to become consultants. So I invited him over to chat about how you can become a consultant. Here's what you'll learn in this case study: How to transition smoothly from a day job to owning a full-time consulting business How to identify your skills and choose a market The key factors that are necessary to succeed as a consultant How to price your services, and the key to value-based pricing (even if you find it difficult to quantify the value of your services) How to get clients – and keep them The paths to growing your consulting business 3 specific actions you can take to start your journey in consulting

Greg Miliates, Part 1:  I broke out of 9-to-5 prison in 2009 by becoming a location independent strategic planning consultant. I can work from anywhere in the world and have clients more than 10,000 miles away, most of whom I haven't met in person. I've loved every bit of the last three and a half years as a consultant. There's never a dull moment as I'm always learning about new industries, businesses and challenges. I am a big fan of Greg Miliates and love the work he's doing over at StartMyConsultingBusiness.com where he inspires and teaches thousands of people to become consultants. So I invited him over to chat about how you can become a consultant. Here's what you'll learn in this case study: How to transition smoothly from a day job to owning a full-time consulting business How to identify your skills and choose a market The key factors that are necessary to succeed as a consultant How to price your services, and the key to value-based pricing (even if you find it difficult to quantify the value of your services) How to get clients – and keep them The paths to growing your consulting business 3 specific actions you can take to start your journey in consulting

Andreas Kambanis started working full-time on his one year old hobby blog – LondonCyclist.co.uk when he became really frustrated with his 9-to-5 job. A Day in the Life of Andreas the 9-to-5er (then) Vs. Andreas the lifestyle business owner (now): Andreas the 9-to-5er: Wake up, hit the alarm as many times as possible till the last minute, cycle to work, arrive late, waste time eating breakfast there, take a shower, be a nightmare employee who didn't want to be there, have disagreements with manager, and leave at 5.30 on the dot. Andreas the lifestyle business owner: He's traveling 12 months from Vancouver to Antarctica. Wake up, have breakfast, take it easy, meet and chat with other travelers, do 3 hours of work on his laptop, then he's free to travel around and do whatever he likes wherever he is in the world that day. This is a dream come true. Enough said. Listen and lean. 

Alyson B. Stanfield of ArtBizCoach.com teaches artists business. How to promote. How to sell. How to crunch numbers. In the process, she's built herself a multiple-six figure coaching business that has lasted over 10 years and still going strong. Here's her story. In this case study, you will learn: What to do when fear grips you whenever you think of starting a business How to build an email list and grow your coaching business Secrets of building a coaching business that stands the test of time How to listen and let customers tell you what they want 3 things to think about before you decide to start a coaching business And lots more…

After graduating from high school, all Henri Junttila did for a living was play online poker…for 5 years straight. When he finally realized he needed another calling, he spent over $10,000 on business coaching, ‘get rich quick' schemes and other online business experiments before settling on a business he completely loves. And the lifestyle of his dreams. In this case study, you will learn: In-depth details of how Henri started and built his major products, including a niche health website; a series of affiliate product sites; and WakeUpCloud.com The failures he encountered prior to launching the niche health site which ended up costing him over $10,000 How he attracted 1000 email subscribers within 100 days; and how he quickly grew the subscriber count to nearly 11,000 within 3 years. Current and lifetime revenues of all of Henri's major products The shockingly simple way to differentiate your business in a crowded market (this will work for you, too) Why you should start your business even if you are not 100% sure about what you're doing And a whole lot more…

In 2009, Jen Adrion and Omar Noory wanted a world map they could hang up on a wall to document their travels. When they couldn't find one they liked they, like true creative pros, decided to make a couple of maps themselves. Since the printer's minimum order quantity was 50, the duo ended up with 48 extra maps. That's when the light bulb turned on…what if other people are interested in buying the leftover stock? Fast forward 3 years. The enterprising duo has a neat 6-figure e-commerce business selling high-end maps of the world, countries and cities. Stay right here to learn how they did it. My mission is to provide you with as much inspiration and actionable advice as possible so you can create your freedom and live the life you want. This detailed case study aims to do just that. Learn  how Jen and Omar built their business since its launch in 2009. This case study includes: How random art projects by Jen and Omar led to the accidental start of TheseAreThings.com The dead simple tactic they used to get the word out about their first sale (and how their entire stock sold out overnight!) The ‘business planning technique' the duo used in the early days, and still uses today! The mysterious art of pricing art How they simplify difficult decisions about business growth and what products to create next How they dealt with challenges faced in the ‘deep end', especially those related to online payments and shipping Actual revenue figures for 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 Finding the perfect balance between freelance ‘client work' and their own creative ventures/products/projects Three useful things/actions creative pros should keep in mind before they start a business

Nev Lapwood moved to Whistler, Canada from New Zealand to do what he loves to do most: snowboard. He even got an evening job at a restaurant so he could snowboard all day. When the restaurant laid him off at the end of snowboarding season, he started a virtual snowboard training business. He still snowboards a lot and travels the world with his girlfriend 4 months in a year while working on his business for a couple of hours every day. In this case study, you will learn: How he and his team created their first product in just 2 weeks The dead simple technique Nev used to grow his email subscriber base substantially How the team built momentum and got others to market their company's products What types of social media work for a video training business Where SnowboardAddiction.com gets its traffic from How much revenue SnowboardAddiction.com pulled in last year The company's various revenue streams – which ones work and which ones don't (including details about their hottest new revenue stream) Under the hood: How the team is set up for shipping, marketing, web design and development, coaches, video editing, translation, etc. The top 3 things you should keep in mind before you turn your passion into a business

Karol Gajda represents a breed of entrepreneurs that moves quickly from one business venture to the next. And while he's at it, he has the most insane fun and lives his life exactly the way he wants to. He thrives on living on impulse. And is damn good at it. Sounds glamorous? Well, if that's what you want to do, that's great. Do it. On the other hand, if this kind of life is not for you, there's nothing wrong with that either. Listen and understand for yourself what it takes to be a serial entrepreneur.

Dean Dwyer shares his story of how he went from being an overweight math teacher to a fitness entrepreneur at age 45. 

Kyle Hepp is an American wedding photographer living in Chile. She talks about how she built her business and brand with premium clients all across the globe. 

Tom Ewer recounts his experience from the time he decided to quit his 9-to-5 and strike out on his own. He reveals the mistakes he made along the way and the exact steps you can take to make a good full-time or side income as a freelance blog writer, whether you're an ace writer or not.