How to Live Freely Without a 9-to-5 Job

How to Live Freely Without a 9-to-5 Job - Photo by Benjamin Davies on Unsplash

Living freely and well is what most people want. At least, that’s always been my goal: to have the freedom to design my days, plan my mornings, afternoons, and evenings, and manage my own time. Of course, this means I need to be more organized, but it also means I’m not stuck in a regular 9-to-5 job. I remember when I used to work from 7 AM to 10 PM as a senior lead engineer. The pay was good, but I was giving so many hours that, in the end, my salary didn’t feel that impressive. Sometimes, it’s hard to see the value of your salary compared to the hours you put in. That’s something we don’t talk about enough.

When you work fewer hours, earn more money, and have a lifestyle that fits you, that’s real freedom. You can move wherever you want, travel, and work from anywhere. Right now, I’m in Bangkok. Before that, I was in Malaysia, then New Zealand, and before that, I lived in Australia for years. You see, we can all live a life that reflects who we are—a life we love, a life that excites us.

But here’s the big question: how do you live freely and well? The truth is, you need money. Everything costs something. Money doesn’t buy happiness, but it does buy freedom and time. With money, you can invest, delegate tasks you’re not good at, and solve annoying problems by hiring professionals. Being alone makes it harder to solve problems, but with money, you can pay for help.

So, how do you make money? The answer is simple: sell what you know. Sell your skills. Think about why people call you or ask for your help. Maybe your friends or family already see you as the go-to person for something—sports, motivation, coaching, IT, reading, or analyzing words. For example, my partner is great at analyzing what she reads and quickly understands what’s being asked, even when the instructions are unclear. When I was doing my Master’s in data science, I’d ask her to help me understand tricky assignments, and she always got right to the point. Maybe you have a similar skill.

You can help others or create a course on analyzing difficult instructions. Test your market by offering a course on Udemy, YouTube, or another platform. Start small and build from there. But here’s my best advice: do one thing at a time. Don’t spread yourself too thin or get distracted by what other influencers are doing. Focus on one thing. If it doesn’t work, you can switch, but always focus on one thing at a time. Focus pays off. When you know where to put your energy and finish what you start, you actually get things done. If you start a video or a course and give up before publishing, you’ll never know if there was demand for it. You have to finish.

How to Live Freely Without a 9-to-5 Job - Photo by Elisa Stone on Unsplash

You can start with marketing, ads, or social media, depending on where your audience is—Instagram, Google, TikTok, or even AI chat tools. Do your research. Selling what you’re good at and what you love is the most rewarding thing you can do. Having an online business is also the easiest and cheapest way to start. Opening a physical business or investing in real estate or a restaurant is much more expensive and risky. Online, it’s safer and easier, but there’s also more competition. That’s why you need a real advantage, a unique selling point (USP) to stand out.

Fall in love with the problem you want to solve. Then, keep improving your solution over time. The best businesses solve urgent and painful problems for people. Maybe you help people get motivated, finish their studies, or be happier. You can do this through coaching, an app, a SaaS product, or a course. Courses are the simplest because you just need a phone, tablet, or computer to start.

Speaking isn’t easy for everyone. My background is in IT, and I’ve been an engineer for over 12 years, so talking isn’t my natural skill. Maybe yours is cooking or something else. But you have to go for it. Life is short and doesn’t wait for you. Life is like a train that never stops. Jump on and start your adventure.

Life is like a train that never stops. Jump on and start your adventure. — Pierre

The best time to take action and build a life that fits you is today. Don’t put off what you want to do. Even starting with just half an hour each day will make a difference. The most important thing is to start now. I’m 100% with you—go for it!

Key Takeaways

How to Live Freely Without a 9-to-5 Job - Photo by Bogdan Todoran on Unsplash

• Designing your own life starts with taking control of your time and skills.
• Sell what you know and what you’re naturally good at.
• Focus on one thing at a time and finish what you start.
• An online business is the easiest and safest way to begin.
• Solve real problems for people and keep improving your solution.
• Start today, even if it’s just for 30 minutes.

Reflection

• What skill or knowledge do people already come to you for?
• What problem do you want to solve for others?
• What’s stopping you from starting today?