A former colleague left two years before me to write for herself. I assumed she'd crash. She doub…
T=0: The Decision
Eight years at a top-5 management consultancy. Good title, impossible hours. I spent the last 18 months of my career there advising a gambling company on how to increase "engagement." The word was a polite euphemism for addiction. I filed the final deck and never went back.
A former colleague left two years before me to write for herself. I assumed she'd crash. She doubled her income in 14 months and had Fridays back. When she sent me her client list I realised my consultancy contacts were also her clients.
Work I'm not ashamed to put my name on. Income within 20% of my consulting salary within two years.
6 Months Out
The hardest part is not the writing — it's selling yourself. I spent 4 of my first 6 months asking for work, not doing it. Income was down 60%.
“Line up at least three retainer clients before you leave. Cold pitching from zero erodes your confidence faster than it empties your bank account.”