From 9-5 to Freedom: My Journey to Full-Time Content Creation
Why I’m Choosing Content Creation Over Climbing the Corporate Ladder
When I sit down to write a blog post or edit a video, whether it’s for my personal pages or a brand through UGC, it never crosses my mind to ask, “Why am I doing this?” If my goal is to increase my income, there are simpler, more traditional paths I could take. I could get a second job or pursue my CPA certification for higher-paying roles. So why spend long nights editing a YouTube video that might get 40 views or writing a blog that only a handful of people will read?
Because I Love It!
The answer is simple: because I want to. I genuinely enjoy creating. Whether I’m sharing tips, giving advice on social media, or making a fun outfit video, content creation lights me up in a way that accounting never has. For a long time, I was content creating just for the joy of it, without expecting anything in return. But now, my goal has shifted. I want to take this passion and turn it into my primary source of income.
Steps I’m Taking to Make Content Creation a Full-Time Career
Building a sustainable income from content creation is no small task, but here are the steps I’m currently focusing on to turn this dream into reality:
Defining My Niche: I’ve narrowed my focus to content that aligns with my passions: modeling (beauty + fashion), self-development, and lifestyle. Staying true to what I love ensures my content feels authentic.
Setting SMART Goals: I’ve created clear goals, like posting consistently on TikTok and YouTube and growing my audience within the next 6 months. (Consistency is one of my biggest struggles given how demanding my current schedule can be with my 9-5 but this is the year we push through!)
Monetizing Strategically: I’m exploring affiliate marketing (you may notice links in some blog posts that lead to either my amazon storefront or LTK), brand collaborations, and creating digital products that my audience will find valuable while simultaneously working on doing UGC for brands as well. (Thinking about documenting this journey…let me know what you think.)
Staying Disciplined: I’m working on dedicating specific days to scripting, filming, editing, and scheduling content, so that I can stay consistent without burning out. In the same breath, I try to give myself grace here because sometimes things may come up that throw my schedule off a bit and that’s okay. Currently, it’s a matter of trial and error, figuring out what works for me and what doesn’t but I’m confident that not only will I figure it out, but I’ll be successful. In addition to this, I’ve also recently gotten myself an accountability partner; a friend with the same goals and ambitions to excel in the space and we can hold each other accountable to ensure that we’re taking those necessary steps to reaching our goals.
The Bigger Picture
When I imagine a future where content creation is my full-time career, I think about all the possibilities it would open up:
Travel More: I want to explore new places without the constraints of vacation days. I need to put my 500 day Duolingo streak to use! Italy is waiting for me!
Pursue My Modeling Dreams: This has been a lifelong goal, and content creation gives me the flexibility to chase it. By allowing me more time for castings, photoshoots etc, and also more income flexibility for travel, content creation feels like I great pathway to pursuing dreams.
Study Foreign Languages: Learning and growing as a person is important to me, and I’d have more time to dedicate to my interests. (Also, it’s imperative that I learn Korean in the event I meet Stray Kids)
Contribute to Family Dreams: Whether it’s funding vacations or moving to a new country, I want to play a bigger role in creating unforgettable memories with my family. It would be really nice to do more for them.
This is my 2025 vision board. I made it on Canva and have it as the background on all of my devices. :)
Overcoming Common Challenges
I will say though that this path isn’t without its challenges. Here’s how I’m tackling some of the most common struggles that come up:
Imposter Syndrome: ChatGPT LITERALLY told me that I’m the CEO of Imposter Syndrome. That’s not even a joke. I did a YouTube video where I let ChatGPT pretty much read me for filth and that was one of the critiques. It’s really easy for me to doubt myself and compare my journey to others. I spend lots of time questioning if I’m good enough or if my content is good enough that I forget to actually be good enough. (words from Ms. GPT herself.) To combat this, I remind myself that everyone has to start somewhere and that my voice is unique and worth hearing, even if it’s only by a few people.
Fear of Failure: I’ve shifted my mindset to see failures as opportunities to learn and grow. Every mistake brings me one step closer to success. This isn’t easy but it’s helping.
Balancing Time: Between a full-time job and content creation, time management is key. And as someone who has self diagnosed herself with ADHD, I can’t function efficiently unless I make use of different tools like content calendars and batch filming.
Tools and Resources That Help Me
These are some of the tools and resources that have made my content creation journey easier:
Canva: I swear I use this daily. It’s perfect for designing blog graphics, Instagram posts, and YouTube thumbnails.
CapCut: My go-to tool for editing both short and long-form videos. I typically edit on my phone but I am working on getting either a new laptop or a PC to work more efficiently.
Notion: A lifesaver for planning and organizing content ideas. But beyond that, I use Notion to keep my entire life a little more organized. From daily to do lists, journaling and brain dumps to content planning and scheduling, Notion keeps my head about water.
I’ll do a separate post about everything I use for content creation. Stay tuned!
My 2025 Goals
If you’ve seen my New Year, New Focus post, you might remember the 2025 BINGO card I created. A lot of those goals depend on having the time and income flexibility that content creation could provide. For me, content creation isn’t just a hobby, it’s a path to the life I’ve always dreamed of. A life where I’m not limited by costs or time, where I have the freedom to be whoever I choose and I can turn all of my little Pinterest boards into a reality.
So What’s Next?
I know this journey won’t be easy. Building a sustainable income from content creation takes effort, persistence, and time. But I’m ready to embrace the challenge, push past my fears, and go all in.
What about you?
What’s your biggest dream, and what’s holding you back from pursuing it? Drop a comment below! I’d love to hear your story and cheer you on! Although these blog posts are kind of like a brain dump for me, it’s also meant to inspire anyone that reads so I hope this motivates you a little :)
