Discover why going back to corporate life made this person happier and wiser and the key lessons aspiring content entrepreneurs should know before attempting such business.
Summary of a Case Study
As a content strategist and ethnographic researcher, I conducted extensive case studies on book authors, online writers, freelancers, ghostwriters, and affiliate marketers, providing valuable insights for aspiring content creators and digital marketers. I also triangulated my findings with additional case studies and my personal experience in various side hustles throughout my 42 years in corporate service.
Last year, I shared a unique story about a friend’s journey in the online writing business, highlighting the harsh realities of pursuing online writing as a career in today’s economic climate.
In this brief post, I will summarize the key lessons from his experience to offer valuable insights to aspiring writers from all backgrounds. While Ted’s story may seem unique or exceptional, it reflects what I have observed in many similar cases.
Ted, a medical researcher, had a passion for writing since his high school days. For years, he dreamed of becoming a well-known author, patiently waiting for the right moment to pursue that dream.
In 2020, when the Covid pandemic started, after 20 years in a stable corporate job, that moment finally came. Inspired by friends who had left their jobs to chase side hustles, Ted decided it was time to make writing his full-time career.
Taking a bold step, Ted quit his high-paying, six-figure job, confident that his decades of research experience would translate into success as a freelance writer and content entrepreneur. But the reality turned out to be much tougher than expected.
Ted invested heavily in his dream. He spent thousands on courses for online writing, blogging, SEO, and ghostwriting. He even hired a professional to build his website, aiming for it to become his main income source. His goal? To earn a million dollars in a year. But things didn’t go as planned — his well-researched blog posts struggled to attract traffic, and the site couldn’t generate ad revenue.
Refusing to give up, Ted bought tools to boost website traffic and tried affiliate marketing. Yet, none of it worked. His social media posts barely gained any visibility, and even paid ads didn’t bring in new readers or revenue. His affiliate links earned him next to nothing, and his online presence remained weak.
Next, Ted turned to metered writing platforms like Medium, Vocal Media, NewsBreak, and HubPages, writing articles daily in the hope of monetizing his content. While he enjoyed interacting with readers and seeing his work published, the financial returns were disappointing.
After two years of consistent effort, Ted had earned just $300 on Medium and only a few dollars on other platforms like Vocal Media and NewsBreak. Despite his dedication, the income was far below what he had hoped for.
He tried freelance writing. While one client paid him $25 per article for a short while, he couldn’t secure additional work. His attempt at writing e-books was similarly unfruitful, with just 100 copies sold, bringing in less than $500.
In a final attempt to grow his writing business, Ted launched a Substack newsletter, hoping that building an email list and offering paid subscriptions would generate more income.
However, even with consistent posting and promoting, Ted struggled to gain subscribers. His newsletter attracted only a handful of readers, and none signed up for the paid tier. Like his other ventures, Substack didn’t provide the financial breakthrough he had anticipated.
Following his coaches’ advice, Ted created videos, webinars, and podcasts to expand his reach. While he enjoyed learning new skills, these efforts failed to generate income as well.
After two years of relentless effort, Ted had only earned about $1,000. He had poured thousands of dollars and countless hours into his writing dream but was left without the success he envisioned.
By mid-2023, Ted made the difficult decision to return to his corporate career. He accepted a research position with a salary of $120,000 per year and the possibility of a promotion. Though his writing dream didn’t pan out as he had hoped, Ted found peace in the lessons he learned along the way. He discovered the importance of having a fallback plan and appreciated the stability that his corporate job provided.
Conclusions and Personal Reflections
Ted’s story is a helpful reminder that writing business success requires more than passion — it takes strategic planning, patience, and financial preparation. For aspiring writers, having a backup plan and being realistic about the challenges of earning money through writing can make all the difference in avoiding the struggles Ted faced.
With a background in corporate leadership, my transition to self-employment differed from Ted’s journey. After retiring from the corporate world in 2021, I launched a consultancy business that included online writing, book authoring, and ghostwriting. Since I had many contacts and a large network, I was ready to monetize some of my work to create a steady income.
Unlike Ted, my consultancy provided a steady income that covered my expenses, allowing me to approach writing as a passion rather than a primary income source. This mindset, treating writing as a fulfilling hobby, led to higher quality work and made scaling my writing endeavors much easier.
Key Lessons for Aspiring Writers
Passion alone will not pay the bills. Ted’s story highlights the need for a solid/flexible plan, financial savings, and a fallback option before leaving a secure job for a more uncertain path like online writing.
Have a backup plan. Ted’s ability to return to a well-paying career after his entrepreneurial attempts faltered offers an essential takeaway: aspiring writers should always have a fallback option to navigate uncertain times.
Success takes time and patience. Ted’s journey shows that financial success in writing or other creative fields is a long-term game. Setting realistic expectations is crucial, as quick success is rare.
Diversify, but be realistic. Though Ted tried various methods, from affiliate marketing to e-books, not all were profitable. Writers should diversify their income streams but be ready for some to fall short.
Failure can teach and make us resilient. Ted’s setbacks became valuable lessons. Accepting failure as part of the process helps build personal growth and can lead to long-term success.
In contrast to Ted’s experience, I recently featured a story about successful writer Tim Denning on multiple platforms like Medium, LinkedIn, X Premium, Quora, and Substack, who represents the pinnacle of success in the writing world. His journey highlights the key success factors for reaching the top 1% of successful writers. You can read Tim’s story linked below to gain a different perspective and valuable insights for aspiring writers.
Tim Denning Dropped a Bombshell on ILLUMINATION Yesterday for Writers, and He’s Bloody Right
What’s the hidden formula that propels the top 1% of writers to unparalleled success in the online world?medium.com
My new focus as a multi-pub owner is on educating and inspiring writers to craft stories with brevity, clarity, and impact — free from the constraints of the platform’s boost rules. These stringent rules with no or little reward for writers led to my resignation from the Boost program. Tim’s words remind me of why I made those tough decisions. Stay tuned.
If you want to learn about my new writing strategy and plan for reaching a broader audience, check out these chapters of my new bestselling book, Substack Mastery:
More to come, so stay tuned!
I only provided my strategy and plan as an example. We are all different and need to create our own strategies and plans tailored to our needs, goals, and aspirations.
Thank you for reading my perspectives. I wish you a healthy and happy life.
Here are the links to new submission guidelines for ILLUMINATION and Curated Newsletters inviting all ethical and authentic writers to our exciting journey.
From ILLUMINATION-Curated to Curated Newsletters: The Spirit Lives On, Stronger Than Ever
Welcome to Curated Newsletters, where the future of writing is crafted now with guidance and collaboration, and every…medium.com
Time to Prune the Branches of Our Big Oak Tree: ILLUMINATION’s Evolution to New Heights
Introducing New Submission Guidelines to Empower Writers with a Refined Strategy for ILLUMINATION 2.0medium.com
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