Escaping the 9-5: Your Secret Weapon

Isn’t it an amazing feeling to finish a major project? The little daily tasks may keep us moving forward, but they can’t compare to the deep sense of satisfaction that comes from taking on something big.

I remember reading James Altucher’s insightful book, “Choose Yourself.” In it, he emphasizes the importance of exercising our brains daily by generating ideas. So, I decided to put this concept into practice. Did it work? Well, I’d say it did because it ultimately led me to break free from the predictable routine of the corporate world.

Despite having created my first profitable software application in 1997, I ended up in a cubicle, writing code and enduring my fair share of corporate politics and BS. 

In hindsight, I realized that spending two decades working for others was one of the biggest mistakes I made in my life. I was just a tiny cog in an immense corporate machinery, tirelessly generating profits for their stakeholders. Deep down, I knew something wasn’t right. So, I began working on various side projects during my free time. This turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!

In 2004, I wrote and published my very first book. It was such an unforgettable experience that I went on to write two more.

Later, I had the idea of creating my own 3D space shooter game. I had a working prototype that looked promising. However, I couldn’t find a fair publisher: they either did not respond or wanted to rip me off. 

But then, Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone. When the App Store opened its doors to developers, I eagerly entered the world of iOS apps and games. My apps were once featured in the “New and Noteworthy” and “Best Travel Apps” categories, which boosted my confidence. 

However, the AppStore eventually became oversaturated. As the saying goes, when one door closes, another one opens. In 2016, I saw a YouTube video about an instructor’s success on Udemy. That’s when I started working on my first course. My experience in book writing and corporate training came in handy. Yet, it took me nearly six months to wrap up the script and the slides. I made an investment in a decent microphone and started recording a course.

That’s how my online teaching journey started.

Eventually, online teaching proved to be my ultimate escape route from the corporate maze. It allowed me to skip all those useless meetings, crowded open-office spaces, dealing with annoying people, not to mention the “annual performance review” – the usual things that come bundled with the “corporate experience.”

And today, I completed another project of mine. It all started as a vague idea in my mind, which I visualized on a whiteboard. After a lot of brainstorming, I drafted an outline, which I polished, added more details, and finally brought to life. 

I was responsible for every aspect – from scripting to recording, editing, animating, coding, and everything in between. Created with love, designed with the hope that it will benefit countless individuals, enabling them to enhance their skills and perhaps improve their lives.

The joy of finishing such a project is hard to put into words. It’s a reminder that when you’re driven by a genuine passion to create, every moment spent is a step toward making a positive impact on the world.