In August 2022, I received an unwelcome text message from my company's CEO on a Sunday afternoon. Coming right after a major board meeting, I knew the news wouldn't be good. When the reality set in that I had been laid off, I was completely shocked. I had spent six years at this ed-tech company, where we had seen tremendous success, even riding the online education wave during the pandemic when people turned to digital platforms to learn new skills.
Even after the pandemic, when usage naturally declined as people returned to their normal lives, our business remained stable. It wasn't until 2022, when the entire tech industry began to struggle, that things became challenging and major changes were implemented.
As with most people who experience a layoff, I went through all the stages of grief. Initially shocked, then frustrated and angry, I eventually reached acceptance. The truth was, I was burnt out. Six years in a growth role at a startup, dedicating every ounce of mental energy to growing the company, had taken its toll. I needed a break – a reset. In retrospect, this layoff was the kick in the pants I needed.
For years, I had dreamed about entrepreneurship and starting my own venture, but I always played it safe. I chose the security of working for startups and large corporations that provided steady salaries and career growth opportunities. It was the comfortable path, not the risky one. But now, faced with this turning point, I knew it was time to finally take that entrepreneurial leap and invest in myself.
After taking a few weeks off, my wife and I agreed that I would take six months to figure out my next move. This period of exploration led me down several interesting paths. Understanding that starting from zero is incredibly challenging, I first explored buying existing online businesses. I nearly purchased a van life business with plans to become a content creator. I even researched kelp farming, only to realize it wasn't feasible living in Switzerland, far from any suitable bodies of water.
Eventually, I launched a personal finance blog focused on financial independence, complete with online calculators and SEO optimization. I even created a comprehensive financial independence masterclass, pouring months into developing the course. I launched it in January, during the peak season for financial planning – and it flopped. I sold exactly one course.
This failure was humbling, but in hindsight, I was trying to build trust and awareness in an industry where these elements are crucial. The finance space is particularly challenging for newcomers, and I was starting completely from scratch.
As March approached and my runway was shrinking, I received a text from an old colleague about Dan Scott, a successful creator who had built a significant online business teaching design. He needed marketing help. Initially, I was hesitant – after nearly a decade in marketing, I was burnt out and tired of the startup world.
But I took the call, and everything changed. The conversation went well, and I found myself excited about the possibilities. I understood his business intimately from my years in the industry, and I knew I could help. I created a growth strategy for him, stayed to implement it, and it worked. The company began growing again, and suddenly, I was alive with enthusiasm, applying my experience in a way that felt both rewarding and invigorating.
Before I knew it, I had become an agency owner – something I never thought I'd do. But I had found a unique niche: applying my specialized knowledge from the online ed-tech space to help creators grow their businesses. One successful client led to another through cold outreach, then referrals started coming in. Everything was clicking into place.
The transformation was remarkable. By month seven, I had hit six figures in revenue. By month ten, I had surpassed my previous highest monthly salary, and by month thirteen, I had doubled it. More importantly, I was having the most fun I'd ever had in my career, working with inspiring creators on my own terms. I could control my schedule, my workload, and my growth rate based on my life's needs.
Looking back on this journey, here are the four crucial lessons I learned:
Two years ago, I never could have predicted where I'd be today. So if you're standing at the edge of a similar leap, take it. Start that next thing. Bet on yourself. You have no idea where it might take you, but the journey could lead to something far better than you ever imagined.
