Your Path to Solo Income

The results are in.

I launched a LinkedIn poll recently and asked:

What is your biggest barrier to getting independent income started - either as a side-hustle or solo business? The results:

Time is something we all grapple with. However, we prioritize what's important.

I'm addressing the two biggest uncertainties and providing a 4-week action plan to get you started, in this issue. Let's keep going.

Starting your own income-generating endeavor can feel overwhelming when you don't know where to begin or what to offer.

The path to independent income isn't always clear, but that's precisely what makes it worth pursuing.

The Decision That Changes Everything

The difference between those who achieve independent income and those who remain stuck often comes down to one crucial element:

Making the unwavering decision to figure it out, regardless of the difficulty or uncertainty.

Remember, clarity comes from action, not just pondering.

The most successful entrepreneurs didn't wait for perfect clarity. They moved forward with determination and adjusted their course along the way.

Inside This Issue: 5 Steps to Clarity and What You Can Do Now

1. Discover Your Ikigai: The Sweet Spot of Independent Income

In Japanese culture, there's a concept called “ikigai,” which loosely translates to "the reason why you get up in the morning."

Every person, it is believed, has an ikigai that they must search for. The search is deeply personal, but once your ikigai is found, you devote your life to it.

This is your calling, your one true purpose - or the thing that lights you up.

With ikigai, your true fulfillment comes when four essential elements align:

• What you love (your passion)

• What you're good at (your skills)

• What the world needs (market demand)

• What you can be paid for (economic viability)

Where these four circles overlap is your ikigai. Work that feels purposeful, plays to your strengths, serves others, and provides sustainable income.

Don't be discouraged if your ikigai isn't immediately obvious. For many successful entrepreneurs, their purpose emerged gradually through experimentation and reflection.

2. The Mindset That Creates Freedom

Developing an entrepreneurial mindset is as important as any business strategy.

• Embrace uncertainty as a sign you're growing beyond your comfort zone

• View obstacles as feedback, not failure

• Cultivate resilience by celebrating small wins and learning from setbacks

• Practice decisive action even when you don't have all the answers

They just decided the doubts wouldn't define their journey.

3. The Power of the Right Platforms

Whether we like it or not - awareness for what we're offering happens on the internet. Primarily through social media platforms.

Choosing the right digital platforms can dramatically accelerate your path to independent income.

LinkedIn consistently hosts the highest concentration of high-income users, making it ideal for offering your professional expertise.

YouTube offers tremendous long-term content value and search visibility, while Instagram and TikTok excel for visually-driven businesses and some personal brands.

The key is to start with focus: choose one or two platforms that align with your strengths and audience, rather than diluting your efforts across many.

Whatever platforms you choose, the important thing is to begin building your presence consistently - and start now. Having a presence is what matters. You will fine-tune your messaging when you have more clarity around your solo endeavor.

Coming Soon: My LinkedIn Income Accelerator cohort will walk you step-by-step through the exact process I used to transition to independent income 10 years ago. Get on the waitlist now so you know once it's released. Space is limited to the first 10 who commit.

4. Gain Clarity Through Action & Study

Many successful entrepreneurs began with tiny experiments, not big launches. Test your ikigai concept with real customers before making major time or financial commitments.

Understanding how others have done what you're considering can shorten your path to success considerably.

Immerse yourself in the world of those who've achieved what you're aiming for. Study their content, analyze their business models, and note the patterns in their journeys. Then, take those insights and apply them through small, low-risk actions of your own.

The perfect business model doesn't exist; there's only the one you create that works for you. This model is defined through real-world experience combined with thoughtful learning.

5. Build Your Support Network

Entrepreneurship becomes infinitely easier with the right community around you:

• Connect with others on similar journeys

• Find mentors who've walked your path

• Join mastermind groups for accountability

• Share both challenges and victories with those who understand and support your vision

When the Path Gets Foggy

There will be days when your direction feels unclear and your motivation wavers. This isn't a sign to give up. It's a test to see how serious you are about breaking free to define your own destiny - versus relying on someone else to have a plan for your life, aka an employer.

Ask yourself: What small step can I take today, even without complete clarity? Which action would move me forward and help me gain momentum?

Remember that your journey to independent income is unique. The fact that it isn't clearly mapped out doesn't mean you're lost - it means you're blazing your own trail.

Your Next 30 Days to Freedom

Week 1: Mindset & Discovery – Define what success means to you and identify potential ikigai intersections. Write them down. This will get more clear with time and experience.

Week 2: Market Validation – Use Perplexity to research areas of interest and gauge market demand. Who else is doing it? Is this concept expanding in market need, or contracting?

Consider fundamental questions: Do you want a work-from-anywhere business? Will you monetize your knowledge and expertise, or sell physical products? These early decisions will shape your entrepreneurial journey.

Week 3: Grow Your Presence & Influence – Begin establishing or growing your professional digital footprint, even if your business model isn't fully defined yet.

Remember that building an audience now creates opportunities later, regardless of which direction you ultimately take. Your online presence is an asset that appreciates with consistent investment.

Week 4: Study the Latest in Your Area of Interest – Immerse yourself in the world of successful people doing what you want to do. Read their content, listen to their podcasts, and analyze their strategies.

Identify your knowledge gaps and start taking immediate steps to fill them.

The path to purposeful, independent income begins with your decision to start - even before you feel ready.

What small action will you take today to honor that commitment to yourself?

Make sure you get on the Wait List for the Income Accelerator where I'll share the exact blueprint that helped me achieve location and financial freedom a decade ago. Space will be limited to the first 10 who commit.

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You Can Be Free returns next week with strategies to create a life and work you don't need a vacation from.

Until then, keep moving toward defining and creating meaningful independent work on your terms!

LuRae

Be You and Be Free

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