How I quit my 9-5 and became a successful podcast editor & producer

I am now a full-time self-employed Podcast editor and producer. Providing Podcast production services to Ireland and beyond.

Earlier this year, I analysed my Podcast editing side hustle income. I was bringing in 110% more than last year. So, I made a bold decision. I quit my stable, pensionable, permanent full-time role at RTE (Ireland's national broadcaster) to become a freelance podcast editor and producer.

Now I work from anywhere, on my own schedule and make more money than I was in my job.

My tips for becoming a full-time freelancer

Many people would love to take the plunge and go freelance but can't bring themselves to push the button.

These are my tips on how I successfully transitioned from an employee to a full-time freelancer, earning more money than I did in my job.

1. Write down your goals

You need to engage your brain with what you want to achieve; writing it down is a great technique. Since I started my side-hustle (4 and a half years ago), I have been writing down what I wanted to achieve and the financial targets I wanted to hit. They have pretty much always been come true.

Of course, you have to be somewhat realistic. Writing down "I want to be a millionaire", having not yet made a penny is unrealistic. Start by trying to earn 25% of your salary on a month-to-month basis. Once you hit that, move to 35% and little by little, keep trying to better the previous month.

I continue to do this regularly. Last week, I wrote that I wanted to get 1 new client. I had zero leads at this time, but I had a new client signed up after 1 day. This client is now providing me with 1 Podcast to edit every week.

2. Get on Upwork or another Freelance marketplace

Freelance marketplaces are GREAT and are only getting bigger and more popular.

Upwork has been huge for me. It has been the seed of which my freelance career has been able to blossom. So many of my connections started here. I have dozens of clients, many of whom others recommended. Still, the chain always leads back to someone I first connected with on Upwork.

Upwork has TONS of jobs available daily. You need to work on your profile, improve your cover letters over time and make a lot of trial and error until something clicks. But, something WILL click if you stick at it.

At some point, I’d love to set up a service to help people with Upwork. If you’re interested in getting guidance, feel free to drop me an email for a free call.

3. Start small

My first job on Upwork was $6 per hour. People would have laughed at me. "I'd never lower myself to that" is a comment I hear sometimes. These people fail to see the big picture. It's taken time to get there. My focus at the start was not on money but on getting reviews and making connections.

Nothing in this life comes easy. The people who laugh at you will be stuck in the same place for years, waiting for the big break to come knocking on their door. The big break will never come to your door. You have to go and open hundreds of doors yourself to find it. 

Little by little, I have been able to grow my testimonials and up my rates on Upwork. With this has also come a MASSIVE growth in confidence. The compliments and feedback I get are incredible. I now believe in my ability like I never did before. That came from working low-paid jobs and connecting with people continuously for about 3 years.

Writing in September 2023 this my rate is consistently $50 per hour

EDIT: It’s now the middle of 2024, and my rate is $75 per hour for editing and $99 per hour for consultations.

4. Choose your clients carefully

Don't try and grab every job available. Instead, pick out people you might have something in common with. One way to do that is to target geographically close people.

For a period, I targetted every Podcast-related job posted from Ireland. It was an easy win, "Hey, I'm also based in Ireland. I'm in Dublin. Where are you?" I immediately connected with the job poster.

9 times out of 10, I got at least a response from these applications, and they often turned into regular, recurring jobs. Clients felt comfort in working with someone close to home.

5. Be helpful, reliable and reasonable

Use your intuition to get the job done and limit the amount of back and forth with a client. In my experience, these people are really busy and want someone who does the job with minimum fuss.

Don't bring everything back to money, and don't try and charge the client for every little thing. If they need a small change that takes 10 minutes, do it for free.

Always get work done on time and provide clients with more than expected. This could be some sound clips from a podcast episode, some advice on how they can improve the quality or an introduction to someone who could be a guest on their Podcast.

Being easy to deal with and reliable is something clients hugely appreciate.

6. Ask for referrals

"I'm looking to get more work if you hear of anyone looking to start a podcast."

So simple, but so effective. Referrals have been MASSIVE for me. Wait a while before you do this. Build up a rapport with your client. Get to know them and deliver excellent work for them. Then, ask them to refer you to anyone they know. The podcast community is really tight-knit. Most Podcasters know others.

7. Learn new skills

In my opinion, being able to do multiple things to an OK standard is better than being an absolute expert in just 1 area.

If you're a successful freelancer and getting on excellent with clients, chances are they might come to you with more work. I can't tell you how often I've been asked to edit videos. Learning a few other skills to a half-decent standard will benefit you. In my time, I have learned video, graphics, SEO, keyword research and show note writing. I now offer these as extra services.

8. Consume lots of positive content

Try and consume LOTS of positive media content. It’s like drinking water, you’re going to need it to survive. I find traditional media like TV and Radio is filled with absolute negativity. It can be hard to get excited about anything or feel positive.

I’ve been lucky in that working on Podcasts. I get to hear stories from different entrepreneurs, successful people and forward-thinking individuals on a daily basis. It has rubbed off on me over time. There are times when I feel like I’m failing, and it’s amazing how throwing on Gary Vee or listening to an interview with a successful freelancer, or founder can change your mood.

Cut back on traditional media and seek out content that speaks to your cause. Some examples of podcasts I work on:

The School of Greatness - My favourite podcast, Lewis Howes has been doing this for 11 years (another example of exercising patience)

Creator Science - Incredible content for creatives and keeping on top of the latest content trends.

Live Into Your Brilliance - A hidden gem of a podcast which anchors itself on mindset and outlook. If you are a fan of stoicism, you will love it.

Mel Robbins Podcast - Pure positivity and simple, actionable advice. Mel Robbins is smashing it!

The Mindset Mentor - Short bursts of mindset tips and techniques. This is GREAT for having on in your ears when making dinner or driving short journeys. It will rub off on you over time to just have this on in the background.

9. Understand it takes time and effort

You may decide you want to work for yourself or be a full-time freelancer but the time from choosing to making it happen is slow. Nothing will come easy. You have to grind for a period.

You will have to forget about money and focus on making connections at the start. Therefore, starting as a side hustle alongside another job is always best. This in itself takes a lot of dedication and effort. Upon coming home from work, sometimes the last thing you want to do is more work, but over time it all adds up and pays off big time.

It's also important to be patient with clients. As I mentioned, they are busy, and it takes time to get things moving, especially with a Podcast. Keep in touch (not too much) just to ensure they are still keen on the idea but be prepared to wait for many people to start moving on projects. Unfortunately, many people hire freelancers before they've done much of the other groundwork.

What about the security and guaranteed income?

I thought about this one repeatedly, and I couldn't find 1 reason other than "security" to stay in my job. However, the more I thought about that, the more I wondered if "job security" was a myth ingrained into us. 

As an employee, I am at the beck and call of 1 single client. Everything hangs on a boss or CEO. They decide what I do, even if I don't like it. That model is never going to get the best out of me. 

If I get laid off (this has happened twice in my career), or my job becomes untenable (this has also happened twice). I'm out on my ass with nothing. Where's the security in that?

As a freelancer, I have multiple clients. If I lose 1 or 2 or 3 of them for whatever reason, it's OK! My income is only slightly affected, and I'm ALWAYS confident in picking up new clients (I've been doing it for 4 years).

Similarly, people speak of "guaranteed income". Sure there is a guaranteed income in being an employee, but it's static. My salary won't move much over 10 years. It's a glass ceiling. Being a freelancer removes that ceiling. Suddenly, there are no limits to what I can earn.

My freelance income has gone up 200% in 2 years... in what other job would I make that progress?

Job security and "permanent jobs" are complete myths. There is no such thing. Being an employee means relying on someone else for your salary instead of yourself.

Why I'm Loving the freelance life

These have been the best months of my working life. I love not having the burden of working for someone else and on their time, which I can now see, slowed me down. Here are some of the fantastic perks of being a full-time freelance Podcast producer:

Time & Flexibility

I now work when I want. Yes, this takes discipline, but when your work is something you genuinely enjoy, then it's actually harder to stop working. 

The feeling of not being on the clock for an employer is inexplicable. I had been working from home over covid. On the odd occasion when I'd go out for a walk or to an appointment, my mind was always on the job... who might ring and ask for something while I'm out... how much work will I have to catch up on when I get back. I could never enjoy a 1-hour walk to get a coffee.

Now I can take a break when I want, pop out without fear or guilt and catch up with everything in my own time. My clients will never be on to me in a hurry because I am organised. Even if they are, I work with amazing people I have carefully selected, knowing there will be no mad panic. 

Choose who I work with

As mentioned above, I now choose who I work with. I'm pretty careful about this. I try to work with people with similar values and outlooks. I have many freelancers or business builder podcasters because I know they would have the same outlook on life as I do.

No glass ceiling

The possibilities are truly endless. I honestly believe I can achieve anything if I put the work in. As I mentioned earlier, my confidence has never been so high. I know I can triple my income. I also realise this will take 3 times the hard work because nothing will come easy.

That said, I can equally choose to slow down. If I want more time with my newborn son or more time to get out and enjoy life, I can take the foot off the gas while still earning enough to be comfortable.

I feel very much in control of my work-life balance and income.

No more asking for permission to take a day off.

This might seem very minor to warrant a heading, but it grated on me for years. I used to HATE getting permission to go on holiday or take a day off. The idea that someone physically has to sign their name beside the day I want a break is somewhat ludicrous. The stress of asking for time off and getting a response of "I'll have to see if anyone else is off that day" is gone.

I take time off when I want or need it. My mental health is infinitely better for it. Yes, sometimes I have to check my laptop on days off or deal with an ad-hoc request, but I'd rather that than the previous.

No more "fear" or dreaded Mondays

That sick stomach feeling on a Sunday night... we've all had it. It's incredible to say that I don't get it anymore. That's down to me being able to choose who I work with and work ONLY on things I enjoy and feel comfortable in.

I genuinely look forward to Mondays. The feeling of getting up at 6:30/7:00am and getting to work after feeding the baby is fantastic. My morning coffee has never tasted as good.

You can do it too

All in all, I have a much more open and positive mindset. It's taken time and sacrifices, but it's all been worth it. I think workplaces are changing and becoming more open to the needs of people, but for now, if you offered me twice the money I earn freelance, I wouldn't go back to 9-5. Freedom is priceless.