How I Quit My Job, Started an Online Business, and Made Money While Traveling

I QUIT MY JOB, BOUGHT A ONE-WAY TICKET, AND NEVER LOOKED BACK

I don’t know where you’re at right now. Maybe you’re scrolling through this on your lunch break, dreading going back to your desk. Maybe you’re lying awake at night, staring at the ceiling, feeling that heavy pit in your stomach. That feeling that whispers, Is this really it?

If that’s you, I need you to know something - I’ve been exactly where you are.

For years, I woke up every morning with a sense of dread. I’d drag myself out of bed, force myself into work clothes that felt stiff and unnatural, and sit in traffic, knowing that I was on my way to spend the next eight hours doing something that drained me. My life revolved around a never-ending cycle of emails, meetings, and mindless tasks that I didn’t care about. Every day, I watched the clock, counting down the minutes until I could leave - only to come home, exhausted, just to do it all over again the next day.

And for what? A paycheck that barely covered my bills? A boss who monitored how long I took for lunch? Three weeks of vacation a year that I was supposed to be grateful for? The idea of doing this for the next 40 years sent me into a panic.

I remember sitting at my desk one afternoon, sipping bad coffee, staring out the window at a beautiful day that I wasn’t allowed to enjoy. That was the moment it hit me - life was happening out there, and I was wasting mine inside this office.

FINDING A WAY OUT

I knew I couldn’t keep living like this, but I had no idea what else I could do. That night, I went home and started searching. I spent hours reading about people who had quit their jobs to travel, work remotely, and build online businesses. I became obsessed with their stories, devouring every blog I could find.

Some were making money through blogging and ad revenue, but that seemed like a long game. Others were freelancing - offering services online and working from anywhere. That sounded like something I could actually start.

So I took a leap. While still working my 9-5, I signed up for UpWork and started applying for random freelance gigs. I had no real strategy - I just wanted to see if I could make a little extra money. Since I enjoyed writing, I focused on blog writing gigs, taking whatever I could get.

And then something wild happened.

THE MOMENT EVERYTHING CHANGED

After six months of freelancing on the side of my 9-5, I checked my earnings.

I had made $10,000.

That number made me stop in my tracks. Ten thousand dollars. That wasn’t just extra cash - that was proof. If I could make this much money working part-time, what could I do if I went all in?

That question changed everything.

I went to work the next day and put in my notice. I sold everything I owned - my car, my furniture, everything that didn’t fit into a suitcase. And I bought a one-way ticket to Europe with my partner.

For the next five months, we traveled all over Europe. And the best part? I was still making money. I worked from my laptop in cafés, on trains, in tiny Airbnbs, watching the sun set over new cities every few days. I didn’t need to ask for time off. I didn’t need anyone’s permission. For the first time in my life, I was in complete control.

And after that? There was no way in hell I was ever going back to a 9-5.

TURNING FREELANCING INTO A REAL BUSINESS

Freelancing had given me a taste of freedom, but I knew I couldn’t stay on UpWork forever.

At first, it was great - I was finding clients, making money, and building my confidence. But I quickly realized that if I wanted to scale my income, I had to move beyond UpWork.

The platform took a cut of my earnings with fees that added up fast. I also felt limited in who I could work with since I was relying on a platform that controlled everything - my visibility, my rates, and even my ability to communicate with clients outside of the app.

I wanted more control, higher-paying clients, and fewer restrictions.

So, I made another big decision - I left UpWork and set up my own business.

I built my own website, started marketing myself independently, and found clients outside of freelancing platforms. And that’s when my income really started to grow. I could set my own prices, attract higher-quality clients, and keep 100% of what I earned.

That’s also when I transitioned into virtual assistance and online business management. It seemed like a natural next step - helping entrepreneurs and small business owners run their businesses remotely. To my surprise, there was real money in it.

Within two years, I had built my VA business to six figures a year - making twice as much as I did at my old job. Except now, I could work from anywhere. My husband and I traveled, moved across the country, and took spontaneous trips just because we could.

But what happened next? I never saw coming.

THE BUSINESS THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

At some point, I started sharing my life online.

I wasn’t doing it to build a business - I just wanted to document my journey. But as more people saw me working remotely and traveling, I started getting messages.

“How did you do this?”

“How can I start freelancing?”

“Can you teach me how to work online?”

I realized that people weren’t just curious - they wanted to learn how to do it themselves. And that’s when I saw an opportunity.

So I launched my first online course, teaching people how to ditch their 9-5s and build online businesses. I had no idea what to expect, but within five months, I hit six figures. By the end of the first year, I had built a multi-six-figure course business - making more than I ever had in freelancing.

And now? This is what I do.

I’M NOT SPECIAL

If you’re reading this, there’s a part of you that knows you were made for more.

Maybe you feel stuck. Maybe you’re searching for a way out. Maybe you’re sitting in your office right now, staring out the window, wondering if it’s too late to change your life.

I need you to hear this: It’s not.

I started with zero experience. I had no clue what I was doing. But I figured it out. And if I can do it? So can you.

So if you’re waiting for a sign, this is it. 

You have SO MANY options.

The question is - what are you going to do with it?

If you want to become a virtual assistant...

If you have been thinking of becoming a Virtual Assistant, there truly hasn’t been a better time to start! More businesses than ever are turning to freelancers and virtual assistants today.

You can turn the skills you already have into a service-based business, work from the comfort of your own home, work with clients you genuinely enjoy working with, and have more freedom than a regular 9-5 job. 

As someone who’s been in the game for 8 years, I can tell you - it’s a pretty fun gig!

If you want to learn how to become a virtual assistant, you CANNOT miss this free training I created for you. I deep dive into the world of freelancing, tell you how I started my virtual assistant business, and give you the absolute BEST tips for getting started and finding clients.

Want me as your coach? Join my online course, Virtual Freelancer Academy, where I teach you EVERYTHING you need to know and give you all the tools you need to succeed as a VA (just like I've done for hundreds of students just like you).

Have more questions? Message me here!