He Quit His Job And Makes $10M/Year Writing Online

Summary

Dicky Bush, a former Wall Street trader, shares his journey of building a $10 million business through writing while maintaining a full-time job. He outlines his daily routine, which includes waking up at 4:30 a.m. to write for two hours before his day job, and his strategies for scaling his writing business. Dicky emphasizes the importance of writing as a foundational skill for content creation and offers advice for aspiring writers, including the value of ghostwriting to leverage others' audiences. He also discusses the tools he uses and the mindset required for success in writing and entrepreneurship.

Takeaways

• 😀 The individual built a $10 million business through writing, starting while still employed in a 9 to 5 job.
• 🕒 He maintained a strict routine, waking up at 4:30 a.m. to write for two hours before returning to his day job.
• 💼 Initially unhappy in a high-paying Wall Street job, he sought more freedom and control over his income and time.
• 📈 He leveraged a viral tweet that led to his first significant writing gig, earning him $5,000 and sparking his writing career.
• 💡 He emphasizes the importance of writing as a foundational skill for creating content across various platforms.
• 📚 He recommends 'The Art and Business of Online Writing' by Nicholas Cole for anyone interested in writing online.
• 💼 He suggests ghostwriting as a way to monetize writing skills quickly by leveraging someone else's audience.
• 🛠️ He uses simple tools like Apple Notes and Type Share for his writing and publishing needs, avoiding overcomplication.
• 🌊 He alternates between 'monk mode', where he's highly focused and productive, and 'maintenance mode', where he allows for creativity and relaxation.
• 🚀 He advises against waiting for a 'perfect time' to start; instead, take action now and learn as you go.

Q & A

How did Dicky Bush start his journey to building a $10 million business?

Dicky Bush started his journey by writing online while still working a 9 to 5 job on Wall Street. He utilized his early mornings to write for two hours before his day job, and continued to build his business in the evenings.

What was Dicky's initial routine to balance his full-time job and his writing business?

Dicky would wake up at 4:30 a.m., write for two hours, return to his desk at 7:00 a.m. for his day job, and then work on his writing business in the evenings after logging off from his day job.

How did Dicky's first significant income from writing come about?

Dicky's first significant income came from a tweet he wrote, which led to a high-profile individual asking him to write a thread for them. After completing the task, he was paid $5,000, which was a significant amount compared to his initial expectation.

What was the turning point for Dicky to leave his Wall Street job?

The turning point for Dicky was realizing the lack of incentives and freedom in his Wall Street job, and witnessing a colleague being denied permission to attend his son's event. This prompted him to seek a career where he could have more control and freedom.

Can you describe the four businesses that Dicky runs as part of his writing portfolio?

Dicky runs four businesses: Ship 30 for 30, a community-powered writing course; the Premium Ghostriding Academy, which helps beginners become premium ghostwriters; WR with AI, a newsletter for training AI writing tools; and Typeshare, a SaaS business providing templates, analytics, and hosting for writing online.

What was the key takeaway from Dicky's 30-day personal writing challenge?

The key takeaway from Dicky's 30-day writing challenge was the importance of consistency and persistence in writing. Even when a post didn't get engagement, he continued to publish, which eventually led to a viral post and significant business opportunity.

How did Dicky scale his writing business from a side hustle to a full-time endeavor?

Dicky scaled his writing business by creating structured programs and courses, such as Ship 30 for 30, and partnering with others like Nicholas Cole to develop immersive educational experiences. He also focused on creating valuable content that could be monetized.

What advice does Dicky give to writers who want to make a significant income from writing?

Dicky advises writers to first build their writing skills and then leverage someone else's audience to offer their services. He suggests starting as a ghostwriter to establish a stable income before pursuing personal projects that may take longer to monetize.

What tools does Dicky recommend for writers, and what is his approach to writing productivity?

Dicky recommends using Typeshare for publishing and Apple Notes for idea collection. His approach to productivity involves focusing on the task at hand without getting caught up in complex systems or tools. He emphasizes the importance of writing with an empathetic lens, solving the reader's problems.

What mindset or attitude does Dicky suggest for overcoming the fear of starting to write online?

Dicky suggests that the fear of what others might think is a significant barrier for many. He encourages writers to realize that people are too busy thinking about themselves to judge others and to just start publishing their work without worrying about initial reactions.