- The Juicer
- Posts
- Please don’t quit your 9–5 just yet
Please don’t quit your 9–5 just yet
I had 10K followers but barely $300/month in income—and daily panic attacks. Until I asked ChatGPT this question.
Justin Chia
May 28, 2025
In partnership with
Hey friend,
Sometime in 2020, words like these were all the rage:
“Quit your job. NOW.”
“Go all in on your business.”
“Burn the boats.”
And.. I bought into it. 🤦🏻♂️
My naive self quit hearing such internet advice.
Totally unwise.
And I learned the hard way:
Sometimes quitting too early doesn’t make you brave.
It just makes you tired, broke, and burned out.
Let me explain.
Turn AI into Your Income Engine
Ready to transform artificial intelligence from a buzzword into your personal revenue generator?
HubSpot’s groundbreaking guide "200+ AI-Powered Income Ideas" is your gateway to financial innovation in the digital age.
Inside you'll discover:
A curated collection of 200+ profitable opportunities spanning content creation, e-commerce, gaming, and emerging digital markets—each vetted for real-world potential
Step-by-step implementation guides designed for beginners, making AI accessible regardless of your technical background
Cutting-edge strategies aligned with current market trends, ensuring your ventures stay ahead of the curve
Download your guide today and unlock a future where artificial intelligence powers your success. Your next income stream is waiting.
My story started with SEO
Circa 2020, when I made YT vids for my birdwatching blog.
I was running a birdwatching blog—my first taste of real online income.
At the time, I was earning $1.4k/month in ad revenue.
Not much, but it felt like I could keep the momentum.
With my blog and simple naivety.
I decided to quit my perfectly stable job.
The day I quit my job in 2022. All smiles, not knowing what was to come.
Eventually, I grew my income to $3.5k/month, which felt stable…
Finally, I hit $9k/month with freelance editing gigs.
I was celebrating: “YAY!”
But the very next month, it took a nosedive with Google algorithm updates.
Those algorithm updates hit. And they hit hard.
Traffic dipped by 90%. Revenue dropped. My income dried up.
My heart sank.
I had to find a way out.
I pivoted to LinkedIn
Screenshot of my LinkedIn profile with 14k followers. Had no idea what I was doing.
I figured I could teach, grow an audience, and monetize… somehow?
And I did grow. I hit 10,000 followers. I posted consistently. I built lead magnets.
But you know how much I was making?
$300/month.
And that wasn’t nearly enough to get by in Singapore—one of the most expensive cities in the world.
On the outside, I looked like I was thriving
But privately?
I was spiraling.
I started having panic attacks almost daily—something I had never experienced before.
So one day I asked ChatGPT:
“Why am I feeling so anxious about my business?”
It said something simple, but true:
“Because your income is unpredictable. And financial pressure creates stress.”
That was the moment I understood:
I didn’t burn out from doing too much.
I burned out from carrying all the risk alone.
And so I swallowed my pride.
I texted my ex-manager saying I want to work for her again.
She obliged.
I was ready to get back into the 9-5.
And build my life all over again.
And that made all the difference.
So here’s my honest advice now:
Don’t quit your 9–5.
Not yet.
Not because you can’t do it.
But because stability gives you clarity.
Let your job fund your learning curve.
Use it to buy time, mental space, and freedom from constant pressure.
Then use that space to build a LinkedIn side business—with the help of AI.
That’s exactly what I’m doing now.
After everything, I rejoined the workforce in tech.
And honestly? I’ve been happier since.
I managed to pay for a deposit for my own apartment.
Life got more sustainable.
I was way happier and ready to build my biz again!
Me registering to buy a home in Singapore🏠
And I realised that’s it.
Business doesn’t have to be back-against-the-wall tough.
It’s about being consistent and sustainable in the long term.
Now, I’m building this business with purpose, structure, and no panic attacks.
The financial and mental stability is such a peace of mind for me.
At the very worst, you’ll have built a personal brand that helps your career.
At best, you’ll unlock optionality for the rest of your life.
It’s a win either way.
And it doesn’t require burnout to get there.
If this resonates, hit reply and tell me where you’re at.
Really—I want to hear your story. You’re not alone in this.
*Virtual hug* 🤗
Catch you next week ✌️
— Justin
PS. To help you get clarity on your side hustle, I’ve opened up a few 1:1, 60-minute consulting calls to help you:
Clarify your LinkedIn strategy
Build a sustainable AI system for LinkedIn
Finally beat overwhelm and show up consistently on LinkedIn (without burning out)
Just down to 2 spots now.
(This is the final call!)
For serious creators who want clarity on LinkedIn growth.
Reply