🔥 I was tired of making other people rich.

This is what I did to break free.

Author

Hanna Larsson
November 13, 2024

In partnership with

I don’t listen to people.

If I did, I wouldn’t have:

- left my cushy ($) 6-figure job

- started my own business

- built my personal brand

- clients in 25 countries

- become my own boss

- work from anywhere

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I was tired of making other people rich.

I was tired of being employed.

I was tired of having an employer determine my growth, salary and future.

I was frustrated.

So, I decided to build my personal brand on LinkedIn.

Even though it felt super scary at the time.

I started sharing my:

wins

values

failures

lessons

my truth

thoughts

hot takes

mistakes

knowledge

experiences

observations

achievements

common sense

personal stories

personal experiences

things that shaped me

things that made me relatable

fundamental things I believe in

things I wish I had known earlier

On the days I felt like quitting I kept going.

I posted every single day.

I remember the first deal I closed.

I remember the first inbound.

I remember the first person who made fun of my content.

I remember when those people came back and asked for help to build their personal brand.

I remember the first CEO who reached out and asked for help to build his brand (Thank you, you know who you are)

I remember my first American client because this is when things really started to take off (I will always be grateful to you)

I remember my first ($) 5-figure deal.

I remember the people who said I would fail.

I remember my first public speaking gig as a business owner.

I remember how uncomfortable it was in the beginning.

But also how convinced I was this was the only path for me to take.

Because I had lost my motivation for the career path I was on.

Since then it has generated:

💸 An online business with CASH FLOW

📣 I have become a Top Voice on LinkedIn

👀 194,000+ followers and 85 million+ impressions

🌍 Clients all over the world → sold to 25+ countries

💪 I have built a profitable content-led 6-figure business

🔟 Been ranked one of the Top 10 most influential people on LinkedIn

🗞️ Numerous interviews: featured by Entrepreneur Magazine, Inc Magazine, CXO Magazine etc

......but that's not the best part.

↓

The best part is the FREEDOM it brings me.

I work with whoever I want.

I work wherever I want.

I work whenever I want.

And I get to spend much more time with my family.

→ And I am obsessed about building a life and a business I don't need a vacation from.

I help founders GROW their business, pipeline and personal brand.

Through content-led growth 📈

Entrepreneurship for me is like coming HOME.

It’s been 2.5 years since I broke free

2.5 years ago I left my 9 to 5.

Would I do it again?

Hell yeah.

It’s the best decision I’ve taken.

I’ve always built businesses.

This time it was time to build my own.

So, if you are thinking about building your own thing, don’t postpone it any longer.

🔥 MY ADVICE TO YOU


1. Find your FUEL and relentlessly go after it

It doesn’t matter where you are right now.

Start exactly where you are.

My frustration became my motivation.

And my fire.

And also fear of continuing on a path that leaves me with very little to decide for myself.

Do I continue to work for someone else my entire career?

And let them set the rules?

Let them decide my growth?

And how much money I earn?

NO.

→ Start with:

- pain
- frustration
- fear
- doubt

As long as you get started.

2. Start building your personal brand and audience

→ This is the rise of the organic content-led business model - RIDE THIS WAVE!

It’s opening up the opportunity for a whole lot more people to build independance and opportunity for themselves.

Which I think will be vital for all in a couple of years.

3. Start where you are

Trade time for money; learn, get feedback, package, iterate, SHIP again

Build on social media platforms.

Create your leverage.

Scale it through organic content.

4. Buy a domain

→ A personal domain name is fantastic because it generates a lot more traffic than a company brand does.

I started with hannalarsson dot me, then I built Huntrs.

A personal domain stays with you and develops over time.

It’s a summary of all the things he does and spends his time on.

5. Stop looking for shortcuts - there are none

People who constantly look for shortcuts are missing out on the momentum.

Skip all that.

→ Build systems
→ Do things that don't scale in the beginning
→ Automate
→ Micro-outsource the things you don’t want to do yourself
→ Learn from people who are already doing what you want to do

The barrier to entry is lower than ever before.

6. Learn how to create great content online

→ Most people need to learn how to play the game or outsource to someone who can do it for them


→ Build a strategy, and a system


→ Improve your content and craft YOUR tone of voice (not someone else’s)

Remember: content will never save a poor offer.

Ask for help if you’re not getting anywhere.

And PLEASE, don’t assume big bang growth in a couple of months.

If you’ve been sold this story, it’s a lie.

↓

Building audience is a drip by drip motion.

It compounds over time.

7. Surround yourself with people who challenge you to aim higher and think bigger

→ Leave toxic and negative people behind - life is hard enough as it is. Why make it harder for yourself? Sometimes we need to leave those people behind.

→ Find other builders to hang around with - this impacts us SO much

→ Find mentors in: people, books, podcasts, content and newsletters

I consume a lot of content and it’s helped me a TON.

I wouldn’t be where I am today without it.

8. When you have traded time for money

Start building products and packaged services.

Build once, ship at scale:

- products
- programs
- 1:1 services
- done for you services
- newsletters
- sponsorships
- software
- community
- collaborations/paid partnerships etc.

9. When you are fully booked, start micro-outsourcing to contractors to help you scale the business

Do the stuff you are good at it.

Outsource the rest.

Ask your network.

Go to freelancer platforms.

I recommend great people to my clients.

They recommend people to me.

This saves a lot of time.

Put yourself in places you don't think you belong.

Go out there and BUILD the life you want.

Start with social media.

And build trust at scale.

That’s how we actively put ourselves in a position to WIN.

Hope this was helpful.

Talk soon,
Hanna