What went wrong, what I missed, and how I’m rebuilding smarter
Six figures a year? Check.
Doing what I love? Check.
Getting to work from anywhere, anytime? Check, check, check.
18 months ago, I had multiple income streams from being a full-time writer, which included digital products and working with companies like Kit.
I was living the dream.
But then things went south.
Now, I find myself in a digital marketing agency, tied to an office, thinking “how the f*ck have I ended up here?”
Don’t get me wrong; I’m grateful for what I have. It’s just not what I want. It doesn’t align with my long-term goal of financial and schedule freedom.
So here are five lessons I’ve learnt the hard way if you want to build a sustainable, six-figure online business.
These are lessons I’m taking with me to rebuild my online service business in 2026.
Mistake #1: ~80% of my income came from one client
*I tell the full story of how I signed them in this article.*
My retainer started at $5K/month.
12 months later, $7K/month.
Six months later?
Let go.
In fact, I got the unfortunate email a week before moving into the apartment I’d just bought.
(Not ideal.)
What I’m doing differently in 2026
This time, I want to work with at least two clients at any one time. And each will be on a $2.5K/month retainer. This way, if I lose a client, I’ll still have money coming in.
I currently have one client.
I aim to land at least one more before quitting my 9–5.
Mistake #2: Offering a limited service
My main offer was this:
Writing SEO-optimised content to help companies rank on page one of Google for their target keywords.
And although this offer still has value, SEO and writing jobs are getting eaten alive by AI.
Companies can do this themselves.
What I’m doing differently in 2026
I’m expanding my services to include Digital Business Management.
“A Digital Business Manager [DBM] is the right hand to a CEO or small business owner.”
Effectively, my freelancing business has two streams: SEO and DBM.
I offer each service through separate websites.
Upskilling through Deya’s DBM Bootcamp has been one of the best investments I’ve made this year.
Mistake #3: I got lazy
There were days — weeks even — where I did the same thing over and over and over again.
My routine was something like this:
- Write for a couple of hours
- Have lunch
- Go to the gym
- Do more client work
- Chill
Was I actively trying to land new clients? Develop new skills? Connect with other business owners?
No.
What I’m doing differently in 2026
All of the above.
Mistake #4: Splurging
Meals out.
I was spending money arm over fist. And that’s okay when you’re making lots of it. (What’s the point otherwise?)
But now, I’m going to be more frugal.
This way, if I suddenly lose a couple of clients, I won’t go into a full-on panic.
What I’m doing differently in 2026
In the next two months, I plan to cut my expenses by almost half.
Here’s how:
- Switching my mortgage
- My girlfriend moving into my place
- Spending less money on eating out, clothes, and holidays
Mistake #5: Giving up
When my step dad passed away, I was all over the place.
Everything lost importance — including work.
So when I lost a major client around the same time he got his diagnosis, what did I do?
I didn’t look for new clients. Or post on social media. Or do all of the things I *should* have been doing for my business.
No.
I gave up.
I wasn’t in the right head space, so I opted for the “safer route” of a 9–5.
The issue?
My soul has been completely sucked away.
What I’m doing differently this time in 2026
I have a year’s worth of savings tucked away.
This way, if I’m mentally side-swiped by something out of my control, I’ll be okay.
Key takeaways
80–90% of success in the online business world comes from your mindset.
Are you willing to stick at it, even when every fibre in your being is SCREAMING at you to stop?
You’ve got this.
Here’s a summary of what I’m doing differently this time and mistakes for you to avoid if it’s your first rodeo:
- Mistake #1: ~80% of my income came from one client — Have at least 2–3 clients on your books before you hand in your notice. That’s confirmed clients. Not potentials.
- Mistake #2: Offering a limited service — Read the room. If your service is being eaten alive by AI, pivot. Upskill. Do something else.
- Mistake #3: I got lazy — Land new clients. Learn new skills. Meet interesting people. You’ve got to keep moving.
- Mistake #4: Splurging — Keep your costs as low as possible (at least in the beginning). It extends your runway.
- Mistake #5: Giving up — Tuck away 6–12 months of savings. When sh*t gets hard, this will keep you sane.