That’s the question we all want the answer to, and honestly, a year ago I was asking the same thing. Now, after building an audience online and doubling my income, I want to share how it actually happened.
Here’s the backstory:
I was working a standard 9–5, doing the typical early career “dogsbody” work, getting promoted quickly, but still… something felt off. I’d gone down the traditional path, uni, job, climb the ladder, but I was restless. I hated having zero time for myself. So I decided to add more to my plate: posting content.
I didn’t set out to be an “influencer.” I wasn’t chasing free PR or glamorous gifting. I just wanted to talk about something that had quietly been my obsession: investing. Back in uni, my guy friends showed me their portfolios, and I went down the rabbit hole, books like Rich Dad Poor Dad, The Psychology of Money, and binging creators like Andrei Jikh. But I didn’t have anyone in my circle to talk to about it. So, instead of boring my friends with my savings totals, I thought, why not admit it to the entire internet?
One random evening, I filmed a video: “5 Things I Did in My 20s to Get Ahead Financially.” It got 50k views. I was hooked.
Fast forward a year:
200k+ followers
First 6 months = a few thousand pounds earned
8 months in = hitting multiple 4 figures consistently
12 months = matched my full-time salary (£35k)
14 months = £48,000 earned from content
I became what I call an accidental influencer.
What actually worked for me
Here’s the truth: my views didn’t change that much during this time. What changed was me, the way I approached content, value, and consistency. These are the steps that helped me go from hobby to full-time:
I gave away value for free.
The best-kept secrets? The things people are scared to “gatekeep”? That’s the content that will set you apart. Oversaturated niches and AI clips can’t compete with someone who shows up with real authority and lived experience. Similarly, there is no competition among other creators when you have a personal brand, because like the name suggests, it's personal to your unique life experience.I treated consistency like a job.
In my first 6 months, I posted 3x a day. No exceptions. Filming on the tube, editing before work, squeezing it in wherever I could. Growth comes from output, not overthinking. Every post is a lottery ticket, you never know which one will take off. I have paired it back now, but that's only because I am in a position where I know what will do when, before that point, you should be putting feelers out constantly. You can't iterate content that doesn't exist yet (don't burnout tho, pls!!)I added my personal twist.
Budgeting, saving, investing, these aren’t new topics. But I made them mine. From sharing my actual numbers to coining phrases like “frugal chic,” I showed up as myself. That’s what made my content memorable. Yes, we follow people because we think if we do it'll better our lives. But we also follow people because their content moves us in some way - it's emotive.I focused on high-ROI actions.
Forget obsessing over Canva banners or making things look pretty, posting was my #1 priority. The volume of content mattered more than the polish in the early days. Have a look at some of my old videos to see what i'm on about here ahah.I built community.
This is digital networking. I engaged with other creators, supported them, and aligned myself with people in my niche. You can’t expect applause if you never clap for anyone else.
Why I quit my 9–5
I didn’t wake up one day and say, “I want to be an influencer.” My decision to leave was honestly a breaking point: I was uncomfortable, anxious, and unappreciated at work—while earning more from content than my job ever paid me. It was a natural time to move on.
Now, I get paid to be myself. Not because I set out with that goal, but because I obsessed over giving value, showed up consistently, and wasn’t afraid to share my journey.
So if you’re already creating and trying to reach that next level—this is your sign: post more, give more, and don’t gatekeep. That’s how you get paid to be you.
I broke this all down in my YouTube & Spotify episode, out now.
Until next time,
Mia ✨
