- After escaping from a cult, Julia McCoy turned independent to upwork in a successful business.
- McCoy’s business, Express Writers, increased $ 1.8 million with 100 contractors.
- She sold Express writers for over $ 1 million and now runs firstmovers.ai with his agents.
This strong essay is based on a conversation with Julia McCoy, a 33-year-old business owner in Arizona. Business Insider has verified the financial claims. This story has been edited for length and clarity.
I was 19 when I decided to follow my passion. I google “how to earn money,” and found work, which at that time was ODESK.
Freelancing in upwork allowed me to get rid of the difficult living situation in which I grew up. After I was free, I turned it independently into a successful business. My entrepreneurial ventures now support my husband and two children.
I grew up in a cult that made it difficult to work
I lived within what I considered a cult for over half of my life. It was an extremist religious environment with a code of clothing of long dresses, curbs and spiritual rules. I was allowed to use the Internet, follow community college and work at McDonalds, but only if I gave my father most of my profits.
Within a month of creating an independent profile, I tripled my income in McDonald’s. I woke up at 4am every day, applied for hundreds of concerts in the upwork, and completed every concert I received in the afternoon.
As I was independent, I met the man my husband would become. Josh hired me to run SEO for his website, and we immediately hit him. I told him to grow up in a cult, and I realized I had to go out.
I bought a cash car with my independent money in 2012, filled in the middle of the night, and riding from Pennsylvania to Missouri to be with seduction. We started meeting immediately. Since then I haven’t talked to my father.
I did $ 30,000 in my first year as a freelacer
Being a show with a woman was difficult because I was responsible for sales, marketing, content creation, technology and fulfillment departments. Josh wanted to leave his business as a website developer, so he joined me as my company CTO, Express Writers.
We got married in 2013. Josh and I working together helped the business grow quickly, but everything else took a back place after we had our daughter in 2014.
We started talking about parenting logistics. I had been the bread maker from the beginning of our relationship and would continue to be.
We had stability because I hired some managers and implemented a delegation process. I could work one hour a day, sometimes even less, and spend most of my time with the baby.
Josh turned back to building the technical side of business, and I went all by continuing to grow it after a year of rest
Josh worked much less than me. As I worked later at night, Josh took over to dinner, take care of our child and do homework.
The business increased significantly. Revenue reached $ 1.8 million in 2018.
My husband and I were the only employees, but we had 100 people who were all structured as contractors. My team did everything a client could need content: Write posts on blog and website, edited copies and articles, wrote ebooks and guides and offered content strategies.
I sold my business and started a new
When the business started making seven figures in income, I began to think about selling it. I wanted to do something else and I was tired of being responsible for that many people. I also saw what the chatgt was capable of, and it was a real threat to writing and independently.
After hiring a brokerage specialized in e -commerce, I sold my business for over $ 1 million in 2021.
I started a new company called Content Hacker, which I would also sell to my future employer for a multimillion dollar rating in exchange for a partnership stock. I created courses, learned and built an online community with hacker of content.
Our son was born in March 2022
Josh went into his role to take care of us four – home, family, cleaning and even growing food for us. He installed solar panels and made the house almost completely out of the grid.
I don’t think I would have achieved this place of success without the support of Josh. I am very ambitious, and Josh knew if he would try to drop it, I would lose my passion for life.
Next, I did a job at a start of him
In January 2023, I discovered a company that I was interested in and made the founder for a job. I told him I was a former content writer who had sold my agency, knew the contents of the content and could help his business grow.
He hired me and by March, I was promoted to the deputy president of marketing. I was doing well, so I told him to make me president and slam my salary. My salary was $ 100,000 initially, but it increased to $ 300,000 by August 2023.
Since then I have left that position and have returned to the venture with my third company, firstmovers.ai. I have a small team and I have created it agents to manage most business tasks.
Josh take care of everything at home, and I’m grateful
I start work at 8am, and if I’m in a network meeting, may I not be home by 9pm When I get home, everything is done and cared for.
Although I am a nutrient, we have not allocated our finances – we share a bank account. No one has a side account; No one says, “This is mine!”
We maintain a family budget; If we want to make a big expense or investment, we discuss it and we always make a common decision. This communication has helped us overcome any kind of hostility.
Being nutritious has not affected romantic relationships. Funny funny because Josh says he sees it as a very sexy thing.
I feel grateful for this opportunity to support our family and I have an amazing man who supports me by taking care of our home and children.