020: Breaking free from the grind: Colleen’s path to work-life balance as a transcript proofreader. Graduate interview with Colleen Hayes
English class was always Colleen’s favorite class, and she loved reading and being analytical. She went to college for a degree in Literature and even taught English abroad for a couple years in Europe.
When she returned home, she entered the traditional workforce, setting her passion for English aside. She soon found though that she struggled with a 40-hour work week and felt guilty when she needed time off. Her mental and physical health — and her life! — were all taking a back seat to her work.
Now in her early 30s, Colleen felt stuck and restless. She knew this wasn’t the life she wanted, and she went looking for something better.
She tried different jobs, but none were what she was looking for…until she found transcript proofreading.
At first, she felt nervous about being a business owner. That hadn’t been on her radar!
But she decided to give it a try…and just six months later, she had built up all the clientele she needed and had created a life where she could feel respected and give respect, be in charge of her schedule, take back control of her health, and live life on her terms.
Listen as Colleen shares her story leading up to becoming a transcript proofreader, how she approached learning a new skill, and what her life looks like now. She also givesĀ invaluable tips to current transcript proofreading students and those thinking about this new side hustle. If you want to learn from someone who has successfully built their own business, this episode is for you!
Resources and links
- Connect with Colleen on Facebook!
- Want to learn more about transcript proofreading and see if it’s the right side hustle for you? Watch my (free!) workshop here: Is Transcript Proofreading the Right Money-Making Business for Me?
Thank you!
Thank you for taking the time to invest in yourself by listening to this episode! Please hit subscribe so you catch every episode — and share with anyone needing encouragement or curious about starting their proofreading side hustle too.
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But how do you know which type of proofreading is best for you?
Thereās general proofreading, which focuses on books, blogs, papers, and more. And thereās transcript proofreading, which focuses on verbatim legal transcripts.
Both work with words, but theyāre both very different when it comes to how and what you proofread, the clients you work for, and the skill and experience you need to be successful.
So which oneās the perfect money-making match for you?
Turning typos into cash as a proofreader sounds intriguing, right?
