6-Figure Income without a 6-Figure Following
Earlier this year, I experienced a layoff from my tech job — that definitely wasn’t on my 2023 bingo card.
I received the highly anticipated email from the CEO at 3AM, said quick goodbyes to my product team, and then documented my feelings in my journal:
Today is Wednesday, April 19, and as of 4:15 AM, I have been laid off. While I’m still processing the events that led up to today, I’m grateful for the experiences I had at the company over the course of three years. I have grown technically, personally, and professionally.
As I’ve shared with my former teammates, friends, and family members who reached out today, I wholeheartedly believe that everything happens the way it is supposed to. It is easy to question why this happened and why me, but the answer is — trust God, point blank period. I have a feeling He’s up to something.
Fast forward seven months, and what initially seemed like a career mishap transformed into my championship season 🏆
In the span of seven months I:
closed my largest brand partnership deal yet (6 days after the layoff)🥹
paid off the remaining balance of my student loans
attended my first two brand trips with Ulta Beauty
secured my first national commercial + print campaign
received a job offer + negotiated a 27K increase for my new role as a UX Researcher
and content creation evolved into a 6-figure business, matching my tech job salary.
During an event in LA, Sarah Jakes Roberts said something that encapsulates my time away from the corporate landscape:
..sudden breaks can either feel like interruptions or disruptions. Disruptions halt everything, rendering you unable to move forward, while interruptions, though surprising in the moment, allow you to continue with what you were doing.
The layoff was undoubtedly an interruption, but little did I know that it would become the turning point — what initially seemed to be falling apart fell in God’s hands.
As the saying goes, 'January me wouldn't believe the year I've had,' but this achievement wasn't an overnight success, nor something I could have accomplished alone.
It demanded discipline, insightful conversations with fellow creators—thank you, Lola (Our dinner at Giorgio Baldi opened my eyes to what was possible for me) —and creative brainstorming sessions with my twin sister Kenny. Her encouragement fueled my determination, a reminder to keep going despite the unpredictable nature of the algorithm.
But one thing about me — I stand firm on my belief that if one person can do it, then so can you—and not just that, but even more. Success is not exclusive; it's an open invitation, waiting for you to step in and claim your own journey.
Now, let's dive into how — the three strategies that propelled me to this milestone:
Consistency GOES Beyond Daily Grind
Discovering that consistency doesn't necessitate daily posts was the cheat code. Teaching my community my posting cadence, with content shared about once or twice a week on TikTok, organically attracted the attention of some of my favorite brands. Tagging a travel brand during one of my trips not only initiated a conversation in my comments but also secured my first paid partnership as a Creator — its giving sufficient funds 💁🏾♀️.
Long Term Commitments, Not One Night Stands
Please no one night stands🙅🏾♀️. Building lasting relationships became a cornerstone of my strategy. Securing long-term partnerships translated into a steady income stream, mirroring the cadence I was accustomed to from my tech job. Creator programs like the Ulta Beauty Collective and the BlackTikTok Creator Community Program provided avenues for stable collaborations, access to masterclasses, and connections with other creators. I was in rooms I didn’t know I would benefit from in the long run.
stANDING ON BUSINESS
One of the lessons learned from my time in the tech industry is that, despite the casual attire and youthful appearances, maintaining a corporate edge is how to stand on business. Equipping myself with the right tools was paramount in constructing my professional presence as a Creator.
Notion emerged as my organizational hub, allowing me to create templates such as a brand deals CRM and content calendar. It became the backbone of my organizational structure.
Canva played a pivotal role in streamlining my partnership processes. I crafted partnership deliverable decks that housed every video, caption, audio link, and hashtag well before the due date, all conveniently centralized for the brands.
Additionally, integrating ChatGPT brought an extra layer of efficiency — because, in this 2023, if you're not leveraging AI in your day-to-day, what are you even doing?
These tools allowed me to divert more attention to the creative dimensions of my work, ultimately elevating the overall quality of my content.
My hope is that this journal entry serves as the inspo you needed to kick off 2024 — and in my THICKEST Nigerian aunty accent, HAPPY NEW YEAR IN ADVANCE✨
〰T.
