Unlocking Your True Potential

Multiple Income Streams: The Unsexy Truth

If you’ve been thinking: “I need another income stream.” But you’re also tired, busy, and living a real life, this live conversation will hit a nerve. I went live with John Mulholland [https://substack.com/profile/452978295-john-mulholland] to talk about multiple income streams, what’s real, what’s hype, and what people never tell you about the work behind “passive” income. John’s not a theorist. John built this while living a normal life. He was a teacher for 20 years, and while teaching, he was building side hustles in the background. Over time, the side hustles became the main hustle. That transition is the story. It’s about building options. The Nine To Five Club is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a subscriber. John’s starting point (and why it matters). John didn’t wake up one day with seven income streams and a perfect routine. He started like most people: * A job. * A family life. * Limited time. * A desire for more. * And a willingness to build something for himself. He talked about doing sports coaching and side hustles alongside teaching, then later building a proper operations-heavy business: Fiesta Sports Coaching [https://fiestasportscoaching.co.uk/]. A big point he made (and I respect the honesty): Running an operations business with staff, logistics, sickness, inflation, and cost pressure is harder than people think. It is not a cute Instagram side hustle. It’s a real responsibility. The lie people still believe: “Work-Life Balance”. John said something I agree with, even if it’s uncomfortable: Work-life balance is not a stable destination. It’s different states of flux. In the beginning, you are building something. That means sacrifice. That means evenings. That means saying no to comfort. Not forever. But for a chapter of your life. I called it what it is: work-life imbalance. If you’re building a second life, your current comfort will be the price. The real unlock: leverage (without losing your soul). We got into one of the most important ideas in wealth building: leverage. Not “use people” leverage. Real leverage: * Build a team. * Delegate tasks. * Create systems. * Automate what can be automated. I shared my own example: My Airbnb business looks busy from the outside, but because it’s systemised and delegated, I can be in and out in 10 minutes a day, and sometimes do nothing at all when there are longer bookings. The point is not Airbnb. The point is: Income streams become sustainable when you stop being the bottleneck. Why doesn’t school prepare people for real life? This part is important. John made a blunt but true point: Most young people aren’t being taught what they actually need about business and money. Not because teachers are bad people. Because most teachers have never: * Run payroll. * Built a business. * Handled cashflow pressure. * Sold an offer. * Managed tax strategy. * Dealt with real-world risk. That gap is why John built Financial Certainty Family [https://www.skool.com/next-gen-wealth-academy-2044]: To teach the stuff people are embarrassed to ask, and the stuff school never covered. We also talked about something I wish every teenager understood: Most people don’t fail because they lack knowledge. They fail because they’re afraid to fail. And because comfort is addictive. John said it on the live, and I’ll say it again here: Comfort kills dreams. The 7 types of income (simple breakdown). This live was inspired by Christopher Lewis [https://substack.com/profile/319400589-christopher-lewis]’ framework on the 7 income types [https://substack.com/@financewithchristopher/p-187280915]. Here’s the simple version we explored: * Earned income: your job, your wages. * Profit income: buy or create something, sell for more than it costs (John’s business). * Rental income: property cashflow (HMOs, serviced accommodation, buy-to-lets, etc.). * Capital gains: buy low, sell high (property appreciation, business exits, even flipping items). * Interest income: savings, bonds, funds, partnerships. * Dividend income: shares that pay you. * Royalty income: books, music, software, courses, and evergreen content. None of these is “the answer”. But if you only have earned income, you have one point of failure. And the world is getting too expensive for that. Two practical money lessons we both agree on. 1) Don’t invest money you can’t afford to lose. This is not fear. This is maturity. 2) Inflation quietly robs people who only save. We spoke about how money sitting in a bank account can feel safe, but lose purchasing power over time. John made an important counterpoint, too: keep a cash buffer for emergencies so you don’t have to sell assets at the wrong time. Royalties are more real than people think (and you already have a story). This was one of my favourite moments. We talked about books, royalties, and content that pays you repeatedly. I shared a personal example: years ago, I made YouTube videos about alopecia after losing my hair, and people reached out from all over the world. It reminded me that everybody has a story that can help someone. And then the funniest part: my son started selling my book at school. Not because I pushed him. Because he wanted to. That’s the kind of thing that makes me think: we’re all closer to “another income stream” than we realise. We don’t treat our ideas like assets. The closing message (if you only take one thing). You don’t need to quit your job tomorrow. But you do need to stop pretending you can build freedom with only comfort. Pick one income stream that fits your life right now. Start small. Stay consistent. Learn from someone doing it. And give it long enough to work. Watch the full live. If you want the full conversation (including the real talk on business pressure, mentorship, tax mindset, and what “passive” income actually looks like), watch the replay. Your next move (choose one). * Write down your current income streams (even small ones). * Pick one to build this year. * Decide on the weekly time block you will protect for it. * Swap one comfort habit for one hour of building. Thank you all for being part of my journey to my own multiple income streams. Get full access to Nine To Five Club at ninetofiveclub.substack.com/subscribe [https://ninetofiveclub.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Unlocking Your True Potential

Unlocking Your True Potential: Admitting the Dream Inside You Have you ever felt like there’s a dream inside you, waiting to be set free? In the latest episode of the 9-5 Club Podcast, David urges listeners to take a moment of introspection and admit their deepest desires. This powerful admission is the first step towards transforming your life and pursuing the path you truly want. Section 1: The Importance of Admission David emphasises that before making any life changes, you must first admit what you truly want. According to him, everything else is just a strategy built on a lie. He encourages listeners to recognise the small signs of their dreams, whether it’s feeling drawn to certain people or getting lost in work that ignites their passion. Instead of downplaying these feelings to mere desires for fulfilment or freedom, he challenges us to vocalise our true dreams. Section 2: Facing Fears and Societal Norms Admitting your dream can feel dangerous. David points out that this admission threatens the comfort of those around you, as well as your own excuses. Many people might say, “I want to build something that’s mine,” but then revert to safer language, like “My job is busy, but it’s fine.” This is where honesty comes into play. David shares personal anecdotes about his own struggles, from factory floors to corporate offices, emphasising that the desire for freedom and meaningful work is universal. Section 3: Your 9 to 5 as a Tool, Not a Prison In his book, "You're More Than Your 9-5", David makes it clear that admitting your dream doesn’t mean you need to quit your job immediately. Instead, he advocates for using your current role as a tool to help you reach your aspirations. He suggests that small, brave choices are key to building your future slowly, rather than making drastic changes that could lead to chaos. Section 4: Practical Steps to Start Your Journey David encourages listeners to take action by writing down their thoughts. He proposes three reflective prompts: "If I were completely honest, the dream inside me is...", "If nothing changed in my life for the next 10 years, I would feel...", and "One small brave choice I could make this month is..." These exercises help clarify your dreams and make the first step toward acknowledging them. Section 5: Connecting and Continuing the Journey If this message resonates with you, David invites you to connect with him through social media. His book is designed to guide you through the process of uncovering your hidden dreams and taking purposeful steps toward realising them. He reassures listeners that they don’t have to make drastic life changes overnight; instead, the journey begins with a simple admission of what you truly want. Key Takeaways Admitting the dream inside you is a powerful first step toward transforming your life. It requires honesty and courage, but can lead to profound changes. Rather than seeing your job as a limitation, view it as a stepping stone towards your true aspirations. Remember, the journey to self-discovery and fulfilment starts with acknowledging what you really want. Tags: personal development, career change, self-discovery, dream realisation, professional growth, 9-5 club, admission, meaningful work, life transformation. Get full access to Nine To Five Club at ninetofiveclub.substack.com/subscribe [https://ninetofiveclub.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

The 3 Questions I Ask Every Sunday to Plan My Week

How to Design Your Week (Before It Designs You) Every Sunday morning, before the kids wake up, I sit down with a coffee and run the numbers. It's not exciting. But it's the most important two hours of my week. In this episode, I walk through my exact Sunday routine: what I review, the three questions I ask myself, and how two hours on Sunday can save you twenty hours of wasted time during the week. In this episode: Why I stopped stumbling into Monday mornings, reactive and distracted. The numbers I run every Sunday (income, expenses, rent payments, cash flow). How I use my Operations page in Notion to plan my week. The 3 questions that changed how I spend my time: What needs my attention this week? Am I on the right path? Any changes needed? Why saying no became easier once I started protecting my time. What happens when I skip this routine. How you can build your own version of this, even if Sundays don't work for you. Mentioned in this episode: I Love Money (And Why It's Okay to Say It Out Loud) [https://ninetofiveclub.substack.com/p/i-love-money-and-why-its-okay-to] When You Picture Yourself in Your Current Role Five Years From Now [https://ninetofiveclub.substack.com/p/what-my-9-5-actually-funds-and-what] Admit There Is a Dream Inside You [https://ninetofiveclub.substack.com/p/admit-there-is-a-dream-inside-you] Secret Property Club [https://secretpropertyclub.substack.com/] PPN Lincoln [https://ppnlincoln.substack.com/] Resources: Get the full framework in my book: "You're More Than Your 9-5" [https://amzn.to/4qp1WS2] Subscribe to Nine To Five Club: ninetofiveclub.substack.com [http://ninetofiveclub.substack.com] Get full access to Nine To Five Club at ninetofiveclub.substack.com/subscribe [https://ninetofiveclub.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

I Love Money (And Why It’s Okay to Say It Out Loud)

I Love Money (And Why It's Okay to Say It Out Loud) Episode Description: For a long time, I wouldn't have said it out loud: "I love money." It feels wrong. Greedy. Shallow. But we're rarely taught how to have an honest, healthy relationship with money. In this episode, I explain why it's okay to say you love money, and how changing my relationship with money changed everything. In This Episode: Why saying "I love money" feels wrong (and why we're taught to complain about money, worry about it, or pretend we don't care). The difference between loving money and being greedy. How an honest relationship with money supports your other values (family, freedom, health, travel). Why money is a tool, not the destination. The mindset shift that changed how I think about earning and building wealth. Why financial peace makes everything else easier. Key Takeaway: Having an honest, healthy relationship with money doesn't make you shallow or greedy. Money helps you live your deeper values at a higher level. When you stop pretending you don't care about money and start treating it as a tool for freedom and impact, everything changes. Links Mentioned: What My 9-5 Actually Funds (and What It Doesn't) [https://ninetofiveclub.substack.com/p/what-my-9-5-actually-funds-and-what] Book: You're More Than Your 9-5 – https://amzn.to/49UnTU1 [https://amzn.to/49UnTU1] Connect: Subscribe to Nine To Five Club: ninetofiveclub.substack.com [http://ninetofiveclub.substack.com] Book: https://amzn.to/49UnTU1 [https://amzn.to/49UnTU1] Email: contactme@davidoliveira.co.uk [contactme@davidoliveira.co.uk] Tags: Money Mindset, Personal Finance, Financial Freedom, Wealth Building, Career Strategy, Personal Development, Building Wealth, Honest Money Talk, Financial Peace, Money Values Get full access to Nine To Five Club at ninetofiveclub.substack.com/subscribe [https://ninetofiveclub.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]