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Here’s a truth too many ambitious professionals overlook:
Your paycheck isn’t actually your safety net. Your expertise is.
I remember having a conversation with Tiffany Dufu (some of you may know here), as I was contemplating retiring from the practice of law. She asked me what was holding me back. I told her it was my fear of financial insecurity. Her response sticks with me to this day. She said, “working at this job is the most financially insecure you will ever be. With that being your only income, what happens if you lose your job?”
Can you say shooketh? 😂
Little did I know that 1 year and 10 days after that conversation, I’d have to answer that question. [I share the story in the video.]
It’s easy to cling to what I call a “good, good check” and let the comforts of a steady paycheck lull you into a false sense of security.
But what happens the moment someone else decides that job is gone? That’s when you realize the real insurance isn’t the job itself. It’s the depth of your knowledge, the value of your experiences, and your ability to package those into new opportunities.
Degrees and accolades aren’t just resume fodder. They’re your freedom papers. The hard-won evidence of skills and perspectives that no employer can ever take away. The job might disappear, the client might dry up, and the industry might pivot overnight…but your capabilities stick with you everywhere.
Instead of asking: “Is my role stable?” start asking: “How am I building a portfolio of skills and experiences no one can revoke?”
I’m so thankful I did this. While practicing law, I taught. I spoke. I got certified as a mediator and an arbitrator. I explored entrepreneurship my first go round. I was always building my skills and experience. (Now side note: the one thing I will say I wish had done a better job of is building long-term relationships.😞) I digress.
But, let’s be real … Some of the highest earners aren’t chained to a single job.
They’re doctors who turn their expertise into lucrative consulting gigs, lawyers and other professionals who trade in the grind of billable hours for high-impact speaking, teaching, or advisory roles. They’re not just doing. They’re leveraging what they know, not just what they do.
If you’re feeling the itch to move on—or even if you’re not—double down on expanding your mastery, multiplying your revenue streams, and building your reputation outside any office walls.
Because at the end of the day, your freedom isn’t about comfort. It’s about confidence that you can walk away and always create more value, no matter who’s signing the checks.
Here’s a question for you: If your job vanished tomorrow, can you name three ways you’d use your expertise to generate income, on your terms?
Comment below and let me know. And if you’re drawing a blank, let’s talk. There’s more value in your freedom papers than you might think.
About the Author:
Kelly Charles-Collins is Founder of Speaker Moguls and the creator of Speaking Industry Xpo a/k/a THE 6. She teaches speakers, trainers, coaches, and consultants to turn their expertise into an enterprise—without underpricing or undervaluing their work. Through strategic positioning and proven business frameworks, Kelly equips experts to amplify their visibility, package their brilliance, and build sustainable, revenue-generating brands with authority.