I was never the entrepreneur type. But after losing my job as an audio engineer in 2009, I had to get creative to make ends meet.
Thirteen years later, at age 39, I’ve built two online businesses that bring me a total of $160,000 a month in passive income. I also recently published a book, How to Get Paid for What You Know.
The first company I started was The Recording Revolution, a music and education blog that sells music production courses. The second, which I started in 2018, teaches people how to make money from their passions like I did. It is the most lucrative business thanks to online sales of courses and coaching programs and affiliate commissions.
Graham Cochrane started his first business in 2009. He has since scaled two online businesses and is now making around $120,000 a month.
Photo: John Olson for CNBC Make It
Around 2,800 people use my products and my goal is to help more entrepreneurs grow their online business while working fewer hours.
My top priorities are spending time with family and being able to give back. That’s why I’ve organized my work and personal life to focus on these key values.
This is what my typical day looks like:
The morning starts slow and easy
I usually wake up at 5am – before the kids – because I always want an hour to myself. I’ll start with coffee and my Bible.
After some reading, prayer and journaling, I will make breakfast with my wife and wake up the children. We will eat together in the kitchen for 20-30 minutes before I take her to school at 7:30am
Then I go back to the home office or do a quick training session if I feel like it.
Graham and his wife have breakfast with their children in the morning before discussing their schedule.
Photo: John Olson for CNBC Make It
I only work five hours a week – Mondays and Wednesdays
On Mondays I plan and create YouTube videos and podcast episodes. Potential clients usually find me through this free online content. If they like it, they can sign up for my newsletter and receive emails about free resources and premium online courses.
With these courses I earn part of the passive income. I designed my business system to send email automatically, so most of my job is just maintaining a steady flow of new, free content.
Recording videos and podcasts takes about two hours. I also have someone who edits and uploads the content. My remaining hour on Monday is dedicated to answering emails or advising members of my Six-digit coaching community.
On Wednesdays I spend time engaging in community interactions and then lead a 90 minute live call with my advanced business coaching students.
Graham spends about five hours a week creating content and managing his businesses.
Photo: John Olson for CNBC Make It
Once a month I film an exclusive workout for members of my paid community, adding about an extra two hours of work per month to my schedule.
I’ve never been a fan of rush culture; I don’t think it’s healthy or wise. If you can find a way to build systems into your business so that it runs largely on its own, you don’t have to waste time on constant maintenance.
After all, what’s the point of “being your own boss” if you work all the time?
Family time is my #1 priority
People often ask me what I do with all that extra time in my week, and my answer isn’t the most exciting. I run errands, go to the gym, go to the car wash, have coffee or lunch with a friend, or curl up with a good book. I’m reading now “Live Without Fear” by Jamie Winship.
But most importantly, I spend time with my family. My wife considers Fridays a “date day”. We work out, go out to lunch, catch up on life, talk about the kids, and meet with our marriage counselor.
Lately we’ve focused on how to better communicate when we have disagreements. No marriage is perfect and the work I put into our relationship has made me a better husband and father.
My wife and I do not compromise when it comes to picking up the children from school together. We want to be home when they are. Our other non-negotiable dinner is the family dinner. We get together every night for a tech-free dinner. Most nights my wife cooks and I do the dishes. But we also eat out a few times a week.
“My schedule has two things that are non-negotiable,” says Graham: “I pick my daughters up from school every day, and our family has dinner together every night.”
Photo: John Olson for CNBC Make It
We love to go for a walk, swim in the pool, watch movies or play Nintendo Switch with the kids. By spending time together, we hope to teach them important life skills, such as: B. Sharing feelings and being kind to one another. I also want them to feel like valuable, integrated family members.
We also love to travel – both locally in Florida and around the world. A few summers ago we spent a month in the south of France. And just this spring we were in Puerto Rico for three weeks. Having the time and flexibility to make these types of memories together is priceless.
Radical generosity a core value
We go to church every Sunday and often do volunteer work with local organizations that help the homeless in our town.
My philosophy is that I make this money so I can give most of my profits to charities and my local church, groups that do a lot of good in the world.
At the moment my wife and I donate 30% of our income, but we hope to eventually give away 50%.
Graham Cochrane is founder of The Recording Revolution, author of “How to get paid for what you know“ and is a business coach for over 2,800 clients worldwide. Keep following him Instagram and Twitter.
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