How to make your 9-5 salary from content in a year

A lot of people are surprised when they find out I never intended to become a content creator.

In fact, I used to be adamant that I hated TikTok and subsequently deleted it because I didn’t understand it.

2020 Natalie would be gobsmacked to find out that in 2026 she makes a six figure income from TikTok alone.

If I had to do it all over again, there would be plenty of things I’d do differently, and that’s what I want to share with you today: a step by step playbook on how to go from a 9-5 to being a full-time creator in 2026.

At the end there’s a summary that pulls it all together, so you can screenshot it when you’re ready to get started.

Let’s get into it.

I’m gonna give you some simple truths that a lot of content creators find out too late:

Picking a niche will grow you much faster than being a lifestyle creator.

Lifestyle creators are a dying breed. A few years ago it was different, but I don’t recommend starting as one now.

You don’t have to stay with your niche forever, but the niche will allow you to be known for doing one thing well. Branching out can come after that.

Pick a niche you could talk about forever - not one that looks good on paper. If you’re not truly passionate about your niche, making content regularly is going to feel impossible.

Ask yourself, “what do my friends always come to me for advice on?” and start there.

Before I started social media, I was forever getting voice notes asking for my skincare advice. I was even told I should start a TikTok.

I started the following year - by accident, no less.

I see a lot of videos where the creator clearly knows what they’re talking about. The idea is good, but the video itself is poor.

Looking at their past posts, I can see they’ve been posting in this style for years.

I can already tell they will probably never grow.

These are the 3 biggest mistakes keeping those accounts stuck - and the reason so many people with good ideas never make it past a few hundred followers: