How I Escaped the 9-5 Trap Forever (+ 3 Months Working From a Van) - My Freedom Formula

Feeling trapped in the corporate grind? Dreaming of location independence but don't know where to start?

This episode is your roadmap to freedom. I'm taking you behind the scenes of my 12-year journey from being monitored during lunch breaks in a rigid corporate job to running a successful business from wherever I choose - including my current 3-month stint working from a converted Sprinter van.

But this isn't just another "quit your job and travel" story. I'm sharing the exact steps, the sacrifices, the skills I built, and the reality check moments that got me here. Plus, the honest truth about what working from a van is actually like (spoiler: it's not always Instagram perfect).

If you've ever felt stuck in the 9-5 trap and wondered if there's another way, this episode will show you exactly how to build a life of true freedom - and what it really takes to get there.

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Connect with me

🔹LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiehubbard/

🔺 Instagram: http://instagram.com/georgielhubbard

🔸 Website: https://www.georgiehubbard.com

📚 Early access to Pivotr (AI Career Mentor): https://www.pivotr.com

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💡 What You'll Learn in This Episode:

- The exact 12-year roadmap from corporate employee to location-independent entrepreneur

- Why you need to build skills BEFORE you make the leap (and how long to wait)

- The importance of getting crystal clear on your values before designing your freedom

- How I built CH Solutions while still working corporate and when I knew it was time to leave

- The real challenges of working from a van (wet dogs, rain days, and tiny spaces)

- Why you should hire a van first before committing to van life

- How to design your life around different seasons and honour multiple parts of yourself

- The essential tech setup for working remotely (why Starlink is non-negotiable)

- How to balance "CEO Georgie" with "Hippie Georgie" in the same life

- Why freedom should be your #1 career goal and how to build it strategically

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⏱️ Timestamps:

02:18 - Why freedom has always been my core value

04:31 - The corporate job that triggered my anxiety and panic attacks

06:44 - Step 1: Getting crystal clear on what you actually want

08:56 - How COVID and the Gold Coast led to the van life idea

11:21 - The unglamorous reality of van life (wet dogs and rainy days)

13:30 - Essential advice: hire a van first before you commit

15:54 - Balancing CEO Georgie vs Hippie Georgie in one life

18:13 - How I design my environment to match my goals

20:34 - Why good internet is absolutely non-negotiable for remote work

22:53 - The mindset shift from excuses to execution

24:42 - Updates on The Bold Move book and Pivotr launch

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🚀 Mentioned in This Episode:

- CH Solutions (my recruitment agency)

- The Bold Move (my upcoming book launching November)

- Pivotr (AI Career Mentor launching soon)

- Starlink internet for remote work

- Home and Away (blame this for my Australian dream!)

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🗺️ The Freedom Formula Framework:

Phase 1: Clarity (Years 1-2)

- Identify your core values (mine: freedom, health, growth)

- Define what success actually means to YOU

- Map out your ideal working day, environment, and lifestyle

- Stop chasing other people's version of success

Phase 2: Skill Building (Years 3-7)

- Stay in corporate longer than you want to build valuable skills

- Become someone who's in demand in your industry

- Don't quit before you're ready - patience is key

- Build your reputation and network while employed

Phase 3: Strategic Transition (Years 8-12)

- Start your business while still employed (reduce risk)

- Build it to profitability before making the full leap

- Test and validate your business model first

- Create multiple income streams for security

Phase 4: Freedom Design (Ongoing)

- Design your life in seasons that honour different parts of you

- Match your environment to your current goals

- Build systems that support location independence

- Invest in quality tech and infrastructure

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📝 Key Takeaway:

Freedom isn't about escaping responsibility - it's about building the skills, systems, and business that give you choices. The "overnight success" you see on social media is usually 10+ years in the making. Start with clarity on your values, build valuable skills, and make strategic moves that compound over time. And remember: you don't have to choose between ambition and freedom - you can design a life that honours both.

"Life is not about or. I don't have to choose one or the other. I can have both."