Leaving Academia: Becoming a Freelance Editor

Is This All There Is? How One Professor Launched a Side Hustle and Reclaimed Her Joy


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Tenure was supposed to be the promised land.


But for Dr. Lisa Anthony, it felt like a dead end. After years in academia, she realized something was missing—joy, creativity, and connection.


The surprising solution?


Launching a side hustle in academic editing and coaching.


What began as a reluctant experiment became a full-blown passion—and even made her fall in love with marketing (I know, right??).


In this episode, Lisa shares how starting a business reignited her energy and improved her day job as a tenured professor at an R1 university.


If you’ve ever thought, “I want something more—but I don’t know what,” then you have to watch this episode.


🎙️ We discuss:


🎯 Lisa’s realization that tenure "isn’t what I thought it would be.”


🎯 Her resistance to business—and how that changed completely after enrolling in Becoming an Academic Editor


🎯 The surprising overlap between academia and entrepreneurship


🎯 How she’s attracting editing and coaching clients while working full-time


Lisa also shares what she thinks every academic should know before starting a side hustle. Tune in to hear from someone who took the leap and is thriving.


🎯 Resources mentioned:


"The 7-Year Postdoc":

https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/guest-blog/the-awesomest-7-year-postdoc-or-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-tenure-track-faculty-life/


🎯 Find out how to follow in Lisa's footsteps:


https://acadiaediting.com/becomeaneditor?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=notes&utm_campaign=ep50


🎯 Connect with Paulina on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/paulinacossette


🎯 Connect with Lisa: https://lisa-anthony.com/


🎯 Join the waitlist for Lisa's CAREER grant-writing program:

https://agapanthus-editing.kit.com/career


2:44 - Side Hustle Academic Editing


4:09 - COVID Changes Work Practices


6:34 - Preconceived Business Notions


8:40 - Passion Creativity Reignited


11:39 - Academia Lack Collaboration


13:53 - Post Tenure Habits Change


16:33 - What's A Committee? 🤔


18:35 - Rewire Brains Learn New Things


20:36 - How Start An Academic Business


22:54 - Authentic Selling Feels Natural


25:50 - Agency Editing Part-Time Job


27:34 - Coaching Developmental Editing


29:08 - Discovery Sales Call Contract


31:14 - AI Affecting Editing Agencies


33:34 - Experience Worth It?


36:16 - How Find Editing Clients


38:28 - Cast Wide Net Get Eyeballs


40:23 - Community Been Instrumental


42:21 - NSF Career Coaching Program


45:51 - Career Workshop Overview


48:26 - Connect With Lisa Anthony


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Leaving Academia: Becoming a Freelance EditorBy Paulina Cossette

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