You love teaching. You love the research. So why does it feel like academia is suffocating you?

In this episode, I sit down with Kelly Merritt—education PhD, former K–12 teacher in Switzerland, and founder of Define Your Lines—to talk about what it really looks like to build a freelance business from the ground up—while navigating toxic workplaces, health crises, expat life, and the slow, complicated grief of letting go of an academic identity.

Kelly's story doesn't follow the typical "I burned out and quit" script. She's been layering her exit for years—thoughtfully, strategically, and honestly. And what she shares in this conversation is some of the most nuanced, honest advice you'll hear about what it takes to make this work.

In this episode, we cover:

✏️ Why leaving academia isn't always enough—and what you actually need to heal and build something sustainable

✏️ The difference between strategy and experimentation in business—and why you need both

✏️ How to balance client-facing work with the behind-the-scenes infrastructure work

✏️ How Kelly navigated a full brand refinement six months after launching her first website (and why it was worth it)

✏️ How Kelly serves three different audiences (teachers, students, and writers) with one business—and the thread that connects them

Whether you're deep in the details of business-building, still deciding if you can make the leap, or just needing to hear that someone else has been in the messy middle—this episode is for you.

Resources Mentioned:

Define Your Lines: https://defineyourlines.com

Kelly Merritt on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn: @defineyourlines / https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellymmerritt/

Kelly's free self-assessment for writers: Five Pillars of Sustainability and Joy in a Writing Practice: https://defineyourlines.com/writers/five-pillars/

The Academic Entrepreneurs Studio (Paulina's mastermind for academic business owners): https://acadiaediting.com/studio

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Want to end burnout and become an academic editor or coach? Go to AcadiaEditing.com/BecomeAnEditor

2:14 - Kelly's Academic Background

5:09 - Journey from Academia to Business

10:01 - Navigating Academia's Oddities

15:30 - The Decision to Move Abroad

20:15 - Toxic Academic Environments

25:18 - Building a Sustainable Business

30:16 - The Brand Refinement Process

35:11 - Balancing Strategy & Experimentation

40:24 - Defining Your Lines Explained

45:25 - Serving Diverse Audiences

50:07 - The Value of Community

55:00 - The Long Road to Success

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