Why Discipline Doesn’t Work: Janis Ozolins on the Process of Elimination and Experimentation

Ever felt stuck in a job that doesn’t excite you? Or maybe you’ve spent months—even years—chasing a side hustle with no results? Janis Ozolins knows exactly how that feels. For four years, he tried everything—YouTube, blogging, podcasting—with zero measurable success. No audience. No money. Just relentless trial and error.

But he never gave up.

In this episode The Time I Left My 9 to 5 podcast, we dive into:

• How he stayed motivated when nothing was working (hint: it wasn’t just discipline).
• The exact moment he realized he was living in a bubble—and how a single book shattered his limiting beliefs.
• Why his first "successful" business model wasn’t sustainable—and how he finally found the sweet spot between passion and profit.
• The financial rollercoaster of entrepreneurship—how he planned his escape from the 9-5 (with a pregnant wife and a mortgage).
• The biggest mistake he made while building his side hustle (spoiler: it involves switching jobs at the worst possible time).
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If you’ve ever doubted whether you’re cut out for entrepreneurship, or if you’re tired of grinding with no results, this episode is for you.

📲 Connect with Janis:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaozolins

📲 Stay Up to Date with the Show:

Host Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggieindata

Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetimeileftmy9to5.podcast

Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetimeileftmy9to5.podcast

00:00 Intro

01:29 The Journey Begins: From Corporate to Creative

04:37 The Struggles and Persistence

10:01 Discovering the Visuals Niche

18:45 Making the Leap: Quitting the 9 to 5

22:58 Financial Realities and Creative Freedom

26:43 Staying Relevant in Content Creation

31:32 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

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