You think you could make money if you had to.

Freelance a skill. Consult. Start something. The option exists... in theory.

But have you tested it? Have you proven, with real money from real people, that your skills have value outside your current job?

This weekend, find out.

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Block two hours this weekend. Complete these four steps:

Hour 1: Identify and Offer

Step 1 (20 min): Name the skill What do you do at work that solves a problem? Not your job title. The actual outcome you create. "I help teams ship projects on time." "I turn messy data into clear decisions." "I write emails that get responses."

Step 2 (40 min): Find 5 people with that problem Search LinkedIn, Twitter, communities you're in. Find 5 people who clearly have the problem you solve and aren't competitors of your employer. These don't need to be strangers. Former colleagues, acquaintances, and friends-of-friends all count.

Hour 2: Test and Learn

Step 3 (30 min): Send 5 messages Use this template: "Hey [name], I'm exploring offering [skill] as a service. I noticed you [evidence of the problem]. Would you be interested in a quick call about [specific outcome]? No pitch, I'm still figuring out if this makes sense."

Step 4 (30 min): Document what happens Track: Who responded? Who ignored? What questions did they ask? What would they pay for?

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5 responses, 2+ interested: Market exists. You could monetize this skill.

1-2 responses, lukewarm interest: Offer or positioning needs work. The skill might not be the issue.

Zero responses: Either wrong audience, weak message, or the skill doesn't translate outside your context. All useful information.

The real test isn't responses. It's whether you did it at all.

Most people won't. They'll bookmark this, agree it's smart, and never block the two hours. That's the actual test: are you someone who acts, or someone who plans to act?

For employees: This test costs nothing except discovering the truth about your options.

For creators: Run this test for skills you haven't monetized yet. You might be sitting on an offer you've never tried.

Quick note for international readers: If you're in the EU, be mindful of any non-compete clauses in your contract, though most European courts view them skeptically. In Asia, the relationship-first approach means your "5 messages" might need to be warmer, more personal. Adjust the template to your culture, but do the test.

Sunday, I'm releasing the complete January checklist, every framework, tool, and tactic from Month 1 in one actionable reference. The 4-Skill Career Security Stack.

Your weekend project: prove you're not trapped.