Read time - minutes

Your Skills Are a Goldmine – Here’s How to Monetize Them

Read time - minutes

What if I told you that 90% of successful businesses aren’t built on fancy degrees or years of training—but on skills you already have?

Yet, so many brilliant women stay stuck because they believe they need to learn something completely new before they can start a business.

Reality check: That’s a myth. Most profitable businesses aren’t born from a brand-new skill—they’re built by repackaging what you already know in a way that people will pay for.

You don’t need another qualification.

You don’t need to spend months (or years) overthinking.

You just need to look at your expertise from a fresh perspective.

Quote of the Week

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”Theodore Roosevelt

The Hidden Cost of Searching for the ‘Perfect’ Business Idea

Here’s the hard truth: If you keep waiting for the perfect business idea, you’ll stay stuck forever.

I see it happen all the time—highly experienced, smart women holding themselves back because they think they haven’t “figured it all out” yet.

Here’s what that looks like:

Overanalyzing every possible business model instead of testing one.

Taking more courses instead of taking action.

Waiting for the perfect moment (which, let’s be honest, never comes).

Meanwhile, people with half their experience are already making money—not because they’re more qualified, but because they took action first.

Now, let’s put this into perspective.

Think about how you cook dinner.

Do you only cook when you have every single ingredient perfectly lined up? Of course not.

You make do with what’s in the fridge, throw in some spices, and create something that works. We call it the “whatever’s in the fridge” meal.

Guess what? Business works the same way.

You don’t need the “perfect” business idea. You need to start with what you have.

Your experience = ingredients

Your skills = recipe

Your action = cooking the damn meal

And just like cooking, the only way to learn is to start experimenting.

So here’s your permission slip: Muck in, get your hands dirty, and build your business with what you already know.

Bottom line?

It’s not about having the perfect idea—it’s about choosing a business model that fits your skills and lifestyle.

Let’s dive in…

Business Models You Can Use

1. Coaching & Consulting (Advisory-Based Business Models)

Who is this for:

  • Mid-level and senior professionals with niche expertise
  • People leaders, mentors, corporate trainers
  • Those who enjoy teaching, advising, or strategizing

Examples of Businesses in This Model:

  • General Coaching: Career coaching, leadership coaching, mindset coaching
  • General Consulting: HR, finance, operations, or marketing consulting
  • High-Ticket Executive Coaching: Corporate leadership training, organizational consulting
  • Corporate Consulting & Strategy Advisory: Working with companies at an enterprise level

Scalability Potential:

  • Can scale with group coaching, online courses, and memberships
  • High-ticket consulting leads to premium corporate contracts

2. Freelancing & Service-Based Businesses (Done-for-You Services)

Who is this for:

  • Professionals with execution skills rather than advisory roles
  • Those looking for low-cost entry into self-employment
  • People who prefer flexible, contract-based work

Examples of Businesses in This Model:

  • Freelancing: Copywriting, graphic design, project management, bookkeeping
  • Virtual Assistance & Admin Support: Supporting businesses with admin, emails, scheduling
  • Event Planning & Project Management: Organizing business retreats, launches, and online events

Scalability Potential:

  • Can be hard to scale without hiring a team
  • Can transition into Model 4 (Agency & Operations-Based Businesses)

3. Digital Products & Content Creation (Passive & Scalable Income)

Who is this for:

  • Experts who want to scale their knowledge without constant one-on-one work
  • Writers, speakers, and content creators
  • Corporate professionals with repeatable processes and frameworks

Examples of Businesses in This Model:

  • Online Courses & Digital Products: Courses, ebooks, templates
  • Content Creation & Thought Leadership: Monetizing personal brands via sponsorships and affiliate marketing

Scalability Potential:

  • Very high: One product can be sold thousands of times with minimal overhead
  • Can complement Model 1 (Coaching & Consulting) as an additional revenue stream

4. Business Operations & Agency Model (Scaling a Service-Based Business with a Team)

Who is this for:

  • Former corporate managers, consultants, and operations professionals
  • Detail-oriented professionals who love efficiency and execution
  • Those who want to scale beyond solo work

Examples of Businesses in This Model:

  • Service-Based Business with a Team: Accounting firms, marketing agencies, operations management firms
  • Business Process & Operations Consulting: Helping businesses improve efficiency, systems, and workflows

Scalability Potential:

  • High if hiring and delegation are done strategically
  • Lower risk than digital products but requires more operational complexity

How to Pick the Right Business Model for You

Not every business model is a fit for your goals, your personality or what makes you happy.

Choose wisely:

✔ Think about lifestyle fit: Do you want location freedom? Minimal client interaction?

✔ Leverage your strongest skills: What comes naturally to you that others struggle with? ✔ Assess demand: Is there already a market for what you offer? (Hint: If people are already paying for it, that’s a YES.)

✔ Consider scalability: Do you want a one-to-one service (consulting, freelancing) or something scalable (courses, digital products)?

✔ Evaluate income potential: Some models provide fast cash flow (freelancing, coaching), while others take time to scale (content creation, digital products).


Real Women Who Built Businesses Using Transferable Skills

🔹 Tina, Corporate Marketer → High-Ticket Marketing Consultant

Tina worked in marketing for 15 years but felt stuck in corporate. She transitioned into marketing consulting for small business owners, packaging her expertise into done-for-you services. Within 8 months, she replaced her six-figure salary and works on her terms.

🔹 Maya, HR Director → Career Coach

Maya leveraged her HR background to help mid-career professionals navigate job transitions. She started with 1:1 coaching, then launched an online course. Today, she earns more than she did in corporate, working half the hours.

🔹 Jessica, Operations Manager → Online Business Manager

Jessica used her skills in systems, team management, and organization to help online entrepreneurs scale. She started freelancing, then built an agency where she now manages multiple clients with a small team.


You Don’t Need a New Skill—You Need a New Perspective

The fastest way to start your business isn’t by learning something new. It’s by leveraging what you already know.

The skills you’ve spent years developing are your competitive advantage.

The only thing left? Choosing a business model and taking action.



Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:

  1. Book a 1:1 Free Strategy call to see how we can work together
  2. Get the Masterclass - Turn Your Career Into a Business
  3. Get your Personalized Skills to Profit Audit.

Start here

Join 2,000+ readers of Midlife Mavericks who are done waiting for “someday”  and ready to turn decades of corporate experience into a business that fits their life.

I will never spam or sell your info.

Unsubscribe anytime.

Get my FREE Email course when you subscribe

>