Leaving Academia: Becoming a Freelance Editor21 Aug 2025

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

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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