In 2019, I was a political science professor who was fed up with the stress and hostility of academia–not to mention the low pay. I left my tenure-track job and went from barely surviving to thriving as a freelance academic editor. Today, I own Acadia Editing Services, an editing and coaching business that brings in six figures a year.
In this podcast, I’ll discuss the challenges of academia, what academic editing involves, and what life as a freelancer looks like. If you’re willing to jump outside your comfort zone, it IS possible to find joy, true flexibility, and a profitable and rewarding career as an academic editor.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In 2019, I was a political science professor who was fed up with the stress and hostility of academia–not to mention the low pay. I left my tenure-track job and went from barely surviving to thriving as a freelance academic editor. Today, I own Acadia Editing Services, an editing and coaching business that brings in six figures a year.
In this podcast, I’ll discuss the challenges of academia, what academic editing involves, and what life as a freelancer looks like. If you’re willing to jump outside your comfort zone, it IS possible to find joy, true flexibility, and a profitable and rewarding career as an academic editor.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.