What if the thing standing between you and a thriving freelance grant writing business isn't lack of experience, but fear? In this deeply personal bonus episode, Holly Rustick pulls back the curtain on her 21-year journey from teaching overseas and volunteering in post-tsunami Indonesia to building a successful freelance grant writing business that provides both financial freedom and meaningful impact. Along the way, she shares the struggles most people never see: living paycheck-to-paycheck, being a single mom on WIC, battling burnout, undercharging clients, and questioning whether she was capable of building something of her own. If you've ever thought: "I don't have enough experience." "Who would hire me?" "I'm not good at sales." "What if I fail?" "Maybe I'm not cut out for entrepreneurship." This episode is for you. Holly shares the pivotal moments that changed everything; including the realization that success didn't come from becoming a better grant writer. It came from learning business skills, pricing, sales, confidence, and how to stop playing small. Whether you're brand new to grant writing or a seasoned grant professional considering freelancing, you'll walk away inspired, encouraged, and reminded that every successful business owner started exactly where you are now. This is the real story behind the business, and proof that you don't need to have it all figured out before you begin. Episode Gems 💎 Fear doesn't disappear when you become successful. Even six-figure business owners and seasoned professionals still face imposter syndrome and self-doubt. 💎 You don't need experience in everything to get started. Being an expert in one field doesn't automatically make you an expert in business, sales, or grant writing—and that's okay. 💎 Grant writing is a learnable skill. No one is born knowing how to write grants or run a business. 💎 You don't have to choose between money and mission. It's possible to create meaningful impact while building financial security. 💎 Burnout is often information. Sometimes exhaustion and frustration are signs that something in your life or career needs to change. 💎 Perfecting your writing won't build your business. Learning sales, pricing, positioning, and client acquisition often creates bigger breakthroughs than improving technical skills alone. 💎 Freelancing can offer more stability than a traditional job. Multiple clients often create less risk than depending on a single employer or funding source. 💎 Undercharging doesn't serve anyone. Confidence in your value is a critical part of building a sustainable business. 💎 You don't need a perfect website, logo, or brand to get clients. Conversations and relationships matter more than endless preparation. 💎 Your current circumstances do not determine your future. Holly's journey from financial struggle to building a business she loves proves what's possible with the right skills and support. 💎 The business side is learnable. Sales, marketing, pricing, and client acquisition can all be taught and mastered. 💎 Betting on yourself can be the most secure investment you'll ever make. In This Episode, You'll Learn ✔ How Holly accidentally discovered grant writing while working in post-tsunami Indonesia ✔ Why experience isn't the biggest barrier to starting a grant writing business ✔ The mindset shift that helped her leave burnout behind ✔ What held her back during the early years of freelancing ✔ Why so many grant writers struggle with pricing and sales ✔ The surprising truth about financial stability in nonprofit careers ✔ How learning business skills transformed her income and lifestyle ✔ Why aspiring and experienced grant writers alike struggle with imposter syndrome ✔ The importance of building a business that supports your life—not one that consumes it ✔ How you can start creating your own path toward freedom, flexibility, and impact Key Quote "None of my success happened because I became the world's best grant writer. I changed my strategies. I changed my mindset. I learned sales. I learned value-based pricing. I learned how to run a business." ABOUT HOLLY RUSTICK Grant Writing & Funding (GWF) has a Global Movement to Secure $1 Billion in Grant Funding for Good and $30 Million in Grant Writing Businesses by 2030. Holly Rustick, CEO of GWF, is leading the movement; a world-renowned grant writer with 20+ years of experience, bestselling author, and business coach for new and seasoned grant writers to replace their full-time income writing grants part-time from home through her signature programs: the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and the Grant Professional Mentorship. Rustick is the host of the top grant writing podcast “Grant Writing & Funding” and the author of the bestselling book, The Beginner's Guide to Grant Writing. With an MA in International Political Economy, past-president of the Guam Women's Chamber of Commerce, serving on numerous boards of directors, Holly is also an unapologetic feminist. She lives on the island of Guam with her beautiful daughter, Isabella. CONNECT WITH HOLLY RUSTICK Website: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/ RESOURCES Weekly Newsletter: “Write Grants. Get Paid” - Get thought leadership on grant and freelance grant writing strategies every week in your inbox. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/ Freelance Grant Writer Academy: Replace your Full-Time Income Writing Grants Part-Time from Home. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/freelance-grant-writer-academy/ Grant Professional Mentorship: Double your Monthly Revenue with an Income Stream Outside of Grant Writing. https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship RATE, REVIEW, & FOLLOW THE PODCAST Favor, please? If you love this podcast, would you please do me a favor and leave a review on iTunes or your podcast listener? This helps others find the podcast and I read each and every review! “Every time I listen to Holly’s show, I learn something” ← If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the Grant Writing & Funding podcast to get grant and freelance grant writing proven strategies and conversations in your podcast player every single week. Thanks for listening! Warmly, Holly Rustick Leading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.
