How to Build an Online Business While Working a 9-to-5: AI, Skool & the Power of Relationships
Can you really build an online business, create recurring income, grow a community, and still work a full-time job?
The answer is yes—but it takes intentionality.
On a recent episode of the Network Marketing Insider Podcast, I sat down with Nicole Henderson, owner of Glennwell Studio and creator of the Faceless Freedom Society.
What made this conversation interesting is that Nicole isn't pretending building something on the side is effortless.
She's doing what millions of people are trying to figure out:
Working a 9-to-5 while building something that could eventually create more freedom.
And she's using AI, faceless content, Skool communities, networking, relationships, and intentional time management to make it happen.
There were several lessons from our conversation that anyone building an online business while working full-time should hear.
1. Stop Letting Technology Intimidate You
One of Nicole's specialties is faceless marketing.
That matters because one of the biggest obstacles stopping people from creating content is simple:
They don't want to be on camera.
Maybe you don't like how you look.
Maybe you don't like your voice.
Maybe you're uncomfortable recording videos.
Maybe you're simply overwhelmed by all the technology available today.
Nicole's message was simple:
You don't have to become an expert at everything. Start somewhere.
She uses tools such as AI influencers, AI agents, short-form video and other technology to build her business—and she emphasized that AI doesn't have to be as complicated as people make it.
That's an important lesson, especially for people in their 40s, 50s and beyond who may feel like the online world is moving too quickly.
Pick one tool.
Learn it.
Use it.
Then build from there.
AI shouldn't replace your ideas or your personality.
Think of it as an assistant that helps you execute your ideas faster.
Instead of staring at a blank screen for 20 minutes trying to figure out what to write, AI can help you organize an idea, improve your writing, brainstorm content or turn one idea into multiple pieces of content.
That's leverage.
If content creation is one of the things holding you back, also check out my article The Complete Beginner's Guide to Content Creation, where I break down how to start creating without needing a huge audience or expensive equipment.
2. You Don't Need Thousands of Followers. You Need the Right Relationships.
This was probably my favorite part of the conversation.
Nicole brought up something I teach constantly:
Your Power 10.
You don't need 10,000 followers to create opportunities.
You need relationships with the right people.
Nicole talked about the power of meeting people through Skool who you might never have crossed paths with otherwise.
You learn from someone.
They introduce you to someone.
That person knows someone else.
Suddenly, one relationship has created an opportunity you never saw coming.
That's exactly how Nicole and I ended up recording this podcast.
We didn't know each other beforehand.
We interacted through another community.
We saw each other's comments.
A connection formed.
And eventually...
We're sitting together recording an episode.
That's connection marketing in action.
It's also why I've become so focused on helping people build their Power 10—10 meaningful relationships that can create opportunities in business, career and life.
If this idea resonates with you, read How One Conversation Can Change Everything and Why Authentic Connections Beat Algorithms Every Time.
Both dive deeper into something I believe more every day:
Relationships compound.
3. Stop Joining Communities Just to Sell People
Nicole belongs to multiple online communities, and she brought up something every community owner should pay attention to.
She notices when the owner disappears.
She notices when nobody engages.
And eventually she starts wondering:
Why am I still here?
That should be a wake-up call for anyone building a Skool community.
Starting a community isn't enough.
You have to participate.
Talk to members.
Answer questions.
Celebrate wins.
Create conversations.
Introduce members to each other.
Bring other experts into your community when they can provide something you can't.
Nicole even discussed inviting people with different skill sets into her community to teach because the goal isn't for her to know everything.
The goal is to help the members.
That's how culture gets built.
I've written about this extensively in Why Most Skool Communities Fail (And How to Keep Yours Growing).
If you're building on Skool, read that article next.
A community isn't a website people pay to access.
It's people.
And people need a reason to keep coming back.
4. Your Comments Can Become Conversations—and Conversations Can Become Opportunities
Here's a simple strategy you can implement today.
Stop leaving comments like:
"Great post!"
"Love this!"
"Thanks for sharing!"
Instead, actually read what someone wrote.
Leave a thoughtful response.
Then...
Ask a question.
That question gives the person a reason to respond.
Now you're having a conversation publicly.
From there, maybe the conversation continues in the DMs.
Eventually you might jump on a connection call.
Maybe you discover that you can help them.
Maybe they can help you.
Maybe you know somebody they should meet.
That's how relationships begin.
Not with:
"Hey! I have an amazing opportunity for you!"
But with curiosity.
If you want to go deeper into this strategy, read How to Turn Social Media Content Into Real Business Relationships and How to Build Trust Online Without Being Salesy.
Stop trying to turn every person into a customer.
Start trying to discover who they are.
5. FOLLOW UP!
This may be the simplest lesson in this entire article.
And it's probably one of the most ignored.
Nicole and I talked about what happens after networking events.
People collect business cards.
They meet 20 people.
They shake hands.
They go home.
And then...
Nothing.
Nobody follows up.
That's exactly why my Connection Meetups aren't built around collecting as many contacts as possible.
I'd rather you leave with three genuine relationships and actually continue one of them.
My challenge is simple:
Follow up with at least one person within 48 hours.
Send the text.
Send the email.
Send the DM.
Schedule the call.
The other person may respond.
They may not.
But fear of rejection shouldn't stop you from continuing a relationship you already started.
That's also why I wrote How to Network When You Work a 9-to-5 Without Feeling Fake.
Networking shouldn't feel like collecting people.
It's about building relationships with people.
6. Your Story Is Part of Your Business
There was another part of this conversation that went deeper than marketing.
We talked about being willing to share pieces of your real life.
Not everything.
You don't need to turn the internet into your diary.
But people connect with people.
They remember stories.
They remember struggles.
They remember why you're building what you're building.
Nicole talked about sharing both the successes and failures she's experienced while building her business.
That's important because social media often makes entrepreneurship look like one giant highlight reel.
It isn't.
There are good days.
Bad days.
Failed ideas.
Quiet communities.
Posts nobody sees.
Offers nobody buys.
And moments when you wonder whether you should keep going.
Share some of that journey.
Being relatable creates trust.
Nicole's point was powerful: people need to see that success didn't magically start with success. There were ups, downs and moments when nobody was paying attention.
Sometimes your struggle is exactly what somebody else needs to hear today.
7. You CAN Build While Working a 9-to-5
This may be the most important takeaway from the episode.
Nicole still works full-time.
So do I.
And neither one of us has unlimited time.
Nicole uses scheduling tools.
She responds to people throughout the day when she can.
She uses evenings strategically.
She sometimes uses her lunch hour.
She blocks time for her business.
And equally important—she knows when she needs to close the laptop and spend time with her family.
Her word for it was perfect:
INTENTIONAL.
She's intentional about where her time goes and focuses on activities she believes will actually help her grow.
That's a lesson every 9-to-5 professional needs.
You don't necessarily need another four hours.
You may need to become more intentional with the 20, 30 or 60 minutes you already have.
I've explored this topic before in Why Building a Business While Working a 9–5 Is More Possible Than You Think.
The lesson remains the same:
Stop waiting for more time. Start using the time you already have.
The Bigger Lesson: Build Relationships Before You Need Them
AI is changing business.
Skool is creating opportunities for everyday people to build communities.
Affiliate marketing can create recurring income.
Content can introduce you to people all over the world.
But underneath all of those strategies is something incredibly simple:
PEOPLE.
Content creates attention.
Attention creates conversations.
Conversations create relationships.
Relationships create opportunities.
And opportunities can eventually create income.
That's why I'm becoming less interested in follower counts and more interested in who I'm actually building relationships with.
Your next collaboration might be one conversation away.
Your next podcast guest might be one comment away.
Your next referral might be one introduction away.
Your next business partner might already be inside a community you're participating in.
But none of those opportunities happen if you're only scrolling.
If you're a teacher or 9-to-5 professional who wants to build something beyond your paycheck without quitting your job tomorrow, this is exactly what we're working on inside the Connection Creator Academy.
The goal isn't to get you thousands of followers.
It's to help you become an Opportunity Creator by learning how to use:
Content → Conversations → Relationships → Opportunities → Income
And one of the first things we're focused on is building your Power 10—10 meaningful relationships that can create opportunities in your business, career and life.
You can currently take advantage of the 7-Day FREE Trial and experience the Academy for yourself.
Come in.
Meet people.
Start conversations.
Build your Power 10.
And most importantly...
Take action.
🎙️ Keep Learning With the Network Marketing Insider Podcast
If this conversation with Nicole gave you one idea you can implement, don't stop with this episode.
Dive into the past episodes of the Network Marketing Insider Podcast.
I've had conversations with entrepreneurs, Skool community owners, creators, affiliate marketers and everyday 9-to-5 professionals who are building businesses, communities, relationships and recurring income.
You'll find episodes covering:
Skool community growth • AI • side income • recurring income • affiliate marketing • content creation • personal branding • networking • relationship marketing • podcasting • community culture
Don't try to consume everything at once.
Choose an episode that solves the problem you're dealing with right now.
Take one idea.
Implement it.
Then come back for another.
Because information doesn't create momentum.
Action does.
Action Creates Momentum
.Momentum Creates Relationships.
Relationships Create Opportunities.
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