1001 original paths off the 9-to-5
Unclocked is a field guide to 1001 ways of earning and dwelling that are not a conventional 9-to-5. Each path has a name, an honest description, a step-by-step start, skills, materials, capital, a public source, and people or communities who have walked a version of it.
Filter by craft, capital, and whether the work travels. Save anything that tugs — it lands in your collection.
Minimum initial capital
200 paths
Care Ledger
Weekly newsletter on unpaid and paid care work made visible
Care Ledger
Weekly newsletter on unpaid and paid care work made visible
You write a weekly email about unpaid and paid care work made visible. Free issues find readers; paid subscribers buy deeper reporting, templates, or a community.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Soft Skills in Lobbies
How to ask for things in stores and offices
Soft Skills in Lobbies
How to ask for things in stores and offices
You post short videos about how to ask for things in stores and offices. A small product, affiliate link, or booked service from the comments pays you.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Broken-Zipper Clinic
Clothing emergencies
Broken-Zipper Clinic
Clothing emergencies
You post short videos about clothing emergencies. A small product, affiliate link, or booked service from the comments pays you.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Body of Work
Podcast about trainers and PTs who went independent
Body of Work
Podcast about trainers and PTs who went independent
You record a podcast about trainers and PTs who went independent. Memberships, live shows, courses, or services the interviews uncover pay you — ads come last.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Quiet Luxury Repair
Maintain leather, wool, and wood
Quiet Luxury Repair
Maintain leather, wool, and wood
You film how-to videos teaching owners of 'nice' things how to maintain leather, wool, and wood.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Care Work Radio
Podcast about nannies, CNAs, and family carers
Care Work Radio
Podcast about nannies, CNAs, and family carers
You record a podcast about nannies, CNAs, and family carers. Memberships, live shows, courses, or services the interviews uncover pay you — ads come last.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Corner-Store Economics
A published series about SKUs and survival
Corner-Store Economics
A published series about SKUs and survival
You publish a series about SKUs and survival. Memberships, a small product, teaching, or affiliates you would use anyway pay you.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Extra Place Setting
A published series about table stories and rented china
Extra Place Setting
A published series about table stories and rented china
You publish a series about table stories and rented china. Memberships, a small product, teaching, or affiliates you would use anyway pay you.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Maker Margins
Weekly newsletter on numbers behind handmade businesses
Maker Margins
Weekly newsletter on numbers behind handmade businesses
You write a weekly email about numbers behind handmade businesses. Free issues find readers; paid subscribers buy deeper reporting, templates, or a community.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Harbor Letters
Weekly newsletter on coastal work, weather, and small ports
Harbor Letters
Weekly newsletter on coastal work, weather, and small ports
You write a weekly email about coastal work, weather, and small ports. Free issues find readers; paid subscribers buy deeper reporting, templates, or a community.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Tea Table
Learn tea regions and brewing
Tea Table
Learn tea regions and brewing
You film how-to videos teaching drinkers how to learn tea regions and brewing.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Spreadsheet Cinema
Turn messy ops into elegant sheets
Spreadsheet Cinema
Turn messy ops into elegant sheets
You film how-to videos teaching operators how to turn messy ops into elegant sheets.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Soil Receipts
Weekly newsletter on small-farm numbers without romance fog
Soil Receipts
Weekly newsletter on small-farm numbers without romance fog
You write a weekly email about small-farm numbers without romance fog. Free issues find readers; paid subscribers buy deeper reporting, templates, or a community.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Map and Compass
Podcast about guides and search-and-rescue volunteers
Map and Compass
Podcast about guides and search-and-rescue volunteers
You record a podcast about guides and search-and-rescue volunteers. Memberships, live shows, courses, or services the interviews uncover pay you — ads come last.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Night Bake
Podcast about bakers, nurses, and DJs on working while the city sleeps
Night Bake
Podcast about bakers, nurses, and DJs on working while the city sleeps
You record a podcast about bakers, nurses, and DJs on working while the city sleeps. Memberships, live shows, courses, or services the interviews uncover pay you — ads come last.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Climbing Beta Diary
Break down boulder problems
Climbing Beta Diary
Break down boulder problems
You film how-to videos teaching indoor climbers how to break down boulder problems.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Invoice Therapy
Podcast about freelancers on rates, shame, and getting paid
Invoice Therapy
Podcast about freelancers on rates, shame, and getting paid
You record a podcast about freelancers on rates, shame, and getting paid. Memberships, live shows, courses, or services the interviews uncover pay you — ads come last.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Union History Comics
A published series about panels people will share
Union History Comics
A published series about panels people will share
You publish a series about panels people will share. Memberships, a small product, teaching, or affiliates you would use anyway pay you.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Plant ICU Reels
Diagnose a sick plant in 20 seconds
Plant ICU Reels
Diagnose a sick plant in 20 seconds
You post short videos about diagnose a sick plant in 20 seconds. A small product, affiliate link, or booked service from the comments pays you.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Repair Receipts
Weekly newsletter on what things actually cost to fix
Repair Receipts
Weekly newsletter on what things actually cost to fix
You write a weekly email about what things actually cost to fix. Free issues find readers; paid subscribers buy deeper reporting, templates, or a community.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Bicycle Ballet
A published series about traffic skills as short films
Bicycle Ballet
A published series about traffic skills as short films
You publish a series about traffic skills as short films. Memberships, a small product, teaching, or affiliates you would use anyway pay you.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Public-Domain Cooking
Cook from old freely available recipes
Public-Domain Cooking
Cook from old freely available recipes
You film how-to videos teaching history fans how to cook from old freely available recipes.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Retro Console Hospital
Repair old games and hardware
Retro Console Hospital
Repair old games and hardware
You film how-to videos teaching collectors how to repair old games and hardware.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Other Office
Weekly newsletter on libraries, lobbies, and trains as workplaces
Other Office
Weekly newsletter on libraries, lobbies, and trains as workplaces
You write a weekly email about libraries, lobbies, and trains as workplaces. Free issues find readers; paid subscribers buy deeper reporting, templates, or a community.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
