Episode Details

Why “Stable” Jobs Don’t Feel Safe Anymore

In uncertain times, many “stable” jobs don’t feel so stable anymore.

In this episode, Holly Rustick, CEO of the Freelance Grant Writer Academy, unpacks the illusion of fixed income and why relying on a single employer, whether in nonprofits, government, or corporate roles, can create a false sense of security. As costs rise and economic conditions shift, salaries often fail to keep pace, leaving many people quietly stressed, overworked, and afraid to speak up or make changes.

Drawing from her personal story of leaving a toxic nonprofit grant writing role as a single mom, and her experience teaching over 1,000 grant writers how to build flexible income, Holly explains why skill-based, flexible income offers more control, stability, and peace of mind than traditional employment. She also explores why this conversation matters deeply for women and parents, especially in an industry where 82% of freelance grant writers are female.

This episode reframes financial security away from job titles and toward self-reliance, adaptable skills, and income you control: even during volatile times.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why “stable” jobs can create hidden financial stress
• How fixed income fails to keep up with rising costs of living
• What flexible, skill-based income really looks like
• Why women and parents benefit most from income flexibility
• How redefining stability can change your work, health, and family life

Whether you’re in a 9–5, freelancing on the side, or thinking about a bigger change, this episode will help you rethink what real stability means — and how to build it on your own terms.

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.c