No Excuses: How to Use Your 5-9 to Transform Your 9-5
Most of us are familiar with the feeling: after a long day at work, the last thing you want to think about is more work—especially if you’re juggling a 9-5 job.
But here’s the reality: if you want to change your life, it’s not going to happen during those 9-5 hours. It’s what you do before and after your workday that determines your future.
This was a game-changing insight I learned during a call with Alex Hormozi, someone who’s had a massive impact on how I view my time and what’s truly possible. Alex shared a principle that really hit home: if you’re serious about transforming your life, you need to maximise your time outside of work—the hours between 5am-9am and 5pm-9pm.
The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. While most people use these hours to unwind or procrastinate, the individuals who truly change their lives use this time to learn, network, and build. That’s the real edge.
Why Your 5-9 is More Powerful Than Your 9-5
Let’s get real—working a full-time job can feel like it eats up your entire day. It’s easy to come home, collapse on the sofa, and convince yourself that there’s no time left for anything else. But that’s just an illusion. The truth is, the hours you spend outside of your 9-5 can be the most valuable time you have.
In those early mornings and late evenings, you have the opportunity to work on you—to learn new skills, build your network, and grow your portfolio. These are the hours when no one else is looking. These are the hours that can change your life.
The difference between staying stuck and getting ahead isn’t more hours at your 9-5—it’s what you do from 5-9.
How to Make the Most of Your 5am-9am and 5pm-9pm
The Morning Hustle: 5am-9am
Let’s start with the mornings. 5am-9am is prime time for productivity. It’s quiet, free from distractions, and it’s your chance to set the tone for the rest of the day.
Wake up with purpose: When you start your day early, you’re giving yourself a head start. Even an hour of focused work in the morning can make a huge difference over time.
Key activities: Use this time to focus on learning new skills—whether it’s coding, copywriting, improving your Excel skills, or mastering digital marketing. These hours are for self-improvement before the world wakes up.
Example: Imagine dedicating just one hour each morning to coding practice or improving your copywriting skills. After a few months, you could be fluent in a new skill that will set you apart from the competition. Others will wonder how you did it, but you’ll know it was the result of consistent, early-morning hustle.
The Evening Grind: 5pm-9pm
After your workday, 5pm-9pm is your time to invest in building your future. This is where you put into practice what you’ve been learning, make connections, and grow your portfolio.
Use your evenings to connect and grow: The evenings are perfect for networking, building relationships, and engaging with online communities. This is when you can focus on creating real opportunities for yourself.
Key activities: Spend an hour engaging in professional communities, attending virtual events, or adding to your portfolio. Your portfolio is your best asset—use your evenings to work on projects that showcase your skills in coding, design, copywriting, or other valuable disciplines.
Example: Dedicating just 60 minutes a day to working on a freelance copywriting project or building a website for your portfolio can open doors you didn’t even know existed. While others are winding down, you’re building up.
The Compound Effect of Small Daily Efforts
One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned is the compound effect of small, daily efforts. It’s easy to overlook the impact of one hour in the morning or one hour in the evening. But think about it this way: an hour each morning and evening adds up to 10 extra hours a week. That’s 40 hours a month. That’s like giving yourself a full extra week to learn, grow, and transform your career—every single month.
When I look back on my own career transformation, it wasn’t one huge action that changed everything. It was the small, consistent steps I took day after day, using the hours before and after my 9-5 to build a better future for myself.
No More Excuses—Why It’s Possible for Anyone
Let’s face it—there will always be excuses. "I’m too tired." "I don’t have time." "I’ll start tomorrow." But the people who succeed are the ones who push through those excuses. They understand that if you want something different, you have to do something different.
I’m not saying it’s easy. Waking up early or working after a long day can be tough. But here’s the reality: success isn’t found during your 9-5 hours. It’s built in the time that others are wasting. It’s what you do between 5-9 that will define your future.
How My Community Can Help You Make the Most of Your 5-9
Here’s the good news: you don’t have to figure this out alone. In the Tech Levo Community, we focus on helping people like you make the most of their time outside of work. Whether you’re learning new tech skills, building your portfolio, or looking to connect with like-minded individuals, this is the space where you can make real progress.
In our community, you’ll find:
Step-by-step tutorials to help you master new skills like coding, Excel, or digital marketing in just an hour a day.
Networking opportunities with people who understand the hustle of balancing work and career growth.
Support and accountability to keep you focused on your goals, even when the grind gets tough.
You have more time than you think. And if you use those hours wisely, you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve.
Your 5-9 Will Change Your Life
Here’s the truth: everyone has the same 24 hours. What sets successful people apart isn’t luck or talent—it’s how they use their time. The next time you think about how stuck you feel in your 9-5, I want you to remember this: your 5-9 is your key to freedom.
You don’t need to overhaul your life in one big move. You just need to start using the hours you already have. And once you do, the change will follow.
Join the Tech Levo Community Today and start making your 5-9 work for you.