Looking to double your salary in 2025? While there are plenty of ways to boost your income this year—like upskilling, earning certifications, or even making a career pivot—there’s one habit that high-earning professionals, including freelancers, consistently practice. It only takes 15 minutes a day, but it can drastically transform your income: intentional and strategic outbound pitching.

Many people hope that their efforts alone will lead to new opportunities and increased earnings. While consistency is important, it’s strategic action combined with consistency that unlocks high-income potential. Whether you’re employed full-time, freelancing, or job hunting, investing just 15 minutes daily in targeted outreach can open doors to lucrative opportunities and help you climb the income ladder.

The 15-Minute Daily Habit That Can Boost Your Career and Income

So, how does this 15-minute habit work?

Outbound pitching is all about showing up in front of the right people. The key is not waiting until you're the most qualified person in the room—it’s about how effectively you sell yourself, your achievements, and the value you bring. Whether it’s your portfolio, testimonials, or case studies, outcomes sell. The better you can highlight your results, the more likely you are to attract valuable career opportunities.

Even if you're not getting a raise at your current job, you can pitch to external decision-makers and discover higher-paying roles or freelance gigs that will elevate your salary and career trajectory.

How to Apply This Habit in Just 15 Minutes a Day

Here’s the breakdown of how to make this habit a reality in only 15 minutes each day:

First Five Minutes: Identify Key Decision-Makers

The first step is to identify one person who can help you move forward in your career. For freelancers, this could be a potential client or media figure. If you're employed, it might be your manager, a senior leader at your company, or a decision-maker at another company that interests you.

To find their contact details, you can use tools like RocketReach, Hunter, or even LinkedIn’s InMail feature. The goal here is to pinpoint one key person to reach out to each day.

Next Five Minutes: Do Your Research

Once you’ve identified your decision-maker, take a few minutes to research them. This will allow you to craft a tailored, relevant pitch. If you're reaching out to a journalist, for example, check out their latest articles to understand their interests and writing style. For potential business clients, research the company’s pain points, needs, and how your services could add value. For internal contacts, learn about their goals, management philosophy, and challenges they may face.

Doing your homework here helps you avoid generic, impersonal pitches, which are easily ignored. Instead, you’ll be able to connect with the person by addressing their specific needs or interests.

Thanks to AI-powered tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity AI, you can complete your research in minutes, which makes this part of the process incredibly efficient.

Final Five Minutes: Craft and Send Your Tailored Pitch

Now it’s time to craft your pitch. This is where you can use a template that you personalize for each outreach. Your message could propose a freelance service, suggest a podcast appearance, pitch a business partnership, or inquire about job openings. The key is to make your message value-driven and relevant to the recipient’s needs.

Once your pitch is ready, hit send. Don’t stop there—if you don’t hear back in a week, send a gentle follow-up, reminding them of your initial message. Decision-makers are often busy, and persistence shows you’re serious. Send at least three follow-up emails, spaced a few days apart, to increase the chances of a response.

Why This Habit Pays Off

This habit of strategic outbound pitching has paid off for many high achievers, including Melanie Perkins, the co-founder and CEO of Canva. She famously sent out pitch after pitch to investors, enduring over 100 rejections before finally securing the funding she needed. While she’s an entrepreneur, her story is a powerful reminder that consistent effort—whether in entrepreneurship or within your career—can lead to significant rewards.

By consistently putting yourself in front of high-value decision-makers, you increase your chances of landing opportunities that elevate your career. And if you ever find yourself laid off or facing a sudden job change, you’ll have a robust network of decision-makers ready to vouch for you, recommend you, and offer you new roles.

The Power of Relationships

Remember: relationships are the currency of career and business growth. The more people you connect with through strategic outreach, the more opportunities you’ll uncover. Even if you’re not an entrepreneur or actively seeking a job, maintaining these relationships can provide career security and open doors when you need them most.

Is This Habit Right for You?

If you’re ready to take control of your income and career growth in 2025, starting a 15-minute daily habit of intentional, strategic outreach could be the key. By carving out time each day to pitch to the right people, you'll set yourself up for greater opportunities, higher pay, and long-term success.

Take the first step today—identify your key person to pitch, research their needs, and send a value-driven pitch. Start building the career and income you deserve!