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
Desk-Drawer Tools
Tiny product demos for analog office gear
Desk-Drawer Tools
Tiny product demos for analog office gear
You post short videos about tiny product demos for analog office gear. A small product, affiliate link, or booked service from the comments pays you.
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
Extra Chair
Podcast about housemates, communes, and co-living logistics
Extra Chair
Podcast about housemates, communes, and co-living logistics
You record a podcast about housemates, communes, and co-living logistics. Memberships, live shows, courses, or services the interviews uncover pay you — ads come last.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Porch Concerts
Perform without a venue
Porch Concerts
Perform without a venue
You film how-to videos teaching musicians how to perform without a venue.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Typewriter Office
Use analog tools without abandoning the internet
Typewriter Office
Use analog tools without abandoning the internet
You film how-to videos teaching writers how to use analog tools without abandoning the internet.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Tiny-Kitchen
Cook well in cramped kitchens
Tiny-Kitchen
Cook well in cramped kitchens
You film how-to videos teaching apartment cooks how to cook well in cramped kitchens.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Ferment Cabinet
Make kimchi, pickles, and koji
Ferment Cabinet
Make kimchi, pickles, and koji
You film how-to videos teaching cooks how to make kimchi, pickles, and koji.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Mending
Repair garments instead of replacing them
Mending
Repair garments instead of replacing them
You film how-to videos teaching clothing owners how to repair garments instead of replacing them.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Court Sketch Adjacent
A published series about legal-art explainers where cameras aren't
Court Sketch Adjacent
A published series about legal-art explainers where cameras aren't
You publish a series about legal-art explainers where cameras aren't. Memberships, a small product, teaching, or affiliates you would use anyway pay you.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Guest-Room Capitalism
Weekly newsletter on short-term stays done ethically
Guest-Room Capitalism
Weekly newsletter on short-term stays done ethically
You write a weekly email about short-term stays done ethically. Free issues find readers; paid subscribers buy deeper reporting, templates, or a community.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Local History Walks
Learn a city's hidden layers
Local History Walks
Learn a city's hidden layers
You film how-to videos teaching neighbors how to learn a city's hidden layers.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Raincoat Fashion
Looking composed in bad weather
Raincoat Fashion
Looking composed in bad weather
You post short videos about looking composed in bad weather. A small product, affiliate link, or booked service from the comments pays you.
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
Quiet Payroll
Weekly newsletter on contractors, invoices, and sleeping at night
Quiet Payroll
Weekly newsletter on contractors, invoices, and sleeping at night
You write a weekly email about contractors, invoices, and sleeping at night. Free issues find readers; paid subscribers buy deeper reporting, templates, or a community.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Market Morning
Shop a farmers market without waste
Market Morning
Shop a farmers market without waste
You film how-to videos teaching home cooks how to shop a farmers market without waste.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Voice-Note Essays
Turn walks into published audio
Voice-Note Essays
Turn walks into published audio
You film how-to videos teaching thinkers how to turn walks into published audio.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
City Yield
Weekly newsletter on neighborhood-scale economics for residents, not tourists
City Yield
Weekly newsletter on neighborhood-scale economics for residents, not tourists
You write a weekly email about neighborhood-scale economics for residents, not tourists. Free issues find readers; paid subscribers buy deeper reporting, templates, or a community.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Stage Left
Weekly newsletter on working artists' logistics
Stage Left
Weekly newsletter on working artists' logistics
You write a weekly email about working artists' logistics. Free issues find readers; paid subscribers buy deeper reporting, templates, or a community.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Budget Bike Workshop
Keep a bicycle running cheaply
Budget Bike Workshop
Keep a bicycle running cheaply
You film how-to videos teaching commuters how to keep a bicycle running cheaply.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Captioned Craft Time
ASMR-adjacent making with accessibility first
Captioned Craft Time
ASMR-adjacent making with accessibility first
You post short videos about ASMR-adjacent making with accessibility first. A small product, affiliate link, or booked service from the comments pays you.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Tiny House Walkthroughs
See real small homes honestly
Tiny House Walkthroughs
See real small homes honestly
You film how-to videos teaching would-be downsizers how to see real small homes honestly.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Public-Pool Summer
A published series about hours, algae, joy
Public-Pool Summer
A published series about hours, algae, joy
You publish a series about hours, algae, joy. Memberships, a small product, teaching, or affiliates you would use anyway pay you.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Rental-Friendly Walls
Decor that leaves no holes
Rental-Friendly Walls
Decor that leaves no holes
You post short videos about decor that leaves no holes. A small product, affiliate link, or booked service from the comments pays you.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Night-Sky Newbie
Learn astronomy with cheap gear
Night-Sky Newbie
Learn astronomy with cheap gear
You film how-to videos teaching city dwellers how to learn astronomy with cheap gear.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
