Quitting My Job to Take on AI Video Projects: From Earning 6,000 to 20,000 a Month—My 4-Step Workflow and Mindset for Success
At 2 AM, just as I was about to call it a night, my phone buzzed. A client sent over a script, requesting a viral AI video by 9 AM the next morning, offering 3,000 yuan for it. I stared at the screen for three seconds and simply replied: “I’ll take it.”
After working in this field for a while, I realized that the real magic isn’t the AI technology itself, but rather understanding people.
Just six months ago, I was stuck in a 9-to-5 job, presenting PowerPoint slides and living a monotonous life. Then I stumbled upon an AI short film where a boy transformed a dull gray office into a colorful amusement park. I was blown away: this could actually be profitable.
I immediately quit my job, invested my savings, bought accounts, learned prompts, and refined my workflow—from using free credits to mastering tools like KOLing and Nano bananaPro. My income shot up from over 6,000 in August to breaking the 10,000 mark in September, and by December, I hit over 20,000.
It sounds glamorous, but 80% of that success came from perseverance. Take that urgent 3,000 yuan project, for instance: the client's requirements were vague. They wanted something high-end and impactful, akin to “Soul,” but what they really needed was 3D sci-fi, not hand-drawn 2D.
The biggest challenge in taking on projects isn’t about the ability to deliver; it’s about clients not knowing what they want.
I learned my lesson and now, whenever I get a new client, I ask three essential questions:
- What’s the video length? Any reference samples? A detailed script?
- AI generation comes with randomness; I offer three free tweaks, but significant overhauls will incur extra fees.
- AI understands creation but can never replicate perfectly—only produce something quite similar.
Setting clear expectations up front leads to smoother collaboration. Pricing has its tricks too: I check the market price on platforms like Xianyu, then quote slightly higher with a discount. Clients feel like they’re getting a deal, and I can secure positive reviews. After closing a deal, I guide them to communicate via WeChat for file sharing and discussions—trust is the real currency in this industry.
But just landing projects isn’t enough; the key is delivering quickly and efficiently. Here’s my four-step workflow:
Use Gemini to draft a storyboard: input vague requirements, and it auto-generates a complete table of shots, movements, and lighting.
Use Nano bananaPro for storyboarding: create a grid and generate images in bulk for maximum efficiency.
Generate videos with Jidream AI and KOLing AI: combine static images with action descriptions to create smooth, natural visuals.
Edit with Jianying: align clips, add subtitles, background music, and intelligently enhance frames for improved video quality.
No advanced tech skills are required—just a streamlined process that allows me to run a studio solo. My first paid video earned me just 150 yuan; I spent an entire afternoon tweaking it, and my hands were shaking when I submitted it. Now, I can handle multiple clients and render several videos simultaneously.
AI evolves rapidly; what was cutting-edge last week becomes basic knowledge today. But its true allure lies in democratization: it doesn’t matter your education, background, or artistic skills—only your ideas and how you express them.
For the 499 yuan I spent on learning, I didn’t discover magic; I witnessed ordinary people seizing opportunities in this era and shining brightly in their own ways. That boy who transformed an office into a rainbow represents each of us who refuse to settle for mediocrity.
We’re all fighting against monotony in our own ways, and AI is the brush that everyone can wield.
So stop hesitating—go learn, experiment, and take on your first project. This wave of opportunity is yours to seize!
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