I know how scary going freelance can be!
I'm a Research and Insights Consultant who went freelance in 2013. After 18 years of employment, I left without a single client or even a plan. I was petrified.
The first few years, I struggled and made a lot of mistakes. It took me a while to figure out how to build a thriving practice. Eventually, I did and today I love working for myself.
I was deeply uncomfortable with selling myself at first, which made business development excruciating. The first time I took someone out for a networking lunch I felt so awkward that I didn’t actually pay the bill, we split the check. That’s still embarrassing!
I couldn’t grow, because I didn’t know how to bring in business. So I accepted the work that came to me instead of going for the work I wanted. I took the pay rate that was offered instead of setting the value for my services myself. In other words, I let other people run my freelance practice.
The first time I sent out an email to prospects. The first time I wrote a blog post. The first time I spoke at a conference. To say putting myself out there was challenging is a massive understatement!
Today I understand that having a freelance practice I really enjoy depends on my willingness to be my own advocate, reach out proactively, articulate my offer clearly and offer value to my industry.
I started getting calls from people I had never worked with before. Referrals came in from people who had never referred me before. These new clients started offering me the kind of complex, strategic work that I love. Seeing the momentum build, I increased my rates and said goodbye to the clients who chose not to pay it.
Cut to today and my freelance practice is thriving. I manage multiple projects at a time and still find time for the rest of my life. I’m in the fortunate position of being able to choose the work I want to do based on the type of projects I most enjoy.
We learn more when we’re engaged and the content is personally relatable. I want to provide value, but I also want you to enjoy the time you invest in each course.
Sometimes it’s hard to see what’s possible until we experience it. Building a thriving freelance practice isn’t easy, but it is absolutely do-able. I want to inspire that sense of potential in you.
I will teach you the steps to create a thriving long-term freelance practice. But it will take some time and commitment from your end. I won’t overpromise, because the results are up to you.
You don’t need to flounder the way I did. With my courses, you’ll have a blueprint for success so you put your time and energy into the right things.
Is fear holding you back from your dreams of being your own boss? I created Should I Go Freelance? for you.
Do you want to get your business, and your life, into thrive mode? Check out Easy Business Development for Freelancers and Optimal Client Management for Freelancers to learn how to build a busy practice doing work that satisfies you.
I want you to feel the deep satisfaction that comes with building something great for yourself. The good news is, you don’t have to figure it out in isolation, you can follow my lead.
I built you the courses that I wished I had when I was struggling. Enjoy.