I didn't have HUGE expectations when I dived into freelancing.
And by HUGE I mean, I wasn't thinking of becoming filthy rich, sitting on my ass all day watching TV while licking my buttery popcorn fingers (I don't even eat popcorn), and taking feet selfies in front of sandy beaches. My expectations were as grounded as can be:
- Have flexibility to work on my personal projects
- Be able to travel and work from abroad if I so desire
- Sleep in most days (yes, I'm really into sleeping)
- Be able to afford insurance (health, life, renters, liability, insanity, nail, younameit)
- Be able to save a little bit of money each month
- Still enjoy the life I was used to, you know, the fancy dinner, drinks with friends, a weekend getaway, that $32 bottle of olive oil or a $9 oyster shooter (yum)
But I think that if you set the bar too low, once you reach your goal, you get comfortable and stop moving forward. I didn't want to stop when reaching my savings goal, so I upped the number and kept going. I didn't stop when getting that juicy client, so I started looking for more awesome clients.
For me it's like there's always a carrot in front of me and I'm constantly trying to grab it. If I happen to grab it, I take another carrot from the fridge and do the whole thing all over again.
This year has taught me so many things about what I'm capable of. Just the other day, I was telling a family member that I was taking a whole month off this year to work on a personal project. It's one of the reasons why I quit my full-time job in the first place.
How do you do it? she asked
Well, I said, by working really fucking hard.
I didn't use the word "fucking" because I didn't want to offend anyone. But you get the idea.
I worked really hard for months trying to achieve that luxury; I took more projects, worked extra hours, sat in front of my desk on weekends when friends would text, "Hey! Are you working? You better not be working! It's such a beautiful day outside! Go outside!" I smiled at these messages because, yeah, the weather is a treat, but it happens to be Saturday, I'm in the zone and it's fine.
Photo: Dimitri Otis (Getty)
It was fine.
It was fine.
It was perfectly fine.
That for me was achieving a milestone in my career. Having work, planning by month-long escapade AND doing it all without having to dip in my savings account.
So every time someone asks YOU, dear successful freelancer, How you do it all? I know what your answer will be.
BY WORKING REALLY FU**ING HARD.
There is no magic potion. There is no secret.
Now get me another carrot!
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