I realized recently that I’ve been freelancing and building my online business for a DECADE. An actual decade. First, wtf am I that old? Second, wow have we learned a lot along the way.
As usual, I’m sharing the best lessons with you.
10 lessons I’ve learned from 10 years of freelancing
Rely on your personal vision to guide your freelancing career.
Shit gets hard sometimes. You might feel like you need to burn it all down and start over. Pivot. Refine. Realign. Push through even when you don’t feel motivated to keep going—your vision will help navigate any highs and lows you come across. Clarity here will help you filter out the yesses vs no’s, and your big progress is in those small daily decisions.
Your worth is not determined by your revenue.
At the height of the Girl Boss Hustle of Instagram Era, everyone and their mother promised you $10k months were the ticket to success. But that’s not the whole picture. And while yes, money is a necessary tool, you are more than your business.
Get a hobby and learn how to unplug from freelancing.
Your business doesn’t need to be your “baby” in order for you to prove how committed you are to your latest manifestation. If you’re having a hard time detaching, find other things you care about (maybe even more).
View your freelancing business as an asset.
That’s the key to making smart decisions. It’s not a hobby or a burden—it’s a viable stream of revenue for your life, and that can support your family. When running smoothly, it’s a tap you can turn on and off as you need. How cool is that?
You’re not for everyone, and that’s okay.
Stop trying to please others, overstepping your own boundaries, and saying yes to shit that’s not aligned. Some people won’t like you, but that doesn’t mean you need to water yourself down to a dull flavour of vanilla that walks and talks like everyone else.
Your perfectionism is holding you back.
It’s better to strive for characteristics like excellence and integrity than getting everything exactly perfect. Stop hurting yourself aiming for this unachievable, self-imposed standard.
Business is human, and you can have fun while freelancing.
Yes, you need to work hard. But that doesn’t mean it needs to feel like an uphill battle. Every time I let things be easy, my business levels up again. Stop pushing in the wrong direction. Prioritize shit that moves the needle. Have fun doing it.
Go deeper instead of wider for easier cashflow when freelancing.
It’s so much easier to sell 1 client a $10,000 package, then a few additional projects afterwards than it is to sell 10 people on a $1,000 course. The course can be a great offer, but if you don’t have an audience, it often makes more sense to start with landing 1 client than a launch that requires multiple conversions to make the revenue you need. Pay attention to your conversion rates, and balance playing the long game with keeping cashflow up right now.
You don’t need a freelancing coach, but it helps if you want to go faster.
I f*cked around for years without support. When I finally invested in a coach, it was a 5-figure investment and I made that money back within the first 60 days. It was the best money I’ve ever spent to accelerate my growth. Since then, I’ve set aside a budget every single year that’s specifically for coaching, consulting, and related development.
F*ck the rules and build something that feels good to you.
Everyone has an opinion online. Even me. Take everything you see here with a grain of salt, and find a way of doing things that fits your goals, life, wants, and needs. Don’t just do what someone else did because it worked for them. Pull the parts that make sense for you, and add your spin.
What would you add to this list? Comment below to let me know the most important lesson you’ve learned.
How to get started freelancing
If you’re new-ish to freelancing and want to make a real go at this, I have plenty of other resources for you here on the blog. First, start with 4 Steps to Profit to learn how to strategically position yourself as a freelancer.
