Member-only story
Becoming an Expert after 120 Days Freelancing
It’s not what you think
It’s not about the best coffee shop
Last week I hit my 120th day of full-time freelancing as a writer and editor.
My freelancing career started out with a smooth transition from one full-time job to two part-time gigs that offered enough projects to keep me busy and enough money to keep food on the table.
But, as every freelancer knows, there are ups and downs in freelancing. Clients finish their projects and don’t need any more help. There are personality differences or style differences to overcome. And sometimes, jobs aren’t what they were supposed to be.
None of those things are bad, it just takes some strategy to make things work.
It wasn’t long before I discovered for myself the valuable lesson I’d heard from other freelancers: don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Find more than one client. I also learned how to prioritize my time well, to make sure I’d finish everything on deadline. Of course, I found my favorite places to work.
But the most important lesson I learned has nothing to do with clients, deadlines, or work spaces. It’s about mentality.
