How I Went From $15 An Hour To $35 An Hour

I was standing in front of the refrigerator at 8 am, still wearing my pajamas with a cup of coffee in hand. I hated going to work at my 9-5 job, but I loved being a mom and staying home with my son.

My world would change forever on that day. I knew there had to be another way that I could stay home with my son and still be able to provide for him financially, too. That’s when it came to me, what if I took the skills that got me from $15 an hour up to $35 an hour and distilled them down into a training course so others could benefit from it as well? 

So here it is. Here are all the tips and tricks you need (including some from personal experience) compiled into one easy-to-implement guide!

Takeaways
1. Upskilling Pays Off: Investing in developing new skills and improving existing ones can lead to higher-paying job opportunities and increased earning potential.
2. Negotiate Your Worth: Don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary or hourly rate when offered a new position or contract. Confidently showcase your value and achievements to secure better compensation.
3. Seek Growth Opportunities: Look for ways to advance your career within your current job or explore new opportunities that align with your goals and aspirations. Career growth often comes with higher pay.
4. Track Your Progress: Keep a record of your achievements, projects, and positive feedback from clients or employers. Having quantifiable data can help you demonstrate your value during negotiations or job interviews.
5. Network and Build Connections: Networking can open doors to lucrative freelance gigs or job opportunities. Cultivate professional relationships and maintain a strong online presence to attract potential clients or employers who value your skills.

Take Every Challenge As A Learning Experience

When something doesn’t go as planned, take a step back and look at the situation. Ask yourself what you could have done differently to make sure that this didn’t happen in the first place. Ask yourself what you can do to improve so it doesn’t happen again.

nd most importantly, ask yourself what you can learn from this situation so that it makes its way into your future experiences.

When taking on these challenges, try not to let them overwhelm you; instead of getting frustrated about being stuck with an undesirable assignment or dealing with an uncooperative client, take each challenge as an opportunity for growth and improvement.

Unlocking the path to becoming a full-time freelance writer can be an enriching journey filled with creative opportunities and financial growth. Learn how to take the leap and pursue your passion in our guide on How to Become a Full-Time Freelance Writer Without Selling Your Soul to discover the key steps and insights from experienced freelancers.

Surround Yourself With Passionate People

Surround yourself with passionate people. When you surround yourself with like-minded individuals, you will feel motivated and encouraged to do your best work.

How do you find passionate people? They’re everywhere! Ask around for recommendations or simply reach out to someone who seems excited about what they do and asks them how they got started in the field.

If they are happy to share their story, then it’s likely that they have found something they love doing and can pass on valuable tips on how to succeed in it as well.

Working with passionate people is a great experience because it allows everyone involved to learn from each other while contributing toward an overall goal or project. Not only does this make things more fun but it also strengthens relationships between co-workers which leads to the next tip…

Seek Out Mentors Who Can Help Accelerate Your Learning Curve

Mentors can also help you learn from their experiences, mistakes, and successes.

This is why I encourage you to seek out mentors who have the skills that you want to acquire or improve, such as hiring managers who hire developers at high-paying companies, or startup founders who have built successful companies. You can even find these people on Twitter or LinkedIn by using the right hashtags, like #entrepreneurmentor or #startupmentor.

If I had tried to learn on my own and through trial and error how best to build relationships with potential employers and clients while in college (and after), I would have wasted years of my life trying things that didn’t work rather than figuring out what does work right away.

Be aware that not everyone will want to be your mentor (and sometimes those who do might not be good mentors). Make sure they can provide value before asking them for help; otherwise, they’ll lose interest quickly because helping someone without getting anything in return isn’t enjoyable for most people!

Exploring the top-paying freelance jobs opens up a world of possibilities for earning potential and professional fulfillment. In our article on The 10 Highest Paying Freelance Jobs: My Experiences, you’ll gain valuable insights and firsthand experiences from freelancers thriving in lucrative industries.

Build A Strong Network Of Connections

Networking is a key part of being successful in any industry. As you seek to become more efficient and effective in your work, it’s important to build strong connections with other professionals who can help you be successful.

The first step in building your network is recognizing where you are currently at concerning networking. You should have some idea of who might be able to help you or give advice on how to move forward in your career path and life goals.

Once this is done, focus on creating deeper relationships with these people by learning about their interests, passions, and motivations so that they know more about the type of person they are helping out when they refer someone like yourself into their company or organization.

Once these relationships are built up through regular contact over time through social media platforms such as LinkedIn or Twitter (or even meeting them face-to-face), then it becomes easier for these connections

to recommend new opportunities for growth within the organization(s) that employ them because there is already some mutual trust established between everybody involved here!

Don’t Be Afraid To Go For It All

If you have a role in mind, ask for that role. If the company needs someone with your skills and experience, they will likely find a way to make it work.

I’ve seen this happen time and time again at companies I’ve worked with even when there isn’t an open position, they will find a way to reward employees who are willing to ask for promotions or transfers into roles that better fit their skill set and experience level.

In short: be bold and ask!

Learn Something New, Take A-Class, Or Get Certified On Your Own Time

I learned how to be an accountant the hard way. I took free online classes, bought a bunch of books, and used Google Translate to translate some into English from French. It was pretty challenging at first but once I got the basics down it became easier as time went on.

You can learn anything you want on your own time with the help of a mentor. If there’s something out there that interests you, find someone who knows about that specific topic and ask them if they would mentor you or let you shadow them for some time so that you can learn their skillset firsthand!

Embrace the freelance lifestyle and understand what it entails by diving into our comprehensive guide on What Freelancing Is Like and What to Expect. Discover the pros, cons, and valuable tips to thrive as a freelancer in this evolving work landscape.

Decide What You Want And Don’t Let Anyone Tell You It’s Not Possible

You can make your dreams a reality, but only if you put in the hard work. You are capable of achieving anything you set your mind to because no one else knows what your potential is except for yourself.

But this requires effort on your part; nobody will just hand over those things that are most important to them without some type of sacrifice or effort from themselves. So get up off the couch and get started!

Be Confident In What You Are Offering The Company And Showcase It

Be confident in what you are offering the company and showcase it. Don’t be afraid to do what you know is right and don’t be afraid to ask for more money! You have to ask to receive, and if you never ask then your answer is always no.

In the end, this tip is about being confident in what you are offering the company. If they see that confidence daily then chances are they will want someone reliable like yourself on their team for a long time!

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For More Money

Don’t be afraid to ask for more money! You have to ask to receive, and if you never ask then your answer is always no.

When it comes down to it, the only way you are going to get what you want is if you put yourself out there. You need confidence in yourself and in what you are offering the company. If they don’t offer it, then go somewhere else where they will!

If someone tells me that something isn’t possible or that I’m not worth it, I usually laugh because I know what my value is and how much I am willing to work for myself.

Be A Leader, Not Just An Employee

When you take up a position as a leader, you are responsible for your team and their success. You have to be able to motivate them and push them to do the best they can. When you are just an employee, it is easier to let others do the leading.

It is more important that you have good relationships with your peers and superiors than it is for you to lead them by example in your work.

Some people are not comfortable with the responsibility of being a leader at all times because they believe it will make them look bad if something goes wrong with their team or project.

This is not true! As long as they put in their best effort themselves, then there should be no reason why someone else cannot step up and take over if necessary (or even better: before).

Taking the bold step towards freelancing full-time requires courage and determination. Read about Why I Quit My Full-Time Job to Start Freelancing to gain valuable insights from someone who ventured into the freelance world and found success beyond traditional employment.

Don’t Take Anything Personally – Operate From A Place Of Love Not Fear

I’ve found that the best way to get ahead in life is to operate from a place of love, not fear. This applies to how you treat yourself and others. If someone doesn’t like your idea, it isn’t personal; if someone doesn’t like you or your style, it isn’t personal; and if someone doesn’t like your work, it certainly isn’t personal.

The reason this is so important is that when we take things personally we feel bad about ourselves and our abilities which can then affect our confidence going forward and make it more difficult for us to succeed in whatever we are trying to do (whether selling services or products).

Remember That ‘no’ Is Just The Beginning Of A Conversation

You’ll never know what could happen if you simply say yes and give it you are all!

Don’t be afraid to ask for more money, a promotion or even another position. Your boss may be willing to negotiate with you if they realize you’re unhappy with your pay or current role. If they don’t offer anything, try asking them why they aren’t willing to budge and see if there’s anything else they can do (e.g., flexible working hours).

If they say no again, then go back and think about what could’ve been improved upon in order for this person not only consider hiring someone else but also give up one of their best employees for an unknown quantity like yourself?

Maximize your freelance career’s potential with these effective tips that will elevate your success and client satisfaction. Delve into our article on Tips for Making the Most of Your Freelance Career and discover valuable strategies to excel in the freelancing market.

Final Thoughts

By following these tips, you can absolutely increase your earning potential. It’s not easy, but it’s totally worth it in the long run.

If you need some extra help getting through this process, I recommend talking to a friend who has more experience with money management than you do they can be a great resource for providing advice that’s relevant to your specific situation.

Further Reading

From Hourly to Salary: Understanding the Transition: Explore the process and considerations involved when transitioning from an hourly wage to a salaried position.

How to Calculate Your Hourly Earnings: Learn how to accurately calculate your hourly earnings, empowering you to make informed financial decisions.

Making the Most of a $15 an Hour Income: Discover effective strategies for budgeting and managing finances with a $15 an hour income.

People Also Ask

What Is The Ideal Number Of Hours You Should Work Each Week?

The ideal number of hours you should work each week varies from person to person. The amount of time you spend at work will depend on your goals, current income, and other factors.

For example, if you want to earn $100,000 per year, then you might need to work 50 hours per week. If you want to earn $50,000 per year, then perhaps it would be possible for you to get by working 25 hours per week.

In general, I recommend that most people aim for around 40 hours per week so that they can enjoy their lives outside of work while still earning enough money to be comfortable and live comfortably. However, this is just a recommendation you should do what works best for your life!

How Did You Manage To Get A Job That Pays So Much More Than The Jobs You’ve Had?

It wasn’t easy. I was working at a grocery store for seven years and I didn’t have any experience with web development, so it took me a while to find a job that paid as well as this one does.

In fact, when I first started as a junior developer, my salary was only about $20k but over time, as my skills improved, so did my salary!

What If I Don’t Have Any Experience In Web Development? How Do I Go About Finding A Job Like This One?

If you don’t have any experience in web development, but you want to learn it anyway, then here’s one thing you can do: find someone who has already done what you want to do and ask them questions.

If they’re willing to help out (and most people are), then they’ll be able to give you advice on how they got where they are now and what steps they took along the way.

What Is The Difference Between $20 An Hour And $30 An Hour?

The difference between $20 and $30 an hour is about $10,000 per year (assuming you work full-time). That might not seem like a lot but remember: if you get a raise, that money is yours to keep forever. It doesn’t go away when your boss fires you or when the company goes under it’s yours forever.

Is There A Way To Make That Leap Without Changing Jobs?

Absolutely! You just need to ask for more money at your current job. This is called “negotiating.” 

Many people are afraid to negotiate because they think they’ll get turned down or fired if they ask for more money, but I promise no one will fire you for asking for more money in your current job. If anything happens after the fact (like getting promoted), then consider yourself lucky and take advantage of those opportunities!

What Is The Main Reason You Decided To Move From $15 An Hour To $35 An Hour?

I decided to move from $15 an hour to $35 an hour because I wanted to be in a position where I could make more money and also have more freedom in my life. 

What Is The Difference Between A Freelancer And A Contractor?

A freelancer is someone who works for themselves, and a contractor works for another company.

A freelancer can be either an employee or an independent contractor. An independent contractor does not have any employment rights, but they do have tax advantages.

How Do You Know What To Charge For Your Work?

There are some simple steps that you can take to figure out what your time is worth, no matter what kind of job you have.

First, take a look at what other people in your field are charging for their services or products, then compare that with what you think is fair pay for your work this will help get you started on setting prices based on value instead of just guessing at them!