A life of travel and adventure is what we live for here at Hack Your Hustle. By following the tips below, you can start your adventure as a full-time freelancer. And what better time to start than now?
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Embrace the Freelance Lifestyle |
| Balancing Travel and Work |
| Navigating Freelancing Platforms |
| Overcoming Generational Challenges |
| Pursuing Lifelong Learning |
Work Hard, Then Work Harder
When you get started, you should make sure you’re working hard at your craft. Once you’ve done that, then it’s time to work even harder on marketing yourself and building your network. Once that’s done, it’s time to work hard on networking and connecting with people, and then keep going!
The key is not just doing one thing at a time but doing all of them over time. Don’t be afraid or discouraged by how long it could take; just keep working at each step in order until it becomes second nature for you.
Avoiding financial pitfalls is crucial for freelancers. Don’t let these mistakes keep you broke! Check out our guide on 10 Freelancing Mistakes That Are Keeping You Broke to ensure your freelancing success.
Pursue What You Love, And The Money Will Follow
Your passion is what will drive you to succeed and it is the key to finding a career that you love. It’s important not to settle for something that makes money but doesn’t make your heart sing. If it becomes too much of a struggle, and if it stops bringing joy into your life, then find a way out.
I had no idea how I was going to make money as a freelance writer when I started out. Part of me thought that maybe I wasn’t good enough or maybe this was just another pipe dream destined to come crashing down around me in failure like everything else in my life up until now (nothing bad ever happens unless it involves me).
But luckily those fears were unfounded because once again they were proven wrong by reality: if anything – and I mean anything – can happen as long as there’s internet access then nothing is impossible!
Be Patient, But Don’t Wait Too Long
You don’t want to wait too long to start your business. You want to get it up and running as soon as possible, while you still have access to a regular income. You also don’t want to wait too long before getting your first clients and starting on that first project.
The longer you wait, the harder it is for potential clients or customers or clients or guests or patrons or patients or stakeholders, etc., etc., etc., will be convinced by the fact that they need your services right away and that they need them more than ever before (or else).
Another reason not to wait too long? It’s simply easier if you get started sooner rather than later because then you’ll have personal experience working with other people who might hire freelancers like yourself in the future and these people may even become friends or mentors!
Find Your Tribe
You’ll want to find the people in your life who are invested in you and vice versa. These are those people who will support you, encourage you, and even help make sure that you don’t burn out.
They might be family members or friends: People who can go on weekend hikes together or go out for coffee every week. They might be fellow freelancers with similar values and goals as your people who work as freelancers themselves but have different backgrounds or skills or interests than yours so that they can bring more value to your business (e.g., they know more about copywriting than graphic design).
Or they could simply be colleagues within the industry or other freelancers with whom you’ve developed a relationship while working together on projects at previous companies who are willing to answer any question that comes up along the way (or at least point you toward someone who can).
Mastering time management is the key to a successful freelancing journey. Learn effective strategies with our comprehensive article on Time Management Tips for Freelancers and make the most out of your workday.
Define Your Goals, But Be Flexible On How You Get There
You may be wondering what your goals should be as a freelancer. You must take the time to define them, but also realize that you can always change them if need be.
For example, if one of your goals is to work on projects for just one client and then move on to another client, but then two months into working with the first client they grow so big that they start hiring full-time employees instead of having freelancers do their work that would be something where maybe you would want to reevaluate your strategy.
If after three months of working with this client they’re not paying their invoices or meeting deadlines on time or in full, maybe it’s time for another type of solution; perhaps switching from being paid by hourly rates over time versus being paid by project basis isn’t working out well for either party involved (you or the client).
It’s good practice throughout life never to be afraid of change because change tends not only to lead us towards better places overall but also opens up new opportunities we might’ve been unaware existed before making those changes!
Diversify Your Income Streams
One of the best ways to protect yourself from financial hardship when you’re away from home is to diversify your income streams. That means not relying on one source of income, client, skill, or location. Here are some more tips to keep in mind:
Don’t rely on one income source. If you only have one source of income (like freelance writing), it will be harder for you to adjust if that source dries up for any reason.
Instead, find other ways that earn money as well; for example, teaching classes online or selling products through Amazon FBA could supplement your freelance writing business and make up for months if it fell out of favor with clients.
Don’t rely on one client or employer. If you don’t have multiple clients who pay well enough to cover your living expenses and bills then getting laid off from one employer would throw off all kinds of balances in terms of how much money comes through each month and how much goes out and that can quickly lead down a spiral path toward financial ruin if left unchecked!
Never Stop Learning
Learning is a lifelong process, and the more you do it, the better off you’ll be. You can learn something new every day. Learning new things can help you grow as a person, improve your life, and grow your business. It also allows you to save money in many cases by learning how to do something yourself or avoid an expensive purchase.
This is why I recommend that freelancers always find ways to incorporate learning into their lives. Here are some tips:
Read books on topics that interest you or are related to what you do for work (e-books are especially helpful because they take up less space).
Take classes at local colleges or online through sites like Coursera or Udemy if there’s something specific about which you want to learn more.
These sites have free courses available in subjects ranging from web development and programming languages such as Python and JavaScript down to marketing strategies – check them out!
Subscribe to podcasts dedicated to educating listeners about subjects relevant to freelance writers like The Laptop Entrepreneur Podcast which provides great information about running an online business full time while still having time for yourself outside of work hours.
Other ones include The Freelancer’s Showcase podcast hosted by fellow freelancer John Wallis who advises on topics concerning productivity within creative careers as well as interviews other successful entrepreneurs such as entrepreneur extraordinaire Gary Vaynerchuk who shares his advice on how best one could start up their own company without any prior experience at all!
Want to thrive on Upwork? Here’s what you need to know. Explore our guide on How Upwork Works for Freelancers to navigate the platform and land your dream freelancing projects.
Just Start Building It – Prototype And Produce In Public
Once you have a prototype of your product, it’s time to build it in public. The process of doing so will help you learn how to sell and market your idea, get feedback from real customers and improve your business model. If there’s one thing I wish I had done differently when I started my own freelancing business, it’s building things in public sooner.
Before starting this process though, make sure that the first version of your product is easy enough for anyone to use (even if only by yourself). This will enable people who don’t know much about what you’re trying to do so far can still understand what is going on (and why they should care).
Once these two steps are completed then release whatever it is that you’ve built on social media platforms such as Instagram or Twitter; ideally start with small audiences like family members or friends before moving on to bigger ones like influencers within the industry where yours fits into best (i.e., musicians on SoundCloud).
Create More Value Than You Consume
One of the best ways to ensure that you’ll be able to support yourself as a freelancer is by creating more value than you consume. In other words, make sure that what you create for clients is more valuable than what they pay for it.
This doesn’t mean that your work has to be perfect or even near-perfect; it just needs to be good enough and helpful enough so that people would want more from you if they were given the chance. If I had a dollar for every time someone told me they’re not productive enough…I’d have a lot of dollars!
Productivity isn’t about quantity though it’s about quality. If you’re spending your time doing things such as checking Facebook or playing games on your phone instead of working hard at being productive, then yes you’re probably not very efficient either. Don’t worry though: there are plenty of ways around this problem so long as we stay focused on what matters here: productivity without wasting time.
Save Up To Give Yourself A Head Start
While you have a steady paycheck coming in, save up as much money as you can. You’ll need to give yourself some time to find your feet before you start earning good freelance paychecks, so having a good nest egg will ensure that you don’t end up broke while trying to get started.
What should I save for?. There are a million things that could benefit from saving some money in advance. Here’s what I recommend:
- 6 months of living expenses (for emergencies)
- Vacation and/or house down payment savings account (if one of those is in your future)
Gen Z freelancers, beware of this common mistake that could hinder your success. Discover more in our article about The Biggest Freelancing Mistake That Gen Z Make to stay ahead in the freelancing game.
Decide What Success Means To You, And Go After It With Passion And Purpose
Once you’ve defined success for yourself, think about what it means to achieve it. For example, if you chose “become a full-time freelancer and make six figures a year by age 30” as your definition of success, then your goal is simply to have enough clients to make that much money by that age.
The next step is making sure that this goal is realistic you may be able to do it with one client or dozens of them; either way will work fine (as long as they pay well). If your definition includes a certain number of clients and/or revenue per year, set up milestones along the way so that you can track your progress toward those goals and celebrate when you reach each one!
Save For Retirement Early And Often – Investing Is Easiest When You’re Young
Investing is the best way to grow your money. Investing early is even better. When you’re young, poor, and scrappy (like me), investing for retirement might feel like an outlandish luxury that’s out of reach. But it’s the exact opposite: a smart way to build wealth over time. When you’re young, you don’t have much money to invest with – but that doesn’t mean you can’t make investments of any kind at all
One of my favorite ways to get started with investing is through 401(k)s or 403(b)s offered by your employer – they allow employees to contribute pre-tax dollars into an account managed by an investment firm that helps grow those funds over time instead of letting them sit idle in a savings account until later on in life.
When it might be too late for them still to be able to make up for lost potential returns from compound interest after years spent earning less than expected due to inflation eating away at their purchasing power instead of growing stronger because we were able I guess?
Always Look For Ways To Simplify Your Life And Reduce Costs (But Don’t Deny Yourself)
It’s important to remember that this isn’t a race. You don’t have to be retired at 30, or travel the world in your 20s. If you do want to do those things, that’s amazing. But if you find yourself wondering how much money is enough, or if the grass is greener on the other side of the fence (and you can afford it).
Remember: it’s ok to change your mind. This journey towards freedom and abundance has no final destination; there’s no need for perfectionism or self-denial along the way.
Embark on a lifelong adventure as a full-time freelancer and embrace a world of possibilities! Learn how to kickstart your journey in our guide on The Secret to Becoming a Full-Time Freelancer and embrace the freedom of freelancing.
Final Thoughts
I hope this guide has been helpful to you! I wish you all the best on your journey.
Further Reading
How to Break Free: Turning Your 9-5 Job into a Thriving Freelance Career Learn how to transition from a traditional 9-5 job to a successful freelance career with practical tips and advice.
What is a Digital Nomad and How to Become One Discover the world of digital nomadism and find out how to embrace a location-independent lifestyle.
Helpful Tips Access a collection of helpful tips to enhance various aspects of your life and career.
People Also Ask
What Is A Freelancer?
A freelancer is someone who works for themselves, rather than as an employee of another company or organization. This means that freelancers are not limited by their employers’ schedules, and can choose how much or how little they want to work each day.
How Much Can I Make As A Freelancer?
The amount of money you make as a freelancer will depend on your experience level, the type of work you do, and how often you work. The more skilled you are at your job, the more likely it is that clients will pay more for your services.
If you’re just starting as a freelancer, consider offering discounts to attract customers and build up your portfolio. You can also offer freebies (such as free consultations or free samples) to get clients’ attention before charging them full price for their services.
How Do I Become A Freelancer?
You don’t need any formal training or certification to become a freelancer—all you need is the ability to complete projects on time and within budget! To get started finding clients who need your services, start by thinking about what skills you have that others might want from you and then look around social media sites such as
How Do You Know If You’re Ready To Become A Full-Time Freelancer?
You’ll know you’re ready when you feel like you can’t see yourself doing anything else. If you are passionate about your work, and it’s something that you’ve been doing for years, then you’re probably ready.
If the thought of going back to an office makes your skin crawl, then you might be ready! And if being able to spend more time with your family and friends is important to you, then becoming a full-time freelancer could be right up your alley.
What Are The Benefits Of Becoming A Full-Time Freelancer?
The biggest benefit of being a full-time freelancer is having choices in life again. You can choose where and how often you work, and even what kind of work you do if that’s what interests you most! You’ll also be able to spend more time with the people who matter most in your life without having to put them on hold because of meetings or other obligations at work.
How Do I Become A Full-Time Freelancer?
To start, you’ll need to think about what your strengths and weaknesses are. Are you good at graphic design? Maybe you should focus on that. Do you like to write? You could try writing for blogs and magazines. Once you’ve identified some areas in which you’re skilled, think about how they can be applied to your future career as a freelancer.
How Much Money Will I Make As A Freelancer?
It depends on the field you choose and how much experience you have with it, but generally speaking, the more experience and expertise you have, the more money you’ll earn. For example, if you only know how to write short stories but want to write novels instead, that may be less lucrative than writing short stories because novels require more content than short stories do.
This is just one example of many factors that go into determining how much money someone makes as a freelancer.
How Do I Know If I’m Ready To Make The Commitment?
If you’re tired of working for someone else and want to be in charge of your schedule, then freelancing is probably right for you.
But if you’re still thinking about it, take some time to think about how much money you might need to save up before leaping, or whether or not your current job has any benefits (like health insurance) that will help cover expenses while you’re starting on your own.
You don’t want to jump into this without knowing what might happen if things don’t work out right away!
What Is The Best Way To Start A Freelancing Career?
The best way to start a freelancing career is to do what you’re good at and what you love. If you can figure out how to make money from that, then you should be good to go!
What Are Some Of The Benefits Of Working As A Freelancer?
Working as a freelancer gives you a lot of freedom: it’s not like having an office job where you have to work 9-5 every day and deal with traffic on your way there. You can work whenever and wherever suits you best. You can even take vacations whenever you want!
Is It Hard To Get Clients? What Should I Do First?
It can be hard at first, but once you start building up your reputation as a reliable worker who does quality work, it becomes easier. Just remember that in the beginning, most people are going to say no because they don’t know who you are yet—but that’s okay! Don’t take it personally! Keep working on your skills and building up your portfolio until someone finally says yes 🙂
How Much Time Should I Spend On My Blog?
It depends on what your goals are! If you’re hoping to make money off of blogging, then you must spend as much time as possible making sure that your posts are read by as many people as possible and that means spending time on SEO, guest posting, and creating relationships with influencers in your niche.
If you’re just looking for some creative outlet and want to get the word out about something you’re passionate about, then it doesn’t have to be nearly as much effort! Just post whenever inspiration strikes or at least once a week or so and use social media platforms like Facebook groups or Instagram Stories (if it applies) to share links with friends who might find them interesting too.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.
