Freelance Myth: An Honest Journey to True Independence

Dear reader,

When I decided to quit my corporate job and strike out as a freelancer, I was filled with romantic visions of freedom, untapped earning potential, and getting to be my own boss. The freelance lifestyle seemed like the ultimate shortcut to making my professional dreams come true.

In my mind's eye, I pictured myself as a footloose freelance witch, dazzling clients with my brilliance while working from a cabana by the beach, pi?a colada in hand. No more bureaucracy, no more annoying coworkers, no more limits on my income. Just me crafting my own spectacularly successful career path, beholden to no one. It was the freelance fairytale, and I was ready for my "happily ever after" ending.

Boy, was I in for a rude awakening?

The first harsh slap of reality came when I hit the virtual pavement looking for clients. Despite applying for what felt like hundreds of jobs and freelance gigs, my inbox was Vladimir Putin's calendar, fully booked with rejections and total silence. For months, the rejections piled up, slowly chipping away at my confidence.

As my savings dwindled, I began questioning whether I had what it took to actually make it as a freelancer. The endless grind of scouring job boards and re-writing proposals started to feel like an exercise in futility. Forget the beach cabana—I was broke, alone, and couldn't even afford a cocktail, let alone pay rent. This certainly wasn't the glamorous freelance freedom I'd signed up for.

Just when I was about to throw in the freelance towel, I finally landed my first paid gig. I was officially a working freelancer! This was just the beginning of my mid-career renaissance and journey to the top.

Or so I thought. The honeymoon period ended quickly.

My very first client turned out to be a nightmare. Their demands kept escalating, while their respect for my time and expertise kept plummeting. They were flat-out rude and dismissive of my input and didn't even have the courtesy to inform me that they wouldn’t be available for an agreed call, and when they were available, every conversation led to angry shouting and toxic stress that had me questioning whether any amount of money was worth dealing with such deplorable people.

For my mental health, I fired that mean client. But then I was back at square one, hustling desperately for new gigs and income.

I burned myself out, falling into a vicious cycle of accepting low-paying jobs out of desperation, then overworking to the point of physical and mental exhaustion to compensate for the meagre pay. My "flexible" freelance schedule became a jail of constant work with no separation between personal and professional life.

The complete lack of work-life balance, along with stretched finances from the dry spells between projects, was taking a serious toll. What was once an exhilarating passion project had become a depressing, overwhelming grind. There were many teary nights when the logical side of my brain demanded I quit freelancing and go crawling back to a "normal" job.

However, the freelance dream isn't one you simply abandon, even through the darkest lows and struggles. It's a siren call that gets under your skin, keeping you hustling through the blood, sweat, and tears in pursuit of that elusive "make it" moment.

So I persevered, slowly implementing strategies that turned my freelance fortunes around.

I prioritised upskilling and reskilling by continually developing new abilities and honing my existing skillset, from social media manager to virtual assistant to project manager. I built a powerful brand presence by treating myself as a business. Most importantly, I learned about work-life balance, setting strict boundaries to ensure that I could reap the full benefits of freelancing without burning out.

Finally, after years of grinding it out, I hit my stride and built up enough quality, recurring client work. My rates increased exponentially, the income rolled in steadily with the roller coaster of famines and feasts, and I gained the schedule flexibility to actually enjoy my hard-earned fruits.

Today, I work from a home office and out-earn my corporate job, having masterfully transformed my arduous freelance struggle into ongoing success and freedom—all without compromising my values. I did it.

If I could go back in time to my bright-eyed, rookie freelancer self, I'd pull that naively optimistic girl aside and emphatically explain: The freelance journey is not a fairy tale, but rather a challenging roller coaster that will test your grit before rewarding you with unrivalled freedom and earning potential. It's not for the faint of heart. However, if you persevere through the inevitable dark days while playing the long game, that storybook life of professional independence awaits on the other side.

The road behind me was brutal, yet every mile forged the blissful freelance fulfilment I now cherish—with so much more to come. While I continue striving, if you're willing to grind towards your goals, I'll excitedly meet you at the finish line, pi?a colada in hand, to toast our hard-earned success.

Bye. For now,

Alexis

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it serves as a reminder to us, as creatives, to prioritise our mental health. I will be telling stories about the challenges and triumphs of freelancing and how to navigate them with a healthy mind and spirit.

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