FFN #57: Can Everyone really Freelance?

🌊 The Inconsistency

A natural part of entrepreneurship is fluctuating pay cheques, this can be the most amazing thing if you are getting an upward trend. However, every freelancer has been there, fighting slower months or having their rates constantly bartered down. This creates a huge barrier to entry for those wanting to go after their dream as if they don’t have a cashed-up family to lean on, income variability is too big of a risk. How did I solve that? Well, I endeavoured to find a few retainer clients to fill up my cal, giving me predictable income sources alongside other one-off projects. I also created a product I could sell, this could look like a template or a course. This helped to boost my income during the slower seasons. Arguably the most important skill I learnt was to get really good at budgeting, I know the ins and outs of my bank account so I always have money squirrelled away for a rainy day / few months.

🙋🏽‍♀️ I Can’t find anyone to pay me!

Another crucial thing that stops people from starting their freelance career is finding clients. I know how defeating it can feel scouring the internet just trying to land a client (especially hard if it’s your first). To combat this, when I started I built a portfolio site that showcased my skills. If you don’t have previous experience, create mockups of work for companies to show off what you can do. Next, I went onto LinkedIn and into various communities and networked, I cold reached out to companies I had seen hire freelancers in the past, I went into local businesses around me and I applied for gigs advertised on Jobs Boards. If you’re stuck on where to find gigs, we dive into this more in our blog. My biggest lesson throughout all of my pitching was that each no brings you closer to your yes. Entrepreneurship is oftentimes just a numbers game - so don’t give up!

🛞 Keepin the wheels movin

A final big barrier to entry I see is that a lot of people don’t know how to run a successful business. We aren’t taught about cash flow, taxes or really what it takes to run a successful business in school, so many freelancers have to teach themselves this. Alongside learning all of that, you have to stay competitive in your industry, which means more learning - who has the time?! The extra hours that being an entrepreneur takes can mean a lot of people with kids, a full-time job or a mortgage to pay won’t go after their dreams - let alone fight that voice in their head that’s screaming no. For me, the biggest solution to this was leaning into a community, just like our Facebook group. Having a place where you can find resources to learn what you need to and just vent to people who understand exactly what you’re going through makes the journey of entrepreneurship feel less like Mount Everest to climb.

Pumpkin Spiced Latte at Home!

This week’s Snack Hour is looking a little different! I wanted to try making my own pumpkin spiced latte from home because I’m in my healthy girl era now - duh. I love love love Ambitious Kitchen’s recipes so I thought why not give it a try and is so delish! Unlike all my other attempts at making one at home, it doesn’t just taste like a can of pumpkin and milk!