FFN 7#: Confessions of a Freshman Freelancer, New Freelance Jobs & More

✏️ Planning 3-6 months ahead…

When I switched from my full-time job to freelancing I had a few clients onboard so I felt financially secure to go for it, despite the comments from the mean girl in my head. Don’t we all love her? I hit my first business bump six months in. To cut a long story short, my client’s business wasn’t doing well so they paused the contract and didn’t pay me. Nightmare fuel!! This was my first hard lesson. I am glad I learnt this early in my journey. When you decide to go full-time make sure you have 3-6 months of living expenses saved before you make the switch, you never know what might happen with a client. Becoming really aware of my spending, minimizing my expenses and having a good safety net saved is really important to plan for before you take the plunge!

✌️ Creating your business blueprint…

Before going freelancing full-time, I made sure to plan how I wanted my business to work. I created a small business plan of what my services would be, who my ideal clients were, what skills I had to offer, and what rate I needed to make to cover holidays, health insurance, rent, bills etc. I used the Freelancing Females Rate Sheet to help me with this. I looked at what my biggest obstacles would be, along with how I would overcome them. This helped me get clear on what I needed immediately to transition from my full-time gig and allowed me to create a roadmap for my future business development. There is no doubt that the first few months of freelancing can be a struggle, but watching my business grow in line with my goals was so rewarding and reassured me I made the right decision. It also gave me confidence knowing what skills I bring to the table for my clients.

💻💻 Finding your freelance community…

The past week had been quite challenging; I found myself navigating a maze of frustration as I was far from where I had envisioned my business to be. So I arranged a coffee chat with a fellow Freelancing Female to chat all things business and life. It was just what I needed. The conversation served as an anchor, grounding me in the reality that social media really is a highlight reel, reigniting my spark and rekindling my ambition to achieve my goals. Sometimes it’s easy to fall into comparison and struggle with my inner mean girl, however, linking up with a supportive community and learning from others who have weathered similar storms and not only survived but thrived after was exactly what the doctor ordered. So this is your reminder to plug into community as a self employed person, you don’t have to go through your struggles alone! Connecting with like minded people could bring that breakthrough you and your business needed. 

Cookbook Party

I’m excited to be hosting a cookbook party with my friends and will be using Molly Bay’s cookbook to create my dish. Molly Baz brings a unique blend of expertise and passion to her work. Her cookbook is a treasure trove of simple yet delectable recipes that make cooking an easy joy. It’s going to be a fun night in trying new recipes. - Tia