I built a six-figure remote business and walked away from the 9 to 5 at age 46. Every Tuesday, I email a story, tip, or idea to help you climb down the corporate ladder and live life on your terms.
Two very dangerous positions for a freelancer...
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There are two dangerous positions for a freelancer: 1) Needing work and 2) feeling like you have enough work and don't need to look for more. Thankfully, I learned this lesson about six months after going full-time. I lost a $3,000/month client as quickly as it took to read the two-line email I received. While I still had enough income from other clients, I hadn't been actively networking—building relationships or reaching out to potential leads—and suddenly felt very vulnerable. That experience taught me that no matter how well things are going, you can never get too comfortable. _________________ Also, being in a position where you need the work can cause you to undercharge. This past month, I landed a new freelance writing client - writing about investments for a U.S. stock exchange. Because I have a full slate of clients and didn't need the work, I felt comfortable asking for $.80 USD/ per word, which is the highest rate I've requested yet. The client accepted without hesitation. However, if I were in a position where I was feeling desperate—say I'd just lost a client and was feeling the pressure—I likely would have asked for far less in fear of being turned down. So, if you're a new freelancer or thinking about becoming one, remember two things:
Have a great week! - Colin |
9-5 Escape by Colin Graves
I built a six-figure remote business and walked away from the 9 to 5 at age 46. Every Tuesday, I email a story, tip, or idea to help you climb down the corporate ladder and live life on your terms.
Happy Tuesday! I'm back to my weekly schedule after taking an unplanned break for a few weeks. A few of you reached out to see what was up — thanks for checking on me! : ) All is good! I thought I'd share an update on what's been happening this summer and my plans for the fall... Ottawa trip Laura and I were in Ottawa at the end of July for a few days to see my parents and attend a "cousins" reunion. I have 34 first cousins on my Mom's side of the family, and a few of them decided to plan a...
Happy Tuesday! While doing my once-per-month scroll-through of Threads this week, I was reminded why you should never look to strangers for advice on social media. (If you're unfamiliar with Threads, it's Facebook's parent Meta's version of Twitter). As I scrolled through my feed, I came across the following "Thread": "I NEED MULTIPLE STREAMS OF INCOME. What's your best side hustle?" Over 150 replies followed their question. I scrolled through about 20 or 30, stopped, and shook my head....
Step# 2 in my "Roadmap to Escape the 9-5" is to start a side hustle or business that can eventually replace the income from your day job. However, most people struggle to come up with a side hustle idea. There are likely a few reasons for this: They're focused on the wrong thing (money) - never chase the money They lack confidence in their abilities They're afraid to start Indecisive/ can't think of a 'good' business idea Regardless of the reason, if you're struggling to find the right side...