What I've Learned After Six Months
It's been six months since I've dove into the world of freelancing. Here's what I have discovered:
1. I can't believe I didn't do this sooner.
2017 was a pretty crazy year for my husband, Richard, and me. We bought our first house and I convinced him (and the rest of my family) that we HAD TO completely gut and renovate the bathroom. Then, I was put in an unfortunate situation that drained me to my core. Because of this, Richard and I spent the majority of the year frustrated and exhausted. Eventually, it all came to an end and I decided to become a freelance graphic designer. At the time, we thought I would just try it out and see what happened. Now, six months later, I can't believe I didn't do this sooner. All I needed was a shove in the right direction and some courage to follow through.
2. It's not you. It's famine.
There will be times of feast where the projects roll in and you have no idea how you'll get it all done. Then, there will be times of famine where you have no projects and you're wondering where you went wrong. In those situations, you need to remember, "It's not you. It's famine." In every industry there are busy times and dead times. It's what you do in those times that matter. I'm an organizational freak and probably a little OCD (undiagnosed, so who knows), so when things are crazy busy, that's when my spidey-sense kicks into gear and I create a plan of attack. When things are slow, I think of different ways to market myself or try to learn new skills. Take advantage of your downtime and invest in yourself!
3. A good support system is essential.
I couldn't have done what I'm doing without my husband. I mean, when your paycheck is not a guaranteed thing, it helps to have a second income. I don't want to get too lovey-dovey, so I'll just say he has been supportive of me every step of the way. I'm not gonna lie, we've had our arguments, but if he didn't support me, none of this would have happened. That and the love and support from friends and family really gave me the courage to branch out. So, know that a good support system is essential for doing what you consider to be impossible. Also, make sure they don't just tell you what you want to hear, because that's not helpful at all. Just saying.
There is so much more I could say, but I'll cut this short to save you from boredom (if you're not already there, of course). If you have any questions you'd like answered in one of my blog posts, let me know! I'm always up for some new topics!