Third Times a Charm: YEAR 3 IN BIZ

I finally found my footing.

For 2.5 years, I didn’t feel solid in my new career. I struggled to explain to others what I did for a living. I wrestled with imposter syndrome daily. Clarity and consistency were missing from my services - it took some time to figure out what I was doing.

But this year? She’s arrived. ✨

Confidence came, clarity emerged, and things settled into place. I grew my client base, explored new mediums, and got really solid on my offerings.

I’m recapping my third year (and best year yet!) as a freelance creative business owner. If you’re ready to cannonball into the waters of entrepreneurship - or maybe just dip your toe - I hope this can offer you some insight.

PART ONE: YAYS AND NAYS

Roses and Thorns, Light and Dark, Up and Down, Good and Bad. They all exist in self-employment (I guess in any job really?). Here are mine for 2023:

YAYS

Client Alignment is real. The right people will find you and want to work with you. I’m honest about who I am and my style of work, which attracts like-minded folks. I’ve met some COOL people this year, and I’m grateful when they refer me to others.
Creative energy emerges spontaneously, learn to ride the wave. Learning to work with my energy instead of forcing a routine has been a game-changer. I’m typing this at 11PM on a Saturday because creativity struck. If I’m feeling blocked, I’ll take a walk in fresh air, grab coffee with a friend, or cuddle with my pup to spark new ideas. But if it doesn’t, I’ve learned not to force it. That great idea will come soon.
Making money from self-employment is damn empowering. This year I surpassed all my previous traditional work salaries. It’s scary walking away from a steady paycheck, but there’s no cooler feeling than owning all your work and getting paid to be you!
Staying Current. Media and creative platforms move so fast. It seems like once you learn a new software, it’s time for a software update. The great thing about this is my ability to adapt, pivot, and use my brain to develop a whole new skill set. I dove into voiceover work this year and dabbled in AI. It’s amazing what is out there, what we can learn, and how we can use it to expand our creativity.

NAYS

Cabin Fever got me. Most folks have returned to the office in some hybrid form (which from my perspective, is the Goldilocks solution), and I have to say, I’m jealous. Sure, I’ll never swap my WFH loungewear for tailored pants, but I could go for a high-energy round table discussion or an office happy hour. Working for yourself can be lonely and it takes intentional effort to combat that - especially in these Midwest winters!
Planning is difficult. Most of my contracts run on 3, 6, or 9-month timeframes. Project planning can be a circus. There are times when I’m juggling four projects at once and then drop into a three-week lull. The traditional bi-weekly salary is a luxury; lump-sum payments can be tricky to time. It’s not always steady and stable.
Hustle Culture vs Hard Work. I’ve never subscribed to hustle culture mentality. Aren’t we over-stimulated enough? No thanks to the #BossBabe ideals. But the pressure to keep performing, keep pushing, grow rapidly and succeed can get to me in a negative way. This year I pinpointed the differences between hustling and working hard - and committed to the latter.

PART TWO: MY Must-haves

Champion Clients - people who shout your name from the rooftop and pass your business card along. This is the #1 way I’ve grown my client base and decreased the amount of cold-calling/over-marketing. Referrals are EVERYTHING and my business truly wouldn’t succeed without them. (Thank you so much!)
Designated Quiet Workspace - the idea around the “laptop lifestyle” and “working wherever you want” is total bologna. It sounds sexy to have freedom and flexibility, but have you ever tried working at home in the middle of a kitchen renovation? Have you tried to work at a coffee shop but the Book Club one table over can’t stop cackling? Yeah, it’s important to have a space for true focused time for work, it’s a non-negotiable.
A Rockin’ Playlist - And by rockin’, I mean total ambient noise. Sound-eliminating headphones and binaural beats and my fingers are on fire at the keyboard. Check out one of my favorites in the playlist below!

PART THREE: What’s next?

This year was about solidifying my services, establishing my workflow, and expanding my reach. As I continue to hone in, I feel the pull to specialize even further - to focus my “Jane of All Trades” ability into more intentional efforts. Does this mean copywriting only? Short form video? Designing workbooks and print material? I’m not sure yet, but I know specializing is something I’d like to pursue.

I’d also like to get more collaborative and involved in my community (*see above, Cabin Fever!). There are great networking groups, Women’s Circles, writers workshops and other co-working creative spaces around town. Working solo doesn’t have to mean working alone!

In 2024 I’m bumping up my business travel! I miss conferences and learning opportunities outside the state. The chances for growth and connection at retreats and professional gatherings are abundant. I’m ready to add that back into my career.

I feel insanely blessed to do what I do. Living in creative flow has worked wonders for my mental health and my capacity to live an authentic life. I never fit in at traditional workplaces, and shaping a career where my creativity directly impacts others has been so fulfilling. Providing solutions to folks who want to share their stories but don’t have a way to get there has been a blast. And I’ve collaborated with some amazing organizations along the way! THANK YOU.

Here’s to another year of enthusiastic creation!