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A career-focused blog post offering a realistic, step-by-step approach to starting a freelance side hustle without burning out or quitting a day job. Reflects an authentic, relatable angle for aspiring freelancers.
The network for creativity
Join 1.25M professional creatives like you
Connect with clients, get discovered, and run your business 100% commission-free
Creatives on Contra have earned over $150M and we are just getting started
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Recently, I received an offer for a full-time, fully remote job. The offer included an impressive benefits package (health, dental, vision, generous PTO, the whole nine), and I have to admit that I was enticed.
After nearly six years of freelancing, uncertainty is part of my workflow. Projects come and go, and there are months when I ask myself if it's all worth it. Getting an offer for a full-time job stopped me in my tracks and made me reevaluate everything.
Spoiler: I didn't accept it. Something about the 3,000-word daily expectation felt intimidating, and not in a go-getter way.
But then something amazing happened. Hours before the full-time offer letter was set to expire, I got an email from a potential client letting me know they'd love to work with me. The gap I had in my client roster was suddenly filled, and everything just fell into place.
If you've been questioning whether it would be better to go back to full-time work, I get it. Trading freedom for stability sounds like a good move, especially if you've had more dry months than you're comfortable with.
Call it what you will, but this time things fell into place exactly how they were meant to. For now, I'm still freelancing and enjoying the freedom! ;)
I'd put the offer next to a typical freelance month, including health insurance and unpaid time off, before deciding whether that 3,000-word daily target is worth it.
How I got here in a few words:
1. Treat Contra as a partner.
Invite clients to Contra, invite creatives to Contra, process your digital goods through Contra, they will reward you with a higher visibility.
2.Increase your visibility outside of Contra.
Good presence will lead people to you eventually, then you can process things through Contra.
3. Work on your skills.
It's a platitude, but it's truly the best thing you can do for yourself.
4. Posting is overrated unless you have a talent for social media.
It's mostly freelances trying to sell things to freelancers who are trying to sell things.
Good luck with your hustle everyone!
congrats
CONGRATULATIONS💪💪🙌
MORE ACHIEVEMENTS🫶
Just hit $10,000 on Contra 🎉
I started here not really knowing what to expect, just looking for a way to work with international clients as a freelancer. It's been incredible to watch it turn into something real: great clients, projects I actually care about, and a platform that...
