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I’m a full time brand designer and creative entrepreneur - l work for myself.
The thought of fully freelancing may be scary - and to be honest with you, it was for me at first.
But here’s a realistic thread of what l’ve learnt along my personal journey.
The thought of fully freelancing may be scary - and to be honest with you, it was for me at first.
But here’s a realistic thread of what l’ve learnt along my personal journey.
Entrepreneurship of any kind is not easy.
There are so many uncertainties.
Will l get clients? Will they pay me what l am worth? Will l be able to sustain myself and the business? Will l be able to grow?
It can all be overwhelming, esp. if you’re leaving a steady job.
There are so many uncertainties.
Will l get clients? Will they pay me what l am worth? Will l be able to sustain myself and the business? Will l be able to grow?
It can all be overwhelming, esp. if you’re leaving a steady job.
What people don’t also tell you is that you have to wear multiple hats;
You are PR, Administration, Accounting, Marketing, Sales, Consultant, Designer - you’re everything wrapped in one.
Unless you are working on building a team, this is what it’s really like, day in, day out.
You are PR, Administration, Accounting, Marketing, Sales, Consultant, Designer - you’re everything wrapped in one.
Unless you are working on building a team, this is what it’s really like, day in, day out.
However, having walked this journey, l personally prefer it because l have learnt that sometimes, in order to grow, we have to get a little uncomfortable. Along the way, I’ve made mistakes and taken some major losses; however in the same breath l have taken some major wins and...
I am in a position whereby l get to comfortably choose the criteria of work that l take on, set my own hours and workable targets, meet my monthly financial goals and see my brand grow from the sheer labor of my hands.
So what would be some of the things to consider and some of the realities you will face if you’re deliberating becoming a full time creative entrepreneur / freelancer?
1. How do you even know that it’s time to break out? A good tell-tell sign is when you’re starting to feel stifled with your current status and you stop feeling challenged / cannot see any growth or elevation. You may have a steady 9-5 but you have been stagnant, for a while.
2. The idea of leaving your safety net is scary - it would therefore be unwise for you to not prepare and plan for your breakout. Make sure you have contingencies in place that help you to stay afloat for a while should things go south. That, and a good support system.
3. It won’t be easy. Building a reputable brand takes time & it may be slow at first. Some of us go viral overnight & have clients flowing by the dozens into our DMs and inboxes but the reality for most of us is that it’s a marathon. We have to be patient consistently work hard.
4. Working hard must also coincide with having a clear strategy for your brand. How do you identify? Who is your ideal client and how can you position yourself such that you are able to attract them? As much as we may do this for others, we also have to define this for ourselves.
5. Be visible. Your ideal clients will not approach you if they can’t see you. For what it’s worth, word of mouth and referrals go a long way. However, in order to widen reach and tap into international markets, we have to be seen. Be present...
6. You don’t have to be on ALL of the social media platforms - you just have to pick two or three where you know your ideal clients camp and set base there. Post consistently, engage and remember - quality over quantity.
7. Don’t get too bogged down with numbers either. Having a massive following is great and has its perks but what you need more is organic and purpose driven reach and engagement. Sometimes the smallest guns have the loudest bangs.
8. Be meticulous, be professional and be calculated. You don’t have to tell everyone what you’re working on - sometimes real Gs move in silence like lasagne. There’s no monopoly on the grind, so hustle and offer the very best of your product...
9. Every encounter with a client should generate five new clients for you because you are thorough, concise AND deliver beautiful work that serves it’s intended purpose.
10. Should you be a generalist or specialist? There’s merit to both - but ultimately at the end of the day, do not position yourself according to what everyone else is doing. Just because UI/UX is trending doesn’t mean that’s the space you’re meant to be in.
11. Develop full-proof systems. Know how to garner confidence in your new client by taking them through a comprehensive journey that shows them that you know what you’re doing. ALSO consider your creative offering as a solution and not just “work”...
12. This will help you to price based on value and actually get what you deserve (more on this in a future thread) - l acknowledge that in the beginning when things may be tight we may take on any and all work that comes our way to make ends meet...
13. But consistency, growth of character and experience will show you that it may become worthwhile taking on as little as three clients a month if they see, and respect the value in the work that you do; and you as a creative know your worth, how you identify & what you deserve.
14. Penultimately, creative entrepreneurship is also about interpersonal relationships. Don’t be a bot. Good work speaks for itself but people also buy into people. Have a personality but also know how to define professional boundaries.
15. Finally, have a beginner’s mind. Never stop learning. Respectfully reach out for help, read books, watch tutorials, listen to podcasts etc. It all goes a long way.
There’s a lot more l can say but l will leave it here for now. I hope that this helps! And all the best if you’re currently deliberating or have started navigating a freelance career. Your stars will align, just stick to your guns and work hard for your success. They will notice.
