(This page may contain affiliate links and we may earn fees from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. See our Disclosure<\/a> for more info.)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n In early 2018, I left my corporate career in human resources to go on what I then called a sabbatical.<\/p>\n Five years later, I\u2019m a freelance writer, business coach, and writing mentor. <\/p>\n The in-between is a journey I reflect on often, and I\u2019m grateful to have the opportunity to share it with you.<\/p>\n I started freelancing accidentally. During my sabbatical, I launched a blog that partially focused on personal finance.<\/p>\n I made connections within the niche via social media and, after a while, wrote a guest post for a prominent website in the space.\u00a0<\/p>\n When I got paid for my work, a lightbulb went off. If I could earn $50 writing, I could earn $500, $5,000, and more.<\/p>\n So I immediately started looking for platforms I could contribute to regularly. My first steady client was Women Who Money!<\/p>\n As a few dollars turned to thousands, I realized I had met the goal of my sabbatical: finding a location and schedule-independent way to earn a living. That way, I could fully show up for myself and those I loved.<\/p>\n I could work around my life rather than live around my work.<\/p>\n Want to know more about my backstory? Check out this Women\u2019s Money Talk<\/a> article.<\/p>\n During the last half-decade, I\u2019ve enjoyed many benefits from freelancing \u2014 some expected, some a surprise.<\/p>\n Of course, I\u2019ve loved:\u00a0<\/p>\n But I\u2019ve also deeply appreciated:<\/p>\n I knew from the get-go that freelancing would provide the freedom and flexibility I wanted.<\/p>\n But I didn\u2019t realize how much that would matter until my father got sick. Then, I got to put everything else in the world on hold to focus on him, my family, and my mental health after his death.<\/p>\n Freelancing gave me the precious gift of time.<\/p>\n I also couldn\u2019t predict how much growth I would experience as a small business owner.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve met more people and gained more knowledge in the last five years than in the 30+ years before!<\/p>\n Related: Should I Quit My Job to Freelance? [The Pros & Cons]<\/a><\/p>\n Naturally, my journey hasn\u2019t been all chai lattes and impromptu naps. Despite mostly enjoying the ride, I\u2019ve also dealt with my fair share of challenges.<\/p>\n There have been obvious issues, such as:<\/p>\n But I\u2019ve also experienced some unanticipated hiccups, like:<\/p>\n My biggest takeaways from these challenges are continuously fostering connections in your network and getting all gig details ironed out in advance and documented in writing.<\/p>\n That way, you can call upon your circle when you run into tough times, and there\u2019s never any question about how a project should go.<\/p>\n Plus, you have a legal document to back you up if a deal goes wrong.<\/p>\n Read: Before You Go Freelance, Do These Things<\/a><\/p>\n If I had to start again, would I do anything differently? Part of me says no, but part of me says hell yes!<\/p>\n On the one hand, I believe everything I\u2019ve experienced has shaped me into who I am.<\/p>\n I like who I am and think I\u2019m exactly where I\u2019m supposed to be (even though I\u2019m still far from achieving many of my goals).\u00a0<\/p>\n But, on the other hand, I\u2019m wiser now than I was then, and it would be nice to use that insight to build a better business faster.<\/p>\n So, if we magically went back to February 2018, here\u2019s what I\u2019d do:<\/p>\n Unfortunately, my Delorean is permanently in the shop, so time travel is impossible. But I\u2019m trying to take my own hypothetical advice into consideration now!<\/p>\n Here are a few things you may be wondering about:<\/p>\n The truth is \u2013 I haven\u2019t always been great at this. There have been periods where I didn\u2019t work nearly as much as I should have.<\/p>\n I can name many reasons for this (some legit, others not so much), but the bottom line is that my motivation has waned from time to time.<\/p>\n When I catch myself in a slump, I find that necessity and long-term goals propel me to action again. I need cash to pay my bills and<\/em><\/strong> fund the future I want, so back to work I go!<\/p>\n Many freelance writers worry that AI tools like ChatGPT will eventually replace them. I don\u2019t think that\u2019s true.<\/p>\n AI can aggregate and spit out information in an increasingly logical way. But the computer-generated words lack nuance and storytelling.<\/p>\n Human writers can develop connections, stir emotions, and prompt action far better than the digitally-created copy.<\/p>\n That said, AI tools can be useful to writers. They can help generate ideas for further research.<\/p>\n 100% yes! When you have several income streams, you reduce your risk of financial trouble when one or more dries up.<\/p>\n However, freelancing (typically) inherently provides this buffer, anyway.<\/p>\n Each client or project is a source of revenue. So, you\u2019ll have to think carefully about other income sources you\u2019d like to incorporate into your business.<\/p>\n Personally, I provide coaching services to new and aspiring freelancers as well as professionals trying to become better writers.<\/p>\n I\u2019m also exploring the idea of selling printables<\/a> and freelancing-related merchandise.<\/p>\n I maintained some part-time W-2 work for the first several months after quitting my full-time job.<\/p>\n Doing so allowed me to preserve my savings while I figured out a plan to earn a living going forward. However, once I started getting a lot of writing gigs, I quit those roles to focus on my freelance business.<\/p>\n Since then, I\u2019ve admittedly contemplated returning to a traditional job occasionally because I sometimes miss the steady paycheck and benefits package<\/a> I had in the corporate world.<\/p>\n I even got deep into the hiring process with one company. However, when I think about everything I\u2019ve gained from self-employment, it becomes a no-brainer for me to stay the course!<\/p>\n I can definitely see myself changing gears at some point, which is another excellent reason to cultivate additional income streams.<\/p>\n Writing all the time can be a grind, so I won\u2019t necessarily do it full-time forever. However, I highly doubt I will ever return to traditional employment.<\/p>\n Just as there have been times when I worked too little, there have been times when I worked too much.<\/p>\n When I find myself chasing money, I remember why I took that sabbatical<\/a> five years ago: to discover a way to earn a living and<\/em><\/strong> live my life.<\/p>\n I must never forget (at least for long) that the second part is the most important!<\/p>\n As my father often said, \u201cYou can always make more money, and you can\u2019t make more time.\u201d<\/p>\n My schedule is extremely flexible. I take time off when I want to or when life demands it.<\/p>\n I strive to work 4-5 days a week, but the days aren\u2019t always the same. I leave room for appointments, errands, events, illness, and even brain fatigue.<\/p>\n Since writing is mentally taxing, I\u2019m sometimes not in the right headspace to do it.<\/p>\n When I take a vacation, I do one of two things. I either work ahead and tell my clients when I\u2019ll be unavailable. Or, I\u2019ll bring my laptop along and write when everyone else is asleep. Both have worked well for me.<\/p>\n Here are a few of my best moments and experiences:<\/p>\n And here are a few of my worst:<\/p>\n I\u2019m sure that I\u2019m forgetting many highlights and lowlights. But the truth is, freelancing has given me more than it\u2019s taken, and it\u2019s absolutely been a net gain for my life!<\/p>\n I hope this account of my journey has given you a glimpse into what to expect as a freelancer \u2014 both now and in the years to come. But if you still have questions, I\u2019m a pretty open book. Feel free to email me to talk shop: [email\u00a0protected]<\/a><\/p>\nWhy I Started Freelancing<\/h2>\n
![\"Female](\"https:\/\/womenwhomoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/business-woman-taking-notes.jpeg\"\/)
![\"Female](\"https:\/\/womenwhomoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/business-woman-taking-notes.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBenefits of Freelancing<\/h2>\n
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Challenges of Freelancing<\/h2>\n
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If I Had To Start Again<\/h2>\n
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Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n
How do you stay motivated to be your own boss when so many other things may pull you away?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Has artificial intelligence (AI) changed your job, and are you worried about it replacing you?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Should freelancers have multiple streams of income?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Have you thought about going\/gone back to any W-2 work?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Will you shift to a different small business that you own if you get tired of\/burned out on what you are doing now?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How do you stop \u201cchasing\u201d money (taking on too much work)?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Do you build in vacation time for yourself? Do you have set days off each week?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
What are some of your best and worst moments\/experiences as a small business owner?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n
![\"Laura](\"https:\/\/womenwhomoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Laura-Gariepy-Headshot.jpeg\"\/)
![\"Laura](\"https:\/\/womenwhomoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Laura-Gariepy-Headshot.jpeg\")
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