Tom: The following is a guest post by Gina Horkey, an excellent freelance writer and past ‘student’ of mine. If you find this post inspiring (and you may well), she offers coaching services too! Enjoy 🙂
Freelancing is tough.
Like really tough. But it can also be really great. Look at Tom – he works a few hours per day doing something that he enjoys and gets to spend the rest of his time as he pleases. While he doesn’t do much freelancing these days, ask him and he’ll tell you that he owes everything to his freelancing roots.
Although I work more than a few hours a day, I recently got the opportunity to take my freelance writing business full-time. My last day of work at my day job was on December 23rd, 2014. I actually probably put in more hours now than I did last year (not including when I was working on my side hustle), but at least now I’m building my business, not someone else’s.
Although freelancing is tough, it’s not impossible. I’m proof of that. I started looking into freelance writing in April of last year and was able to build my business up enough to quit my job a mere eight months later – not too shabby. I even earned more than $5,000 in January for the first time (full disclosure: this includes some consulting with my former office).
Here are five key steps I took that can help you too.
1. Choose a Mantra
Many of my friends picked a word for 2015, rather than setting a New Year’s resolution. The goal is that they can focus on a single word throughout the year to bring about positive change in their lives. Examples include faith, trust, empathy and determination.
Instead of choosing a word of the year, I chose a mantra:
Why not me, why not now?
I try to reflect on this often when I get discouraged as I’m working hard (sometimes seemingly without result) to build my business. Discouragement and setbacks happen to all of us. But it’s not about how many times you get knocked down – it’s about how many times you get back up. (That could totally be your mantra if you want it!)
Once you find a mantra that works for you, scribble it on a Post-it note, save it as your screensaver or place it in another highly trafficked place. The intention is that by displaying it somewhere you can see it over and over, the message will eventually become subliminal – subconsciously, you’ll focus on it, believe in it and ultimately bring it to fruition.
Action step: Pick a mantra.
2. Create a Support Network
In addition to giving yourself positive affirmation, it’s helpful to surround yourself with a support network of people that can also come to your aid when you’re feeling blue. Pick a few friends, join or start a mastermind group and/or recruit your spouse or significant other to join your team.
Friends, family and mastermind peeps can do more than pick you up when you’re down. They can cheer you on, help you brainstorm through problems or new business directions and be a sounding board when you need it. They are also great for practicing on, and ideally will champion your new business.
I’ve always said that my husband’s support (or lack thereof) in my freelance business was a deal-breaker – for my business, not my marriage. Being an entrepreneur is hard; I need him on my team and to believe in what I’m trying to do. Did I mention that he’s a stay at home dad, and when I quit my job to do this, it was kind of a big deal?
In addition to Wade, I’m a part of two mastermind groups, have a supportive group of girlfriends that always cheer me on and share my work, and I also work with my mentor Carrie on a regular basis. I went big and secured all of the support that I could!
Action step: Join a mastermind group, recruit your spouse or significant other and/or a group of friends to join your team and champion your business.
3. Put Yourself Out There
It’s important to keep yourself accountable by knowing what the important tasks are to your business and tracking your progress towards them. For my business, it’s making sure I write so many pieces, pitch so many jobs and connect with so many people per week.
I have the goal of writing 10 pieces (paid, for my own blog, or guest posts), pitching five jobs and commenting on 10 blogs per week. Even though there might not be an immediate or direct pay-off with some or all of the above, every step that you take represents an incremental increase in exposure – the cumulative effect of which can be massive over time!
Action step: Define the important metrics of your business and then set goals around what you need to accomplish week in and week out.
4. Start Collecting Rejections
We’ve all heard of Stephen King, but what you may not have heard is that that when he was first trying to get published, he started the habit of collecting his rejection letters and nailing them – one on top of the other – to the wall above his desk. That’s a powerful visual, and just think where he is now because he used it as motivation to succeed, rather than an excuse to give up.
So have your main goal become “how many rejections can I rack up per month?” by putting yourself out there, pitching as many jobs as you can, asking for referrals from your satisfied clients and connecting with as many influencers as possible.
Don’t let fear get the best of you. Instead, chase rejection. See how many you can nail to your own proverbial wall.
Action step: Make it your goal to get rejected as many times as possible this next week. Consider each No a success and a step closer to a subsequent Yes.
5. Track Your Results
What’s not measured can’t be improved.
I had heard this quote before, but never knew who it was by. I guess the interwebs don’t either, as there are variations on who to attribute it to.
Regardless, it’s a great point. You won’t know if what you’re doing is working if you don’t measure your results. Going back to my earlier example in putting yourself out there, I try to measure a few things on a regular basis.
The main metrics that I try to measure are things under my control. That includes the number of articles/posts I write, the number of jobs that I pitch and the number of connections I make.
I also track things like traffic and social media metrics as well as my income (via my income reports), but those are more reactive things that aren’t in my control. I can only focus on the things that are in my control, and that includes my activities and how I’m allocating my time. I would suggest the same for you.
Action step: Consider the 2-3 metrics that are most important to your business (and in your control), then set goals around them and track your results on a daily/weekly/monthly basis.
In Conclusion
Freelancing is hard, but not impossible. To a great extent, success comes down to adopting the right mentality. You can do this by selecting your own mantra (or focus word), securing a support network, putting yourself out there, collecting rejections and tracking your results.
Focus on what’s in your control – your own activities – and then wake up and do what needs to get done, day in and day out.
It’s not about working yourself to death, being perfect or any of those other lies. Rather, it’s about figuring out what’s important to you, the means of getting there and then taking the first step. Then the nextstep and the next. Eventually you’ll make some real progress. Maybe by next year at this time, you’ll have quit your day job or taken your freelance business to the next level.
Why not you, why not now?
Laura Ginn says
Great article. Congratulations for leaving your old job and working full time for yourself – it’s a lot of hard work, but it’s definitely worth it!
Gina Horkey says
Thanks Laura! Ain’t that the truth?
Chris says
I find one of the hardest parts of freelancing is staying motivated even when it seems that your efforts might not have any immediate rewards.
Like you said though, it’s important to think about the cumulative effects that consistently putting yourself out there will have.
Great post 🙂
Gina Horkey says
Thanks Chris! I have to (daily) remind myself of that;-)
Debashish says
Congrats, Gina! That is an inspiring story.
I hope to do something similar by this year’s end. And your mantra is a perfect fit. Why not me, why not now?
Gina Horkey says
You can do it Debashish! Why not you, why not now?
Franka Mea says
“Start Collecting Rejections”. So this is how you turn your failures into success! Great twist 🙂
Gina Horkey says
You got it! Now go do it;-)
Sydney says
Thanks for sharing some of your experience. I’m starting out in a situation similar to yours, and I find it so encouraging to hear success stories. It can be done!
Gina Horkey says
IT CAN! Push through & persevere Sydney!
Iva Ursano says
I love the success stories too!! It gives me great hope. I’ve only been at this for a few months and I’ve finally earned my first client. Yay me!! It’s little but it’s a start. I too plan on retiring from my day job by the end of this year but sometimes I just feel so defeated. I keep plugging away though. My mantra, or should I say incantation thanx to the great Tony Robbins, ” I AM a successful freelance writer and I CAN do anything I put my mind to!! Thanx for great tips Gina!! 🙂
Gina Horkey says
Iva, I’m so excited for you. Congrats on the first client and just keep focusing on building your business one client at a time. That’s all you can control right now. YOU CAN DO THIS!!
Mariana says
Love your tips as always Gina 🙂
This January I started tracking things like who I was pitching, their responses, rejections, things like that. It is definitely motivating being conscious of all those things.
Also, that mantra is perfect! Definitely going to be adopting it.
Cheers!
Gina Horkey says
Good to hear from you Mariana! I love that you’ve been doing that; it’s so helpful, isn’t it?
Christina Nellemann says
Great article Gina! Yes…why not us? 🙂
I would maybe add in one more point: Have a cushion in place. I know some freelancers who were forced to go back to “work” when their emergency fund to pay for taxes or a new computer ran out.
Gina Horkey says
Good point Christina! A cushion or cash reserve is even more important when it comes to freelancers!
Kelli White says
Nice article Gina! I started making my mantra part of my computer login, so now every time I start working I think about my goals. I like your idea about tracking the things you can control. So often we get stuck on vanity metrics and not the numbers we can directly impact. I hope Tom has a nice vacation. He deserves it! Thanks for your help.
Kelli
Gina Horkey says
Hi Kelli! That’s a great idea. Freelancer15 might have been my password on a few applications last year;-)
Corina says
Great post Gina. What I love about you is how open you are with your successes and failures. It takes guts, you know.
I like step number 3. I am working on it myself and I´ve seen that it gets easier with every step.
Gina Horkey says
Thanks Corina! This business in general takes guts, doesn’t it? You’re doing great and I’m so excited to see what the rest of this year brings for us both:-)
Chelsea says
I absolutely love #4.
The more rejections you get, the more you know you’re doing what you need to do – which is putting yourself out there.
It also helps you realize that a rejection is really no big deal, and before you know it, you’re the one handing out rejections to potential clients.
Gina Horkey says
You got it Chelsea! You’re 100% right; getting rejected doesn’t have to be personal (I have to keep telling myself that too!).
Dee says
Very encouraging Gina! I’m new to this game, just dabbling my toes in at the moment but by the end of the month I’ll be plunging in at the deep end, hopefully with a few of Tom’s flotation aids to keep my head above water. My day job consists of hours of research in front of the computer and lots of writing reports. After that I don’t have the energy left to work on my freelance business, so I’ve pulled the plug and I finish work at the end of the month. I know it’s a risk but I’m determined to make it work. It’s now or never!
Gina Horkey says
Good for you Dee! It’s scary, but so exciting at the same time. The world is your oyster:-)
Beth says
Love this, Gina! I just started a mastermind group and having that support is making all the difference. I’ve tried freelancing before without that kind of support and it didn’t go as well – that’s definitely a key element!
Gina Horkey says
For sure! Glad to hear it Beth:-)
George says
Hey Gina, great article, you lay down a lot of information so simply and in an inspiring way.
I’m in the transition phase you were in before quitting your job, I still have a job I work part time, but I spend majority of my time working on growing my online business.
It’s very inspiring that you manage to write 10 articles a week for different websites, how long did it take you to build up to that?
Anyways, great read and thank you for writing this!
Gina Horkey says
Hi George! Good luck with your transition – it gets tough there at the end;-)
I shoot for writing 10 pieces total, but that includes content for my own blog (2 posts per week), my monthly newsletter, etc. So I’m not getting paid to write 10 posts per week:-)
Ideally, I’d have 5 clients that I write for weekly that pay me a certain fee – that’s what I’m working towards!
Joseph Skinkis says
Thank you for the inspiration.
Gina Horkey says
Thanks for reading:-)
Renzo Chim says
I love everything you said in this article Ma’am. Yeah it’s working out for me. It’s amazing how far you can get when you take one step at a time and you can feel like you’re not getting anywhere, and then you look back and realize how far you have come now. I’m happy to take the calculated risks and push myself to learn new things.
Gina Horkey says
Renzo – I often tell coaching clients, “Just take the next right step.” Actually, just the next step is necessary – they all won’t be right;-) But moving forward is key and you’re right, you’ll look back and see that you’ve gotten somewhere eventually. The time is going to pass anyway!
Patrick says
Wow Gina! I almost started reading from the top again. Thank you so much for the great read. Very informative and entertaining as well. If I were searching, your skill would take the day. However, I am into a different kind of writing business.
I do academic writing and offer Academic Help to students and professionals. Nevertheless, I conquer with you on your points. Starting out as a freelance writer (editor in my case) is not easy and takes lots of gut. I might as well get myself a mantra for psyche purposes.
‘One step back, two steps forward’
I will make it and do encourage everyone else on the same path. Don’t think it to death, just do it.
Thank you for the advice.
Gina Horkey says
Thanks, Patrick! “Don’t think it to death, just do it!” Love it:-)
Leandro Thomas says
Hi Gina,
Great article. I like that you followed each point with and action step! All very actionable advice here, but my biggest take away is focusing on metrics you can control. Only just starting on my freelancing journey, so will try and implement that.
Gina Horkey says
Leandro, that will be GREAT for you to implement from the very beginning. You can control your action and not much else. You got this:-)
Kaya Ismail says
Great post Gina!
A mastermind group is something I need to start looking into. Unfortunately I don’t really know anybody close to me who works in a similar way to me.
Some support every now and again is a valuable thing to have.
Gina Horkey says
For sure Kaya! Both of mine are virtual:-) I also connect with people randomly from time to time to trade ideas. Try that to start?
Chris says
Congrats on leaving your job Gina! I just hit my 2nd year of being on my own, and loving it!
One thing I struggle with is having almost no human interaction throughout the day. Sure there is skype, but it still is not the same.
How do you deal with this?
Chris
Gina Horkey says
Hi Chris! I try to connect with people in person when I can. Right now I’m actually on my way out the door to a local networking event. Others I know use co-working spaces (or coffee shops) from time-to-time. Hope this helps!
Robyn Petrik says
This was a great read Gina, especially with the specific action steps for each point. I’ve got some of these steps down already, but I should definitely work on putting myself out there more and collecting rejections. I also love that you set a goal for written pieces per week, something I should push myself to do too!
Gina Horkey says
Thanks, Robyn! It’s a quick metric for me to know if I’m on track or not:-) Go for the rejections, why not?
Leanne Lindsey says
This is a very timely post for me. I’m a coach and currently run a blog on my website. My 2015 goal is to move to generating an income that covers outgoings +20% through writing and my blog by August! (eek)
I have started setting myself weekly goals, but need to be stricter with myself. I have also heard about chasing no (rejections) and will definitely begin to adopt that strategy. Thanks for sharing your honest experience. 🙂
Gina Horkey says
Thanks for your comment Leanne! Those are some great goals – good luck as you pursue them!
Elizabeth Manneh says
Thanks so much for the useful advice Gina. I’m at an early stage of freelancing and sometimes it’s been difficult to keep my motivation when I don’t hear back from pitches. But I like the idea of thinking of rejections as a proof I am putting myself out there.
I will definitely be focusing on just taking the next right step and building things up gradually. I’ve only got two clients so far, but that’s two more than I had in 2014!
Gina Horkey says
That’s a great attitude Elizabeth. Just keep building your business one client at a time:-)
Mihai says
I’ll soon celebrate 2 years since I took my way on freelancing. It proved to be a good choice and the road is somehow changing into a highway.
Gina Horkey says
Good for you Mihai! I love the “road turned into a highway!”
Kyle W. Weckerly says
Setting goals is a great thing. I’m just horrible at it. I make a plan, then something comes up that I feel I need to take care first.
I’ve purhased the Well-Fed Writer Timeline and I’lol force myself to follow it as best I can for the coming week.
Here we go!
Gina Horkey says
Good luck Tyler. I’m a big goal setter, but it’s also common for me to try to set too many! So this month, I’ve got one singular focus – sell 50 courses. What’s interesting is that my other goals are impacted by the success of this big one, so it’s like killing two birds with one stone, by only focusing on the big one:-)
Rachel says
“Comment on 10 blogs this week” … okay so check one off my list! I really like this post. All relevant. All actionable. I already had a mantra before reading this. It is F.I.I. FIGURE IT OUT. That is what I have had to do as I am starting this freelance thing from about as close to scratch as it gets. I am wondering if you have any suggestions for the metrics end of things. I know I need to be measuring, but unsure of the best way to do so, so if there is a great resource out there for that I would love to know more! Also, still searching out great online networking groups to join, so any suggestions there would be appreciated too. I am so excited to not only get my own business going, but to get to a place where I am good enough to really help others who are in my shoes right now. Thanks so much!
Gina Horkey says
Rachel, you’ll be there soon enough! Have you checked out Tom’s community? That’s where I started connecting with a lot of people. As far as metrics start small and start measuring your results, so you know what’s realistic for you. Then keep bumping it up, a little at a time!
Ali says
Excellent and straightforward, especially the part on the business blog metrics!
Tom Ewer says
Glad you like it Ali!
Linh says
thanks for your great post.
Can you advise me how I can solve with clients that expect to pay you cheap dopes as they see that I’m from a non-English speaking country with an Asian name? Sometimes their expected rates are way toooo low comparing to what I can earn in my country.
Tom Ewer says
Have you considered writing with a pen name?
Rich says
So glad I stumbled across this article. Full of wisdom and wit, with a gigantic handful of inspiration thrown in.
Thanks