I hear this question from different full-timers who struggle to soar on two boats. Most of the time, full-timers see how some ‘so-called’ freelancer is earning, making them wonder, ‘Shall I quit my full-time job and get into freelancing?’
In this newsletter post, I will help you understand when you should or if you should quit your full-time job for some freelancing gigs.
First thing first, do not quit your full-time job just because you see others making a ton of money because:
- Those numbers presented by ‘so-called’ freelancers can be fake or manipulated.
- Those who seriously earn a good amount (6-7 figures per month) are into this industry for a long time! They have considered freelancing as their full-time job. Understand the similarity?
The reason for being so blunt here is to make you understand that full-time jobs help pay the bills! You work at a company because you have some caliber and expertise, and you get timely payment of the same. As long as full-time jobs make you emotionally and physically happy, you should have solid reasons to back your thoughts of quitting it!
I have seen full-time writers and graphic designers who quit their well-paying jobs just because they saw someone (mostly someone their younger) making more from the comfort of their homes! I have seen the same writers and graphic designers struggling to pay the rent or EMIs and questioning their decision to quit their full-time job.
Now that you have decided and found a good solid reason to quit your full-time job to pursue freelancing, here are some of the tips that you should follow:
- When you are already employed, try to look for some freelance gigs that you can wrap during your free time or during the weekends. This way, you will taste the water before actually diving into it!
- Try to take small projects initially, as it would be easier for you to submit them on time while focusing on your mental and physical health.
- Check out your finances and see what would happen if you quit your full-time job today and do not get any freelancing gig for a year. I am not scaring you. Just presenting the hard-fact truth here! Learn how you will manage everything — medical bills, room rents, EMIs, etc.!
- Once you get constant in-bound projects, try to learn how fast and effectively you can deliver them!
- During the weekends, when you don’t have projects, try to learn/master some new skills. Dedicate 4-5hrs to it and execute it in the days to come!
See, freelancing is a great way to move ahead in your career, but it can only work if you handle it just like your full-time job! As a freelancer, you are going to be a salesperson, a marketer, an operation head, a writer, a project manager, and more! You will need to learn all this and more and have to upscale yourself every day!
Once you have mastered all this, you will realize how beautiful this journey can be!
If you are struggling to choose between a full-time job or full-time freelancing, remember — I am just a call away!
– V