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A couple of emails ago I asked you to vote on what kind of content you’d like to see in this newsletter.
Well, the ups and downs of running a one-person business came out on top.
Pour yourself a steaming cup of coffee, and get comfy as I break down my freelance journey so far and what you should take away from it.
10 months ago I started freelance writing with ZERO experience.
I’ve always loved content writing/copywriting and I enjoy working with email.
The idea of offering it as a freelancer excited me.
But, I knew it would never work out if I didn’t apply some pressure. That’s just how my brain works.
So, I decided to leave my 9-5 marketing role.
Note
I will always look back at that job with fondness, I owe them a lot - especially my manager at the time, who I believe still reads these emails👋
At this point, I had two things:
Some savings
A dream
It might not have been the smartest move on paper, but I know for a fact -
I would not be where I am now without putting myself in a situation where I had to make it work.
In hindsight, it’s easy to see the compounded effort build and build.
But in the moment, you’re not seeing any reward for your work.
It can feel pretty hopeless (and it did, on many occasions).
To put the 10 months into perspective, here's my full freelance revenue breakdown:
- month 1-2: £0
- month 3: £497 (nothing beats that first client feeling)
- month 4: £1497
- month 5-6: £1897
- month 7-8: £0 (nearly quit)
- month 9: £3850
- month 10: £5400 (record month at 5 clients)
This might seem underwhelming compared to the 6-figure success stories you see on LinkedIn (which inspire me to push further).
But this is my real, messy, genuine growth. It’s been far from perfect. However, the results (so far) fulfil me.
Around month 7, I decided to secure another 9-5 marketing role.
I had used pressure to build the foundations of a business for the previous 6 months and while it was working, I wanted to reintroduce security.
As you can see from the revenue breakdown, after I landed another 9-5 - I had my best freelance months yet 🤷♂️
Things have a habit of happening all at once.
Now, get ready for a shift in tone. I’m going to get all philosophical on you…
What should you take away from this?
“Dare to jump.”
Your potential speaks in moments of quiet reflection, in flashes of inspiration, in the stirrings of curiosity.
But here's the terrifying truth: every time you ignore that voice, it gets a little quieter.
I can safely assume that you, at some point, have had an idea. One made your heart race and your mind explode with possibilities.
What happened to it?
Did you pursue it, or did you let it slip away?
"I'm too busy." (Classic.)
"It's not the right time." (Is it ever?)
"I don't have the skills." (Yet.)
Sound familiar? I bet it does.
And let's not forget that feeling of overwhelming lethargy that washes over you when you think about starting something new.
It's like your body suddenly weighs a ton, and the couch has never looked more inviting.
This is what philosopher Søren Kierkegaard called "the dizziness of freedom."
We're faced with infinite possibilities, and paradoxically, that can paralyse us.
(It's why I had those months of zero income, why I nearly quit around month 7).
It’s also a survival mechanism.
The brain is a prediction machine, and it's always trying to minimise surprises.
It's from a time when venturing into the unknown could mean death.
But now, this same mechanism keeps us trapped in mediocrity.
Try this
In his book "Flow," psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi argues that true happiness comes from a state of engaged productivity. But to get there, we often have to push through discomfort.
The key is to take your idea and make the barrier to entry so low that your brain can't conjure up a reasonable excuse not to do it.
For this, you’ll need your idea and a timer.
You’re going to work on your idea for five minutes.
Five minutes won't drain your energy. Five minutes won't derail your day. But five minutes can start a revolution in your life.
The moment you start, no matter how small, you create momentum.
Lethargy begins to dissipate. Excuses start to sound weak.
And that voice of potential? It gets just a little bit louder.
Harsh truth
If taking five minutes to work on an idea, project or passion of your own sounds too daunting, I want you to really pay attention to this.
Every time you shrink from a challenge, you're actively choosing to be less than you could be.
Harsh? Maybe.
But it's the truth.
And sometimes, we need that harsh truth to shake us out of our complacency.
So here's my challenge to you:
Stop waiting for permission. Stop waiting for the "right time." Stop waiting for someone to come along and unlock your potential for you.
Because guess what?
No one's coming.
This is your life, and you're the only one who can live it.
I want you to make a promise to yourself. A promise that from this moment forward, you'll stop treating your dreams like options and start treating them like obligations.
Because that's what they are.
Will it be uncomfortable? Absolutely.
Will there be times when you want to quit? You bet.
But that is all a sign that you're growing, that you're pushing your boundaries, that you're becoming more.
So, what's it going to be?
The choice is yours. But remember, not choosing is a choice too. And it's the surest way to a life of regret.
Your future self is watching you right now, hoping you'll make the right choice.
Don't let them down.
Don't let yourself down.
Your next step: Set that timer for five minutes and work on that idea you've been putting off. Do it right after reading this email. Then, hit reply and tell me what you worked on. I'd love to hear about it.
Thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of your day,
P.S.
Want to start a newsletter like this and share your own journey?
I'm partnered with Beehiiv, the platform I use to bring you these insights every week. They're offering my readers 20% off any paid plan + a 30-day free trial. It's a great way to start your own 'dare to jump' moment! Click below to get started.
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