Why and How I Took the Plunge into Full-Time Freelancing
Posted September 7, 2010 in Freelance Stories, Getting Started
I have been dabbling in the freelance field of web and graphic design ever since I first started teaching myself how to use a computer in the early 1990s, but four years ago I decided to jump in with both feet and make it full-time, partially out of necessity and mostly out of a desire to pursue making a living doing something I love. There are many lessons I have learned (and am still learning) along the way, numerous mistakes I’ve made, and countless adventures I would have never otherwise experienced.
In this post, I will share some of my story of how I got started in the hopes that it will provide insight, encouragement and assistance in your own journey through and exploration of the wild world of freelancing.
Why Freelancing?
When I first came out of high school, I decided to skip college to chase my dream of playing music. I joined a successful local band, went on tour, and lived the life of a musician for the next five years. While this was definitely a blast, it was not the wisest of decisions if I wanted to progress toward a typical future. Fortunately for me, I never desired what others considered success. Sure, I wanted a stable income, but dreams of riches never occupied my fantasies. Still, the lack of a college degree was the first brick in the foundation of my path toward freelancing, and the taste of freedom that comes with a musician’s life on the road contributed greatly.
Through the years that followed, I enjoyed experiences and career phases that fanned the freelancing flames significantly. I started teaching myself web design by building websites for little or no money for small businesses, non-profits, churches and other organizations that couldn’t afford to pay someone. Mind you, this was the early days of the internet as we know it, and I’m not sure I would suggest the same route in this day and age when most organizations actually understand the necessity of a web presence and budget for it accordingly. At the time, though, most of my “clients” weren’t even sure if they needed or wanted a website, so it worked out well for me as a way to hone my skills, both as a web designer and as all the other job titles that a freelancer inevitably takes on.
Soon I came across clients who were actually willing to pay, and I began to realize that I could charge for my services. What a concept! I spent my off hours building websites and making money on the side, and it wasn’t long before bkmacdaddy designs was born. Word of mouth provided a relatively steady stream of work that continued to grow over the years, and it wasn’t long before I had to start looking seriously at how I would manage a day job that required 60 hours a week, a growing family with three children, a marriage and a budding part-time freelance business.
Why freelancing? Because the nibbles I had at a taste of being my own boss, providing services in my own personal, unique way, experiencing the joy of a more-than-satisfied customer, and making people happy with the work of my hands became an overwhelming hunger that consumed my being. It was never in my plan, but plans should always be subject to change, shouldn’t they?
How I Took the Plunge
Designing for clients on the side is safe–and a lot of extra work. The day job paid the bills, while the night jobs fed the hunger. It wasn’t long, though, before I was reminded that we only have a single, short life to live, and I certainly didn’t want to reach the end of it without experiencing every possibility. Events played out (or were influenced to play out) in a way that a choice was placed before me: pursue the next step in my current career, or leave the safety net behind and go for full time freelancing. It is a key component of who I am to explore the unknown, challenge the status quo and take the path less traveled, so this was a relatively easy decision for me. Still, I had my family to consider, so the decision was not taken lightly. Lucky for me, my family is just as (if not more than) adventurous, so together we knew we needed to dive into this next chapter in our lives.
My situation didn’t involve a huge, dramatic break up with the corporate world, because I never fully embraced that life in the first place. Instead, it had more to do with making a conscious decision to no longer do what I was doing as a primary source of income (writing curriculum, working with college students, etc.) and focus on growing my part-time web and graphic design business into a full-time one very quickly.
Up until this point, I had been avoiding any use of social media, dismissing it as a waste of my time and unproductive, but it suddenly seemed a simple way to start branding myself and my business in hopes of attracting new clients. I am a bit of an introvert, so traditional networking in face-to-face, work the room settings was a route I was hoping to steer clear of, and social media appeared to be a tool that would fit my networking style better. It did not take long to discover how right I was.
In one evening, I gave in and opened up all my social media accounts. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and more. I added links to my website and tied everything together, and then I started trying to figure out how to best use them to connect with others who would help grow my business. What I didn’t anticipate was how these connections would not only bring new clients, but would also introduce me to amazing people and tools. I discovered flourishing online communities of freelancers, designers, SEOs and more–each contributing to my overall development as a freelance web and graphic designer. The benefits were and continue to be immeasurable!
Within months I had become a part of a widespread, global network that spawned word of mouth advertising for my business and began bringing clients that I would have otherwise never encountered. That network and word of mouth has become my primary source of new clients, accounting for about 90%. Not too shabby for online tools I had previously dismissed as unproductive!
Since taking the plunge into full-time freelancing, I am happy to report that my income is significantly higher than any previous occupation I have held–doubling some, in fact! More importantly, I absolutely love what I am doing, and the financial benefits have given me and my family the ability to move back home to San Francisco, one of the more expensive places to live in the United States, but our favorite city by far. Don’t get me wrong–it’s been a little rough, and still there are days and weeks when I am not sure when the next check will come or if I’ll have another project to work on after I finish the current one. All the usual ‘joys’ of being a freelancer are still very real for me. However, I have not yet had a moment of down time, and my family continues to remain clothed and fed with a roof overhead every day. We are happy–truly–and that’s all I ever set out to pursue in the first place.
What Is Your Story?
Have you been considering taking the plunge? What’s holding you back? Or, have you already found success in full-time freelancing? Please share your thoughts, insights and stories in the comments section below, so we can all learn from each other as we travel this path.
Image by CRASH:candy
Related posts:
- 10 Tips for Moving from Part-Time to Full-Time Freelancing
- How To Balance Freelancing With A Full-Time Job Without Burning Out
- Going Full-Time: Four Things You’ll Miss From the Day Job
- How to Leave Your Job & Take the Freelance Plunge in 6 Months
- Becoming A Freelancer: 7 Things To Do When (Or Before) You Take The Plunge (And One Reason Why Famous Advice Is Wrong)
About the author: Brian is a freelance web & graphic designer with over 15 years' experience. His business bkmacdaddy designs specializes in completely custom WordPress, Joomla, Magento & CSS/XHTML websites as well as logo design, brand identity, social media management and more. Brian is a father of 3 and madly in love with his wife of many years.
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30 Comments
Jordan Walker
September 7th, 2010 at 9:00 amTaking the full plunge in December, not just on the side. Really the driving factor is clients with large projects.
Bexxie
September 7th, 2010 at 9:41 amI’m still in the “working full-time to pay the bills while part-time freelancing to feed the hunger” phase so it’s always inspiring to read stories like these. I hope to take the plunge at some point next year. I’m just building up my business until then.
Also, congrats on moving to San Fran! It’s one of my fave cities as well. I would love to live there!
Kristina
September 7th, 2010 at 10:28 amI’d been building websites as a side job since 2000/2001 while I ran a family owned pest control company – in 2007 I went back to school and get my degree in web design. The plan, originally, had been to keep doing random side jobs while also working in a small bookstore, build my portfolio, and eventually get a real job doing web design.
At the end of 2008 my very flexible bookstore closed and I started freelancing full time. It was out of necessity, I was still in school and am a single mother, so I couldn’t take a regular job. After a few months I realized I was really enjoying myself, despite the lack of stable income. Almost two years later – I’m still in school (I only take classes while my kids are in school) but I can’t imagine giving up this adventure.
The Freelance Geek
September 7th, 2010 at 10:41 amI spent eight years designing on the side before deciding to go full time two years a go. It was a case of not wanting to get years down the line saying “what if?” So I jumped. Although it was the best decision I’ve made to date it was very tough at the start. I’d recommend it to anyone who is confident that they can generate enough Business.
Ronda Swaney
September 7th, 2010 at 11:22 amNicely done post. It’s always wonderful to hear success stories from those who have dived into the deep end and lived to tell the tale. I took the plunge in April. Like The Freelance Geek, it was a matter of not wanting to always wonder “what if.” That plus the stars all aligned and absolutely everything seemed to point to taking the leap. It has been difficult, amazing, wonderful, and harder than I ever possibly imagined. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I am healthier and happier than I’ve ever been.
Sarah
September 7th, 2010 at 12:28 pmBrian, your story and mine are very similar, except I did make a sort of dramatic exit from the doldrums of my “ordinary” life. My friends and family coined me a workaholic, working a FT job and then working all night and weekends to build my business into what it is. It’s still not quite what I hope it will one day be, but that also keep my momentum high and my goals lofty, which is a driving force.
I was also amazed at the number of inspirational, talented, and worthy peers I had that I didn’t even know about until Twitter, in particular. My account is less about my friends and ex-coworkers – as Facebook and LinkedIn tends to be still – and more about following these hugely successful but also down-to-earth freelancers that just make me know that this journey is worth the scrimping I’m having to do while Enve grows.
Thanks for sharing your story!
Brian McDaniel
September 7th, 2010 at 12:34 pmThanks so much for your comments and sharing your stories, everyone. I’m inspired by hearing them, and I know others will be too. Thanks for taking the time to read and give your input!
Jen
September 7th, 2010 at 12:48 pmBrian, this is a great story and inspiration! I still have my day job to pay the bills. It’s my goal to take the plunge into full-time freelancing in the future. It’s a plan that I’m working on every day. It is so exciting to read these success stories from other freelancers!
Thanks for sharing!
Kirstine Vergara
September 7th, 2010 at 3:08 pmGreat post!
I recently quit my job in an ad agency because I have to look after my son. So instead of just being a full-time mom and wife, I thought of freelancing. I am now my husband’s project manager. Since he works full-time in an internet marketing company, I now handle all his personal clients. Now I get to be with my son and at the same time earn money. I don’t have to endure the very long commute anymore from my house to the business district. I am in control of much I want to earn, plus I get to relax. :)
Allow me to share with you a good read on Following Your Heart. Hope you find this interesting and relevant. :)
Jason Lyman
September 7th, 2010 at 5:41 pmI enjoyed reading your post. I have been considering freelancing, but I have a full-time job plus school plus family. So it’s hard to find any “off” hours in which to do anything extra.
I have one question that’s more of a logistical question I guess. When you are working full-time and only working on a freelance business nights and weekends, how do you communicate with clients and potential clients? Did you do it mostly through emails? How did you deal with those who demanded a phone call? I just feel that it would be very strange to be conducting any sort of freelance business at your day job. I am assuming that lunch breaks became very important and filled with phone calls. Would I be close?
Thanks.
Brian McDaniel
September 7th, 2010 at 6:02 pmGlad you enjoyed the post, Jason. I think I may have had some unusual circumstances because when I really started focusing on the freelance work enough to the point it might overlap into the day job, my day job was not a 9-to-5 in itself. I was working with college students in a counseling-type position and almost never went into an office. Instead I was mostly ‘in the field’ and therefore could conduct any type of phone calls or anything else as I desired. I managed to juggle it well enough, and give the priority to what was in front of me. The other aspect is that almost all of my communications were via email and so I made it clear to my clients that I was available to answer emails more often in the evenings. I think the key is clear communication with everyone involved – I was never hiding anything from my clients or my employer. Hope that helps!
Stephanie
September 7th, 2010 at 6:53 pmYour story’s really interesting Brian! Glad to see that you’re doing swell right now after jumping into full-time freelancing.
I started out on freelancing when I was still in university because of my desire to be financially independent from my parents. Eventually I became a mom, had to take a leave of absence for a while, and after a year am now freelancing full-time as a web content writer.
I’ll be going back to school soon so I’m working and saving up a bit for college tuition. The journey was tough but I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s a great adventure in which I learned so much about being professional, being a businesswoman, and being a good writer.
Casey
September 7th, 2010 at 8:20 pmFreelancing is the best. My favorite perk is being able to work in just shorts, but there are a lot of other perks. ;)
Matthew Moore
September 7th, 2010 at 9:02 pm@Brian. Great article! Always great to hear how others pulled the trigger :P
@Jason. When I was working fulltime and doing a good amount of freelancing, I would just tell those clients that wanted to have a call during the day that I had a limited schedule since I was still employed. Calls had to wait until lunch or after hours. Most people seem to understand that.
Fortunately, I find most of my clients are fine communicating through emails most of the time. It’s just easier for both parties.
Gaurav Chandra
September 7th, 2010 at 11:43 pmI had been freelancing part time earlier but now I don’t have time to pursue it because of a job change. But I would definitely want to go full time as I have seen the advantages of freelancing.
But one thing which is holding me back is lack of support from my wife. She is scared of the thought of me leaving a full time job which pays me good for something which is unknown to her in-spite of the fact that I have enough savings for us to maintain the current lifestyle, pay the bills and meet any financial emergency for 1 year.
Sigh! Can anybody tell me how to convince the family members?
Josh
September 8th, 2010 at 4:32 pmI am glad there are other people out there who are in the same spot I am. I am working a full-time job, as well as freelancing almost full-time as well. I work over 80 hrs a week between the two + spending time with wife and having some personal time. It’s rough. Not only that, I have the same kind of business with a partner. All of it is still growing. I’m slowing down a little so I don’t get burned out.
Web design portfolio
September 9th, 2010 at 5:15 amthat’s a great story. i’d love to take the plung and go full time freelance.
Mike
September 9th, 2010 at 8:01 amJust took the plunge two weeks ago. Left my full time graphic design job for an Industrial Company to work for myself…very scary because I have a serious mortgage to pay, but exciting at the same time. Hope all goes well….good article.
Chris
September 9th, 2010 at 3:49 pmI have been weighing my options and put a time frame of 2 years on myself to build a good enough clientele to be able to make the jump. I am also going to be getting married in 2012, so I want to wait until after that. I have been working full time for about 4 years, I have always done side work here and there, but I have just recently got serious about getting bigger clients, and really striving to create the best possible work that I can. Hearing all of the success stories puts me at ease, but if it wasn’t for Smashing Magazine and every site/writer on the smashing network I wouldn’t even know where to start! Thanks everybody!
John Sullivan -- Reno Web Design
September 10th, 2010 at 4:13 pmBrian, great story! I think a lot of people can do this also. The key is to be able to put food on the table, while building your business on the side. My suggestion: Work when you can. A person can get a lot done from 9 pm to 3 am. It takes a strong mind, but it can be done!
April L. Hamilton
September 13th, 2010 at 4:22 pmDivorce is forcing my hand.
I’ve received many requests for author services (e.g., editing, manuscript formatting, ebook conversions, book cover design, author platform consulting, manuscript critique, etc.) over the years, and I used to turn them all down because I was already helping my then-husband run his small business and taking care of our two young children. Frankly, I didn’t need the money and preferred to spend what little expendable time I had on my kids and my own writing projects and websites.
But now that the business is being sold and the households are being split, I need to start earning a living on my own. I was a corporate software engineer/web developer for many years but most of the type of work I used to do has since been outsourced to cheaper, overseas tech labor. But I’ve got plenty of current, hard-won knowledge and experience about trade publishing, indie publishing, ebooks and the like, and with the current explosion in indie authorship (even Seth Godin has gone indie!), it seems like I’m finally in the right place at the right time, and with the right skill set. Lots of people want to publish, but most of them don’t have all the skills to go it alone.
Antwon Davis
December 22nd, 2010 at 4:05 pmI took the plunge February 2008 while in college, and like you Brian, it’s been a steady flow of clients and projects since then. I truly enjoy the freedom more than anything. Your story brings hope to younger freelancers like myself. There’s so much opportunity for growth and collaboration, as well as the benefit of freedom and being your own boss.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Jarod Billingslea
December 22nd, 2010 at 8:30 pm*ugh* I love to do web design, but my only problem is finding clients. I haven’t found a client yet… So I don’t even know if I’ll succeed in being a part-time freelancer.
John
November 2nd, 2011 at 10:08 amTaking the plunge is difficult to do. This post mentions the safety net and you always have to have something to fall back on especially in a time of economic uncertainty.
increase reverbnation song plays
April 10th, 2012 at 8:18 amI clicked like and i dont know why but it didn’t post to my profile. I wanted to share
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