There is a sense of Freelancing where one may believe it’s a personal fantasy – a possibility to get compensated for doing work they are passionate about, all while possessing the flexibility to choose their location. In reality, the freelancing journey is never as straightforward as it appears.There are roadblocks, challenges and rough-patches that will make anyone feel it is better to throw in the towel. But, enduring these challenges is what ultimately results in success. In this blog, I document my Freelancing journey, and how from starting off with $0 in my first month, through consistency, I was able to achieve a substantial income. For those who are also traversing the controversial path of freelancing, I would like to share my story to motivate them to endure the journey even when times get tough.

1. Choosing the Right Freelancing Platform: Why I Picked Fiverr

As I made the decision to explore the freelancing ecosystem, I was well aware of the sheer number of options available at my disposal; Upwork, People PerHour, Fiverr, and many iiiother to mention. All these platforms provided different benefits and opportunities, however, after scrutinizing them, Fiverr was the choice that I opted for. Why Fiverr? For my case, it seemed like a great match. Fiverr caters to freelancers by providing a very intuitive and user-friendly interface to showcase services. The platform also takes care of payments which means that buyers and sellers can work together in a protected environment. As a novice, this aspect made everything convenient because I did not need to deal with intricate payment systems or client acquisition actively. That was my biggest worry. The way Fiverr is structured presented me the opportunity to market my services in a professional manner and still offered room for me as a novice freelancer. Tasks from Fiverr are much smaller in scope, which allows freelancers to build their reputations step by step, and this is totally different from Upwork which is dominated by bigger long-term contracts.

2. The Rough Start: Facing Rejection and Setbacks

I highly recommend trying this approach. When I joined Fiverr at first, I really did not have any expectations. Primarily because I would have to go through the marketing loop I barely knew what I know now. Turned jobs down accidentally and dreaded their steady stream of clients who kept waiting for someone to help them. In April, my income only reached twenty dollars. It may not seem like much, but considering my expenses, it was a step forward. In June and July, my income plummeted to zero. This period proved to be extremely difficult. At the time, I felt rather defeated and began questioning whether those decisions were, in fact, mistakes. Here is where the lesson begins, though: I didn’t quit. My focus shifted to a more attainable goal and slowly but surely, I began progressing towards reaching it. It became evident that the road to my end goal would be long. Even when everything felt hopeless, knowing that in the long run, my effort would be worthwhile kept me hopeful.

3. Small Wins, Big Lessons: $445 by the End of 2020

Consistently working towards my milestones, at the end of the year my total income reached $445. Admittedly, the sum is lower than expected. Still, that number played a pivotal role in shaping my goals. It proved how freelancing was possible, even if starting off would take a tremendous amount of time. The most important lesson I drew from that was the understanding that persistence truly is the key. Those early months significantly impacted my ability to run and scale a freelancing business. For starters, there was the need to deliver impeccable services while simultaneously marketing myself effectively on the platform. Even more importantly was the need to remain patient in new markets. Small wins should never be belittled, and for me, that was one of the most significant learning outcomes from my year of freelancing. A small victory is often considered insignificant, especially in the long run, but the more you stick with it, the greater the payoff. Through persistently working on myself, I was able to gain experience, build a reputation, and most importantly, start to attract a greater client pool.

4. Hitting My First Big Goal: $570 in a Single Month

Accomplishing my milestone of earning $570 in August of 2021 seemed nothing less than the best thing ever. This was a remarkable achievement for me, considering it was more than what I made throughout the entirety of 2020. Everything I worked for alongside my determination throughout the year was finally starting to show positive results. So what really changed? My profile was actively being updated, which included properly defining the services I offered. Additionally, my overall visibility on the dedicated platform also saw a boost. Now, I had spent enough time to understand what worked, what needed improvement, and how to actually implement the correct changes. The key to success was placing focus on the process rather than only the end goals. Every single task, order, and small job were treated with the utmost importance, all of which contributed towards creating positive momentum. One of the most notable learnings during this time was that freelancing is very much like a long-distance race; it takes an eternal amount of time to see any results. However, with determination and a consistent work ethic, I was able to achieve all the quality milestones I had set my mind to.

5. The Key to Success: Consistency Over Motivation

Reflecting on my freelancing past, the impact of consistency in my work stood out significantly. Freelancing is not about working for a period because you feel motivated. It’s about putting in the effort daily, even when you seem to be stuck, for a long time. Like everyone, there were days where I felt unmotivated and the path of freelancing seemed like an uphill battle, but the silver lining was that unlike everyon else I kept pressing forward. Going against the odds helped me achieve my goals. In my case, motivation was helpful but what was even more helpful was a consistent approach even when the odds were against me. Motivated freelances succeed not because they are the most skilled on the block – they succeed because they carve out an edge through consistency of service. Success doesn’t sleep, it has to be chased day in, day out, and every day, if you are disciplined enough.

The Moral of the Story: Keep Going, Even When It Feels Hard

While I will close my side of the discussion with this: do not surrender when working hard seems futile or ineffective; in other words, raising the white flag too soon. You might feel too worn out, be overwhelmed with self-doubt and tiresome routine, after initial bursts of excitement, but rest assured: you will thank yourself down the road. Inaction means getting left behind, which is a loss in itself. Lookon to the future. Every attempt, no matter how monotone or repetitive, is another step forward towards success. The moment you feel like giving up, having the motivation of revisiting the reason why you started is beneficial. I have learned my lesson: success never arrives within a glimpse of an eye. Anything fast-tracked tends to be fueled by consistent modest steps formulated over time. Constantly practicing, accepting failures, and sharpening your focus towards your targets are essential. Finally, it’s the unwavering grit towards one’s goals that yields results.