Before writing my blog this week, I decided to scan through my folder of writing prompts. Every day I receive a writing prompt from WordPress, and I’ve saved up some of my favourites for inspiration.
One prompt in particular jumped out at me: “Now that you’ve got some blogging experience under your belt, rewrite your very first post.”
This seemed like too much fun to pass up. I wrote my very first post on March 6, 2010, about two weeks before my last day of in-house work.
“I always thought that working 9-5 for a book publisher would be my dream job. But after landing that job last year, it didn’t take long to realize that I want to make my own schedule, be my own boss, and live as freely and joyfully as possible. So I’m venturing out into the exciting world of freelance editing and want to record every step of the way!”
This was such an exciting time for me. I remember setting up shop at my favourite coffeehouse on my first official day as a freelancer and feeling on top of the world. Knowing what I know now, here’s the revised version of the post:
Growing up, I always thought I would work a 9-5 job. I liked the idea of having evenings and weekends off, a steady paycheque, and someone telling me exactly what I needed to do – the idea of being my own boss seemed much too daunting.
Once I settled into this type of life, I quickly became bored and unsatisfied. I realized that I had loved being a student so much because I loved learning new things every day, the flexible schedule, and being able to work from anywhere. I realized I needed to be challenged, and that my potential to find fulfillment and make the big bucks with my current employer was almost non-existent. I knew that freelancing would be risky but that the payoff would be worth it.
I started spending time envisioning what I wanted my life to look like, and it didn’t match my current path. And then a friend of mine gave me one of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received: “Why spend time building someone else’s dream as an employee in a position you don’t particularly enjoy? Why not build your own?”
That was the push I needed. Now, with some great experience under my belt, I can confidently say that my decision to freelance was the best one I ever made. This isn’t to say that freelancing has always been “freeing” and joyful – it has involved long hours, some sacrificing of time and social life, the stress that comes with being accountable to only yourself, and months wondering whether rent could be paid – but the joy I have experienced overall trumps all the negatives. Most days, I wake up looking forward to the day ahead.
I can’t wait to see what the next three years will bring. Where were you three years ago?
Song of the week: “We Are Ghosts” – James Vincent McMorrow
Namaste 🙂
Rachel
Freelancing to Freedom 
Well done Rachel, your energy, your spirit and your attention to detail, will guide you down any path you choose to walk. 🙂
By: bawbsravenfeathers on January 28, 2013
at 1:50 pm
Thank you BawB! Authors like you are part of the reason why I love my job so much 🙂
By: faultlessfinish on January 29, 2013
at 1:56 pm
Hats off to you for taking the plunge, and for re writing the post of course. What always makes me wonder is, “How do you get the clients to go freelance in the first place”.
By: countingducks on January 28, 2013
at 2:02 pm
Thanks Peter! I think more and more people are realizing that it makes sense to hire freelancers, as publishers don’t always have the resources for authors who haven’t “hit it big” yet.
By: faultlessfinish on January 29, 2013
at 1:57 pm
Thank you for sharing that and for your song of the week. I am in love with this song. Never heard it before, thank you for enlightening me. I’m going to listen to more of his work today. The words, the images, the music, what a nice gift in my inbox this morning!
By: Blue Horse on January 28, 2013
at 2:07 pm
Thank you so much for reading! I absolutely fell in love with that song the first time I heard it. So glad you enjoyed it.
By: faultlessfinish on January 29, 2013
at 1:58 pm
I love this! I don’t know if you’ve read A Million Miles for a 1000 Years, but I can see the elements of story in landing in the career you have. Especially, the inciting incident that forced you to take the risk to get what you really wanted. So cool!
By: colecrook on January 28, 2013
at 2:27 pm
Thanks Cole! I’ll definitely check it out. And I’ll let you know if there is a book on the horizon… 😉
By: faultlessfinish on January 29, 2013
at 1:59 pm
Congratulations on your persistence and determination. 🙂
May you have to re-write this again in 3 years, but with less “is the rent going to be paid” concerns.
By: Ivan on January 28, 2013
at 3:28 pm
That would be wonderful! Thanks Ivan!
By: faultlessfinish on January 29, 2013
at 1:59 pm
First of all I would like to appreciate your effort and also the risk you took to take a freelancing career. Recently one of my friends asked me what are your plans ahead? And when I answered I want to work as a free lancer. I enjoy writing articles, cartooning and I can play guitar pretty well. So my plans are to combine all these things and make my journey in life as a freelancer. It was no surprise to me that he gave me ‘wtf’ kind of expression! 😀
Anyway Rachel, you are going the right path and I hope you continue your journey this way only. And thanks for inspiring people like me. 🙂
Good things to you. 🙂
BTW I’m from India, so Namaste! 🙂
By: Chetan Sharma on January 29, 2013
at 3:34 am
Wow, thank you Chetan. That means a lot to me, and I’m glad that you found my words helpful. Good luck with your freelance journey and have fun with it!! 🙂 I would love to hear more about it.
Namaste 🙂
By: faultlessfinish on January 29, 2013
at 2:01 pm
Yay, such an inspiring story!
By: Victoria-writes on January 29, 2013
at 11:12 am
Thanks Victoria!! You inspire me 🙂
By: faultlessfinish on January 29, 2013
at 2:02 pm