It’s been quite a ride going freelance. Who knew it would be such a rocky road with twists and turns, ups and downs? There have been many false starts, and I’ve had to wing it, fall flat, get up and find my feet to take the next step.

I feel empowered like a rebel warrior!

There’s so much uncertainty and dealing with all your insecurities. It never goes away, but it gets more manageable to be in that headspace, especially when you meet other business owners who welcome you into the fold and reassure you that it’s normal to feel that way. It’s early days, but I feel like I’m evolving and doing things I thought I could never do nine months ago when I started this adventure. That’s growth for me, and I feel empowered like a rebel warrior!

Let me tell you, running a business isn’t easy, especially when you are new to it. It took a while to let go of the office mentality because I had worked for global companies my whole career since the early 90s.

The daily commute was what I did. Working office hours and frequently outside office hours was my daily existence. I knew I wanted a change, but I never found the courage to make it happen until I did.

It’s a whole new ball game

There have been times when I’ve questioned making this decision. When I’m sitting in front of my laptop screen, it’s just Linkedin and me. Suddenly you’re not part of a team where you sit comfortably at a desk in an international office, looking forward to payday or planning your next holiday, enjoying all the benefits.

It’s a whole new ball game.

You fight the self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and stress about what content to put out. Then there’s marketing; no one told me I need to have a strategy! It’s crazy everything you have to think about, and then there are all the systems you have to learn because you’re online. Meanwhile, you wonder if you’ll ever find clients or even have the ability to keep going through hard times to keep your business alive.

But somehow, I’m pushing through by hook or crook, hitting milestones, and attracting my ideal clients. That office mentality is becoming a distant memory. I can feel the shift, and it’s a bit scary because there’s no turning back now (never say never). Shit. What if it doesn’t work out?

But what if it does work out?

Doodle by Amy Nolan