The Big Bang… of My Freelance Career

Jamie Patterson
Aug 8, 2017 · 3 min read
Thank you, NASA.

This is not a scientific blog, although I may, at some point, speak on science. Rather, this just a way for me to express my thoughts as I journey away from being an undergraduate student and into a career.

My goal for that career is to freelance.

A lot of people just shuddered at the thought while others are wondering why I don’t want to get a real job.

I will admit that I had the same thoughts about freelancing. I’ve come to realize how wrong I was because, if anything, growing a freelance business is tough. How can you sell yourself, and your skill, to a business or company? Sure, that business or company might need a service that you can provide, but there are hundreds of others who can provide the same service. What sets you apart?

Imagine, if you will, crickets chirping in the audience.

It is a hard question to answer. Let me ask it again. What sets you apart from all of the other hardworking freelancers? Aside from differing skillsets (while you may be better than some, you are not better than all), the only thing that will set you apart is how hard you are willing to work.

I’m a novice. I have to admit that. And, now that I have taken that first step, I can move onward and grow. It’s a lot like a 12-step program. The first step is admitting you have a problem.

Well, I do.

Outside of school, I have very little that will make up a portfolio. And, even with school, I only have four articles that are of portfolio quality. Don’t get me wrong, they are great articles, but they are not enough.

How can I fix this? Well, it’s a slow process. That alone is enough to drive some people away. (See how everything comes back to the “how hard are you willing to work at this” thing?) The difference between me and some others, not all mind you as there are some very hardworking people out there, is I want this as much as I crave air to breathe.

Just a few months ago I couldn’t answer my mother when she asked me what I would be doing with my degree. “I’m not sure, there are so many options,” I would say with confusion and desperation tinting the tone of my voice, “I could teach, or work in a multitude of positions.”

There wasn’t anything concrete for me to offer her. I had no clue what I wanted to do, or even what I could do with my degree. (English, emphasizing in Creative Writing, in case you’re curious.)

I just know that I want to write.

All of that has changed now, with the exception of the writing part. That I still very much want to do, but I also want my name to grow amongst the freelance writing world and I am not afraid to tackle the hard work head-on. I’ve been doing it in college, the only difference is I will, hopefully, get paid for it.

I hunger to achieve this unlike anything I’ve ever wanted to achieve before. This is just the first step on a journey of unlimited miles.

Daunting, but doable.

I just have to keep reminding myself:

Credit: Me, Myself, and I
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