Member-only story
THE PENNY PUB
I Failed at Freelancing Until I Learned to Bet on Myself
You can’t clutch the ground if you want to fly
I took a break from work following years of caring for my ailing father. When it was time to re-enter the workforce, I realized I had a golden opportunity — instead of finding a new job right away, I could try my hand at freelancing.
As an employee, I’d fantasized about being my own boss, but the prospect of foregoing a regular paycheck was too daunting. Now, I had no income coming in, anyway, so why not try? Surely, things could only go up from zero.
I’d worked in market research for thirteen years, so I knew my stuff. I’d also built up a long list of contacts — former clients and co-workers, to tap for potential projects.
My first call was to my former employer of seven years. Within an hour, they assigned me three projects, all starting Monday. But — they quoted me an hourly rate that was eye-wateringly low, non-negotiable. Reluctantly, I agreed, thinking it would at least give me experience.
Thus began two years of juggling way too much work while being paid too little. I worked exclusively for my former company, mostly taking on jobs they didn’t want to do. One day, I realized I’d traded in a plush job for lower wages…
