I started my entrepreneurial story as a busy and hardworking breadwinner. I was a marketing manager for a nonprofit when I began to pursue side gigs like selling bags, writing articles, and organizing workshops. I sustained these for five years until I experienced a crossroad.
In 2015, I slipped and hit my back near the MRT station as I was going to a meeting one rainy afternoon. I was in the emergency room, alone for eight hours. I was living away from my family and it would be impractical to ask them to beat the traffic and visit. I had to file a leave from work and undergo therapy for up to six months.
More than the physical pain, I was emotionally distressed because I felt that career had compromised my value for relationships. My ex-boyfriend recently broke up with me. I had only one friend who visited and none of my co-workers came. I’m grateful that my mom and siblings took care of me.
It was during this low season that I asked myself the questions: What do I want to do for the rest of my life? What’s the ultimate dream I want to pursue? What kind of job would make me happy?
Answering these led me to an important decision that I didn’t regret. I was honest with myself and acknowledged my dream — become a motivational speaker and write books.
So I left the cubicle world and relied on my income as a freelance writer and resource speaker in the first three years. I also had the time flexibility to spend with family and revisit friends. Eventually, I started my business, Writing Hacks Academy.
Start now.
Regardless of the preparation, I believe that anyone can pursue an authentic path that they desire as long as they have confidence in themselves in realizing their vision.
However, if you’re committed to becoming a freelancer or entrepreneur, it’s best to start now. The leap was easy for me because I was managing part-time income opportunities for five years.
One of the challenges you’ll face in freelancing and business is not receiving a fixed income on during paydays. During the first year of quitting my job, my bank account had a roller coaster ride! Be sure to prepare for it.
Quitting your day job is optional. Steady income from employment serves as your safety net. And if you’re wise in managing your finances, you can set aside a portion of your salary as business capital.
Learn and gather ideas.
If you want to start a business, decide on what products or services to offer. Continue learning about your desired field and ideas will come.
Look for a mentor.
Sitting down to listen to a talk or watch a tutorial video is different than having a real conversation with someone who has succeeded in your chosen path. If you seriously want to fast track your goals, connect with a coach or mentor.
Coaching and mentorship programs are usually more expensive than joining workshops. But in my experience, you can recover your investment in six months or less.
Recommended Article: Top Filipino Coaches Aspiring Writers and Entrepreneurs Should Follow
Aside from the budget, your character also needs to be ready to follow their advice. They usually open doors for you that you don’t expect. For example, one of my mentors encouraged me to create online courses as an alternative to my workshops. I was given a three-month deadline! I had to work long hours so I can study and execute at the same time. But it was worth it because my profit multiplied by ten times than usual.
When invitations like this happen to you, remember this quote from Richard Branson:
If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later!”
If I didn’t have the accident, I may still have been within the walls of an office today waiting to get ready. But I now apply Branson’s “leap and learn principle” throughout my journey as an entrepreneur. And I feel braver.
You can also approach relatives or friends you know to become your mentors. You may be surprised because most of them may welcome your questions and give you advice without charging a cent.
Ask your target customers to test your idea.
I became aware of a problem that aspiring freelancers and entrepreneurs have after joining several events. Resource speakers would often share about where to find jobs and where to send applications. But I noticed a gap: beginners need assistance in writing a compelling portfolio, proposal, or email introduction. There hasn’t been a focus on these topics.
Writing is one of my strengths and I thought of addressing the need I observed. One time, I met a freelance accountant working on a proposal draft. She worked with established companies and offered her clients quality services with a minimum monthly rate of Php50,000. However, her proposal was poorly written. It did not reflect the kind of professional work she does. I asked to help her by checking and revising it for free.
Soon, I found other startup founders and sales managers having the same dilemma. And they were willing to learn from me. This validated my business idea.
One common mistake in writing proposals is talking too much about yourself or your company. Highlight what the benefits are for the client instead. Any client would ask what’s in it for them. It’s not about you. What opportunity will your service create? Your accomplishments are secondary.
The advice I gave and applied in revising the accountant’s proposal may be basic for writers and marketers. But not everyone has a background about it. Similarly, you may be underestimating a talent or resource that you have. When you realize that you can solve a problem out of it, that can be your product or service.
Advice to Aspiring Filipino Freelancers and Entrepreneurs
Believe in yourself and your vision.
Before you convince everyone else, you have to convince yourself about what you’re doing.
How can you become confident? Study while taking action. Some aspiring entrepreneurs want to figure everything out before doing the work. You won’t accomplish anything if you wait for your situation to be perfect.
Create content to build your brand.
Some aspiring entrepreneurs lack the confidence because they want to be an authority on a topic that’s not they’re background. Good news! You can be who you want to be in today’s digital age.
Recommended Article: How to Prepare Enough Content for Social Media
If you were an HR practitioner and want to be an expert in finances, then share budgeting tips on social media.
If you’re a mom into farming, even without studying agriculture, create videos or write blogs about vegetable gardening.
I worked as a marketing manager for nonprofits, but I was able to brand myself as a writing coach. That’s all because of the power of content.
You can affect people’s perception of you by what you write, create, and share.
Stay productive.
Freelancing and entrepreneurship allow you to pursue activities with less effort but higher returns. Make proper use of your time. Use it wisely to build your dreams and live your values.
Jonah helps freelancers and entrepreneurs promote their personal brand or business by teaching writing and content marketing principles. During a casual day off, she enjoys painting, shopping for home decors, watching Netflix, or hosting meetups with friends.