After 18 years in the corporate world, Tanya Ruiter took the leap into freelancing. It wasn't an easy decision, but she craved the freedom to work on her terms. Read more about her story in the article below 👇
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Losing your job is scary, especially when it wasn't performance-based. It impacted me in so many ways financially, medically, and emotionally. A career can be the frame that holds up your glass pane of life, and losing it is a humbling reminder of its fragility. The experience has forced me to stare directly at myself and ask the hard questions: What will you do if you can't pay your bills? Maybe you're bad at your profession, maybe you aren't worthy? What happens if you get sick and need to go to the doctor, but can't afford health insurance? That's so much pressure on your husband all of a sudden, how will you pull your weight? How do you want to live your life? The answer to a majority of those questions was to start hustling. Immediately. Cold call companies that might need my help, email them with an offer, create a website to showcase my portfolio and blast that out eight million times, talk out loud in social situations about my services, and jump directly into the freelance pool and hope to float. Whew. I never knew I had that much courage, honestly. It is the end of month three of freelancing for a living and my head is still above water. I wake up each day excited to talk with my clients about their projects and hustle to find new ones. For the first time in ten years, I'm EXCITED to wake up and work. The challenge is doing things I've never done before, like calling all the shots with no backups when I suggest something to a client. Before, I had an entire team. Now I have about two people I can bounce ideas off of if they're not busy. Two is a blessing. I know 100% in my heart that I will laugh hysterically at the trainwreck of a P&L spreadsheet I just sent to my CPA for Q1 taxes, I must keep it to look back on one day to remind myself I stuck my neck out and just... did things. Wildly with a tiny bit of structure, throwing metaphorical spaghetti at a wall daily to see what sticks... but I did things. I've applied for over 200 jobs since December, and have learned that desperate for work does not equal taking any job that offers. This is my life, and I get to be happy each day... I get a choice, too. I'm fortunate that I'm getting freelance work, and I thank God every day for the bones my network has thrown me. Maybe one day I'll have a salary position again, or maybe not. I'm learning to trust myself as a freelancer and not to doubt my abilities. I'm learning rejection and triumph and perseverance. I don't know what next month will bring or what things will look like in six months, but I do know I've become more valuable in this time of sink or swim than my entire ten years as a salaried employee. #learntopivot #freelancer
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Kris Giddy, Managing Partner at Mitch Insurance Kingston, spoke with Insurance Business Canada Magazine about freelancer insurance and the different ways it protects freelance workers and their businesses. #Insurance #InsuranceBrokers #InsuranceCoverage #CommercialInsurance #BusinessInsurance #Freelance #Freelancer #Freelancing
Freelance boom: why brokers should dive into this growing market
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Living the best moments of my life till date… May 2024 for me till now: 1. Got my first client 2. Joined my friend’s freelancing Agency 3. Made a team of 6 amazing people to build a freelancing Agency 4. Raised my Deadlift PR to 135kg and Bench PR to 65kg 5. Got out of a friend circle where people lacked growth mindset 6. Sorted all personal financial issues 7. Gained back the confidence I used to have before Lockdown There is a saying “If you want anything badly, the entire universe tries to find ways to make it happen.” After giving my absolute best in finding good people and clients, when I was not able to find anything, I used to ask GOD am I not capabale enough ? Have I not done enough ? What else do I need to do so that I can get what I want ? These questions were always in my mind. I was always thinking of a way in. But 30th April was the day when I reached a breakdown point, suddenly everything started to work in my favour. All of those efforts that I had put over time seemed to make sense. And still making sense. I am a very passionate guy who always lives by the excitement of what the future holds for me. I have always wanted to live my life in a certain way. But after 4 years of continuous failures, I feel like this is it. This is the time where I have full control over conditions. And now I am going to go all in. Cause this is what I like, living life with more passion, with more hard work. I can conclude one thing for sure from my journey, there are two things that one needs to have to make success follow him, one is Belive in GOD and the other Believe in Himself. Let GOD manifest it for you.
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Entrepreneur | Investor | Realtor | Insurance agent | Veteran | Husband | Father. Looking for the next opportunity to make the world a better place.
Insurance for Freelancers: Protecting Your Business In the evolving gig economy, freelancers are carving out their niches, contributing to industries ranging from tech to creative sectors. However, with the freedom of freelance work comes the responsibility of managing your own business risks. That's where insurance for freelancers plays a crucial role. As a freelancer, you're not just the talent; you're the HR department, the operations manager, and the finance officer. Your business is an intricate tapestry of projects, deadlines, and client relationships. But what happens when something unexpected occurs? A lawsuit, an accident, or a project gone awry could not only threaten your current project but also your entire livelihood. This is where having the right insurance policies becomes your safety net. Professional liability insurance, for instance, protects you against claims of negligence or harm caused by your services. It's essential for anyone providing professional advice or services. Similarly, general liability insurance covers you against third-party claims of injury or property damage. And let's not forget about health insurance, a must-have to safeguard your personal well-being. Investing in insurance is not just about mitigating risks; it's about peace of mind. It allows you to focus on what you do best, knowing you're protected against the unpredictable. Whether you're a graphic designer, a consultant, or a freelance writer, insurance is not a luxury; it's a necessity for securing your business's future. Remember, in the freelance world, your business is you. Protect it wisely. #insurance #freelance #business
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I help Founders, CEOs and creators build their brand on LinkedIn || Favikon Top #14 in Personal Branding
This was one of the biggest mistakes I made last year When I started freelancing, I didn’t know much about it And I was not even the best at handling client calls. I focused more on putting my point across, Than patiently listening to what they had to say But slowly I started realising that it was about them And not me, so I should speak less and listen more. Since then I have become careful of everything I said I kept my questions ready to understand what clients needed. And you will not believe, It shifted the way my calls went. Clients seemed more interested and liked it when it was about them They felt heard and that initial rapport helped build trust And closing them became much easier than it was before. It also made me realise, that clients look much beyond the portfolio Because if you get the conversation right, they will invest in it. Since then, I not only made calls about them But also started recording every conversation. I later went back to them to see where I went wrong Honestly, it was one of the best changes I made While I am still learning to get better at it, I am in a better position than I was last year And client calls don’t scare me anymore. What mistakes did you make during client calls? #personalbranding
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The most collaborative content strategist & storyteller for purpose-led startups, founders & fractionals 🧡 Nail your messaging, build a memorable brand & get buy-in for your big idea.
Is it just me, or is it just hard to turn down an opportunity—any opportunity—when you’re freelancing? I’m about to break up with my longest-running retainer client. And it’s not becase anything is wrong. I love this client. I love their mission and their product. I’ve loved working with their team. And I’ve especially loved the freedom they’ve given me to do my thing. So, why am I leaving? Because I’ve grown. My offering has evolved. The work no longer serves my greater business goals. The reason I’ve hung on for a year includes the reasons I mentioned. But if I’m honest, it’s more because the month-to-month paycheck is reliable. I’ve found that saying no—especially when you have a bird in hand—is one of the hardest parts of freelancing. It’s easy to fall into a scarcity mindset and hang onto a “sure thing,” even when you know it’s holding you back. But there’s an opportunity cost to everything you do. Being honest and clear about how you’re spending your time can either propel you forward or hold you back. It took me a few months of going back and forth on whether or not I should leave behind this opportunity to pursue an unknown bigger one. Is it the right choice? Feels like it! I’ll report back in a few months.
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Three reasons for you to start using contracts if you're a freelancer: A lot of people are frightened by contracts, and some might even believe it doesn't show trust in the client (or the freelancer). But my experience is that it's all positive, and I want to share my three reasons for doing it. And as a bonus, I'll add a couple of situations where contracts saved me, and where I wish I had a contract 📑 1. Safety/insurance. A contract is the best insurance you can have, and it's for free! 🥳 By having a contract, you won't get into situations where the client doesn't pay, and it's easy to refer to the contract if you are being asked for a more extensive delivery than agreed upon. 2. Professionalism. You will come off as more professional because all the big companies operate with contracts, and having one makes sense. Freelancers are not the only ones benefiting from having contracts. For your client, it's also a security. They know what will be delivered, and this creates predictability 😎 3. Less problems. This emphasizes the two previous bullet points. Contracts will save you from discussions and spending time explaining the price or delivery after the job is done. Both parties will know exactly what's expected from each other. Whether that is the scope of work, responsibilities, rights or price 🏷️ I once had a client who suggested a different price for the job after the final delivery. As this was a big company, I found myself in a "David vs Goliath" situation, and without a contract, I probably would have ended up giving in. But because of the contract, I was able to refer to all the details we had agreed upon, and the client ended up paying what we agreed upon 🤝 I've also had situations where jobs were cancelled, or something came up on the client's side, which made the project/budget smaller. In these cases, I was left without any insurance. Without a contract, I have no rights when a project ends mid-project, or if it's cancelled close to the project start 👷🏼♂️ I have to admit sometimes I forget, or I am risking it. But that's kind of like traveling without travel insurance. I used to believe I was cynical when sending contracts because I like to trust people. But it's not about trust/mistrust. It's just insurance and professionalism! 😊
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I started my freelancing journey when my daughter was an infant… and she recently got her driver’s license 🤯 In honor of my daughter, here are 16 things I’ve learned since I started my journey: 1) Find your people. Working solo can feel overwhelming and lonely at times so find others who are similar work who want to trade ideas. It makes all the difference. 2) Collaborate, don’t compete. There is plenty of work out there and we all move further and more quickly if we work together. 3) Be open to the universe. I believe good things happen when you put yourself out there — even though what you get back may not be what (or when) you expect it. 4) Get comfortable being uncomfortable. There is a lot of times where the answer isn’t clear and you need to make your best guess. 5) Give yourself grace to make mistakes. See above. You will make wrong moves. You need to make peace with that and realize it's part of the journey. 6) Get a system in place for your financials. This is super boring — but super important. (And, at times, super stressful if you miss something.) 7) Leave your ego at the door. You will get negative feedback. Feel it, learn from it and move on. 8) Attend events. Sometimes my natural inclination is to stay home but I ALWAYS feel energized when I’m learning and with my people. 9) Invest in coaching. Yes, you can learn for free, but coaching will get you there faster and with more confidence. 10) Define success on your terms. This life can be about much more than income. Understand why you are doing this and what success means to you. (It may change over time.) 11) Find your niche. It makes it so. much. easier. to pitch clients and develop proposals. 12) Be open to shifting your niche. As much as I love the simplicity of having a niche, realize that the market and your interests change. Experiment. 13) Don’t compare your journey to others. Comparison really is the thief of joy. And no one has your circumstances, so be proud of where you are. 14) Celebrate the wins. Keep a running list and/or mark the milestones of your business, no matter how small. Some days, you'll need it. 15) Take breaks. One of the best and worst things about LinkedIn is there is no set time off. Don't feel guilty for recharging but instead make it part of your process. 16) Be a lifelong learner. There is ALWAYS something to learn about your niche and running a business. What would you add to the list above?
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Founder MD @ PORTABL.co | Digital insurance & financial services || Advisor: TURNTABL.io > Remote (Ghana!) software engineering talent on tap >> inspired by the future of work!
Leaving the corporate world for freelancing can feel like liberation, but have you considered what you're leaving behind? There's a lot we tend to overlook when fantasising about the autonomy associated with freelancing. Once you dive in, the loss of often underappreciated corporate perks becomes apparent. The benefits we barely used - life insurance, mental health support, water cooler moments, peers echoing our thoughts, after-work drinks, and a mentor figure, even if they were occasionally trying. 💼🗂️ And then we find ourselves, alone at our kitchen table, craving those underappreciated aspects as we strive to build our 'business of one.' Sure, we gain control over our time and how we craft our journey. But there’s more to this story. We start to long for things unrelated to the actual work but vital to our work experience, the ones we didn't know we'd miss until we missed them. If you've experienced the freelance switch, what do you miss about corporate life? Drop a comment below and let's share our stories. For more details on the freelance lifestyle, visit www.portabl.co #FreelancingLife #CorporateFeel #Liberation #Overlooked #Fantasizing #NewBeginnings #EmbracingChange #CareerTransition
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After 4 years in freelancing, I still feel anxious whenever a client isn't satisfied with a part of my work. It's not the revisions that bother me—I'm fine with making countless adjustments. What really gets to me is that unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach. Questions flood my mind: "Why did I make that mistake?" "What is the client thinking about me?" "Am I not putting in enough effort?" People often talk about confidence and it's okay to make errors, but I want to address the fear and anxiety that come with it. I'm still figuring out how to manage these feelings and convince myself that it's okay to redo a task. Ps: No ps , just need relaxation today.
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