How I found success as an entrepreneurial freelancer

**Note: This is a guest post written by one of our readers. For more information on how to submit a guest post, please read our guest posting guidelines.

I had my entire career figured out before I even graduated from college.

Once I got that diploma, I figured that I’d get an entry level job in a small to mid-size business—preferably in marketing. Once I landed the dream job, I’d work my way up the corporate ladder over the course of a few ambitious years of long nights working and proving myself as a valuable employee. I envisioned myself as a youngish executive who climbed to the top all by herself, a regular self-made success story.

While I do consider myself a success story now, the way I got here looked nothing like how I envisioned it. I did graduate from college, and I did get an entry-level job at a promising mid-sized marketing company (I was one of the lucky few who could land a job in the late 2000’s), but the similarities to my fantasy career end there. The marketing job was nothing like I thought it would be—hours of overtime and sincerely hard work got me little to no recognition. I’d spend late nights working on and perfecting projects only to be the butt of jokes from coworkers who labeled me as neurotic and a workaholic.

After several years with the marketing company and little to show for it other than a huge portfolio of work, I decided to call it quits and set out on my own.

To answer the obvious question: yes, making that decision was hard, and yes, it was extremely scary to do so at the time. But I had been planning this transition for quite some time, so I was prepared when I finally left my job.

I set out to become a freelance writer and marketing consultant, particularly with the intention to help new online companies to brand themselves for today’s web-centric audience. It was hard work trying to establish myself as a solo act, especially when I was presenting to potential clients. But luckily I had plenty of great work from my previous job that showcased my talent as a strong writer and marketing mind. It took me a while to land my first client, but once I did it was as if the floodgates were opened. My first client recommended me to another company, which then recommended me to two other companies, and so forth.

Now I can afford to freelance and write guest posts in my free time, simply because I want to share my story of success with other writers, graphic designers, programmers, and any other professional who wants to set out on their own. My advice to you ambitious few is this: save up, plan carefully, and then take the big leap into the freelancing world! If you work hard, and if you really have the talent, then you’re bound to succeed!

About the Author:

Susan Wells is a freelance blogger currently writing for insurancequotes.org. Susan loves to talk about business and marketing, and she never misses a chance to impart her industry wisdom to hungry entrepreneurs. Please send some comments her way!