The Five Lies Series- Lie #3

Lie Number 3: You can't make money doing this 

I remember my first freelance job so well. The client needed someone to come up with as many words that included the word "up" as possible. I don't even remember what it was for, but I do remember sitting curled up in our torn up leather chair with my phone.

Shut up
Throw up
Grown-up
Up the creek
Upstairs
Up yours
Stand Up
Show Up

For the whole weekend, my brain was consumed with the word up. When I was done, I submitted my work and was paid $25. Well, actually $20 because the online platform I was using took 20%. 

The next project after that, I did for free, just to get good reviews and build my portfolio. And the job after that. And the job after that. A few projects later, the client listed her budget as $30, and I agreed to do it for $15 just to get the job and continue to build relationships with clients. On the first project that the client wasn't happy with my work, I waived my fee entirely to preserve the relationship. 

In my first month of actually getting paid to write, I made $114. And, when I did my calculations correctly, I realized that continuing like this would make me the proud receipt of a $1350 annual salary. Not exactly the "baller" lifestyle I'd been hoping for. I had spent quite a bit of time writing and editing that month, and as I deposited less than $100 into my account at the end of the month, (dangit taxes), I heard that voice. That voice I'd become so used to hearing during this journey.

"You can't make money doing this"

And at $100 a month, that voice was exactly right. I could not have helped to support my family at this rate.

But here's the kicker: This is where I started, not where I stayed.

When we start a new adventure that we hope turns into a profitable side hustle or full-time job, we have to be ok with being beginners. Because that's what we are. Very rarely do we start a business and immediately see the cash roll in. It's a learning process. It is practice in being patient with the process and being flexible. If we give up in the beginning because we aren't rolling in the dough right away, we don't really deserve to roll in said dough. 

Slowly, slowwwlllyyyy, over the course of years, I started to raise my prices. One client, one job at a time, I'd start to increase my rates minimally. I began to become more confident in my rates and even started to say no to clients who asked me to do work for less than my set rate. As I started to say no to clients who wanted to pay me next to nothing for a week's worth of work, I began to make time in my schedule for clients who appreciated my time and talent and were happy to pay me accordingly.

And while we're talking about getting paid accordingly, here's another little fun tidbit: Do not feel pressured to do work for free or for steep discounts for family and friends.

One more time for the people in the back. You. Do. Not. Have. To. Give. Your. Work. Away.

Your talent is the way you make money, pay bills, and put food on the table. Your friends and family should not expect you to take from your own pocket and give it to them. If you want to do it for free, great. If you're going to offer a small discount, fine. But your friends and family should not expect free or discounted work. And you should not feel bad for saying no when they do. If they make you feel bad for not giving away your time and resources, get new friends and family. Just kidding, but seriously. You can't make money doing this if you're always giving things away. Your time is precious. Be selfish with it. 

Now, I'm setting monthly goals 40x higher than my first month and reaching them. I'm in the driver's seat when it comes to what I charge and how long it takes. If this doesn't work for the client, I don't lose a wink of sleep. I'm not desperate for the work. I'm good. And I do make money doing this. 

But I can't express what a slow and gradual process this was. It has taken me years to build my confidence, raise my rates, be picky about my clients, and be selective about the work that I do. It was a learning experience with plenty of trial and error (lots of errors) and adjustments.

Here's the truth: You can make money doing what you love, but you have to be patient. And you have to be willing to compromise and sacrifice in the beginning so that you can be in control later. 

And you have to remember that where you start is not where you'll stay. So keep working, keep trusting, and keep doing what you love. The money will come.