Life As A Full-Time Writer: Expectations vs. Reality
Stories from 10 months of being my own boss.
Stories from 10 months of being my own boss.
What the world warned me might happen when I quit my job to become a writer:
- Not enough gigs.
- No more will to write.
- Being poor and broke forever.
An interesting thing about everyone who filled my head with these fears and insecurities is that none of them have successfully managed to convert their side hustle to a full-time gig.
Primarily, these old friends had been working the same job for seven years or longer, and their opinions came from their own experiences.
If there’s one lesson I’ve learned after months of self-doubt and second-guessing my choices, it’s this —
Don’t take advice from somebody living a life you don’t want to live.
What I’ve seen happening after spending eight months being my own boss:
New gigs come up when you least expect them.
All you have to do is keep putting yourself out there and nurturing your personal brand.
What happened in July was nothing short of a miracle. Two of my long-term clients terminated the contract. I was shocked and worried about what to do when I converted two inbound leads from LinkedIn into clients. Now, my work has become more streamlined, and my income has increased manifold.
Sometimes, passion stays.
I’ve been writing every day since 2014.
Even today, I wake up daily, my head filled with new ideas to write about. I can’t wait to finish all the mundane work until I can finally pull my computer out and start writing.
The passion for writing is real, and it’s still going strong.
The money starts flowing when your heart is into it.
I now make more money in a month than I had made from my previous day job in a YEAR.
And I do that by working 5–6 hours a day (compared to how I’d sit in the office for 10+ hours in my previous job).
If these surprise you, then guess what will surprise you even more?
None of these happened through sheer luck.
I made them real through my curiosity, consistency, and the will to constantly keep experimenting.
I’ve made several mistakes along the way and abandoned projects that could have become big. But they have taught me valuable lessons I plan to keep applying as I grow.
If you’re stuck in a job you hate and wondering if pursuing your dream will ever set you free, consider this your sign from the Universe that you CAN do it.
It might take a lot more hard work than you thought. But it will also bring you levels of freedom and happiness you couldn’t have imagined in your wildest dreams.
All it takes is taking that leap of faith and trusting your gut.
Are you going to do it?
Let me know your thoughts.
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