A year ago this month I had my last day as a full-time editor in a publishing company. Why did I leave a secure position in a company that was nice enough to work at? Suffice it to say I needed change. Well, be careful what you wish for – because that’s what I got.

This past year has been turbulent, to say the least. I went from not knowing what to do with myself, to deciding to go freelance, to founding my own business. Alongside all that, I’m taking a postgraduate professional training course in Munich, widening my horizon travel-wise and work-wise.

Learning by doing

Every day is a learning process, and I honestly have to say I’ve never been this far outside my comfort zone – every. single. day. But it’s all been worth it:

I have clients that I like working for, and who like me and my work
I got to go to the Frankfurt Book Fair, mingle, pass out my card, and enjoy being an editor
I talk to like-minded people on a regular basis
I receive emotional and professional support from fellow freelancers

Positive struggle

All in all, there’s nothing but love and positivity around me (knock on wood). And yet: I’m not gonna lie – freelancing is a constant struggle. Some aspects just don’t agree with my personality, like pricing (not knowing whether you’re over- or undercharging), not speaking your mind about certain concerns (like pricing, ha!), acting like you’re on top of things all the time (“fake it till you make it”) … sometimes being an entrepreneur just doesn’t seem to go well with my personality.

Outlook

Who knows where my course, clients, fellow freelancers, and personal life will lead me … I plan to learn more every day, write, practice my lettering, and work hard to get to where I want to be. No, strike that – to be where I want to be. Because working as a freelancer isn’t about working towards a static goal, it’s about doing what you love every day. That much I’ve learned so far.
Exciting times, people. What was that comfort-zone thing again?