My Number One Key to Success as a Freelancer

In my wanderings around the internet and especially on social media channels, I have been privy to an abundance of very helpful articles and blogs providing a bevy of tips and tutorials and advice for freelancers. As a full-time freelance graphic and web designer myself, I have benefited from quite a few of these articles, discovering everything from software to accounting practices to pricing advice to freelance peers. As has been my practice from the time the internet became commonplace, I have been continuing my education and strengthening my skills and business thanks to the authors and research that is being offered.

In considering what I could offer to the plethora of knowledge as an experienced and reasonably successful freelancer, I realized that the most important contributor to my achievements has been my passion. My skills have been and continue to be acquired and honed along the way. My education – mostly self-taught – has no end and is driven by my desire for infinite increase in knowledge and understanding. My financial investment has been minimal, if almost non-existent.

But my passionate desire to make a living and provide for my family by doing what I love instead of pursuing something that gives me a nice paycheck with little or no personal satisfaction or fulfillment is the primary reason I am doing it today.

So I want to give you my number one key to success as a freelance designer. Are you ready? Here it is:

Do not have a backup plan.

Yes, I realize that some may say this is foolish. And yes, I understand that just tossing out your backup plans alone will not guarantee that you will succeed. But education, skills and drive alone will not guarantee your success either. Realistically, what could? I don’t know of anything that will provide a 100% guarantee for succeeding at committing your career aspirations to the freelance world. But I do know this: as long as you have a backup plan, the strength of your pursuit is tainted.

How badly do you want to live a life in which you are your own boss? How badly do you want to spend your days (and probably nights) doing whatever it is that you love most? What are you willing to sacrifice in order to be able to do it?

Most aspiring freelancers would answer those questions saying things like “I will eat dog food for a month if I have to” or “Whatever it takes, I am willing to do it”. Some will testify to working multiple jobs while building a client base that will support a full-time freelance business. Others will share the difficulties and struggles that kept them from achieving that final goal.

But I can tell you, based on my own personal experience, that the most fulfilling goals are realized when caution is thrown to the wind and pursuit does not waver, even for a moment, to glance aside and wonder if another route should be taken.

That is why my primary goal in life is to reach the end of it and be able to say I tried my best at everything I put my hands to without consideration for failure hindering the process.

Because in reality, isn’t that what a backup plan is?

It’s a safety net. It’s a “just in case”. It is a confession of doubt and a provision for failure.

And I have learned that whenever I attempt something believing I could fail to the point that I create a backup plan, I almost always end up using the backup.

Hear me out. There will be times when you WILL fail. You should consider all aspects in your pursuits and look at the best routes and the possible struggles. You should weigh all opportunities and plan your steps carefully and wisely.

But the moment you build a safety net, that’s the time you’ve decided it’s okay to fall.

My point is not to be foolish. My point is that you will experience the greatest fulfillment, the most overwhelming personal satisfaction, when you give your all to that which you are most passionate about and do not worry about anything in the process.

This is not about confidence in your abilities. This is not about the finest education or the most qualified skill set.

This is about you recognizing what it is that you were made to do and embracing it with your whole being to the point that anything less is unacceptable.

I could share several experiences that have helped me to develop this philosophy, but this blog post would end up being a small book which none of you would have the time or possibly the interest to read. Trust me when I say that I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that you will achieve success as a freelancer if you pursue it without a backup plan.

Here’s the thing: sometimes success gets redefined along the way. You may start with one definition and end up realizing that what you set out to do is not your ultimate goal. You may even realize that your most fulfilling achievement is NOT working full-time as a freelancer. But I have learned that it is better to come to that realization by reaching your goal untainted by a backup plan than to detour to your safety net along the way and always wonder “What if?”

So why not give it your all? Why not set your face toward the goal and never look back or to either side? Why not weather the obstacles and experience the failures that make you stronger?

Trust me. In the end, you will be happier. And isn’t that truly the definition of personal success?