Getting my first 1000 LinkedIn followers took me 6 years. Getting my first 7000 LinkedIn followers took me a year. Going from charging $100 per blog to $500 took me 5 years. Going from $500 to $1350 took me 2 years. If you're stuck in the trenches right now, wondering why this all feels so bloody hard (while people like me ponce about with our handy little tips on LinkedIn) just remember that the effort you're putting in right now compounds. When I was starting out, I worked nights and weekends. I got paid peanuts. I had clients who were ridiculously demanding. I spent hours and hours on networking, and pitching, and marketing, and posting on LinkedIn to the sound of crickets. It was a slog, and I stuck at it because a) I liked the job, and I knew one day I'd be good at it and b) I had a small kid and we needed the income and I couldn't think of anything else I could do. These days, I work for lovely clients, I make a good living, and I only work about 25 hours a week. And yes, I got lucky. This isn't everyone's freelance story. But, generally speaking, if you put in the reps, it gets easier. Hang on in there. You got this.
"Ponce about with our handy little tips" 😂 But yes, this, this, and this some more. I look back at the first 5 years of my career and I barely recognise it. I was getting paid pennies, worked with clients I couldn't say no to, and worked around the clock. I'm not sure why I persevered, but I'm glad I did 😅
Thanks for this! It's easy to forget how much work it takes to get over that first hill.
Ya know, I think I have a similar story but I’d never have framed it that way. I’ve been freelance writing since college, and back then I think I made less than $100 per post. We all start somewhere. The trick is just to actually start.
Going strong even with struggles because a) I love what I do and b) I want to be really good at what I do. I know it's testing now, but I'll reap the benefits eventually. Thanks for the motivation in the post Rosanna Campbell
I find your post very encouraging. Just hoping to do the same with my rates. 😆
A great reminder. I think we should all go listen to the theme song from Rocky.
Thank you Rosanna Campbell. I need to be reminded of this sometimes
And that is something I needed to hear today. Thanks Rosanna. Have a wonderful weekend.
Wonderful post Rosanna Campbell! I often mention to others who ask for advice or guidance to always remember everything is temporary. Slow periods are temporary as much as busy seasons are too.
Freelance Long-Form Content Writer for Customer-Led B2B Brands
1moTruly needed to read this today Rosanna. There's no guardrail in my mind on the Compare and Despair Cliff, and being on LinkedIn often drives me right off it! Thanks for this lovely parachute. I can be extremely impatient with myself and my progress. I've realized that I can only pack so much learning, business development, client work, personal time, and creative work into my weeks—I can only go as fast as my body lets me, and I have to accept that limitation and be okay with things taking longer than I want them to. Hopefully one day I'll get to ponce about too!