Freelancing: the Freedom to Explore

I sat down at Thanksgiving last week and was so thankful. For my husband, my kids, my friends and family, and for a sudden new freedom. I left my office job in September and started throwing together a business plan and figuring out LLC paperwork, feeling both goals-focused and lost.

Yet at the same time, I had a new energy: suddenly, I had the impetus and the time on my clock — not someone else’s clock — to explore new skillsets, to take a training or a course I’ve always wanted to take, but my bosses wouldn’t see as “necessary training” or worth taking time off to tackle. Once, it was seemingly out of reach, but now it’s my new favorite thing.

What I’m working on right now:

• Learning how to list VRBO and AirBNB properties, and do it in eye-catching, hospitality-minded ways.

• Learning Affinity Designer from award-winning designer Karla Pámanes. Affinity is a competitor for the Adobe design and illustration products without the high software cost threshold. It’s enabling me to finally jump into visual design work, which is something I’ve always wanted to do (without relying on Canva as my crutch).

• Going deeper into Wix plug-ins for website development, making myself better equipped to serve clients with more diverse needs.

• Trying to write another book. Yes, I still love the Austen-era literary world and can’t wait to go back with another novel.

It’s getting a little tougher to fit all this in now that I have onboarded a few more clients, but gosh, the challenge—and the balance—and the permission I now have to find that balance to keep investing in my own skillsets and goals —is so worth it.

Thank you for being a part of this journey with me.

Note: the links above are non-affiliate links. I just love these things!