It’s time to pursue a freelance career: September 2020 update

Today marks the end of formal employment and the beginning of the pursuit of a freelance career following my redundancy from my role in digital marketing for reasons out of my control.

The reason for this redundancy is because of a department redesign investing more money and resource into digital marketing but removed the need for a dedicated content writer.

My career in marketing

For seven years I have thrown myself into my career in marketing, beginning at the bottom and working hard to develop my experience and progress myself into new, higher roles. Over the last five years, I have focused on content marketing, bringing and embracing my love of writing into my day job.

Until March 2019 my career and doing well was everything to me, and then I became a mum and success took on a new light. Success is not just about doing well at work, but it also means doing well at home and raising my son (and any future children) to the best of my ability alongside my husband.

I have a strong belief that everything happens for a reason. Even during the darkest of times, I feel we all become stronger and gain the ability to look back and acknowledge those moments for the new strength they gave, and/or the better opportunity they made way for, even if we couldn’t see it at the time.

Pursuing a freelance career

It’s been a long-time dream of mine to be able to offer my writing services and ideas freelance, without being committed to one place in order to have the freedom to work with a variety of projects and people. I think my experience over the last two or so years is the universe’s way of telling me now is the time.

Even though the leap to this new way of working is terrifying, and I don’t feel prepared, it’s more terrifying to risk not taking this opportunity and never realising my full potential. I also can’t put myself, my family and our wellbeing in the hands of another employer to risk this all happening again… which I have no doubt it will.

If I fail, it’s on me.

If more companies offered women enough opportunity to work flexibly, the freelance dream might not be so enticing to so many, but it is. I haven’t got a problem working longer hours, but it needs to be for my own gain, and not because I need to cram full-time hours into fewer days because that’s the only way a company might support flexible working. I would rather sacrifice a few late nights a week than miss precious time with my son.   

What’s next

So, I now need to take some time to get myself prepped for being my own boss, but I also see the benefit (and need) to seek regular part-time employment a couple of days a week to ensure an income where possible.

I would love to hear from anyone that can share some advice and tips for working freelance and how I could progress forward and meet my new goals. Equally if you or anyone you know is in need of a first-class content writer please let me know, here are some examples of my recent work in addition to the content available on this blog.

Until then, watch this space.