Do you remember your first time? (No, not what you are thinking.  Much, much better than that.  I’m talking about your first job as a freelance!)

I’ll never forget mine!  It was the 19th April 2010.

That day I sent through my first batch of work to my client.  I was elated and on cloud nine.  I was enveloped in the most amazing feelings of freedom, independence, immense hope and fulfilment – all at the same time.  I was filled with immense pride and self-worth.

Those feelings lasted more than 2 weeks as I completed the whole project.  (See? It lasted more than 2 weeks. Not 2 minutes.  It’s way better than that.)

As a freelance translation editor, this was my first work at home gig!  I’m over the moon!

Although money hasn’t changed hands, I’ll forever be grateful for this job.

Lately, I’ve been thinking over the experience and reliving it to reflect on the important lessons from that first freelance job.  And, also because I’ve had two more queries since then!  And, here, are the 3 vital lessons learned from my first time.

You’ll Never be Ready

It has been almost a year since I started this blog.  In terms of content and design, this blog is not anywhere near ready. Forget being ready, it’s still incomplete – without a services page or something similar.  But, the fact that I still get prospects and a client already, is testimony to that fact that it’s ok to be imperfect.  Everybody starts off somewhere.

Prospects and clients are human too.   They understand that. The fact that I don’t have the money for a design or copy does not bother my client.  The result she gets, matters most to her. The important thing is to establish your presence on the web – start a blog already – and start making connections. Let go of your excuses.  Writing does not come naturally to you?  Well, start writing everyday and follow blogs like WritetoDone, Copyblogger, ViperChill, SmartPassiveIncome, etc.  One area I’m struggling with is the business side of things. I know it will take months to figure out somethings, but I’m willing to do my time and sweat it out. Who ever said making money is easy, right?

Stop Waiting for the Elusive Big Break

After writing blogs for more than 4 years now, one thing is mightily clear to me – there is no such thing as a Big Break in making money online world.    My monthly income from these blogs? $40 – $50 in a good month!  So, why continue?  Because there has always been little breaks in between long spells of drought.  These may be in the form of a post going viral, an affiliate sales or a chat with one of my favorite bloggers, a comment from a reader, etc.  You do get my drift, right?  So, I’m being a realist, while hopeful and focussed on my goals of making real money online and generating passive income.

It’s the little breaks that will make a difference.  It’s the little breaks that perhaps will make it possible for you to break away from the 9-to-5 existence. Dave Navarro, who just quit his job yesterday, wrote a guest post on Ittibiz where he says “No magical single event is going to take you from obscurity to celebrity (well, not in a healthy, sustainable way that lets you sleep at night).”  And, that’s the naked, honest truth.

Your Journey will be Unique, so will your Story be

My first brush with making money from blogs is what Darren from ProBlogger calls an indirect method of making money from blogs.  My father’s book, Zo Chronicles, was published posthumously in 2008.  I announced the release on my then personal blog, quickly highlighting how I got it published, how I undertook the task of proofreading, without prior experience, the manuscript and how friends and family helped to make the publication possible, where and when it was being released and a discount for the release day.  On release day, all copies we got from the publisher were sold!

I know how I make money is unique, very different from how most A-List bloggers make theirs. My story is unique, so is my journey. Eventually my destiny.  We are like a bunch of school kids – today playing football together; 20 years later, we’ll be lucky to even play a game. Forget about being together in the same playground.

This blog is where I primarily want to help video or podcast bloggers by providing them transcripts for their audios and videos.  But somehow, the first job I got is for translations!  But, I’m not complaining.  It’s surprises like this that makes blogging worthwhile.  Do not ever overlook or ignore your prospects where you can help them with your unique set of talents (ever if you do not offer the help they ask for).  Always remember, at the end of the day, you are trying to help people.  Help them wherever, whenever and which ever way you can.  You are the diversifying your income stream, establishing your brand and your credibility in the process.  Be unique.  Stay unique.

photo credit: woodleywonderworks

Please feel free to leave your comments and observations.  Do you remember your first time?  Please do share your first time stories.  Subscribe and stay connected.

My First Time: 3 Lessons Learned

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