Freelancing was never my the backup plan

Nope, this wasn’t an unplanned path. I remember very clearly when the shift started. It was when I found out I was pregnant with my first child. Not in a dramatic way, just a clear and very strong realization. The life I was building and the way I was working were starting to feel like they were going in different directions.

Long working hours, the constant pressure to move forward, to aim for the next position, all of that suddenly didn’t make as much sense anymore. Why? Because my priority was about to change. I knew I wanted to build a family and actually be present for it.

But at the same time, I also knew I didn’t want to stop working.

I needed something that would keep me engaged. I just didn’t want the pressure, the constant chase, or the politics that come with most corporate environments.

Freelancing felt like the best fit somewhere in the middle (not necessarily easier, just more aligned with the kind of life I wanted). And over time, I’ve learned a few things; Not advice, not rules, just personal conclusions that worked for me. They depend a lot on your personality, your flexibility, what you do, and how you work.

So here are my takes:

1. There’s always some uncertainty and you learn to live with it (coming from a not so flexible person :)) )

This is probably the first thing you notice -> You don’t really know what your work will look like in a few months. There’s no clear visibility, no long-term guarantees. And that can feel uncomfortable.

But I also learned that if you do your job well, people (aka clients) find you.

So far, word of mouth has been the only “strategy” I’ve had. I never really promoted myself, and somehow I never had to actively look for projects either. If you are doing well, people recommend you, your name gets passed around, and things start to connect. There’s something really nice in that. It builds a different kind of trust.

2. I didn’t jump into freelancing overnight

I started slowly, in parallel with my corporate job. At the time, I was working as a brand manager, and freelancing started almost quietly, in my free time. First with one client, then another. I slowly built a small portfolio, started writing about my work, and over time more projects started to come naturally.

That transition period helped me a lot.

It gave me time to understand whether this way of working actually suited me, before fully relying on it. And by the time I decided to go all in, it no longer felt like a huge risk or an impulsive decision. It already had structure, clients, and momentum behind it.

Looking back, I think that gradual start gave me more confidence than if I had simply quit one day and hoped for the best.

3. If you’re not aligned from the beginning, it’s better to say no

At first, it’s tempting to say yes to almost all the projects. But I learned that if you’re not on the same page with a client from the start, it won’t magically fix itself later. It usually turns into exactly the kind of stress you were trying to avoid.

So now I’m more careful. If something feels off, I’d rather say no, or “not this time”. And whenever I can, I try to recommend someone else instead.

It feels more honest, for both sides.

4. Even when it’s a good fit, timing still matters

There are situations where everything aligns. The client is great, the project makes sense, the collaboration would probably go well.

And still, I say no.

Just because I know I don’t want to overload myself. I’d rather be honest and say it’s not a good moment than take on too much and not be able to show up the way I want to - because if so, then the energy would not be 100% clients can feel it.

5. Flexibility doesn’t always look how you imagine it

Freelancing gives you flexibility, but not in a perfect, controlled way.

Sometimes things are urgent. Deadlines are tight. You need to deliver fast, even if it wasn’t part of your plan for that day or week.

It can be overwhelming at times, and it’s definitely not always that calm “work from anywhere” vibe people imagine. But at the same time, clients really appreciate it when you show up and do your best, especially in those moments. In my opinion, it's worth it :)

6. This worked for me because I wasn’t doing it completely alone

The most important part, and this is something I don’t think is talked about enough.

Freelancing comes with risks. And in my case, I relied a lot on my husband. Knowing I had someone to count on made it possible to take those steps.

If I didn’t have that kind of support, I’m not sure I would have tried this in the same way.

So I don’t see any of this as a formula or something that should work for everyone. It really depends on your situation, your context, and what kind of support system you have around you. Knowing that it wouldn’t be a tragedy if I didn’t have projects (and that we could still live comfortably for a while if this didn’t work out) took a lot of pressure off my shoulders.

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If you're also considering this path, I hope these reflections help; even though there's no single formula that works for everyone, and I know this isn't everyone's reality.

What I do know is that, for this season of my life with two young kids, freelancing continues to be the best approach for me. It gives me the flexibility to be present for my family without giving up the part of myself that enjoys creating, learning, solving problems, and working with inspiring people.

Looking back, I don’t think freelancing changed my relationship with work as much as it changed my definition of success. Success stopped meaning the next title or the next promotion, and started meaning having interesting work, working with people I genuinely enjoy, being present for my family, and ending most days feeling like I didn’t have to sacrifice one part of my life for another.

And if there’s one thing this journey has taught me, it’s that we all get to define what a successful career looks like. This just happens to be what it looks like for me.