Lessons From 10+ Years of Freelancing: What I Wish I Knew Sooner
When you first start your freelance journey, there's no shortage of advice out there. As you pave your way towards a sustainable, fulfilling freelance career, you'll encounter many lessons — some through trial and error, others through mindful reflection. However, it helps to have a handful of insights from those who've already walked in these shoes.
I've been freelancing for over a decade, and while there are definitely ups and even higher ups, along the journey are personal lessons and hurdles I overcame that shaped who I am today. Let's dive into some meaningful lessons from a decade of freelancing that I wish I knew sooner.
Know Your Worth
Pricing your work is one of the trickiest parts of freelancing—and one of the most important.
The Temptation to Undercharge
In the early days, it's easy to feel like you have to say yes to anything:
Lower your rates just to land the gig
Work long hours with little return
Say yes to clients that may not be the right fit
Most of us have been there. But here’s the truth:
Low rates often attract the wrong clients—and lead to burnout fast.
Your Rate Reflects More Than Just Time
Clients often focus on how long something takes. You should focus on what you bring to the table.
Your rate = Skill + Experience + Value
Finished in 30 minutes? Great.
That’s 30 minutes backed by years of learning, trial, and mastery.
👊 Charge accordingly.
Detaching Self-Worth from Rates
Remember, pricing is not personal.
Your rate is a number, not your identity
Clients will:
Try to negotiate
Sometimes ghost you
Occasionally agree without hesitation
None of that reflects your worth as a person—or a professional.
The Power of Confidence
The sooner you get comfortable with your pricing:
The easier it is to set boundaries
The quicker you can weed out bad-fit clients
The more energy you can put into doing what you do best
🎯 Trust your work. Charge your worth. Then move on.
It's OK to Say No
When you're freelancing, especially early on, the instinct is to say yes to everything. Every project, every client, every opportunity — even the ones that feel off. You’re building, hustling, proving yourself. But here’s the thing: saying yes to everything usually means saying no to your own time, energy, and quality.
Boundaries aren't a luxury — they’re a necessity. Unrealistic deadlines? Underpaid work? Clients who treat you like a full-time employee minus the benefits? You’re allowed to walk away. Saying no doesn't make you hard to work with; if anything, it communicates confidence, clarity, and professionalism.
The word “no” creates space. Space for better opportunities, better clients, or just time for a walk or a nap — which honestly, might be more valuable. Learn to trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
You’re not just a freelancer. You’re a business. And smart businesses don’t accept every deal — they evaluate, prioritize, and protect their resources. So go ahead, say no (politely). Your future self will thank you.
Keep Learning And Invest in Your Skills
Freelancing isn’t a static career — it changes constantly. New tools, platforms, and expectations pop up fast, and clients expect you to keep up. If you’re not learning, you’re falling behind.
When I started, I thought being good at my craft was enough. It wasn’t. The demand shifts. Algorithms change. Industries evolve. I had to evolve too. Whether it’s a new tech skill, marketing your services better, or understanding the business side of things, continuous growth will keep you relevant (and paid).
Invest in courses, books, workshops, or just carve out regular time to explore. You don’t need fancy credentials — just a willingness to improve. The freelancers who keep learning are often the ones confidently raising their rates, booking better clients, and avoiding burnout.
Balance is Crucial
When you’re freelancing, it’s tempting to say yes to everything—the projects, the late-night messages, the weekend edits. After all, every opportunity feels like progress, and hustle gets glorified. But here’s the truth: burnout doesn’t care how motivated you are. And it hits hard.
Balance isn’t a luxury; it’s a strategy. You need energy to deliver your best work, creativity to stand out, and mental clarity to manage your business. That doesn’t happen if you’re running on fumes.
Set office hours. Take a real day off. Move your body. Get sunlight. Know when work stops and life begins—even if it’s just shifting from the desk to the couch. Learning to say, “I’m unavailable this weekend,” or “Let’s schedule for Monday,” saved my sanity more than once. Clients respect boundaries when you enforce them consistently. You're not being lazy. You're being sustainable. You can’t freelance forever at full-throttle. Pace yourself. Your future self will high-five you.
Networking is Essential
When you're freelancing, relationships matter more than résumés. Who you know can open doors that job boards never will. Clients, collaborators, mentors — building your network isn't just about landing work, it's about staying in the loop, staying inspired, and staying booked.
Think of every interaction — online or offline — as a chance to connect. Join communities in your niche. Send the DM. Follow up. Show up to events (even virtually). Don’t overthink it — be human, be curious.
And don’t ghost your contacts after a project’s done. A simple check-in or congrats message goes a long way. The gigs I least expected? Most came from someone I stayed in touch with, not from cold pitching.
Networking isn't a one-time strategy, it's long-term maintenance. But over time, those efforts stack up and become one of your strongest assets.
Diversify Your Income
Relying on one big client or a single income stream is risky. All it takes is one budget cut, one pivot, or one “we’re going in a different direction” email to throw your whole setup off balance. That’s the kind of stress nobody needs.
Think in layers. Start with your core freelance service, but build from there. Maybe you offer consulting. Maybe you create a product—like a course, template, or even a newsletter that brings in sponsorship.
You could teach, write, build, or sell—there are a ton of ways to layer your skills. Even small passive streams add breathing room. Diversifying isn’t just about more money—it’s about more stability. And in freelancing, stability is the real flex.
Conclusion: Always Keep Going
Freelancing is full of detours, wins, mistakes, and second chances. Some days you’ll feel like you’re crushing it. Other days, you’ll wonder why you even started. That’s normal. The key is to keep going. Keep tweaking, learning, adjusting. Ride the highs, learn from the lows, and trust that consistency builds the kind of career you’re after.
There’s no “finish line” in freelancing. You just get better at making it work for you. So take the wins in stride, learn what you can from the setbacks, and know that every project, client, and quiet spell is shaping you into a more resilient, self-aware, and skilled freelancer.
