When I quit my corporate job three years ago to freelance, I had high hopes, but I also faced countless sleepless nights filled with anxiety about inconsistent income, difficult clients, and exhausting workloads. Today, I’m running a six-figure freelancing business without sacrificing my health or personal life. Here’s how I got there — and how you can, too.
Early in my freelancing journey, I made a common mistake: pricing my services hourly. It quickly led to burnout — I was overworked, underpaid, and undervalued. Then, a fellow freelancer gave me a golden tip: charge based on the value provided, not on hours worked.
By switching to value-based pricing, my earnings doubled almost immediately, and clients respected my expertise more.
Initially, I said yes to every project, fearing another opportunity wouldn’t come along. The result? Stress and subpar work. When I finally learned to decline gracefully projects that didn’t align with my skills or interests, my mental health and productivity improved dramatically.
The scariest thing I did was pick a niche — web development for SaaS startups. It felt limiting at first, but soon I discovered it set me apart as an expert. My income soared because specialized clients value focused expertise and are willing to pay premium prices.
No freelancer survives long-term without prioritizing mental and physical health. I committed to daily routines: morning walks, strict working hours, regular breaks, and weekends fully disconnected from work.
Initially, I hesitated to spend money on automation tools. When I finally invested in quality software for client management, invoicing…
