Adebisi Adesina’s Post

3 things nobody tells you about FREELANCING 1. Freelancing is NOT for everybody If you want a consistent income like your 9-5 job then you got to put in the effort. I've been freelancing for 3 years but I still find it difficult to be consistent with putting up my systems and looking for long-term clients to work (since most of the contracts I get are project-based and never retainer ones) 2. Freelancing is a BUSINESS  It's not a regular job that you just come and go, punch in and out when you're done, you have to be consistent every day and put in the discipline. If you don't then you'll always be in the feast and famine cycle (like me lol) 3. But when done right, freelancing can offer you FREEDOM and a SUSTAINABLE income Just imagine, no more long hours in the bus and train station, you can work in the comfort of your own home, plus the potential to earn more. I've been freelancing for 3 years (both as a choice and a desperate attempt to create income while staying at home) and while it's not always rainbows and butterflies I will still choose this every day Why? Because I want to be there for my kids. I don't want to work in an office and wake up in the wee hours of the morning and kiss them goodbye while they're asleep and then go home and only be able to spend a few hours again before they go to bed. They are my biggest WHY So yes freelancing is hard work But it's worth it Happy Monday ya'll! This is my first attempt to be consistent with showing up and posting content on LinkedIn. Thanks, Coach Aiza Coronado🦉💌 for the webinar. Hopefully, I'll be able to do this consistently and provide more value 🙌

The state of freelancing is the most competitive I’ve seen since I started in 2018. Now the question is: Should you still freelance, given the current climate? Here are a few points I mulled over finding answers myself: 👉 Freelancing is so different from a 9-5 that if you've worked an office job for years, you'll see a glaring difference in schedule, flexibility, cash flow, workload, and mindset. If you’ve worked in corporate America (or wherever you are), your brain is likely wired to start at 8 or 9 am and end at 5 or 6 pm. Freelancing means you own your schedule, but you'll likely feel weird and guilty at first doing things your way. My rudest awakening was when I realized that my workload was commensurate with the money coming into my bank account. If my deliverables and to-do lists are short, my bank will get fewer dings that month. A 9-5 means regular payments to your payroll account. With freelancing, aside from varying amounts of cash you get monthly, you’ll also have different payment terms, which you must stay on top of. Also, depending on how busy or quiet your month will be, you have to be open to the possibility of having minimal work, if at all. 👉 Ask yourself: What does freelancing mean to you? Is it something to do in the interim, as a replacement for your day job, a side hustle, or an escape from burnout? 👉 It all boils down to your risk appetite and where you are in your life. What season are you in your life right now? What are your top priorities? You may likely have a higher risk appetite if you’re young with fewer responsibilities and dependents (e.g., no mortgage or fewer mouths to feed.) Or perhaps you have kids and a mortgage but see freelancing as an increased earning potential. 👉 Freelancing is HARD work. How hard are you willing to work? It is NOT just delivering services for clients. It's a business. Freelancing is equal parts delivering a service, doing all the admin stuff, and nonstop marketing. 👉 You can always experiment and see what works for you. Start freelancing as a side hustle. Or do it full-time. If you realize it's not working for you, you can pursue other things or iterate how you freelance. *** I wrote about this topic in a longer-form newsletter where I talked about each of these considerations. I also listed down the reasons why I took the big leap last year, and how I'm pivoting at the moment. Link in the comments below. 👇

Freelance or Fulltime? So, you're grappling with the idea of whether to dive into freelancing, explore seasonal work, or stick to a full-time job? It's a question that lingers in the minds of many, and is a question I always get asked. The landscape of work is shifting, isn't it? More and more people are yearning for that elusive balance between work and life, drawn to the allure of freelancing or seasonal gigs for various reasons. There's an undeniable appeal to being the master of your own fate. With freelancing, you have the world at your fingertips, the freedom to traverse continents for projects that resonate with your unique talents. And let's not forget those captivating event seasons in the UAE, Europe and Asia, where opportunities abound amidst vibrant cultures and climates. Sure, the financial aspect can be daunting at times. You're not guaranteed a steady paycheck or the safety net of benefits that come with full-time employment. But therein lies the beauty of it—you set your rates, you dictate your worth. It's a balancing act, though, running yourself as a business while maintaining professionalism and collaboration with others. Remember, your reputation precedes you in this realm, shaping both your earning potential and workload. My advice? Stay grounded, stay humble. Yes, your skills are invaluable, but remember, you're just one piece of the puzzle. Acknowledge the collective effort behind every event, and price your services accordingly. Being flexible and realistic about your market value is key. Be a problem solver, don't be the problem. And let's talk about finances. It's not just about covering your basic needs; you have to anticipate downtime and unforeseen expenses. The weight of responsibility falls squarely on your shoulders—missed briefs, deadlines and undercharging, it's all on you. Commitment is paramount. When you sign on for a project, follow through. Preparations start early, and backing out last minute can have serious repercussions. Make sure you're covered with comprehensive insurance and worldwide medical cover, get 3rd party insurance. Honesty is non-negotiable commodity. Never oversell yourself — I soundly believe in underpromising and overdelivering. As for full-time work, it offers stability and room for growth within a company. It's a path that appeals to many, especially those with families or a desire for security. It offers you the opportunity to learn and grow in your field of choice. Ultimately, it boils down to personal preference. Whether you choose the autonomy of freelancing or the stability of full time employment, the decision is yours. Just remember, whatever path you tread, stay true to yourself, and never forget to prioritize your own well-being. Disclaimer: These are the opinions of the author and do not reflect the views of anyone else.

Feel like you're meant for more than 9-5? 🌎 Freelancing might be your answer. But before you leap, let’s get real - freelancing isn’t a shortcut, it’s a strategy. Here is a roadmap to get you started: 1️⃣ Find your "why" Why do you want to freelance? Is it for freedom, creativity, or maybe more time with family? Knowing your reasons will help keep you motivated. 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘱 3 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴. 2️⃣ Check your skills and market What can you offer, and is it in demand? Look at freelance sites to see what jobs are out there, and think about how you can stand out. 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥 30 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘫𝘰𝘣 𝘣𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘵. 3️⃣ Build a financial cushion Freelancing takes time to pick up. Having 3-6 months of savings will allow you to focus on growing, instead of surviving. 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘚𝘦𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. 4️⃣ Freelance on the side If possible, start freelancing while you’re still employed. This allows you to test the waters, build a portfolio, and secure a few clients before fully committing. 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘚𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 5-10 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴 𝘢 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴. 5️⃣ Create a business plan Freelancing is a business, not a hobby. Identify your target clients, set your rates, and figure out how you’ll attract work (social media, networking, platforms). 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘧𝘵 𝘢 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴, 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘺. 6️⃣ Network for referrals Tell people you know you’re freelancing - word of mouth is powerful. 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘔𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘦 5 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴. 7️⃣ Set up tools Use tools for project management, invoicing (like abillio), and time tracking. 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥. 8️⃣ Plan your exit strategy Don’t quit your job just yet. Make sure you have steady freelance income and savings before handing in your resignation. 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘚𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨. Stay patient, be proactive, and remember that freelancing is a marathon, not a sprint. 💪

Employment or Freelancing? The Endless Dilemma. What suits you better? Both employment and freelancing have their goods and bads. The right choice depends entirely on you: your goals, personality, and current life circumstances. If you want stability always and love teamwork Employment is your best choice. A steady paycheck, benefits, and the satisfaction of contributing to a larger project are compelling perks. You'll always know what’s on your plate for the next day, and having colleagues nearby can be a great source of inspiration and learning. It’s a fit if you: Need financial stability. Enjoy working in a team and learning from others. Value clear processes and structured workflows. If you’re all about freedom and creativity Freelancing means total control over your projects, clients, and schedule. But it also means wearing multiple hats: researcher, designer, accountant, marketer, and sales manager all at once. It’s for you if you: Feel confident in your skills and know how to grow clients flow. Want to manage your own time. Are prepared for slower periods (and know how to save for them). How to figure out what’s right for you? The best way is trying both. Start with employment to gain solid experience, then move to freelancing if you feel drained by company life. There is an alternative: take on small freelance projects while staying employed to test the waters. Or the other way around. Work part-time in a stable job and dedicate the rest of your time to freelance projects. This hybrid approach will help you discover your true calling without dramatic shifts. The most important thing is to be open to experimenting and listening to yourself. Choose what makes you feel fulfilled on your journey.

Why Freelancing is better than a 9-5 job if you are in your 20s: Hear me out (I’ve done both 9-5 and freelancing) - The growth of a freelancer is directly tied to your effort, skills, and how well you build your personal brand. Meanwhile, in a full-time job, your progress can be influenced by office politics and how you get along with your boss. - As a freelancer, you could go from making 20k per month to 1 lakh in just 6 months. On the other hand, in a full-time job, it might take years of promotions and hard work to move from 50k to 1 lakh a month. Freelancing has massive potential. If you learn how to sell and scale, you could earn lakhs or even crores. There’s a unique thrill in freelancing. You’re always pushing yourself, constantly working to stay ahead, and that brings its own kind of excitement. Sure, freelancing isn’t for everyone, but more and more people are choosing it for the freedom it offers. - Freedom to set your own schedule - Freedom to work from anywhere - Freedom to choose your clients - Freedom to decide which projects you take on There’s something deeply satisfying about working hard and pulling all-nighters for your own business. Yes, freelancing comes with greater risks, but when you’re young, why play it safe? There’s no better time to take risks than now.

I have been freelancing for a while. But now, I know the truth. But for 5 yrs, it was my dream to be a freelancer. Today, reality hits differently, Everyone now is fascinated to be a high income freelancer. But Here’s the dark side of Freelancing, 1. Initially you will feel lost. ~ I myself did 50 outreach, 30 cold emails, and 40 Instagram DMs. ~ I started questioning my worth. ~ I literally begged God to have me at least 1 client then I will quit it. ~ But as soon as I got my client. I understood the notion. 2. You have to overwork. ~ You have to work like hell some days, ~ burnout can creep in fast. ~ Everyone thinks you have your own time. NO! Your client owns your time. They are your boss. ~ You have to miss some celebrations to complete the project. ~ I myself have worked 14 hours. ~ You Wear All the Hats: You are your marketer, accountant, lead gen, writer, and designer. And whatnot? 3. People will exploit you, ~ People will connect with you just for work, and then will ghost you. ~ Some will pay in pennies, while some will pay you high for the same work. ~ Some will ghost you and will not pay you. ~ Some will disrespect you. But some people are really nice. They are genuine! 4. Unpredictable Income ~ You think you will charge, in Lakhs, but that a way too far (if you are not skilled or people don’t understand your potential) ~ freelancing offers flexibility, income instability is a big challenge. ~ 63% of freelancers face issues with late payments 5. No Benefits or Job Security ~ Health insurance, retirement plans, paid leave—these are luxuries freelancers have to manage on their own. 6. Meeting Client Demands is Tough, ~ Client will leave you with last moment changes. ~ chasing clients for payments, managing scope creep, and dealing with difficult personalities. This post is not to demotivate you but to know that All that glitters is not gold. To cherish the Pleasure you have to go through pain. This scenario is literally temporary once you go through the experience. You can be the highest paid freelancer. It takes you at least a year or two to be that one. Just be patient enough. Keep upskilling, keep Grinding. What makes the part easier? How can You overcome this? Mindset is one thing, Now, here comes the role of a Mentor. This is how Shreya Pattar became The Shreya, Unnati Bagga - Organic Growth Specialist🌟 became The Unnati. Ques: What are your thoughts on this? P.S: Struggling to grow your Social Media ? - "Not anymore!" I can help you to achieve 3x growth on LinkedIn, IG in just 60 days.

There is a price you have to pay as a freelancer. When a client call comes in, you have to be ready and prepared to respond, no matter what. It sounds frustrating, especially when the weekend is meant for rest. But the reality is, the work needs to be done, and you have to get cracking. So, if you’re considering getting started as a freelancer, there are a few things you’ll need to forego. Let me break it down for you: 1. Your weekends might not always be free. Forget the 9 to 5 mentality. Sometimes, work pops up on a Saturday or Sunday, and you have to be available to jump on it. Flexibility is key, but it’s also a double-edged sword. 2. Rest when you can, not when you want: Unlike traditional jobs, your downtime will be irregular. Sometimes, you’ll rest mid-week, and sometimes you’ll be working long hours over a holiday. But that’s the nature of freelancing—unpredictable but yet rewarding. 3. Your social life may take a hit: Client deadlines don’t care if your friends are having a Friday night get-together. Sometimes, you’ll have to say "no" to social plans so you can deliver on a project. 4. You’re your own boss (and your own motivator): No one’s going to tell you to get up and work. Freelancing requires discipline and self-motivation. There’s no clocking in or out, which means you’re responsible for your time management. 5. The balance between freedom and responsibility: Yes, freelancing offers flexibility and independence, but the trade-off is that you're solely responsible for meeting your client’s needs, keeping projects on track, and securing new work. Freelancing is not for everyone, but if you're willing to adapt, hustle, and manage your time wisely, the freedom and earning potential can make it all worthwhile.

Stop dreaming that freelancing is your ticket to easy money. → No, it’s not going to make you rich overnight. → No, you won’t land clients just by sending a few cold emails. → Certainly not without real skills. Let’s cut the crap. I’ve seen too many people jump into freelancing thinking it’s a shortcut to success. → They believe they can skip the degree and still make a killing. → They think they can learn a skill in a few weeks and start raking in cash. → I’m willing to burst that bubble. Sure, freelancing can be amazing, but there’s no walk in the park. You need to be a master at what you do. If your work doesn’t add value, no one’s going to pay you a dime. And who am I to tell you this? Just someone who’s been there, done that. → Want to send out 100 cold emails without knowing what you’re doing? → Want to jump into every new trend without mastering the basics? → Want to believe the hype without putting in the work? Go ahead. I may not be a fan, but maybe you’ll get lucky. Maybe you’ll find that one client who’s okay with mediocre work. But hey, what do I know? Here’s the deal: if you’re serious about freelancing, if you’re ready to put in the grind, learn the skills, and offer real value, then we’re on the same page.

EMPLOYEMENT vs FREELANCING (and Business): 😀 There are 12 cycles (or time periods or opportunities) in a year when an employee gets paid a salary. 12 times a year that person gets paid a certain amount for doing something. This definitely provides certain stability and reduces uncertainty which makes things predictable and it makes life convenient. 😁 So if a person worked as an employee for 35-40 years, and they got paid 12 times a year, then that means there were 12x35 to 12x40 = 420 to 480 cycles of earnings in their career. The downside of this entire life path is there is very limited potential to increase your earnings exponentially over time because someone else finally decides how much to pay you. and here growth is slow but steady. 😷 Where as the number of times you get paid as a freelancer or a businessperson are more than 12 times in a year. It can be more than 30 to 50 times, 100s of times, even 1000s of times but that's super rare for a freelancer only. Some days you may experience high revenue growth & some days there can be 0 inflow of revenue. But the no. of times you bring $$ home is greater than revenue brought in employment. 💸 In most cases, overall, your income as a freelancer in a year is higher than if you were an employee. That's where the benefits of this life path comes in. You have control over your income potential. Sure, ultimately someone else is paying you, but the point here is 👨⚖️ "how many times you get paid in a year". Another benefit is you have time to exponentially refine your skillset because you have control over your time management. You structure your life. And growth is super fast if you approach the improvement methods correctly. But the dark side is there is great uncertainty. Which means less stability (most certainly only in the starting phase of your career). 😕 In the end, I would say if you want to pursue a less risky less rewarding less challenging less adventurous but stable life, employment is the best path. If you want high risk high rewarding high adventurous but less stable life, freelancing and business is the path for you. Remember challenges and their side effects on the health are present in every life path. How you manage them effectively defines your strength of mind. What about people who do all three - business, freelancing and employment all together in their lives? 💀