To pursue freelancing (and technopreneurship/ solopreneurship), is a roller coaster journey that helps me to be open-minded, and result-oriented. Unlike my other friends that encourage people to do freelancing by giving only the positive sides of it, I will share my ideas and experiences instead that will help you to decide whether this path is right for you.

Facing your fears including unstable income

In freelancing, it’s time versus money. When I was still a full time worker ay rush hour ang hate ko. Ngayon naman ay yung time na walang gagawin. Good thing if you have regular clients or part time employers pero kung wala, eddie- mas marami kang oras na wala kang pera.

May time na  halos buong isang araw  nasa harapan lang ako  ng computer, but still I’m worried of my personal finance. And remember that I’m also  doing businesses, investment,  blogging and of course paying bills / supporting Nanay, that’s why my slogan is Time is Gold, Credit is good but I need cash.

Accept prejudice and criticism

Tama si Elizabeth P. Ong, author of So You Want to Be  A Freelance Writer , may nag-iisip  na kumo’t nasa bahay ka lang ay tambay at easy go lucky ka lang. Generally , I just joke around but when they go overboard I hit  them with my killer lines ( like sarap lang na ‘di ka namamasahe at nakiki-traffic).

Be ready rin sa payong malupit ng mga tradisyonal na kapag tapos ka ay dapat nag-oopisina ka. Nakakapagtaka pero sinuportahan ako ng Nanay ko, but I think the best compliment na sinabi n’ya ay “kung kaya mo naman kumita dito, dito ka na lang.” Iyan ay kahit gusto n’ya mag-abroad kami lahat.

Dagdag ko na rin dito, yung mga employers na they think less of you because you work from home. Biruin mo, naka-save na sila sa sing halaga ng isang work station minamaliit ka pa.

Feeling confident but insecure 

I met someone who’s also a freelancer. I learn and can relate sa kanya except for one- isa siyang old rich. Though marami siyang napatunayan, humble at mabait – ito ang top 1 line n’ya na naiwan sa kokote ko

” Sabi nga nila (parents) why I need to work hard, we have money.”  Wow, how lucky! I think that made him motivated – hindi problema ang pera so okay na i-pursue ang kanyang passion, whether it brings money or not.  Paano naman ako? I have to triple my effort and be very-very careful sa bawat steps ko because kapag ‘di na-achieve yung gusto ko ay waste of money ‘yon.

Here’s my concept – may mga tao na makakasalamuha ka na talagang mas level up whether sa machinery, fame or fortune pero ano magagawa mo?  Buhay nila ‘yon, at ito ka so go go go lang sa sarili mong landas na nais tahakin.  Focus on yourself and your potential. Sabi nga ni Ed Lapiz “Magnanakaw-magnanakaw…ang inggit.

Always ready to Give Up

(ang mga kataga sa baba ay una ng na-publish sa “Ang Diary ni Hitokirihoshi” date: July 5, 2014- 9:00am under Bedroom publication

Often, I’m thinking about dropping everything I do and go back to being a full time employee (that gives me security). Perhaps, either:

1. I’m stubborn and  naive to prove that  freelancing (and entrepreneurship) is for me.
2. I’m just persevering what I believe I can achieve and passionate to do.

Actually these two are almost the same, the only difference is the tone.  The first one is negative and the other is positive.

 “What they (people I meet) have is something I struggle to achieve, but what I am doing is what they’re dreaming all along.

A friend asked me kung mas malaki ba ang kita ko ngayon? Honestly, wala pa ako sa gusto kong kita pero naniwala ako sa potensyal ng lahat ng ginagawa ko at kaya nitong higitan ang lahat ng sinahod ko bilang regular employee. Saka actually money is not my ultimate reason…

Puwedeng bumalik ako sa pagiging full time worker o hindi, ayoko magsalita ng tapos pero sa ngayon masasabi ko na GUSTO ko ang pagiging Freelancer kasi…

• You will learn what you like to learn from people you believe that can teach you well.(walang sila-sila lang ang masusunod)
• You really maximize your time ( no more one hour waiting, 2 hours ride or overnight at the office)
•  Eat and sleep if you need or want it. Ako, nasa likod ko lang ang isang payak but alluring bed.
• Wear your most comfortable uniform – que short, t-shirt, pajama or wala talaga (yeheeee)
• You can try or do things that you  like – in my case, I really want to pursue business so ngayon que success or mag-fail  go negosyo ang drama! Wala pa d’yan yung pag  fast break sa – reading books, watching movies or mag-scrapbooking.