The origin of the dream
Since completing my degree in Education and Multimedia Communication, freelancing had been one of those dreams that I held onto with enthusiasm... but also with fear. I knew I wanted to create something of my own, to make a living from my creative work, to forge a path outside the traditional one. But I lacked courage, and perhaps maturity too.
For years, I did odd jobs here and there. Freelance work for friends, acquaintances, small businesses in the area. Simple things that came up naturally. But I never took it very seriously. It was something I did in my spare time, when I had the space. A plan B. A supplement. It was never the center of my professional life.
Until, a few years ago, I started diving into podcasts about creative entrepreneurship. American podcasts, full of energy, ideas, freedom. They talked about building a business around what you do best. About living off your talent. About working where you want, with whom you want, at your own pace. And that moved me. I felt at home in those conversations. As if I were hearing what I always wanted to say, but didn't know how yet.
I started devouring everything: YouTube videos, online courses, interviews with freelancers, designers, creatives, studio founders. I wanted to learn everything. Branding, Webflow, processes, pricing, marketing. The more I learned, the more I wanted to take the leap.
That's when I decided: I really want to make a living from this. Create my own job. My own space in the world of design and creativity.
Reality outside the plan
I had some idea of the difficulties of being self-employed. I already knew there were taxes to pay, contributions to make, uncertain months ahead. I even thought I was minimally prepared. But the truth is... no one really prepares you for everything that comes with this decision.
One of the biggest lessons I learned, and perhaps one of the hardest, was realizing the importance of communication. I thought that doing a good job was enough. But no. You have to know how to present your work. Know how to explain the value of what you do. Know how to sell ideas. And do it clearly, confidently, and humanely, both in Portuguese and, ideally, in English.
I've always been introverted. Very shy, even. To the point of sweating just at the idea of being on a call with a client. Recording a video or appearing in a video meeting was unthinkable. I felt completely out of my comfort zone. But that changed. Over time, with practice, with small daily challenges. Today, I can attend a meeting, defend a proposal, and present a concept with confidence. And I tell you in all honesty: if I can do it, anyone can. You just have to start slowly and not give up at the first hurdle.
Looking back, I can clearly see that if I had invested earlier in how I communicate, not only what I do, but why, behind the scenes, the process... I would probably have gained more and better opportunities. Communication, in freelancing, is half the battle.
Money, models, and tough decisions
And then there are finances. That eternal challenge. That discomfort that accompanies us even when we think we have everything under control.
You can study, watch videos, consult experts... but nothing prepares you for that moment when you see a payment come in and you have to start mentally dividing it up right away: part goes to VAT, part to Social Security, part to save for the following month. There is no fixed salary. There is no predictability. There are bills, planning, and constant management. Every budget I send is a real exercise in trying to guess the future. I always try to think at least three months ahead. Stability, in this context, is something that is built with effort and a lot of organization.
One of the best decisions I made early on was to create templates for everything: budgets, contracts, proposals. Even so, I learned that every client is different. That templates are just a starting point. Each proposal needs to be adapted. And the balance between saving time and not falling into soulless copy/paste is an art I'm still refining.
When I realized that the plan wasn't enough
I've been a full-time freelancer for a year now. I've had good months, the kind that make me think, “This is really going well.” And I've had blank months, when the silence is heavy and anxiety knocks loudly at the door. This emotional roller coaster is perhaps one of the most difficult things to manage.
I see a lot of people sharing foolproof plans for attracting clients through social media, with highly structured strategies, sales funnels, optimized content, and automation. All of that is useful, no doubt. But in practice, what slowed me down the most was spending too much time stuck in the planning phase. Watching videos, learning, consuming, thinking, preparing... and never executing. I was in that phase for too long.
Until I realized that the best plan is to just start. Even if it's not perfect. Even if you don't have all the answers yet. Because it's only by doing that you begin to understand what works, what doesn't work, what you need to improve.
So, if you're thinking of launching yourself as a freelancer, whether in design, development, illustration, photography... the best advice I can give you is this: think, plan the minimum necessary... and then act. Do it. Start small, start with what you have, but start. Because waiting for the ideal moment is the biggest self-deception in the world.
None of this is easy. But I can guarantee you one thing: it's worth it.