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Freelancing, and Why I Risked Everything to Do It

The Beginning of My Story.

By Loni BeachPublished 7 years ago 6 min read
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We have all dreamed of becoming our own boss, right? Not taking orders from someone else, creating our own schedule, and not dealing with those pesky customers. Trust me when I say I know plenty of people who want that and let's just say for me, I didn't really have a choice in the matter. My very first job was at a Subway when I was sixteen years old and ever since then, I wouldn't keep a job for longer than two weeks. That was when I was sixteen; I am now twenty years old and I have had more than ten different types of jobs.

It never had anything to do with my bosses, co-workers, environment, or even the customers. I just felt out-of-place, like I could be doing something better with my life at that very moment that I wasn't doing. So, I always left. The toll did weigh down on me and others in my life. Constantly asked, “When are you gonna get a job?” or “How long will this job last?” Always feeling like a disappointment. Especially when my boyfriend and I became serious and started living together. I was afraid that the stress of me not having a job would push him away. Luckily for me, it didn't. He understood my standpoint when no one else did. He provided for us until I was able to figure out a way to make money on my own, so here I am.

I started writing assignments for students, but of course, it wasn't steady. I then got a job as a website tester. It did help out a lot considering both jobs let me stay at home. I didn't really have much of a choice, since I didn't have a car in the first place. Things were hard and can still be hard today. I'm still in the process of making a life for myself. Challenges come up every day but, that's life. People will tear you down. All you need is that one person who believes in you. Even if, that person is yourself.

Many people want to do what I'm doing, but sometimes it's just not that easy. Some of you probably have kids or parents to look after. Maybe you don't have the money to just drop everything to start what you want. I completely understand that. I only had $5 to my name when I started, and I may not have kids or parents to look after, but I still had situations and responsibilities to deal with and take care of. Just don't let them become excuses. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people talk about wanting to freelance, or start their own business, or work at home, but they just make excuses as to why they can never start.

If you have the right mindset then you can do it; We are living in a time when we can find and use all the resources we need. A simple Google search is all you need to start. Heck, as of now while writing this post, I don't have a cell phone. I have a house phone and my boyfriend has a cell phone that he got from his parents. Sometimes life is rough and you have to live off cereal and instant noodles, but you have to appreciate what you have and think about where you're headed. All you need is determination and the right mindset.

I know what some of you might be thinking, “Oh, some people aren't as lucky as you.” or “You make it sound easy when it's actually really hard.” And what I have to say to that is, You're Right. I do make it sound easy and yes, some people aren't so lucky. But let me tell you a secret that's not so secret. You ready? ... It wasn't easy and I'm not lucky whatsoever. I didn't rely on luck, I made my own. When one person was in the process of telling me no I had already been moving on to plan B, or C, or D. And it was extremely hard.

There were many fights, fits of depression and anger, hopelessness and helplessness, some nights or mornings feeling hungry with nothing to do about it, nights without sleep, and many more other hardships. But, I kept getting back up and pushing forward. Knowing one day, I can say I made it. Seeing what all my hard work has done for me. I mean sure, I'm not there yet, but I know I will be. I can't say when, or how, but I can say why. Because I never took no for an answer. I learned not to care what others thought of me and my decisions. Learned who really wanted to help me and who wanted to tear me down.

Let me tell you a quick story about someone I care for very dearly. It's about a woman. She got married four times. Two of those marriages were to the same man. One was with a man who physically abused her. Another with a man who was manic whom she wished dead, and that wish came true. She had three children; all daughters, each of which had problems and hardships of their own. She moved around for work constantly. She always worked hard. She eventually had four grandchildren. None of the grandchildren's fathers were ever around. She blamed herself for that because of her own past with men. She took care of her close family, letting them stay in her home, which usually consisted of nine people in the house at a time. She started attending college online to get the degree she always wanted. Then later in life, when she could finally live alone, she was diagnosed with cancer. She pushed through every day; not letting it get to her. She went to work and continued school. Eventually, she kicked cancer's butt and now has three master's degrees. All because she never gave up.

Do you remember ever being told by your parents or teachers or any other adult figure in your life that “The World Isn't Out To Get You?” Well, let me tell you something, that's complete crap. It is. I know that's not what you want to hear, but I'm not gonna sugarcoat it for you because life isn't made of lollipops and sugar canes. It's made of mean people and a mean world. People WILL tear you down and life WILL throw everything possibly bad at you to make you quit. They say life isn't fair, but they also never told you it had to be. Don't ever think that the world owes you anything because it doesn't. The world doesn't owe you a thing... I want you to remember something and let it stick with you for the rest of your life. People get nice things and they start to think differently. I got here from hard-work, patience, and humility. Never, I repeat, never put your dreams on hold. I didn't want to end up like my family or my boyfriend's family, so I had to do things for myself once and for all. Realize that the only thing you'll have in this world is what you make, so make it count.

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About the Creator

Loni Beach

My name is Loni and I assume you’re here to find out what my blog is all about, correct? Well, at least I hope that’s the reason. Anyways, Welcome to my blog Spondulix; where I talk about pretty much anything that comes to my mind.

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