If you’d told me a few years ago that I’d be running my own successful freelancing business, setting my own hours, and making a six-figure income, I’d have probably laughed and gone back to my 9-5 like a good boy. Because, let’s be honest, people from the South Wales Valleys aren’t exactly handed a roadmap to becoming an online entrepreneur. We’re more likely to be told to get a “proper job” and settle in for the long haul.
But here’s the thing… you don’t have to settle.
I started out just like you—wondering if freelancing was even a real option. Could I actually get paid to do what I love? Turns out, yes, you absolutely can. And if a normal guy like me can do it, so can you.
From Passion to Profit
I’ve always been fascinated by website design—but for years, it was just that: a fascination. Something I played around with after work, tweaking designs, learning new skills, but never thinking it could pay the bills. I mean, who would actually pay me to build their website?
Well, as it turns out, a lot of people. Once I made the mindset shift that my skills had value, I realised that the world is full of businesses and entrepreneurs who need exactly what I can offer.
The biggest lesson? You don’t have to be the best in the world—just better than the client who needs your help.
Mindset is Everything
If you’re sitting there thinking, “I’d love to be a freelancer, but I don’t think I’m good enough,” let me stop you right there. That imposter syndrome? We all have it. The secret? Push through it anyway.
The only difference between successful freelancers and those stuck on the sidelines is belief and action. The ones who make it aren’t necessarily the most talented—but they’re the ones willing to put themselves out there.
Freelancing myths have a way of keeping people from taking the leap. You don’t need years of experience; clients care more about results than certificates. You don’t need to be the absolute best at what you do; you just need to know more than the person who’s hiring you. And you certainly don’t need to have it all figured out—most freelancers start with a basic skill and learn as they go.
Building a Business on Your Terms
Freelancing isn’t just about making money—it’s about freedom. It’s about waking up and deciding how your day looks, choosing which clients you work with, and setting rates that make sense for you, not someone else’s bottom line.
The best part? You get to turn what you love into what you do. Whether it’s writing, designing, coding, photography, marketing, coaching—there’s a market for everything. And with the right strategy, you can make a full-time income doing it.
How to Get Started Today
If you’re serious about freelancing, here’s what I’d tell my past self:
1️⃣ Pick a skill you enjoy and get good at it – You don’t need to be perfect, just useful.
2️⃣ Set up a profile on Fiverr, Upwork, or build your own website – Get yourself out there.
3️⃣ Start small, build confidence, then scale up – Your first client is the hardest, but it gets easier.
4️⃣ Learn the business side – Pricing, marketing, client management—treat freelancing like a business.
5️⃣ Back yourself, always – No one is going to believe in you until you believe in yourself first.
Final Thought: Just Start
The biggest mistake you can make? Waiting until you feel ready.
You’ll never feel 100% ready. But that doesn’t matter. Start now, take the first step, and trust that you’ll figure out the rest along the way. If I can do it, coming from a small town with no connections, no roadmap, and no business degree, then you absolutely can too.
