One year ago I jumped into something.
With both feet, a hopeful heart and an entire gut full of ‘holy shit’.
One year ago I made an official (well, Instagram official) announcement that I was starting my own freelance writing business.
I remember hitting ‘Share’ on that post and realizing I had been holding my breath. I was so excited, so nervous, so unsure of what the future held but I knew, deep down and with everything I was, that this was exactly what I was supposed to be doing.
The idea of writing words as a job has held a vice grip on me for as long as I could remember. Back when I was writing animal based fiction stories in grade school and gifting them to people, back when I wrote a short lived, but wildly popular, family newsletter that I sent out at Christmas. When I wrote a weekly column for my college paper and any time I got a chance to write for any job after that – it lit my soul up!
However, because I am a woman of my generation (elder Millennial, thankyouverymuch) I was operating under the idea that my only real option was: good college > good job > stay in that good job > don’t leave that good job.
Well let me tell you something, I was SO good at leaving jobs!
I spent 16 years trying on different jobs/careers/life paths and spoiler alert – nothing fit.
Like so many of us, it took a global pandemic and a major self inventory to truly understand that the phrase “Life’s too short” isn’t an easy cliche, it’s actual truth.
So I took what had been a hobby, a couple of one off projects for friends and acquaintances, and made it the first job that fit.
As I celebrate my 1st anniversary of Katie Kastner Freelance Services, I’m grateful, I’m reflective and I’m more sure than I’ve ever been that I’m doing exactly what I’m supposed to be.
I’ve also learned some real life lessons about myself, my business and entrepreneurship:
Lesson 1. Always be the student
I set out to be a freelance writer without actually knowing HOW to be a freelance writer. (Like I said, I jumped)
So I did what you do when you need answers to questions – I googled. I googled my way into my first freelance writing course, I googled my way through setting up my website, I googled my way into a networking group that changed my game.
(In 2021 and going forward, with Google and a decent internet connection, YOU. CAN. LEARN. ANYTHING)
I started to really learn the logistics of creating a business. I honed my writing skills and learned new ways of business writing that I didn’t know existed and I connected with other writers at various stages of their careers. In all of these instances, I asked questions, took notes and applied it to my own business in whatever way felt the most ‘me’.
To be honest, the learning piece of this last year has taken up more time than the actual writing. And I see the benefits of that every single day.
Never stop learning, for your business or for yourself…
- Watch webinars
- Listen to podcasts
- Read/listen to books
- Attend workshops
Whatever you can consume that’s going to deepen your understanding, further your overall knowledge and build your expertise is so worth it.
Lesson 2. Think like a teacher
One of the fun facts about me is that I have a Masters degree in Education.
After several years of job/career trying on, I realized one of the aspects I loved most about everything I’d done (sales, retail training, NPO business development) was working with people, sharing my knowledge and helping them better their own understanding of whatever it was we were working on.
I really liked teaching and because I was still firmly on the “do it the right way” path, I decided that being a school teacher was exactly right for me. So off to grad school I went.
(When it was all said and done, I liked being in the classroom, I loved teaching but, once again, it never felt like the right fit)
Fast forward and here I am – teaching!
- Teaching clients what I can do for them and how it will benefit their businesses
- Working with small business owners to create content they can produce to drive sales
- Helping people learn about customer engagement and brand awareness.
I am teaching every day!
I approach my business as a teacher approaches her class – how can I take what I know and pass it along to my students in a way that benefits them? How can I pass along my value?
No matter what line of work you’re in, you most likely have lots of opportunity to pass along your knowledge and expertise. Stay in that teacher mindset always.
Lesson 3. Build your network
When you hear the word ‘networking’ do you immediately imagine a room full of people wearing beige suits, holding plastic cups of room temp white wine while throwing sales pitches at each other?
Yea, me too. But here’s what I’ve discovered – it’s nothing like that.
Through all the learning and googling, I found several groups that have provided me with connection, collaboration and opportunity. I’ve met so many women who are on the same entrepreneurial path as me and the value has been almost hard to quantify.
Good networking takes some practice, especially if you’re not normally the “Hey, how are ya!” type, but when you can learn to network effectively and with purpose, expanding your professional circle can have nothing but huge benefits.
This is not your grandparents’ business world and networking doesn’t look the way it used to – so don’t treat it that way!
Expand your network in strategic and thoughtful ways:
- Join Facebook groups focused on your profession
- Seek out online networking forums (FemCity has my whole heart)
- Find local networking groups in your area and attend an event
- Talk to anyone and everyone about what you do – you truly never know when a connection will be made
Most importantly, don’t look at networking as simply throwing your sales pitch around. Good networking is all about relationship building, supporting others and being open to possibility.
I wanted to end this with something really insightful but I’m just really grateful…and gratitude is a lovely way to end anything.
If I have worked with you this past year, thank you. Maybe I’ve connected with you this past year, thank you. Any if anything I’ve produced has positively impacted you, I’m so so glad.
My greatest wish for anyone is to find their right fit.
xoxo
Katie
