Since I have gone freelance back in June, I thought rarely that I would do very good. I mean, it was just something to do between jobs right? Until recently that is all I thought it was, just something to do so that I did not have to take the first “production” job that happened to come up on craigslist.

I took a risk back in June when I told my, soon to be former boss, that what he was paying this designer, equaled jack shit compared to the kind of employee I was. I left the company two weeks later, with nothing but a loose contract with a possible freelance client.

One client!

I look back and think, I must have been crazy.

In this, my 3rd attempt at freelance, I have noticeably learned from the previous two attempts. That one “possible” client ended up sustaining me until September. It was nothing glamorous, mind you; it was just enough. From June to September I searched for jobs; in Philly, abroad, on the West Coast, etc. You get the picture. All the while looking for potential work.

By the end of September things were rough. My one client halted work on their project, I was a month behind in rent and was about to call my parents to see if they could help me out. The next day I picked up two clients, it was as if life just wanted to “waterboard” me a bit to see if I could take it.

Since September things have been progressively gaining momentum. I now have 5 clients including 3 that have me on retainer. I am still living month to month but I can see the foundation of a prosperous freelance design career.

I likened this to an old car. You get in it and try to start it up, nothing happens. You make adjustments, and try again, now you are getting clicks and chokes. You make more adjustments and she starts to turn over. This is how my career is feeling right now. It is as if I am a car turning over, just waiting for the opportunity to rev my engine and peel down the road, on my hopeful way toward my own design studio.