How to Transition to Full-Time Freelancing

Why most side hustles fail before they even begin: People underestimate the most critical phase—transitioning from a job to hunting to eat. It’s the hardest leap in entrepreneurship. Here’s how I made the jump—and how you can too: 1. The truth about the leap: Most people think the hardest part is launching. It’s not. The hardest part is rewiring your brain from: → Security to uncertainty → Someone else's rules to your discipline → Predictable paychecks to unpredictable income The leap isn’t about logistics—it’s about identity. 2. Here’s why most fail: They quit before they’re ready or dilute their potential. → Quit too early? You’re in survival mode. No time, no money, no energy. → Wait too long? Your job sucks up your best hours and creativity. You need momentum before you leap—but most side hustlers don’t build it right. 3. What worked for me: I jumped with a plan—and 3 critical rules: ↳ Rule 1: Start building skills while you’re still employed. Don’t wait to “figure it out” after you quit. Build momentum on nights & weekends. For me, that meant honing my writing, networking with founders, and studying marketing. ↳ Rule 2: Treat your job like your first investor. I didn’t quit until my side hustle was paying at least half my salary. Your 9–5 is fuel: → Pay down debt → Save 3–6 months of expenses → Invest in tools, courses, or coaching Don’t quit emotionally—quit strategically. ↳ Rule 3: Build relationships before you need them. Your network will make or break you when you go full-time. I started connecting with other founders, clients, and mentors long before I was “ready.” By the time I quit, I already had people to learn from, work with, and lean on. Entrepreneurship isn’t solo—it’s social. 4. The first year was harder than I expected. Even with momentum, I faced: → Unpredictable income → Imposter syndrome → Self-doubt But here’s the thing: If you build the right habits before you leap, you’re prepared to survive the storm. The goal isn’t to avoid risk—it’s to reduce unnecessary risk. Here’s how you can start today: If you’re working a 9–5 but dream of building something of your own: → Pick a skill that solves problems for a specific audience. Start offering your service—even for free—to build proof and confidence. Save aggressively and track your progress. Connect with people who’ve already done it. Momentum is the bridge between side hustle and full-time freedom. Remember: You don’t need a perfect plan, but you do need a strategic one. The leap is scary, yes—but staying stuck is scarier. If you’re building your way out right now, keep going. The freedom on the other side is worth every ounce of uncertainty. What’s the hardest part of transitioning for you right now? Let’s talk about it. シ Are you leveraging LinkedIn to build your business? Find out if your brand is unignorable: The UNIGNORABILITY Assessment 📹 filippo.galluzzi ♻️ Smash that repost button! ♻️ 🔔 Follow for the daily goodness ✔️

Don't quit your 9-5 to go "all in" as a solopreneur until you have 4 things: - Proven offer - Clients paying you - Results and case studies - Consistent lead gen systems Give yourself 6-12 months to build skills and undeniable social proof before you leap. In 2019 I quit my job, spent a fat chunk of my life savings, and failed at going solo. I had 0/4 essentials above. Didn't know how to write. Didn't know how to sell. Didn't know how to build. In 2022 I made a successful transition from 9-5 to building a full-time creator income. But I worked for 12 months alongside my 9-5: • Testing ideas • Growing on LinkedIn • Finding proof of concept I'm confident everyone who reads this can build a full-time income as a creator. But only if you set yourself up for success. That's why I write weekly guides giving actionable strategies for making the leap. Need a good place to start? Read this: https://lnkd.in/e-RX6KFj

That exhilarating moment when you decide to turn your side hustle into a full-time business venture can easily be derailed by preventable mistakes. As someone who's been there, I want to shed light on some key pitfalls to anticipate and avoid. 1) One of the biggest errors many solopreneurs make is trying to do absolutely everything themselves. You can't effectively operate as the CEO, managing day-to-day operations, delivery, business development, and more solo for very long. The key to scalability is hiring and delegating strategically so you can stay laser-focused on high-level vision and revenue drivers. 2) Another common trap is overreliance on project-based income instead of cultivating retainer clients. One-off projects provide cash flow but also constant income uncertainty. Prioritizing recurring retainer revenue sources from clients buying into your expertise offers stability to truly grow. 3) On a personal level, many side hustlers fail to separate business and personal finances effectively. As your entrepreneurial income grows, maintaining a murky financial situation becomes a major headache. Set up dedicated bank accounts and accounting practices for your business from day one. 4) But perhaps the biggest pitfall of all is simply trying to make the leap without a financial runway. Bootstrapping a business while employed is very different from covering all your personal expenses with unproven business income. Have a realistic plan for how long you can make ends meet through the inevitable entrepreneurial cash deserts. The side hustle to full-time journey is exhilarating but has plenty of potential landmines. Separating CEO duties from operations, diversifying income streams, getting finances in order, and ensuring a runway - nail those basics and you'll avoid many painful lessons. Subscribe to my free newsletter to learn more about my journey and my advise to other entrepreneurs making the leap