When I was in my early 20s I knew I wanted to own my own business, I just didn't think it was possible. "What do I do? What kind of business should I own? How do I go about starting it? Is there a business out there meant for me?" I went into corporate America and found great success there. Despite the great success, and being deeply grateful for the careers I've had, some part of my spirit always suffered. I knew there was more out there for me than the limited opportunities that lay before me within corporate America.
My father passed away and I moved to a small town in Missouri to live with my mother for a year. There were no careers out here for someone with my skill set that would provide a quality of life. One day, soon after moving here, it occurred to me to go online and start my own online sales business. I thought it was crazy, as I had never heard of a salesperson going online and being able to build their own business. However, I went online and within days started my own business through another freelancer platform. I had success there for around 6 years when things started to slow down on that platform and opportunities started to wane. So, I thought I was out of business.
Before calling it quits, I looked for other freelancer platforms for salespeople. I found Elance, and within 2 weeks was working full-time for a new client. That project lasted 3 years. During the end of that project, Upwork took over Elance and I've been with Upwork ever since.
Freelancing offers me a quality of life that is not available here in the local economy where I live. Where most people work seasonal or part-time jobs. It allows me to work from home. I'm able to work outside. I did try working outside one day years back. I was super excited to get to enjoy the beautiful air. However, I'm a telemarketer and the wind cut into the headset cutting out my speech where the clients could not hear me. So, now, I only work outside for management jobs where I do not have to be on the phone. So, I do have an inside office and an outside office. I have yet to work from Starbucks, but I will make that a priority of mine to try.
Only in the past year did I find another career that I can go into and continue to work from home and still have a high quality of life if anything ever happens to my freelancing lifestyle here on Upwork. I did discover that new lifestyle through people I met while networking with prospective clients for a client of mine who hired me off of Upwork. I hope to remain with Upwork until I retire. However, I have a backup plan, if need be, thanks to my relationships gained on Upwork.
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