BEGINNING again
The marketing and creative sphere in 2026 is inherently known for an ever-changing landscape; redundancies, changes due to the political climate and general unexpected layoffs. like an encounter with an old friend, I was unemployed once again.
If you had asked me at the end of 2024 if I would be considering freelancing again, I would have asked you if I was insane. But here I am, diving headfirst into self-employment, and I have never felt more confident. SO HERE BEGINS THE NEW BOOK, CHAPTER ONE, BEGINNING AGAIN.
controlling the narrative
I THINK THE MOST GRIPPING PART ABOUT BECOMING SELF-EMPLOYED IS HAVING FULL AUTONOMY OVER MY WORK AND TAKING AWAY THE THIRD PARTY DECIDING WHETHER MY NEXT PAYCHECK IS COMING. I HAD A CLOSE FRIEND RECENTLY START HER OWN BUSINESS ALONGSIDE HER CURRENT ROLE AND HONESTLY IT WAS SO INSPIRING. WHAT STRUCK ME MOST IN HER PITCH TO ME, AND EXPLAINING HER PASSION WAS A COMMENT SHE MADE ABOUT SELF-INVESTMENT.
DID YOU KNOW WHY YOU CAN CLOCK IN 9-5 AND GET YOUR WORK DONE, BUT YOU CAN NEVER SEEM TO FIND TIME FOR YOUR OTHER PURSUITS? IT IS BECAUSE YOU RESPECT YOUR EMPLOYER MORE THAN YOU RESPECT YOURSELF.
WOW. I FELT THIS SO HEAVILY, AND IT OPENED SOMETHING IN ME THAT I HADN’T CONSIDERED BEFORE: WHY DO I NOT GIVE MYSELF MY 100%? I DESERVE TO WORK HARD FOR MYSELF, AND ACCOMPLISH STUFF ON MY OWN. I KNEW FROM THAT MOMENT THAT FREELANCING WOULD BE IN MY FUTURE, AND AS SOON AS THE OPPORTUNITY POPPED UP, I NEEDED TO GRAB IT WITH FULL FORCE.
NO RESTRICTION
If you know me and my personality type, you will know I do not like to be put in one lane. If you have ever stumbled across my social content, you’ll see this in blinding colours. One minute I’m gaming, the next I am working on an extravagant gardening project. I grip onto the term lifestyle content and hope for the best. That’s one of my top reasons for fully investing in self-employment; I want to decide whether I’m finally finishing that book, or if I’m going to split my time between freelance and my small business – it’s all up to me.
Another side of this that I’m looking forward to is finally growing my own online presence. between working 40 hours 9-5 and having time for reading and time without social media (because we all need it, really), I’m finally going to have time to use my own skillset – ON ME!
IT’S NOTHING WITHOUT SUPPORT
HERE’S THE PART WHERE I COME IN WITH SOME REALISM FOR YOU. SELF-EMPLOYMENT AND FREELANCE SOUNDS FUN, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE RENT OR NEW MORTGAGE PAYMENTS, as I DO, YOU NEED A STEADY INCOME YOU NEED TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGED TIME. I AM FULLY AWARE THAT THESE CIRCUMSTANCES AREN’T AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE.
THIS IS THE PART WHERE I ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE WHO SUPPORT ME SO I CAN BE IN THIS POSITION. WHILE THE CRUX OF ‘UNEMPLOYMENT’ HAS NOT HIT WITH ITS BLOW SO EARLY ON, IT CERTAINLY HELPS TO HAVE AN AMAZING PARTNER SUPPORTING MY DREAMS. FROM DAY ONE I KNEW I WANTED TO FULLY COMMIT TO MAKING THIS WORK AND I DWINDLED ON THE THOUGHT OF MENTIONING IT – AS SOON AS I DID I WAS GREETED WITH NOTHING BUT: YES EMILY, SOUNDS LIKE A FANTASTIC IDEA.
TRULY UNBELIEVABLE. HOW BLESSED I AM TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO SUPPORTS ALL OF MY DREAMS WITHOUT DOUBT. ALONGSIDE THIS, I ALSO HAVE A HANDFUL OF AMAZING FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO HAVE TOLD ME I CAN DO IT BEFORE I EVEN MENTIONED IT. THOSE WHO TOLD ME THIS WAS MY NEXT CHAPTER AND I DESERVED TO GIVE IT A GO – IT MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME.
I WANT TO BE THAT PERSON FOR OTHERS TOO, SO IF ANYONE IS FEELING IN DOUBT, LET ME BE THAT GUIDE FOR YOU! I 100% SUPPORT YOUR AMBITIONS. YOU DESERVE TO MAKE YOUR OWN SUCCESS.
IF THEY CAN DO IT, WHY CAN’T I?
ULTIMATELY THE BIGGEST MESSAGE I HAVE FROM THIS IS IF THEY CAN DO IT, WHY CAN’T I? IF I AM ALREADY USING MY SKILLSET TO PROPEL SOMEONE ELSE’S BUSINESS – WHY CAN’T I DO IT FOR MYSELF?
I’M FULLY INVESTED IN THIS DREAM, AND THIS VISION, AND I KNOW THOSE DREAMING TOO WILL BE ALONG WITH ME FOR THE RIDE!
SO THIS IS WHERE I END MY FIRST BLOGPOST AND PITCH MYSELF TO YOU; IF YOU’RE IN NEED OF DIGITAL MARKETING OR WANT TO UNDERSTAND YOUR POTENTIAL – SHOOT ME AN EMAIL! I CAN’T WAIT TO BE PART OF YOUR JOURNEY.
