MADE Maven Special Women's Issue April 2018 | Page 31

MADEINC
L E
making
the
A
P
from
FULL TIME TO FREELANCE
W
hat a way to start
an article, right?
I’m sharing this
information to
show that there is risk in going
into business for yourself. In fact,
statistics such as this made me
the prototypical “I’m not cut out
for entrepreneurship” person. All
of my life, I accepted the task of
leading existing organizations and
publications with the understanding
that the wheel did not need to be
invented, just reinvented. And, there
is a part of me that still takes pride in
my ability to step into situations and
make changes.
I give you all this backstory because
my leap into entrepreneurship
was not taken on purpose. It was
circumstantial. In 2016, I was jobless
in a new city, seeking a life reset. I
dug deep into my networks to apply
for jobs. And, it seemed that every
call and email that I sent was met
with, “We’re not hiring for full-time
roles right now. But, I’d love to use
your skills on a current freelance
project.”
A couple of months later, I was
spending all of my time on freelance
MADE BY ASHLEI WILLLIAMS
According to the Small
Business Association
(SBA), 30 percent of new
businesses fail during the
first two years of being
open, 50 percent fail
during the first five years
and 66 percent during the
first 10 years.
work. I stepped back to assess my
life and consult with my family and
friends. There I was, the executor in
a position to be the innovator. But,
that’s where I was wrong.
There is space, and actually a need,
in entrepreneurship for both. After
much deliberation, and doubt
honestly, I accepted that I am more
valuable to multiple companies than
one. Today, I execute and innovate
for my clients. The difference, for me,
in being freelance versus full-time is
literally how my time is spent.
I’m approaching the two-year mark
that the SBA warned of feeling
better than ever. So, I want to take
some time to share approaches that
have carried me to this point and
lessons I wish someone would have
shared with me before I made the
leap.
DO IT ALL
Humbling. Educational. Busy.
Fun. Inspiring. All of these words
describe my first six months as an
entrepreneur. I stretched myself
to take any and every opportunity
thrown my way because I didn’t
want to take anything for granted.
I did everything from project
#mademaven
31