Those around me responded enthusiastically. Privately, but also from my working environment. I was pleased that this was accompanied by words that expressed confidence. I also received the response 'How cool!' I had to think about that for a moment. Tough? I hadn't looked at it that way before. Enthusiastic, that's for sure.
For years I have enjoyed writing and I enjoy writing work. Having trained in the communications profession a while ago, it was high time and I took the plunge. I'm going freelancing! As a copywriter and communications advisor, I help people express their message in a clear way. Pleasant to read and of course adapted to their target group.
Start and then? Okay, the decision has been made. I'm going to start; but then? I have read and learned a lot. That was also necessary. I may be experienced as a copywriter; As an entrepreneur, I certainly am not yet. As a freelancer with a sole proprietorship, am I also self-employed and what is the difference? Fortunately, the internet is full of information. From Chamber of Commerce to tax authorities and from mediators in assignments to building your own website. Everything can be found. Be careful that you continue to see the forest between all those trees, of course! Care is required, but setting up your own business is a lot of fun. It can't happen fast enough for me. I'm looking forward to it and want to get started!
Am I at risk? No! After all, I also have a permanent job in elderly care. A fixed income that gives me room to start as a freelancer. The advantage as a copywriter is of course that you can work from home. An office building is not necessary and neither are major investments. The only real investment I have made is purchasing a laptop. I now have a good excuse to finally buy a MacBook Air. Of course I have a good idea of the other costs, but I don't have to borrow and can start with my own modest resources.
Extra energy In addition to freelancing, I work as a project employee in elderly care. For those who regularly follow the news, it may come as no surprise when I say that elderly care is changing significantly. More and more serious care has to be provided with less and less money. Healthcare organizations must reorganize significantly to be future-proof. I regularly see around me that working in this healthcare sector costs people more energy than it yields. I am no exception to this. The question remains whether I will still be there after the next reorganization. Maybe that's why this moment is so good for me to start freelancing. In any case, copywriting and setting up my sole proprietorship has given me plenty of energy so far!
On to the next one…….and many thanks! Having just started as a copywriter, I naturally have to be creative in finding assignments. Networking is therefore the motto; Sooner or later something nice will come out of it. Perhaps register with various websites where supply and demand come together. Then a call comes up on the internet, via the Chamber of Commerce starters forum. “Blogger wanted”. Posted on behalf of the website www.prolinker.com. Write a blog once a quarter for a year. The call has just been placed and you can still respond. In exchange for writing, I receive an account for a year. This offers me the opportunity to quickly be informed of new assignments. I can use that as a starter!
And yes......here I am. For the first time, but certainly not for the last. So on to my next blog, but not before I close this first one with the words: “Many thanks, dear people around me, for your enthusiasm and positive words. And you know, maybe I'm tougher than I thought......"
Carla van Loon
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