How to Start Freelancing or Consulting From Scratch

Follow this proven plan if you're looking to make a leap into freelancing or consulting.

Pressure gauge

"This job is crushing me. I want more freedom." he said.

On a recent trip to Tampa, I had a chance to meet up with "Alex," a friend I graduated college with.

In college we were a lot alike, but today our lives look dramatically different.

Today he has a stable job as a financial planner, makes $65-80k a year, gets 4 weeks vacation, and just proposed to his fiancee.

And overall he seemed happy.

But as we caught up about the major life changes and our adventures since graduation, I could sense he was holding something back.

Then he let is out:

"This job is crushing me. I want more freedom. Nick, how can I start working for myself?"

As we continued to talk I laid out the proven repeatable path to building your own consulting business.

The Repeatable Path To Success

Step 1: Start Consulting Today

The biggest advice I gave Alex, is to start consulting today.

The best time to plan a tree was 20 years ago, the second best time is today. (click to tweet)

Take the skills you already have from your job and start out as a freelancer.

This can be pro-bono or even low paying.

Your goal is to learn the true benefits you drive for others and how they value your work.

This phase is as much about understanding what type of work you want to do as it is about making money.

When you're first starting out, managing your own internal dialog is key because our subconscious is consistently telling us to "play it safe."

Posts on hacking your own psychology:

Step 2: Narrow Down Who Specifically You Serve

Once you've been freelancing a bit, take time to niche down and decide who you serve and who you don't.

Most new business owners aren't clear on who they serve causing them to flounder and market to everyone (a really bad idea).

Your goal is to get clear on who you serve as soon as possible.

Use these 3 guides to help narrow down exactly who your customer is:

Step 3: Build a Runway and Start the Transition

Once you've got some experience and satisfied customers under your belt, start building a 3-6 month financial runway.

This will give you that will allow you to shift 100% focus to running your own business.

These 3 guides will help you navigate the main challenge you'll face in making your transition:

Remember: Mistakes = Tuition Cost

The biggest mindset shift I can challenge you to make is to begin thinking of your mistakes as part of your tuition cost.

In life and in business, your mistakes are just your tuition cost. (click to tweet)

Entrepreneurship is messy and the best way to learn is to observe other people's mistakes... and learn from your own.

Always on your team,

Nick ReeseNick Reese Signature

Photo Credit: William Warby Published: 2014-05-22