Financial Freedom Fairy

So if you’ve made it this far, you’re probably wondering – wait, I thought I’d be quitting my job addiction with Triple F, not diving head first into yet another!

Well, sometimes its takes another addiction to get rid of the first lol. JK. I’m sure no doctor would endorse that statement but hear me out, when getting rid of a bad habit or toxic partner, one needs to find something different to focus on, something positive and innately good for you. Something that will help you get to where you need to go – your dream life: a life with no (purse)strings attached, fully financially free, with the world at your feet, and joy in your heart. And what I’ll be laying out is how to get there with the kind of cash inflow set-up that works for you, on your terms.

The first step is reducing your reliance on any ONE job to fill your pockets. This post will go over an option to help you do exactly that. When you’re used to having a single job run your entire existence, it will NOT be feasible for you to kick it to the curb with no other income streams set up.

The option that we will go over today is contract jobs or freelance gigs. The idea is:

1. to supplement your existing income
2. to build your part-timer portfolio
3. to always have a back up to help provide the bare minimum needs in case you don’t have full-time work kind of money flowing into your bank account (think layoffs or unexpectedly quitting because you just can’t stand to see your deadbeat boss’ face one more second)

This is a topic that will span multiple posts but for our first I will keep it basic. I’ll look at my current function – product management and assess two key needs: what I need to book a gig and where I can source these gigs. These could be fewer hours in the workweek or normal 40-50 hour workweeks but for a few months at a time.

What do you need to book a temp role in product? Previous experience, a resume, and a portfolio. Eventually, you will also need references and work examples, but set that aside for now.

Getting experience in your field and having a resume are pretty basic requirements and there are loads of resources out there specializing in that area so I won’t be covering them. Now lets talk about building a portfolio – it is a somewhat new trend for my field and honestly having been through the wringer with job hunting over the past decade, I can assure you that this will NOT be a wasted effort and will come handy if you plan to survive our changing times. Just having a resume and great experience does NOT cut it any longer, unless you have luck on your side and real talk, you cannot rely on luck when it comes to feeding yourself. So bust out those goddamn affirmations, give that imposter syndrome the finger, and get ready to show everyone just how extra your a** is. Cue Alien Superstar by our fav boss bichhh Beyoncé!

Next, where do you source these types of gigs?

1. Your own contacts – it may be uncomfortable but truly this is the best place to start off with temp gigs in a field you’re already comfortable in. People who have worked with you will be most likely to know of and directly hire you for quick work.
2. Upwork – its a great place to find opportunities but be prepared to write out answers to specific questions when submitting yourself for a role. This is not usually a place where you can expect to just disseminate a template cover letter, so be prepared to put in the effort to customize to the role you’re applying for.
3. Others that I’ve tried but haven’t worked for me, give it a go and let me know if you have any luck:
   • Toptal: I seem to forever just be in their waitlist.
   • Freelancer: seemed like really low paying, random jobs not very geared towards product management specifically.
4. Some that are on my list to try but haven’t gotten around to yet:
   • WeWorkRemotely: They have some cool tech roles but I haven’t found that many for product specifically.
   • WorkingNomads: This one seems to have potential, will try it this week and update on my success rate!

Now that we’ve had an appetizer of what it takes to start freelancing, let’s get ready for what’s up next: the main course, the meat of the work to prep for a successful transition to happyville!