- Jun 24, 2026
- 14
- 286
It's been almost four months since I shared my goal of making my first $500 online from absolute zero.
When I posted that thread on June 28, I had a simple plan:
Learn freelance writing, find clients, build a portfolio, and document the entire journey publicly.
I thought having a clear 90-day plan would make everything easier.
But here's something I've been thinking about lately.
Making a plan is the easy part.
Actually following it, especially when you're working a full-time job and trying to build something on the side, is a different story.
There are so many things to figure out.
Finding the right niche.
Writing samples that are good enough to show potential clients.
Sending proposals that don't sound like everyone else's.
And dealing with the uncertainty of not knowing when your first client will come along.
It's easy to get excited at the beginning. Staying consistent is where the real challenge begins.
My original 90-day timeline has already passed, and I still want to see this goal through.
I'm not interested in pretending that everything goes perfectly when you're starting from scratch.
The whole reason I started sharing this journey was to document the process honestly, including the parts that aren't exciting enough to make a motivational post.
The $500 goal is still the milestone I'm working toward.
And even if the journey takes longer than I expected, I'd rather learn what works than give up just because my original timeline didn't go as planned.
One thing I want to ask this community:
For those of you who started freelancing while working a full-time job, how did you stay consistent when progress was slower than expected?
Did you stick to one skill until you landed your first client, or did you eventually change your approach?
I'd love to hear some real experiences.
Let's see what the next chapter brings.
When I posted that thread on June 28, I had a simple plan:
Learn freelance writing, find clients, build a portfolio, and document the entire journey publicly.
I thought having a clear 90-day plan would make everything easier.
But here's something I've been thinking about lately.
Making a plan is the easy part.
Actually following it, especially when you're working a full-time job and trying to build something on the side, is a different story.
There are so many things to figure out.
Finding the right niche.
Writing samples that are good enough to show potential clients.
Sending proposals that don't sound like everyone else's.
And dealing with the uncertainty of not knowing when your first client will come along.
It's easy to get excited at the beginning. Staying consistent is where the real challenge begins.
My original 90-day timeline has already passed, and I still want to see this goal through.
I'm not interested in pretending that everything goes perfectly when you're starting from scratch.
The whole reason I started sharing this journey was to document the process honestly, including the parts that aren't exciting enough to make a motivational post.
The $500 goal is still the milestone I'm working toward.
And even if the journey takes longer than I expected, I'd rather learn what works than give up just because my original timeline didn't go as planned.
One thing I want to ask this community:
For those of you who started freelancing while working a full-time job, how did you stay consistent when progress was slower than expected?
Did you stick to one skill until you landed your first client, or did you eventually change your approach?
I'd love to hear some real experiences.
Let's see what the next chapter brings.