Navigating the PATH to Self-Employment: A Freelancer’s Guide

Discover the journey from a young age to a successful freelance career

What Defines a Freelancer?

A freelancer operates independently, often working for multiple clients at the same time and setting their own schedule. This independence allows for a flexible work environment where you can choose the projects that align with your skills and interests.

My Non-Traditional Path to Self-Employment

My path to entrepreneurship began much earlier than you might think. From a young age, I started exploring different ways to earn money. Here’s a glimpse of my early entrepreneurial adventures:

Yard Cleaning (5-10 years): Helping people clean their yards to make a little extra money. Paper Routes (10-13 years): Delivering newspapers to homeowners and businesses. Trash Picking (13-14 years): Sorting through dumpsters to find reusable items. Salesman (14-16 years): Selling World Finest Chocolate bars to local stores. Restaurant Work (16-17 years): Working at a Mexican restaurant to gain practical skills and experience. Store Manager (17-18 years): Taking charge of a novelty store and learning retail management. Item Reselling (18-Present): Continuously purchasing and selling underpriced items for a profit. Sports Card Shop (Weekends, 18-22 years): Owning and managing a shop while pursuing a teaching career and sports scholarship. Swap-Flea Market (21-30 years): Running a successful business for 10 years. Teaching and Education (21-31 years): A career path that incited more entrepreneurial ventures. Finance and Insurance (35-40 years): Securing a job that eventually led to becoming a business owner. Business Owner, Consultant, Trainer, Keynote Speaker (Last 17 years): A 17-year journey of owning and managing various businesses.

Success in Reselling Underpriced Items

One of the most fruitful paths I discovered is the reselling of underpriced items. Whether it's collectibles, overpriced chocolate bars, or other items, finding these gems and selling them at a higher profit can lead to substantial financial gains. Here are a few examples:

Action Figures and Collectibles (Early 20s): Finding action figures and other collectibles at low prices and selling them for 5-10 times the initial amount. My First House (Early 20s): Purchasing a house that was highly undervalued, netting me over $20,000 in equity. Underpriced Employees (Mid-20s to Early 30s): Hiring a student who was excellent at hacking but had been kicked out of school. I paid him minimum wage for a year to retain his skills. Small Business Reshaping (35 years): Buying a business for $2,500 with no merchandise, turning it into a $60,000-a-year profitable business within a year.

Key Tips for Success

Here are some strategies to help you on your journey to entrepreneurship:

Find Underpriced Items: Always be on the lookout for items that can be sold for a much higher price. Use methods like yard sales, online marketplaces, and thrift stores. Sell on Multiple Platforms: Post items on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Mercari, Offer Up, Let Go, and eBay to reach a wider audience. Utilize Your Network: Ask family, friends, and acquaintances for recommendations and start with a nationwide reach. You can reach 40,000 people minimally through family and friends. Stay Flexible: Be adaptable to different market conditions and the needs of your clients. Learn from Previous Success: Reflect on what has worked for you in the past and apply those lessons to new ventures.

Conclusion

Your path to self-employment is a unique journey that begins early and evolves over time. Drawing from personal experiences and lessons learned, pursuing self-employment can lead to a rewarding and fulfilling career. Start small, be persistent, and continually look for new opportunities to grow your business.