Crossing Metaphorical Highways

Starting a freelance business is a lot like walking out into high-speed oncoming traffic.

Once upon a time, about 2 years ago, I was living in Southeast Asia. I still remember the first moment when I needed to cross a 6-lane highway on foot — without assistance from a red light or a bridge or a lucky crystal of any kind.

The road was packed with motorbikes and cars by the thousands, all weaving in and out of each other’s paths in a beautifully chaotic manner. There were no visible breaks in the engine stream; just consistent blurs of moving colors.

I stood there frozen in place for a while, stuck at the edge of one side, and I contemplated the idea of changing my direction entirely.

But the thing was, I knew very deeply that I wanted to get to the other side of this particular highway. I had to. It was the only possible way for me to get to where I wanted to be.

Plus, I had watched plenty of other people make it across successfully. Why couldn’t I?

So, despite feeling the massive pit of fear in my stomach, I took a step forward. and then another. Until I was quite literally walking through high-speed oncoming traffic.

With each step I gained momentum, as passing drivers effortlessly adapted their own paths ever so slightly, to allow room for my presence. It seemed as though no matter how many humans were on the road, somehow there was always enough space to be shared.

And yes, I made it to the other side safely.

The lesson?

Freelancing can feel just as unbelievably daunting as the above.

But once you have the right foundations [brand/purpose], tools [website/marketing plan], mindset [trust/confidence], and support [community/team]? You’ll absolutely arrive at the place you dream of. And there will always be room for you.

The truth is, whether you’ve been in business for years or you’re just beginning this journey, there will always be another highway to cross.

But when you are truly set up for success? You’ll be able to continue with a lot more clarity and a lot less overwhelm.

Looking for a designer friend to cross some major metaphorical highways with?

I’m here for you.