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How I Made My First $10,000 as a Freelancer: My Side Hustle Story

It all started one sleepless night. You know the kind – where you lie awake, staring at the ceiling, wondering how to get ahead. I was working a full-time job that barely paid the bills, with no room for growth. I’d always heard about freelancing, but I brushed it off as something people do when they can’t get a "real" job. But that night, something changed. I asked myself, What if I gave this freelancing thing a real shot?

The Beginning: Taking the Leap

The idea of making money on my own terms intrigued me, but I had no clue where to start. I had some writing skills, a decent knack for designing simple websites, and a passion for public health (I even had a degree to back it up). Still, I wasn’t sure if any of that would actually pay off in the freelance world.

So, I did what anyone would: I Googled. I spent hours on Reddit threads, YouTube videos, and blogs about freelancing. The more I read, the more I realized I had skills I could monetize. But it wasn’t going to be easy.

The first step was choosing a niche. I knew from all the advice I read that being a generalist wouldn’t cut it. Instead, I focused on what I was passionate about: writing and public health. I crafted a profile that showcased my health science knowledge, my…