A Gig Is a Gig

Then I tried freelancing to escape the structured work framework that would've probably stopped my evolution. Now, I'm building a freelancing platform for tech and design. This blog/article/write-up, or whatever fancy name you want to give it, is just an articulation of some of the sweetest and sourest experiences I've had with the smartest and stupidest people I've met and worked with throughout this journey. I thought it might be helpful for those who need it. And if it feels stupid, just skip it :).

(If you spot grammar mistakes, good. I don't know why I didn't care when I wrote this.)

1. Everything starts with a loss and fall

Every freelancer starts from a fall, and my journey into freelancing was no different. It was a mix of intentional and accidental decisions. I learned graphic design so I could redesign posters of my favourite movies, video editing to edit movie clips, and bits and pieces of SEO, social media marketing, content writing, and coding, just one level above illiterate.

I started by designing logos and posters for one of my college seniors, who used to be a rapper back then and still is, by the way. Redesigning his logo was my first unpaid project, as far as my almond-powered memory goes. Then came YouTube thumbnails, small video edits, and movie poster redesigns.

I never really had a plan for what to do with all of it. I just loved creating things and helping my friends, and somehow that became my proof of work, a.k.a. my portfolio. So, it's really about structuring all those scattered pieces of free, unpaid, paid, stupid, and cool work into one single place. That's where a portfolio begins.

2. It's okay to start slow

I've learned a lot on my own and through candid conversations with some of the best freelancers at Frelo.work and beyond. They all said one thing: it takes time to get started. Most people believe, “I'll start when I have everything figured out.” But honestly, you should just start with what you have and let your skills, experience, and portfolio grow along the way.

3. Learn a skill for passion not profession

If you can do something without expecting a reward, that's something supreme. “Do something simply because you want to do it, not just for the sake of it.” Almost all the best founders, freelancers, philanthropists, philosophers, artists, creators, capitalists, social workers, leaders, and even the most romantic people I've met have this in common.

Creating something with soul brings life to the creation itself. Mechanical activity can never truly feel alive. The best innovations in tech, design, and every other field carry a sense of life within them. So, always try to bring life into whatever you create for your client.

4. Portfolios are the holy guide in journey

A portfolio is like the protagonist of a film, constantly facing the test of time and evolving through every phase. In fact, there's a mental model used by fighter jet pilots called “OODA”: Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act. It was developed by Colonel John Boyd in the 1970s and focuses on reducing the gap between decision and action.

For example, imagine you're a freelance developer with decent experience in UI design, and you come across a UI design project you want to apply for. The best part is that you can quickly send your portfolio to the client while highlighting your UI design work instead of your web development projects. That's exactly where structuring your scattered work becomes valuable.

5. Learn to slide to DMs and mailboxes

It's so easy to like someone's story and send a “Hey” to a person you want to talk to on social media, even though that sometimes comes with the fear of being judged or socially labeled as a “risky DM”. But trust me, in the professional world, if your tone and approach are genuine, with a real intention to grow and add value, it's seen as confidence. So freelancers, learn to make your texting smooth.

6. Not everyone gets everything with social media

Let's accept the reality that not everyone is going to have the iconic mid 90s and early 2000s playlists of the saloon wale bhaiya or the bus driver. Some freelancers genuinely do very well on social media, and that's great. It helps them attract clients because they've built strong brand validation, which is completely valid.

But if a freelancer already has strong skills and is spending too much time on something they're not naturally good at, like social media, they may just be wasting valuable time. Those three hours spent shooting a 30-second reel could instead be used to cold outreach to CEOs, apply on platforms, or sharpen existing skills. Many founders of the world's biggest companies, creative agencies, designers, and tech experts have little to no social media following. Your work is your real personal brand.

“Michael Jackson existed before social media.”

7. Learn to say NO

If you can't do something that falls outside your scope of work or skill set, politely say no. A straight no is always better than a crooked yes. Respect time over money, both for yourself and your client. Small things like this build deeper trust. If a client asks, “Hey, can you do this too? I trust you,” and you know you can't, just be honest and tell them it's beyond your current capabilities.

8. Clarity is capital

My friend used to say this iconic line: “Aukat apna apna.” Clarity about our own potential is a necessity, not an option. Not everyone can be Brad Pitt, but what if they were meant to be Tom Cruise instead? Before starting a project, make sure all your preparations are in place. Contracts, payment terms, scope of work, milestones, deadlines, and preferred software should all be sorted, pre-verified, and approved by the client.

9. Honesty will get you the capital you don't expect

Everyone who is successful, in their own definition of success, is honest about their work and commitments. So far, I haven't seen anyone who has been able to bend this eternal truth. Being honest about your skills and work earns you trust and validation, which create opportunities, and eventually, more money :).

10. Pricing the value and efforts

Don't overprice or underprice yourself. Charge clients based on the value you bring, while also considering the effort the project demands. Your pricing should always be justified.

Just think about superstar actors, who are technically freelance artists themselves, charging 200 crores for a movie. Even they have to convince studios why they deserve to be paid that much. Or think about a tech tycoon CEO who has to convince a board why they should approve a billion-dollar paycheque. So even a ₹2K or ₹10 lakh freelancing project follows the same principle. Convincing people of your value is simply part of any environment where humans are involved.

The human rule

Humans are social beings, so better be part of a group, a community that helps you evolve. Sometimes we all need small things to be noticed which would have gone unnoticed.

“Take it peacefully but carefully, everything starts from zero and ends at zero. Progress is just the mid part.”