Yash Kr’s Post

"Maybe it's time you get a real job now?" Someone in my personal life said this to me a few months ago when I was feeling a bit lost. Though meant well, it stung a little. I started freelancing when I was 19 in my second year of university. I had no idea it would turn into my full-time job and lead to me starting my own company a few years later. I worked at a shop and desperately wanted to do something that didn't have to involve staring at the clock for hours on end, waiting for the time to pass, writing my big plans on receipt roll, a hidden airpod in one ear listening to marketing podcasts. After that, I worked as a travel agent, managing the Foreign Exchange Bureau full-time over the summer. Again, I loved this. It was an incredible experience that taught me a lot about customer service, working with clients, and a lot of money management too! I had 1 finger on applying to marketing internships in New York, even from the age of 16. Standard teenage dream... But somewhere amongst all of that, was the reality. It felt like people around me in their office jobs were watching the clock, counting down, and commuting for hours to get to a job that didn't fulfil them. And then a little bit more reality - a global pandemic. I applied to over 200 'real jobs'. While all this was going on I was running an Instagram page to help myself keep accountable in my eating disorder recovery. Sharing food and fitness tips over lockdown. I thought, hmm, this whole community building thing is insanely fun, rewarding and actually aligns with my dreams of writing, designing, video creation and of course, more broadly, marketing. I set up a profile on WeMakeChange.org and quickly got two incredible opportunities - an Instagram manager role at a Non-Profit and an internship at a tech startup. Both unpaid, but one eventually became a paid role! I set up on Upwork, quickly finding my first proper paid client in 2021. Nearly 4 years later, 40 clients later, 2 years as a Head of Social, nearly 3 years contracting for a creative agency, working with the most brilliant minds in the business. Having the freedom to... Work anywhere in the world. Spend time with my family The flexibility to, one day, have a family of my own with my source of income being a portable and pretty-light square. Working with people across the world, I would have never otherwise met... Finding things out and fixing things for myself, over and over. Take care of myself, and get outside in nature. Take a call while walking. While, as sad as it is, earning more money than I would at any of the 'real' jobs I have interviewed for. So, let me reframe this, is there any such thing as a 'real job' anymore? Putting food on the table in whatever way works for you, feels pretty real to me. Never apologise for doing something different. Ask yourself this. Why did you start? And you will have your answer right there.

-Allow me to reintroduce myself- My entire life, I’ve been grappling with the question, What the heck is my purpose—or my ikigai—here? Is this a millennial thing? Or maybe it’s the influence of my cultural background, where I always felt the pressure to excel, to strive for something greater, even when I wasn’t entirely sure what that “something” was. I always did well in everything, but there was never that one thing that stood out, that made me say, This is it! But here’s what I do know: I’m a creative, sensitive soul. 😌 After years of navigating the twists and turns of corporate life, I finally embraced what truly drives me—creativity, flexibility, and the freedom to pursue my multiple passions. In July, I made the leap into full-time freelancing as a social media manager and tidying coach. Both roles are challenging and rewarding in their own ways, but it’s a journey I wouldn’t trade for anything. In the midst of creating so much content, and as if managing multiple accounts isn't enough, I realized I’ve been neglecting LinkedIn 😝, forgetting to share my journey with you. LinkedIn has never been a place where I’ve shared my personal story. Well, it's time to reconnect, to network, and to share the lessons I’ve learned along the way. Whether you're in the corporate world, freelancing, or somewhere in between, there's value in every step of our journey. ✨So, I’d love to hear from other freelancers— what’s your journey been like? One question I’m asked the most is, ‘How do you make yourself accountable each day to work?’ The answer is simple: passion. I even work more hours now because I genuinely love what I’m doing. When you find something that works for you, you keep investing in it. That’s exactly what I’ve been doing these past months— educating myself, learning from other creators, and honing the skills I actually want to master, not just the ones a company demands and all on my own terms. I’m determined to be great at what I do, to deliver excellence, and I’m thrilled that I’ve finally turned my passions into my profession. Otherwise, they’d have just remained hobbies… Now, I’m leveling up my content game and celebrating each small step. I’ve spent months sharpening my iPhone photo and videography skills—because let’s be honest, every great shot counts. 😜 And—🥁— both websites are live and created by myself! 🎉 It’s been a month of growth, creativity, and hard work. It feels incredible to do what I love, blending my passions and letting my creativity flow. Knowing I can thrive in both areas is truly fulfilling! 💕 Wondering what I’m up to now? 👉 https://lnkd.in/ejS-VQBm Let’s connect and support each other as we grow.

✨ Ever felt like you were wandering in the fog, unsure of your path? That was totally me back in university! I had this burning desire to earn through a side hustle, but I had no idea where to start. Then in 2018, I stumbled upon the word **"freelancing"** for the first time and thought, “Is that even a degree?” 😅 At that point, I was just figuring out how to use social media—my mobile was my trusty tool for keeping in touch with my mom; I hadn’t yet explored the world of social media! But then, curiosity kicked in. I jumped into freelancing courses, sharpened my content writing skills, and before I knew it, I was discovering my true potential in the **E-commerce industry.** What started as a little side hustle blossomed into a rewarding career, opening doors I never imagined! 🌟 This is where my journey really took off. Writing for E-commerce not only fueled my passion but also led me to some amazing opportunities. 💬 I’d love to hear your stories! Did you ever have a moment that shifted your career path? Drop your thoughts in the comments! Stay tuned for the next chapter of my adventure! 📖 #Freelancing #ContentWriting #eCommerce #CareerJourney #GrowthMindset #eCommerceOperations

Now that I quit my 8-5 job what's next? Transitioning to full time freelancing after being employed for almost 3 years has not been easy. I remember I even had a serious flu during the first week 😂. Imagine.. getting used to talk to people every now an then but all over sudden it's only you and your laptop. Wueeh 🥲 Not only that! Time management factor was another issue. Planning my work and meeting deadlines was a struggle as well. It's only 2 clients then but I used to spend a lot of time even scheduling simple videos on Meta Business Suite. I would constantly feel fatigued, overwhelmed and worried whether I made the right decision. But guess what, I did not give up. I had left my 8-5 job to pursue my passion and grow my business. That alone was enough motivation to get out of bed and push harder. I started posting content consistently and got even better at it. Some of my videos went viral within the same month and that's how I got a bunch of clients. Let's get to the juicy part. My income rised compared to what I used to get while on Employment. I want to thank some of the people who constantly motivated me even without them knowing Elvis Warutumo Marcela Antonina K. Mwinzi Daisy Keter Ruttoh Onesmus Networking with this people has positively impacted my life. I no longer get overwhelmed, or struggle managing my time. I think I needed a few weeks to get into track. I'm now a full time Social Media Marketer who is steadily building her brand and pursuing my passion. If you ever get to such a point in life just know that it always gets better . Always choose growth over fear. I'm also looking forward to the LinkedIn networking session hosted by Elvis Warutumo on 4th May, from 9am to 4pm The previous sessions have been an eye opener and I have built tangible relationships with the right people. Let's meet on 4th May connect and share ideas. Leave a comment if you've been in such a scenario and you can also check me out on Tik Tok @Janet Marketing. #socialmediamarketer

I removed 100+ connections last week because my goals have changed. When I reluctantly signed up for LinkedIn a few years ago, it was to get a job. And until January, that's all I had considered it for. Those 100+ knew me as something else entirely: a passed over, laid-off UX designer struggling to find his feet. And that's not who I am anymore. At big companies, creatives we're usually the first to go, and I was one of them. (A few times, actually) It was a grind and honestly, not the grind for me. So I doubled down on what had been working for me - freelancing. During the pandemic, I started freelancing as a side hustle. Things like: → website builds → email sequencing → content copywriting It was simply a means to an end at the time. But I gave it a name anyway: Digital Grit In my head, it needed to be something more than just a side hustle. I needed to start visualizing it as a business, a hub or location where I could build upon this energy I was collecting and actually harness it. And for the first few months, I ran entirely on ego and bottled energy. I got a ton of local work though hustle and some lucky breaks. Then I burned out for the first time. My initial energy had dried up, I had no leads and I had to basically learn how to market myself from scratch. I had to start spending way more time online - this made me uncomfortable. What started as me freelancing was growing into a creator business/agency. If I was going to make this work, I had to unlearn my entire approach. I had to reset and refine my focus entirely. I realized that I was trying to do two things at once. I was trying to be a faceless creator, and hid, for over a year behind my business logo and name. But there are things I can never do as Digital Grit. There are things that I could only do as myself, as Josh Parsons. And I hated that idea. Yet I back jumped on LinkedIn and I took the mask off. I embraced my "personal brand". And it was f*cking cringy at first. And to be totally honest, I'm still not in love with the whole social media thing. My newsletter keeps me going. It's the direct emails with all the creators I've met over the past few month. My inbox: that's where its at! No algorithms or guru gatekeepers. Solid, curated content severed up at my pace. If that sounds good, join me each Friday for Serious About Marketing, where I take marketing seriously so that you don't have too. And while you're at it, take a few of my free email courses! Always free, always a bit of fun. ___ → I'm Josh, I manage marketing for growing creators and freelancers → Try my free marketing crash courses via email! Link in bio Things like:

Ever Juggled 12 Jobs in 2 Years? My Post-MBA Hustle to Find My Dream Career! 2020-2021 was a blur of exploration (and major confusion!). Fresh out of business school, I had zero clue what path to take. All I knew? I craved something fulfilling, something that sparked a fire. So, I dove headfirst into a massive experiment: trying EVERYTHING that remotely intrigued me. Before finally landing my dream career path, here's the wild ride of my "Try It All" journey: [1] Post-MBA Presales Job - Secured in my 1st week of campus placement. Started in 2018. [2] Content Writing Freelancing - Started freelancing as a Content Writer in 2020. [3] Network Marketing - Tried it with Oriflame Cosmetics in 2020. [4] Affiliate Marketing - Signed up with various affiliate programs, including Amazon Associates. (Bunch is less specific) [5] Beauty Blogging - Started a blog in the beauty niche and created my first website. [6] Travel Vlogging - Created my first YouTube channel in 2020, producing 4-5 travel vlogs. [7] Lifestyle Vlogging - Briefly dabbled in lifestyle vlogging until my laptop broke due to heavy editing. 😒 (I couldn't fix it nor afford another one for the next 1 year) [8] Creating YouTube videos on Social Media - Launched a new YouTube channel in 2021 specifically for Social Media Marketing videos, reflecting my career shift from Content Writing to SMM. [9] Running IG pages on Food and Painting - I was too confused about my niche so explored showcasing my talents in cooking and painting on separate Instagram pages. [10] Freelancing on Social Media Marketing - Began freelancing in Social Media Marketing in 2021, focusing primarily on Instagram. Worked with at least 15+ clients at that time. [11] 4am-1pm Part-Time Job - The low point. Feeling stagnant in my freelance journey, I took this job. While necessary, it drained my energy for 2 months. Thankfully, I left it behind. [12] Full-Time Job as a Social Media Manager - Transitioned from a Presales Analyst role to a Social Media Manager position at another company to gain real-world SMM experience. While each experience offered value, none felt like "the one." The constant job hopping left me burnt out, questioning if I'd ever find my true calling. One piece of advice for those feeling lost? → Keep hustling and explore! Embrace the confusion – it's a sign you're on the path to self-discovery. Try new things, relentlessly pursue what excites you, and trust that eventually, you'll find your own niche, your own personal branding passion project. #selfdiscovery #ikigai #personalbranding

5 Months into freelancing: My unexpected growth journey 💃 1. LinkedIn inbox blowing up more than my email. 2. Swapped “I’ll do anything” for “I specialise in this.” 3. Went from “Can you do this?” to “We need YOU for this.” 4. “What’s your rate?” turned into “How soon can you start?” 5. “I need work” evolved into “I need an assistant.” What’s your biggest surprise in your freelancing journey? Give me more goals to set please! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 𝗣𝗦: I help startups sell more by blending marketing with what consumers want. Impactful emails, high-conversion websites, resonating social media, and lead magnets – I do it all.

I used to work as a salesperson at Limelight in 2022. The job was going well, and I was earning a handsome amount. Then, I discovered freelancing and started learning about its pros and cons. I tried to manage freelancing alongside my job, but the intense job timings made it impossible. So, I decided to quit my job and pursue freelancing full-time. (It was a tough decision) After quitting, I dived into learning about Meta, Google, and TikTok ads. I started providing these services to earn MONEY. Life changes when you take action. As Quaid-e-Azam said, "I don't take the right decision; I take a decision and make it right. Start taking actions and risks to change your life. P.S. I can help you grow your business with ads. I am just a DM away. #metaads #googleads #tiktokads #freelancing i

"It’s just a chapter, not the whole book." This is a quote that a friend once said to me during probably one of the most difficult times in my life in a while, and it just stuck with me. However, I wouldn’t change these few months for the world. Going through redundancy was a very tough experience…🙃I’m not going to sugarcoat it. Some days, I thought, “What did I do wrong? What steps led me to this exact point?” Especially being in your 20s and just thinking, “What the f*** am I doing? Where do I go from here?” and constantly comparing to where you are to everyone else your age. It’s such a funny age to be, with some of your friends buying houses, some traveling the world, some getting promotions after promotions, with a heavy pressure to have life all figured out at such a young age. The last few months taught me that in fact, this moment right now is exactly where I’m supposed to be, and as much as we don’t like to admit it at times, everything does happen for a reason, and I’m so glad to be seeing it now! It's also a reminder that “social media isn’t real,” which has been such a refreshing trend on TikTok to see. In fact, we don’t all have it figured out as much as we make it seem we do.🙏 This time has given me the time to make choices that perhaps I would have never made if it weren't for redundancy. As I now reflect and realise , I was way too comfortable and just did not see it. I loved my team, and I was happy! But being truthful to myself, banking was never a passion of mine, and I knew exactly what I wanted to do but never pursued it. Yes, I could have just applied for another job in the financial industry and probably would have spared me these months being unemployed, but then again, I would have fallen into the trap again of just settling and being comfortable because it's just the “easier route.” I’m so pleased to finally pursue my dreams in building my marketing career by studying marketing and communications in September alongside freelancing business.👩🎓 Something I would probably not have done and been way too scared of leaving my stable 9-5 to become a student and freelancing at 22 years old but I’m so ready for it!🫶🙌 Thank you for everyone who I have been fortunate enough to connect with on here and speak to over messages about internship opportunities and tips in the marketing fashion industry! P.S. My heart goes out to you if you’re going through redundancy, and remember, “It’s only a chapter of your book, not the whole story,” and it truly could be the best thing that happens to you ❤️ #newbeginnings #redundancy #fashionstudent #marketinginternship

The biggest lesson I learned in freelancing came with a 40K price tag. In my early freelancing days, I had just started offering Meta Ads services and landed a school client. I was Eager to build good relationships, I was hesitant to be strict about asking for payments. I was too shy to remind the client and didn’t want to push too hard, worried about seeming rude or unprofessional. One day, I called her and gently asked for payment. She reassured me, saying, "Don't worry, Alok ji, you'll get paid soon. Please wait a little longer." I didn’t push back, thinking it was my duty to be patient and understanding. But after another ten days of no payment, I reached out again. She had a new excuse, asking me to continue working and promising payment soon. This cycle repeated for 45 days. Meanwhile, I continued investing my own money and efforts into the ads, trusting her promise that I’d be reimbursed for ad spend as well. But then, things took a turn. She started ignoring my calls and messages, and eventually, I realized I’d been ghosted. I was desperate for that money at the time, and it was a rude awakening to learn that clients could simply vanish, leaving service providers out in the cold. The loss of 40K was a huge hit, especially when I was just starting out. But instead of letting it break me, I took it as a valuable lesson. Now, I always charge an upfront fee before starting any work. This experience taught me the importance of valuing my time, efforts, and expertise. If you don't want to face this sh*t, Follow these keypoints. 1. Always secure upfront payment before starting a project. 2. Don’t hesitate to set clear boundaries with clients. 3. Trust is important, but so is protecting yourself. 4. Experience is the best teacher, even if the lesson is costly. 5. Value your work, and others will too. P.S. Remember, it's okay to be kind, but never at the cost of your worth. #linkedin #marketing #branding #leadgenexpert #leadgeneration #linkedinjourney