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There are 2 freelancing “stories” you can tell yourself. Which one do you choose?

Danny Margulies 136 Comments

There are 2 basic stories you can tell yourself (and/or other people) about freelancing.

Option A:

  • It’s hard to find clients.
  • There’s too much competition.
  • There aren’t enough high paying clients.
  • I can’t compete against people with more experience, more credentials, etc.
  • Clients always want to pay the smallest amount possible.
  • I can’t compete against people who charge less than I do.
  • Good clients are hard to find.
  • Clients don’t want to pay me what I’m worth.

Option B:

  • Great clients are literally everywhere.
  • I decide how much I get paid.
  • Most clients are happy to pay more for quality.
  • There are tens of millions of great clients waiting to meet me right now.
  • Clients say their number-one challenge is finding good freelancers to hire! They’ll be thrilled to meet me.
  • I can get tons of great clients without ever competing on price.
  • Clients don’t really care how much experience I have as long as I do good work, care about helping them win, and make their life easier.
  • There is an enormous and ever-expanding supply of great clients for anyone who wants them.
  • Clients like to pay more if they know they’re getting quality in return.
  • I can make a fantastic living freelancing with just a handful of great clients.

Two things to keep in mind:

  1. You can choose whichever story you want to.
  2. Whichever one you believe will be the one that is true for you.

Which story do you want to choose?

Leave a comment below and tell me your thoughts.

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Cynthia gena
Cynthia gena
5 months ago

I pick option B,

Reply
Isiaka Lanre Oyedeji
Isiaka Lanre Oyedeji
5 months ago

I choose option B

Reply
soila
soila
1 year ago

option B

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Usama
Usama
1 year ago

Option B

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Iqbal
Iqbal
1 year ago

Its good to choose B

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Anna Maria
Anna Maria
1 year ago

I choose the “B” option. I want to help clients more rather than being pitiful for myself.
I think it is better to be always positive, even life is negative, because if one is positive then there’s a possibility one would follow to be positive also.

Reply
Laiba
Laiba
1 year ago

Good cilents are hard to find

Reply
Oluyimide
Oluyimide
1 year ago

I choose option B

Reply
anton
anton
1 year ago

first.

Reply
Bernard Obias
Bernard Obias
1 year ago

what is truth, just and acceptable.

Reply
Humayon
Humayon
1 year ago

I found it helpful and decided to stick to with option B

Reply
Simon Adah
Simon Adah
1 year ago

option B is what I settle for

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Promise
Promise
1 year ago

I choose option B, being more positive in all you do

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Milkah
Milkah
1 year ago

Very true, I choose to believe the best

Reply
Oieshi
Oieshi
1 year ago

I want to choose option B. Because for a new freelancer it’s more important to learn than to earn money.

Reply
Azeem Usman
Azeem Usman
2 years ago

I want to choose option-B

Reply
mercy
mercy
2 years ago

Option B – as a newbie, it favors me more – on skills that i have that nobody else felt they could be useful, but i found out that i could still make use of them here.

Reply
sandip
sandip
2 years ago

Really a motivational post I have seen on the internet. I just started freelancing in this month. I choose option B. lets to start the game.

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Jane
Jane
2 years ago

I was Option A when I started on Upwork in February (really just signed up to see what was out there), but I’ve been Option B since I started taking Upwork more seriously in August and I can say that it’s done me wonders! I came across your website after some searching and love your content. As someone who started seriously taking gigs on Upwork in August, I’m already making more than half of my full-time salary (but only doing 1/4 of the hours!) and have been constantly making this on a monthly basis since September. It’s so exciting how… Read more »

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sera mwai
sera mwai
2 years ago

I have just started freelancing. Thanks Danny for your read..I choose option B. I am sure I will be back here with a testimony..

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Sumeet Pawar
Sumeet Pawar
2 years ago

Well, I can share both the stories as I have been through all of them. Its been a year that I am working as a freelancer and have dealt with both the type of clients.

Reply
Robin A Emura
Robin A Emura
2 years ago

Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks??… woof woof, your article taught me a few..thanks Danny!!! U R AWESOME!!!

Reply
Arnette Rodgers
Arnette Rodgers
2 years ago

Option B is the only option, if you’re serious!!

Reply
Brian
Brian
2 years ago

Reality is what you choose, life is only gray if that’s what you choose. Life is what YOU make it. It’s up to you. Carpe Diem!

Brian

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Andre
Andre
2 years ago

Dude, I just copied the B list into a document to read whenever I start bullshitting myself with items from list A 🙂 Thanks for the post!

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Akbar Hasan
Akbar Hasan
3 years ago

I will select Option B. Clients require their work to be completed as per their requirements and in return I get paid accordingly as settled between me and the client

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Austine
Austine
3 years ago

Option B

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Shriraj
Shriraj
3 years ago

reality is between these two options life is mostly grey

Reply
Jamie Trinkkeller
Jamie Trinkkeller
3 years ago

I chose option B,” what you think is what you become ” I have always beleived this to be true. You must think highly of your worth, otherwise no one else will.

Reply
ARIF BARLAS
ARIF BARLAS
3 years ago

Option B sounds a bit unrealistic but if someone have a firm belief in himself, its very much closer to reality.I always keep my face towards the sunshine, so that i cannot see the shadow. Always optimistic and determined. Thanks Danny.

Reply
Michelle
Michelle
3 years ago

Used to be A. Now I’m stepping in to B..
Nothing’s impossible 😉

Reply
Aisha
Aisha
3 years ago

Still a student, haven’t statred my freelancing journey yet, but want to start with full motivation so I choose option B, I know B sounds bit unreal but hardwork can def make it happen. So option B for me from the very begining…
Thanks Danny for the awesome post!!

Reply
joelsuf
joelsuf
3 years ago

Currently stuck in Option A. Sadly, I think there is a ceiling when it comes to Upwork and I honestly do not believe there is an option B. I’ve been soaking up information from so many people who claim to know what they are doing but I am getting nowhere, even backwards. I’d like for Danny or someone who has been reading his blog for awhile to show me the way because right now I’m very doubtful and dangerously close to giving up. I’ve made only $3000 since I joined Upwork in February of last year. If I don’t get… Read more »

Reply
Alex Davis
Alex Davis
1 year ago
Reply to  joelsuf

I hope you stuck around with it Joelsuf! I know that there’s lives being changed on that platform more than we know! Patience is unfortunately the name of the game!

Last edited 1 year ago by Alex Davis
Reply
Wasim Raza
Wasim Raza
3 years ago

I will go with B.
Good post Sir

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Tunde
Tunde
3 years ago

Hi Danny
pls how can I share links to previous clients reviews into my proposal.
Thanks

Reply
Nancy
Nancy
3 years ago

Thank you for this! I have been toying with the idea of leaving my corporate job to join freelancing and have been scared to jump ship. I feel freelancing could help with stress and overall happiness of the work I do. Looking at Option B is making me want to jump right in to the work instead of just dipping a toe into it!

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Martina Grossi
Martina Grossi
3 years ago

I just hand-copied OPTION B into my notepad! Great insights, I’m devouring your website post my post!

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Todd
Todd
3 years ago

Thanks for the great post, Danny.

Reply
Priscilla
Priscilla
3 years ago

I definitely choose option b, but am a stay home mum with no experience .I really would love to know how I can kick off my freelancing career.

Reply
Freelance
Freelance
3 years ago

Just Awesome! This is one of the best inspiration for freelancer. Very informative and nice guidelines. You are the best one.

Reply
Micheal
Micheal
3 years ago

Option A

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Alex
Alex
3 years ago

B, B, B!

Reply
Danny Margulies
Author
Danny Margulies(@danny-margulies)
3 years ago
Reply to  Alex

Good, then we are in it together. Thanks for your support.

Reply
Bekzod
Bekzod
3 years ago

Danny How Can I get in touch with you and talk about your course I really need your course

Reply
Danny Margulies
Author
Danny Margulies(@danny-margulies)
3 years ago
Reply to  Bekzod

Email support [at] FreelanceToWin [dot com]

Reply
Wanjiku
Wanjiku
3 years ago

Thank you so much for the reminder to stick to positive vibes. Sometimes, it is super easy to just complain forgetting through this we are just planting seeds that will be eaten by drought leading to us missing out on their harvest.
Our thoughts are powerful.

Reply
Danny Margulies
Author
Danny Margulies(@danny-margulies)
3 years ago
Reply to  Wanjiku

You are welcome, could not agree more with what you said. Thanks for weighing in.

Reply
mercy
mercy
2 years ago
Reply to  Wanjiku

true

Reply
Aseem Kumar Baishnab
Aseem Kumar Baishnab
3 years ago

I will go with option b

Reply
Danny Margulies
Author
Danny Margulies(@danny-margulies)
3 years ago
Reply to  Aseem Kumar Baishnab

Awesome, me too! Good for you my friend.

Reply
Sanam Dongol
Sanam Dongol
3 years ago

Obviously, its Option B 🙂

Reply
Danny Margulies
Author
Danny Margulies(@danny-margulies)
3 years ago
Reply to  Sanam Dongol

Nice! Happy to hear from you.

Reply
muhib
muhib
3 years ago

Option A

Reply
Ujvara
Ujvara
3 years ago

Option B fits me perfectly! 😀

Reply
Danny Margulies
Author
Danny Margulies(@danny-margulies)
3 years ago
Reply to  Ujvara

High-five!

Reply
Manaj Banerjee
Manaj Banerjee
3 years ago

Hi Danny,
Really thrilled to get your poetic e-mail once more. I prefer option B to weed out the negatives envisaged by the option A. In fact, there has been enough of rhetoric on my part — let me do some real thing but please keep me motivated like this with your aspirational tips about the ins and outs of copywriting. Until next time …

Reply
Danny Margulies
Author
Danny Margulies(@danny-margulies)
3 years ago
Reply to  Manaj Banerjee

Thanks for letting me know you find it helpful. There’s more coming…lots more.

Reply
J Sandeep
J Sandeep
3 years ago

I will go with option b

Reply
Danny Margulies
Author
Danny Margulies(@danny-margulies)
3 years ago
Reply to  J Sandeep

Good for you!

Reply

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