My journey as a designer and How I built freelance career

Hey there, and welcome to my first newsletter! I want this to feel more like a conversation between us, where I share what's been on my mind lately and guide you through some of the things I've learned, step by step.

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Today, I'm sharing a bit about:

• My journey — Why I design and why I started sharing my work online
• What I've learned — A few lessons I've picked up since I started as a designer

My Journey — Why I Design and Share Online

I still remember the first time I opened Photoshop 7.0, way back in 2012. I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life—everything from learning to sing to working in a bookshop just to earn some cash. But deep down,

I had this gut feeling that my journey was heading somewhere else.

That's when things started to change. I signed up for my first graphic and web design course, and while I was still in the middle of it, I got my first job at 16. It wasn't much—I was making around 20,000 INR (about $200 a month), just enough to cover my living expenses.

Those early days were tough. I worked with a lot of companies, moving from web and graphic design to UI/UX design, then product design, and eventually becoming a Senior Principal Designer.

I helped build products worth half a billion dollars, but they only paid me $500 a month. I felt trapped, underpaid and burned out.

But in 2016, while I was still working full-time, I decided to give freelancing a shot. To be honest, I didn't get much work at first. But I started sharing my designs on Instagram and Dribbble, hoping it would lead to something.

And after 2-3 years of putting in the effort, something amazing happened. In 2018, I made $28,000 just from Instagram. That was the moment I knew it was time to leave my full-time job and go all in on freelancing.

Later, I faced anxiety and panic attacks that forced me to stop freelancing and join a startup. I worked as a Creative Director and helped them grow in design and marketing. Then one day, they fired me with no warning. That firing woke me up.

I knew I needed something no one could take away. That's when I started my own design business and began truly building something sustainable.

As I was posting more, I noticed something. There were so many designers out there asking questions about design, and I felt like there was a real opportunity to share what I'd learned. That's when I decided to start sharing my design process, freelancing tips, and productivity hacks with the community.

Mix Creativity and Business

I used to think that as a designer, I could only focus on the creative side. I wasn't sure how business fit into it. But the truth is, designers can do so much more than just design. When you mix creativity with business, that's where the real magic happens. It's what makes you more valuable.

Find Your Own Way of Working

One of the best things I did early in my career was figure out my own way of working. I didn't just follow what I found online or copy others' processes. I experimented, learned from my mistakes, and over time, I built my own process that fits each project. Trust me, finding your flow early on will save you time and help you earn more.

One Client vs. Ten Clients

I used to think I had to hustle and work with as many clients as possible. But then I realized that whether you're working on a $100 project or a $10,000 project, it takes the same amount of effort. So instead of taking on a ton of small, low-paying projects, I started focusing on high-value clients. Now, I work on fewer projects, but they pay much more, and the clients see the value in what I do.

Stay on Your Own Path

There's so much content out there these days, and it can be overwhelming trying to keep up with it all. It's easy to get distracted by what everyone else is doing. But the best thing I did was create a clear path for myself and stick to it. If I were starting over, I'd write down my goals and focus on them step by step, no matter what else is going on around me.

Don't Get Stuck Overthinking

Overthinking has been my biggest challenge, and I still struggle with it sometimes. I get caught up in my thoughts, worried about making mistakes, and it holds me back from taking action. But what I've learned is that not taking any steps at all is way worse than making a mistake. If you want to grow, you have to act—even if that means you'll mess up along the way. It's the only way to make progress.

‍We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.

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Resources

The Faker You Are, The More Successful You Can Be — This is another video by Pablo that very much inspired me. He talks about how the faker you are, the more successful you can be.

See you in another one!
Let's grow together 🙌