$10k Months: My Freelance Journey & What Actually Worked

2026 is your year to level up your freelance career

This year was my first year consistently hitting 10k months as a freelancer… a milestone I once thought could only be reserved for “other people.”

I’ve been freelancing since the start of the pandemic. And as a Sagittarius (Aquarius Rising & Aries Moon IYKYK), watching all my friends work from home on their own schedule stung in a way I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

Meanwhile, I was stuck assembling gift boxes for celebrities and socialites… which, to be fair, was one of the most unexpectedly lovely bridge jobs when I first moved to LA. But deep down, I knew I wanted to build something of my own.

Those friends who were making their own schedule and working by the pool on a Tuesday? They were my Expanders — a To Be Magnetic term for people who show you what’s possible, expanding your subconscious sense of what you can achieve. Their lives were roadmaps.

Fast forward to today: I’ve been working with TBM—my first full-time freelance client—for almost five years, managing their community and social media. I also support incredible clients like Julie Civiello Polier and several other small, women-owned businesses (which, fun fact, was once on my vision board). And this year, I finally feel like I’ve hit my stride as a full-time freelancer.

My Vision Board from 2019 with “Women-Led Brands” front & center

And here’s what I’ve learned, honestly & transparently, about making $10k months actually possible as a freelancer.

1️⃣ Build and Lean on Your Community

No one is “self-made.” Community is everything.

I don’t believe in the myth of being self-made. I’m so turned off by that phrase because I simply don’t believe it to be true. Second in my rolodex of hated-phrases is “it’s who you know,” because it cheapens the truth:

It’s about community.

Kai telling me to raise my rates (for years), Grace Abbott referring me to multiple clients that I’ve now been with for years, Allie Carr talking with me about working through freelance blocks… & so on…

I would not be here without the people who shared advice, encouragement and reminders when I was undervaluing myself. We rise together — always.

2️⃣ Don’t Scare Too Easily

Boundaries, Structure, and Freelancing Logistics

Freelancing is often framed as ultimate freedom, and it is… But it can also feel a little intimidating at first. Don’t let that scare you. You’ll adapt faster than you think.

Start with the essentials:

• Boundaries to keep yourself from working more than a your 9–5 by accident (it happens, trust me).

• Some structure or a plan, even if routines aren’t your thing. (I hate a routine, but even a rougher outline of what you want your day to feel like will do)

• Have 1 core client that covers most, if not all, of your expenses. This is important in staying balanced, staying in your worth, and keeping space for freedom & creativity to take on other clients!

And honestly? The practical side of freelancing is manageable. Healthcare, quarterly taxes, retirement accounts — you’ll figure it out. You’ll discover what systems work for you, set your rates confidently, and carve your niche.

Freelancing can give you more control, more creativity, and yes… more income than a typical 9–5. Trust yourself!

3️⃣ Work in Your Genius

My coworker Jessica always talks about the importance of operating from your ‘genius’. And she’s right. When you’re in your genius, your energy flows. And in freelancing, energy is everything.

Last year, I experimented: I wanted to work in a more “robotic” way with clients. Plug-and-play tasks, minimal creativity — so I could save all my creative energy for my own projects.

You know how that left me?
Burnt out, bitter, and jealous, watching my freelancing friends being creative in their roles. And no, nothing was actually saved for my in projects because my soul wasn’t nourished enough to have any. But here’s the beauty of freelance work: I chose that path… and then I also chose to change it when that experiment didn’t go as planned.

The moment I shifted back into more creative roles, everything clicked. I felt energized, purposeful, and more aligned than I had in months.

The lesson?
Find your genius.
Experiment.
You have far more free will than you realize.

4️⃣ Stop Undervaluing Yourself

The biggest lesson of 2025 that changed everything for me: stop undervaluing yourself.

This realization didn’t happen overnight.. and honestly, it may come to you at a different point in your journey. For years, I undervalued myself as a freelancer: undercharging, over-delivering, and second-guessing my worth. In hindsight, I honor that as part of my path.

Sure, in your first year as a social media manager, you might look at market rates and think, “I’ll charge $75/hr. BOOM. That’s it.” And you might crush it. But if you don’t truly feel confident in your skills or your worth, it shows, subconsciously.

Building confidence and proudly standing by your work is something that can be felt.

This was the first year I genuinely looked at my work and thought: “I am actually an expert at this.” I use “expert” loosely. But it means I stopped shrinking and I know what I bring to the table. The moment I saw myself as an expert… clients did, too. Don’t rush this process and timing.

5️⃣ To Get Clients, You Have to Be Social

I see freelancers in Facebook groups every day struggling to find clients, and I get it. But here’s the thing: most of my opportunities never came from job boards. They came from people in my community.

Remember when I said I disliked the phrase “it’s who you know”? Well… this is sort of like that (lol).. but different, I swear!

Every single client or project I’ve landed since 2018 has come through word of mouth, real conversations, and genuine relationships. That’s community in action.

“Social media is meant to be social” isn’t just a meaningless cliché, it’s a guidepost. And “no one knows what you do if you don’t talk about it” isn’t just a saying, it’s a truth that will change your business. Tell your people, and tell will have your back.

The takeaway? Be visible. Be authentic. Build relationships.

And my final piece of advice, while you’re growing—both in your career and in life— keep your Expanders close.

You need people ahead of you to show you what’s possible financially, creatively, strategically… and not just for work, but for life beyond it.

My Expanders keep me moving forward, grounded, curious, and calibrated. They remind me of what’s possible, even when I’m in the thick of it. Surround yourself with them, and your growth and sense of possibility will accelerate in ways you can’t predict.

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If going freelance or hitting 10k months are goals for you in 2026, the blueprint is simple:
Community, expanders, boundaries, visibility, and self-worth.

You don’t need to reinvent yourself.
You just need to stop underestimating yourself.

And I’m rooting for you the whole way 🌟 The future is freelance.