Starting work as a consultant in a new field feels like balancing on a tightrope. Each step is thrilling as I marvel at my growing abilities, yet precarious, with falling being a real possibility. It’s exhilarating—every day brings new challenges, unexpected projects in sectors I hadn’t considered, and connections with people passionate about their work.
That part is great.
But I sometimes wonder: How does anyone keep doing this?
There’s something reassuring about being a full-time employee—the idea that if you show up, be friendly, and do your job well, a benevolent employer will be waiting with a steady paycheck and predictable work. Freelancing offers a different kind of security—the freedom to expand what I do, what I learn, and whom I work with.
This week, I confronted my use of jargon as a safety blanket—hiding behind familiar phrases like messaging, visual storytelling, and brand equity. These terms make sense in the global civil society sector and among communication professionals, but to a client looking to refine their brand and reach a new market? Not so much.
There’s something truly vulnerable about embracing clarity, stripping things down to their essence, and simply stating what I do and how I can help.
So I tried again. This time, I said: I help companies stand out. I clarify what makes them different. I design websites, proposals, and presentations that will help you pursue your mission. I can’t guarantee immediate results, but I believe this approach will pay off in the long term.
No flowery language. Just clarity.
This week on the tightrope, I let go of the safety net of jargon and simply stated what I do, hoping that would be enough.
I’m still new at this. Most days, I feel like an exotic animal in a trench coat, playing at consultant. But the idea is that by doing, you become. Week by week, I am sharpening my skills and inching toward a sustainable, creative, and entrepreneurial career.