Fake it 'til you make it

Tomorrow officially marks the beginning of Leo season.

No, this newsletter isn’t turning into an astrology resource. I’m going to take a wild guess and assume that you probably didn’t subscribe for Zodiac overviews or daily horoscopes.

I’m bringing up this topic because I, in fact, am a Leo. 🙃

When people meet me in person (and they happen to be familiar with the Zodiac signs), they’re usually surprised to learn I’m a Leo because I don’t present as one!

For my non-astrology-oriented friends, Leos are represented by the Lion and are described as being the life of the party, exuberant, headstrong, and natural born leaders. A fire sign, Leos are bold and loud and love being the center of attention.

…I am none of those things!

I’m introverted, prefer to be behind the scenes, and generally go with the flow. I always listen and observe before sharing my opinion, and you will never catch me being the life of any party. If anything, you’ll find me by the snack table with the one friend I came to the party with.

However, there’s more to Leos than meets the eye. Here are a few Leo traits that resonate with me and probably explain why I’m drawn to freelancing:

• Independent: I like to do my own thing, be in charge of my time, and choose how I work. If you’re reading this, you probably do too! 

• Loyal: This is a trait I recognize in all aspects of my life. I’ve had the same friends for years. When I find a brand or a store or restaurant that I like, it becomes my go-to. Work-wise, my average client relationship is 2+ years.

• Confident: Look, I’ve never described myself as “confident” but I’ve recently come to terms with the fact that it takes confidence to freelance. You really have to believe in yourself and your skills to put yourself out there and convince strangers to hire you — again and again and again.

How to channel your inner Leo 🦁

In case no one’s ever told you: freelancing is courageous.

Going off on your own, marketing yourself, pitching clients, setting your rates (and sticking to them) — it’s all scary!

The more you do it, the more comfortable you’ll get. But that doesn’t mean it’s always easy.

There are still SO many days when I doubt my abilities or feel unsure about the price I just quoted to a potential client, or even question my career path altogether.

But here’s my best tip: Even in the moments when you don’t feel confident, FAKE IT!

And I don’t mean “buy-my-online-course-to-make-six-figures-like-me” kind of fake. Or lying on your resume kind of fake, either.

I mean really believe in yourself and what you offer — even if you have to pretend to feel confident. You’re already doing something courageous by carving out your own path, and that’s something to feel confident about all the time.

So, just do it. DM someone you’re interested in working with. Send your rate to a new client without overthinking it. Pivot into a new niche. Start a newsletter.

Whether or not you’re a Leo, I encourage you to channel your inner lion and go after the things you want with confidence for the next month (and beyond).

Enjoying this issue? Share it with a friend or subscribe below if you aren’t already subscribed.

• I’m subscribed to so many newsletters, I usually have to dedicate a weekend to catching up on them all! Some of my favorites fall into the lifestyle/literary categories (i.e., they offer book recs, travel inspo, outfit pics). Here are some of my favorites lately: Downtime by Alisha Ramos, What’s Left by Virginia Chamlee, and The Hyphen by Emma Gannon

• Still working through The Artist’s Way! I’m about halfway through the 12 weeks, and this is when it’s really getting tough to stay consistent.

I’ll be back in your inboxes on August 5th 💌 In the meantime, let me know what you’re working on and how I can help!

Rough Draft is a bi-weekly newsletter where I share tips and musings on creating a freelance career from scratch. Subscribe here. You can also find me on LinkedIn, Twitter, Threads, or my website. 👋 Have a question about freelancing? Submit it here!