From $10 Gigs to $700,000: My Freelance Journey and the Upwork Book That Came From It
I recently hit a milestone I never thought I’d reach: $700,000 earned on Upwork. To celebrate, I did something I’ve always wanted to do — I wrote a book about my journey. It’s called The 10-Day Upwork Jumpstart Guide and Workbook — now available on Freelancer Files and Amazon — and yeah, I biasedly think it’s the best Upwork book out there.
How I Got Started
Freelancing has been a part of my life since I was 19. My first gig literally found me. I’d just left my part-time job in the Copy and Print department at OfficeMax when one of my regular clients tracked me down and offered me a project.
At the time, freelancing wasn’t a career — it was a side hustle. I charged $20 here, $50 there, and relied on word-of-mouth referrals while focusing on my corporate job. Over time, my client list grew, and I started raising my rates.
By 2017, some months my freelance income doubled my corporate salary. That’s when my husband stepped in with what I jokingly call “the intervention.” He’d been telling me for years to go all-in on freelancing, but I was scared to leave the stability of a full-time job.
How Rage-Quitting Changed Everything
For months, my husband and I debated the idea of freelancing full-time. Then one day, my boss pushed me over the edge.
I’d just worked nine straight days, including a double holiday shift. I was exhausted when my boss handed me a folder labeled “improvement plan.” It basically asked me to work even more hours for no extra pay.
I stopped her mid-sentence and said, “I’m sorry, my heart just isn’t in this anymore,” then walked out.
That same afternoon, I went home, grabbed margaritas with my husband, and told him, “Let’s do this. I’m going full-time freelance.”
Why Upwork Worked for Me
When I started freelancing full-time, I knew I needed more work to make it sustainable. So, I emailed every client I’d ever worked with and signed up for every freelance platform I could find: Fiverr, Thumbtack, Freelancer.com — and Upwork.
Upwork quickly became my secret weapon. Unlike other platforms, Upwork let me take control by applying directly for gigs. My first job was a $10 vector tweak. It wasn’t much, but that five-star review opened the door to bigger projects.
Fast forward a few years, and those little gigs snowballed into $700,000 in earnings.
Why I Wrote a Book
Let me be clear: I don’t make money promoting Upwork, and my blog isn’t a cash cow. So why did I write a book?
Over the years, my story has been featured in places like Business Insider and Refinery29. People started reaching out, asking how they could replicate my success. In 2021, I started a blog (now FreelancerFiles.com) to answer those questions.
When I hit the $700,000 milestone, I realized I had more to share than just blog posts. That’s why I wrote the 10-Day Upwork Jumpstart Guide and Workbook.
What’s in the Book?
The book is a step-by-step guide to mastering Upwork, covering:
- Optimizing your profile and portfolio
- Writing winning proposals
- Pricing yourself competitively
- Landing your first gig
- Scaling your business
I also include mistakes I’ve made (so you can avoid them) and share the exact proposal I used to land a $158,000 gig. Plus, the workbook helps you set goals, track progress, and stay motivated.
Get Your Copy
The 10-Day Upwork Jumpstart Guide and Workbook is available on Amazon and FreelancerFiles.com. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up, I hope it helps you crush your freelance goals.
Bonus: Use promo code ARTICLE15 for 15% off your copy on FreelancerFiles.com.