Does it sound familiar to you? “I’d love to have an online business, but I don’t know where to start,” or “I’d love to work from home and have more time for my family, but I have no experience to freelance.” These are the type of comments I hear most when talking about going freelance and working from home – or wherever you want.
Now, I’m not gonna say that these are excuses. I do think they’re real concerns people have when thinking about taking the leap and starting something new. But these comments reveal insecurity. What does it mean anyway that you have “no experience”? Everyone has experience. Luckily, nowadays you don’t have to show an academic degree to work. You just have to show that you can do it. It depends on the company – some would say. Sure. But who’s telling you that you’re not good enough for your own company? And that’s the key: You don’t have to justify yourself in front of any critics. But for you. Your biggest critic is you.
So let’s deconstruct the myth that you have “no experience,” shall we?
3 Ways to Change Careers with No Experience
1. Profit from your own experience
There’s a common mistake made while weighing out the pros and cons of going freelance: Trying to forget about your last job and all the tasks you had to perform. I mean, I get it. You want to start something new, and not keep on working on exactly the same thing – but from home. Right. Totally understandable, but working in a completely different field is something you can aim for at mid-/longterm. Otherwise, you’re going to need more time to change your career (in that case, jump to #3).
You think your job is so boring that you can’t for the life of you figure out what profits it might bring you? What about becoming a virtual assistant (VA), for example? You won’t have to do all those hateful tasks you’re doing now. But you can pick just one task – that task you’re so quick at, and that you even like -, and offer it as a specialized service. The more specific your offer is, the better. There are people who hate answering to emails, for instance. Do that for them! Or accountancy. Or even social media tasks! Have you ever heard about “Pinterest VAs“? Well, that is actually a thing!
2. What are your hobbies?
You may work at an absolutely boring office, sitting in a cubicle, one hour away from home. But what do you do in your free time? Do you love to play guitar, for example? So what about teaching guitar online? Maybe to kids who are homeschooling. Or to adults who can’t afford to go to a music school – but whose dream has always been to play that instrument you’re so good at.
Or maybe you knit the hell out of you to calm down when you’re stressed. Please do me a favor and teach how to knit to so many people who can’t hold two needles together – like me 🙂 What’s an expert anyway? Just someone who knows more than others. You’ll be the expert for those others. You can teach them. Starting now!
Find out 10 jobs which can be adapted to an online business
3. But I really want to start something completely new!
Well, in that case, my answer would be “Do it!” What’s stopping you?? Apart from your fears and insecurities… You probably know what you have to do, but let me portray what I think your plan should look like:
♥ Figure out what you want to do. Maybe this ebook can help you:
10 Ideas to Go Digital – Free eBook
♥ Search for online schools to get an education in the new field. In this way, you’ll have the flexibility to learn at your own pace – and without having to leave your job until you feel ready. Whether you learn in the morning before you go to work; in the evening after work; in the night, once everyone else is already asleep; or at the weekends: Just make sure you can free up min. 10 hours per week. It would mean an awesome change, you’ll see 😉
I’m guilty of wanting to learn everything I hear from, so I know how it works. By the way, I’ve renounced to many paid holidays to study, so I can’t accept any similar excuses 😉
♥ Once you feel ready – don’t wait too much, though -, go for it and start your online business! Check out this post to plan your online presence. I hope you can find some value in it!
If you still have doubts, stay tuned ’cause I’m going to be posting soon an “Online Careers” series, where I’ll be analyzing different professions which are typically performed online or by freelancers. Ideas, suggestions and guest proposals accepted!!
xoxo,
Alicia
Are you born to freelance?
PS. Feel free to download the free ebook below. You’ll find more detailed suggestions to change careers and work online.
