Women Who Successfully Launched A Freelance Online Business
While working remotely has been a reality for me for the last five years it has become the reality for almost everyone in 2020. And maybe you were working from home too and once the lockdown was lifted you were back in your office with your boss
BUT
You tasted freedom and now you might wonder if you could create your own online business but maybe you are not sure if this is actually possible for you?
Even though this year brought us some major challenges it has also been the final push so many women needed to finally start their own online business and these stories I want to share with you!
I believe that these women’s success stories from all around the world will bring you hope and inspiration to pursue your dreams of working from home or anywhere you want to.
From 12h-days As A Lawyer To Working From The Backyard -Social Media Strategist Sarah Yekinni
Q. What work were you doing before discovering The Social Shells?
Prior to the social shells, I was living in New York working as an attorney. I spent 2 hours a day commuting from my apartment in Queens to my office in Manhattan. I worked 10-12 hour days staring at a computer at my windowless desk. I also worked part-time for an airline, so I spent almost all my free time traveling. It was a whirlwind lifestyle for sure, but it got to be exhausting after a while.
Q. How long after finishing the course were you able to ditch your 9-5?
I signed up for the Social Shells course on February 14th, 2020 (it was a Valentine's gift to myself); I finished the course in early May, signed my first full-time management client in June, and by the end of August I was in a position to take on remote attorney projects only if I really wanted to.
Q. Tell us about some of your clients.
So far, I've worked with an author managing her publishing company's account. I did a short-term project for a California construction company. I've done some strategy and consulting on behalf of an online apparel company and have done full-time management for a New Jersey-based realtor.
Q.How has The Social Shells changed your life?
Before the Social Shells, I knew I wasn't happy and needed a major life change, but I didn't know how to get off the hamster wheel. I no longer wanted to practice law and I was ready to leave New York after living there for 9 years, but I didn't see a way out.
Joining the Social Shells not only gave me tangible skills that allowed me to start my own business, it provided an amazing community of supportive like-minded women. The Social Shells course and Nadine's coaching made me realize that a different life was possible and it provided the structure and confidence I needed to make it a reality.
Q. Has COVID affected your business in any way?
This pandemic has been tragic and devastating for so many, but it has also put so much into perspective and opened up possibilities that wouldn't have existed otherwise. I honestly don't think I would have gotten to where I am today had it not been for Covid. I chose to quarantine back in my hometown of Indianapolis, which gave me the opportunity to slow down for the first time in years. Being able to work from home and really focus on my business and work through some mindset stuff pushed me further than if I had still been dealing with the daily grind in NYC.
Q. What is some advice you would give others about making the decision to leave their 9-5?
Find a supportive community ASAP! You will come up with 1,000 reasons not to make a change. Being surrounded by like-minded peers who are dealing with similar struggles and fears and frustrations as you is crucial. Having a supportive community who sees your potential and pushes you towards your goals makes it much easier than trying to go it alone. I also recommend investing in yourself, whether that's courses or coaches, it's important to have the tools and the guidance that you'll need when the doubt creeps in.
Find Sarah @bespokesocial.co / bit.ly/2QqCPje
From Switzerland to Costa Rica - Social Media Manager Tamsin
Q. What work were you doing before discovering The Social Shells?
I was working as a Marketing Assistant in Zurich for a company that sells office furniture and designs. At the same time, I was studying Marketing part-time.
Q. How long after finishing the course were you able to ditch your 9-5?
I quit my job end of 2019 and was looking for a new job beginning of the year.
While looking for a new job, I realized that I couldn’t find the right job for myself. I knew for a few years now, that my biggest wish is to be my own boss and to do something I’m passionate about. So I joined the Social Shells in February 2020.
Q.Tell us about some of your clients
I started with the intention of supporting dive and surf schools with their social media, which would be my dream client. My customers, however, turned out to be a Spanish language school, an English language school, and an Escape Room company. Both language schools wanted to offer online classes, due to COVID which gave me the opportunity to set up their business online and to do their social media.
Q. How has The Social Shells changed your life?
The Social Shells helped me in many ways, especially giving me the freedom of creating the life I want to live and the possibility to work remotely. I am my own boss now and I can choose my clients I want to work with. I decided to move from Switzerland to Costa Rica. I love the ocean and now I can actually work and live in the country of my dreams.
Q. Has COVID affected your business in any way?
No, not at all, in fact, it gave me the last push I needed to actually take the necessary actions to start working as a freelancer and to move abroad.
Q. What is some advice you would give others about making the decision to leave their 9-5?
If you have always dreamt of being your own boss, you should go for it. Life is too short to waste it on a job you’re not passionate about. I know it’s scary and it takes a lot of courage but I like to say, if your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough! The worst thing that could happen is that you fail, you just get up and try it again. It is totally worth it if it means you can live a life of freedom and to be a female entrepreneur.
Find Tamsin @saltywatermedia/ https://linktr.ee/saltywatermedia
From feeling trapped to pure freedom - Social Media Manager Marina
Q. What work were you doing before discovering The Social Shells?
I worked in marketing/communications for the Swiss railways. My employer was actually really cool and we had so much freedom. Like we could work from home 2 days a week and could come and go as we wanted to. Also the people working there were really young. But still, I felt trapped and didn’t want to do something that doesn’t fulfil me and makes me feel like I’m wasting my life.
Q. How long after finishing the course were you able to ditch your 9-5?
I ditched my job before I even signed up for the program. So I had to make it work.
Q.Tell us about some of your clients
I work with people in the coaching industry. One client for example is an energy healer and she is such a pleasure to work with. I can contribute all my ideas and support her in various projects.
Q. How has The Social Shells changed your life?
The social shells has allowed me to not go back to my 9-5 again. Before that I was in a vicious cycle where I always saved money, traveled and then had to go back to Switzerland to earn money again. It was always my dream to be able to live by the beach and have a job where I am my own boss. I’m now living my dream life.
Q. Has COVID affected your business in any way?
COVID has only had benefited my business so far. Since it all started I have had more customers and inquiries than ever before.
Q. What is some advice you would give others about making the decision to leave their 9-5?
If you really want something, then go for it! What is the worst thing that could happen? Right, you end up in your 9-5 again. But at least you’ve tried ;) And is that worst-case scenario really not worth giving it a try? I mean… What if it does work out?
Find Marina @beyond_social_/ www.beyondsocial.ch
From Offline Osteopath To Social Media Strategist And Online Health Practionaire - Tura
Q. What work were you doing before discovering The Social Shells?
I am an Osteopath and have around 50 rescue animals living with me! So I started learning social media to promote sponsorship and adoption of the animals. As well as to start to create an Online health business and be able to market that.
Q. How long after finishing the course were you able to ditch your 9-5?
As soon as I started the Social Shells I was contacted by an old colleague to do the social media for his 3 clinics in Singapore.
So with the total support of Nadine, I said said yes and jumped in headfirst!!
I was actually combining the Osteopathy and social media and enjoying the variety it brought, until COVID. My Osteopathy business has been temporarily closed and I am fully focused on social media.
When the lockdown started, I was lucky enough to be coaching with Nadine at this time and she guided me on what to do.
It has been an extremely steep learning curve and she pushed me very well! So that now I offer Landing Page design and copywriting, creating sales funnels, setting up email marketing campaigns and I created a couple of basic websites.
All that in a few months!!!
Q.Tell us about some of your clients
As a practitioner, I focus on working with clients in the Health and Wellness sector as well as with Animals. That is where my major knowledge is and who I can help best.
I prefer to have fewer larger clients, rather many smaller ones. And now I have a small team of 3 people working with me.
Currently, I do the digital marketing for 3 clinics with 30 practitioners and a horse riding instructor who has online courses. I work with them to develop the marketing strategy, email campaigns, landing pages and social media.
Another side I am developing is basic social media coaching for people who want to do it themselves, but need a bit of guidance and do not want to sign up for a course.
This I am just starting and have one business coach onboard!
My social media template and post copy project is just about to launch. It is ready-made social media packages for subscription specific for health practitioners.
It is hard to believe that I have come this far in only a few months and Nadine really set me up with such detail in her course and coaching.
Q. How has The Social Shells changed your life?
Well the social shells has totally changed my life and boosted the confidence to really have something to offer other businesses, especially at this time of everyone moving online.
Q. Has COVID affected your business in any way?
Yes COVID has shut down my Osteopathy for the time being and pushed me in developing my technical and marketing skills.
Q. What is some advice you would give others about making the decision to leave their 9-5?
I gave up a 9-5 years ago. It wasn’t an option for me. It was more scary to stay in a 9-5 than leave.
It isn't easy running your own business there is a lot to do and it all comes down to you. So you have to be willing to put in the work.
But by being focused and organised and learning what to outsource, you can get something going very quickly.
Nadine’s course covers it all from the foundations to set up and strategies to get clients, plus group support ongoing with other social shells at all sorts of different levels of experience.
Find Tura @mindbodysoul / www.mindbodysocialmedia.com / @balianimalbuddies
From Something She Hated to Something She Loved - Nathalie
Q. What work were you doing before discovering The Social Shells?
Before I discovered the Social Shells I was locked in a job that I didn’t like from the beginning. But I thought “ No, I can’t quit again after only 3 months, I need the money”. So I stayed. I applied for a job as a social media manager in the same company but they didn’t give me the job because I didn't have any experience. After almost a year in this stupid job i couldn’t do it anymore and quit without having a new job to go to. I didn't have the skills/experience yet for the job I wanted but I didn't want to stay where I was. I met a friend around 2 years ago who was a digital nomad and I knew this is what I wanted. Through this friend I came across Nadine’s Instagram account and thought “yes this is my way to get out of this 9 to 5!” So with literally my last dollars I bought the Social Shells online coaching program and it was totally worth it!
Q. How long after finishing the course were you able to ditch your 9-5?
At the same time I joined the Social Shells I got a temporary trainee job as Social Media Manager in a company. While still in the program I got my first client over a recommendation from a friend and it went so on and 2 more clients came also from recommendations. First I thought, ”no, but I'm not ready yet!“ but i just jumped into the cold water and started. Of course, I wasn’t that efficient at the beginning and had to find my way how to organize everything. So i was working for the company, doing my further education in graphic design and working for my own clients in the evening or weekend. But after 8 months I couldn't do this anymore because I ran out of energy. Also my mom died this year and something had to give.. So I left the temporary job even earlier than expected and since then I make my income just from my own clients. I could have stayed with the company in a stable job and an awesome salary. But for me the freedom and being independent was so much more worth it.
Q.Tell us about some of your clients
First I thought I would go with clients from the same niche. But actually this didn’t work for me. I have clients where I believe in their service or I know something about their industry. I was working many years in jobs in the health system so one of my clients is a plastic surgeon. Then I have a start up for hearing aids as well (I met them next to the coffee machine in the co-working space where I mostly work!). I also work with a job coach. Next to Social Media Management I helped her to build up her own online course as I did some more further education on that topic last year.
Q. How has The Social Shells changed your life?
The Social Shells program was the kick start I needed to start my life as a digital nomad. Without Nadine I wouldn't have had the courage to leave the corporate world.
Q. Has COVID affected your business in any way?
Not financially. I just stopped the Facebook ad campaigns during the lockdown as the businesses of my clients were closed. But the organic content went on like before.
Q. What is some advice you would give others about making the decision to leave their 9-5?
It really helps to get yourself some support from somebody who is already where you want to be. Also to do this step with some other women at the same time is really empowering. But yes, you have to jump into cold water at some point but it’s so worth it! Just go for it!
Find Nathalie: https://nathalieblaser.com / Insta: @nath.blaser
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From A Secure Job to a Leap of Faith - Jenny
Q. What work were you doing before discovering The Social Shells?
Before discovering the Social Shells I was working full-time as a Field Marketing Coordinator for a Mortgage Company
Q. How long after finishing the course were you able to ditch your 9-5?
I was able to ditch my 9-5 just two months after finishing the coursework. I felt I needed to give this all my energy to truly succeed
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Q.Tell us about some of your clients
I really enjoy working with Real Estate Agents as I came from the mortgage industry and before that Commercial Real Estate. My favorite client, however, is a Videographer. He is an old friend who makes short films. I love getting to help him and his work gain exposure.
Q. How has The Social Shells changed your life?
Having access to a network of like-minded women I can turn to for support and advice is the number one life-changing thing from joining the Social Shells. Also, Nadine is such a great resource and is a real inspiration – I feel lucky to have her out there rooting for me.
Q. Has COVID affected your business in any way?
I took a leap of faith and started my business during quarantine! It was a bold move. I am interested to see the change once COVID is a little more under control and economies start recovering.
Q. What is some advice you would give others about making the decision to leave their 9-5?
The best advice I could give to someone making the decision about leaving their 9-5 is work towards saving up a few months of money so you can really put your all into growing your business without having to worry about the financial aspect. That will give you energy and excitement to build your brand and find your ideal clients. If you build It- they will come!
Find Jenny: www.jennygrether.com / Insta: @jennygrethersocial
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From Coffee Shop to Online Clients - Katerina
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Q. What work were you doing before discovering The Social Shells?
I was traveling and moving around, so I did anything that I could on the go. At that particular moment I used to work in a coffee shop and I also had 2 online clients as a VA. I could not really make that moving though.
Q. How long after finishing the course were you able to ditch your 9-5?
I finished right away because I felt like I needed to dive in fully! ⠀
Q.Tell us about some of your clients
Well, where to start? I have 7 clients at this moment and it’s great. They’re all amazing people from all parts of the world with different needs! ⠀
Q. How has The Social Shells changed your life?
It gave me a solid foundation and a good mindset about me and where I see myself. Also, the support and the girls I’ve met in there are something that I am taking out forever.⠀
Q. Has COVID affected your business in any way?
COVID made me going. At first, it was really scary but then I realized what of an opportunity is out there.⠀
Q. What is some advice you would give others about making the decision to leave their 9-5?
Don’t wait to be ready, you will never be really ready. The time is now and the sooner you start moving towards your goal, the sooner your goal gets bigger. You can do it. Your limits are only in your head.
Find Katerina: Insta: @katerina_erbesova