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Telling the people around you about your plan

Going freelance doesn't only happen in a spreadsheet. There's the moment you talk about it, to your partner, your family, your friends. Their reactions can lift you up or drag you down, and it's worth preparing a little.

The reactions you'll come across

When you announce that you're going freelance, reactions go in every direction. Genuine enthusiasm, worry ("and job security?"), sometimes scepticism. Most come from a good place, even when clumsy. People often project their own fears onto your plan, which says nothing about the value of yours.

Talk to your partner first

If you live as a couple, that's the person most affected, especially when your finances are tied together. The worst way to bring it up is to arrive with a vague urge and enthusiasm alone. Come instead with numbers: your monthly need, your safety cushion, your plan for the first months. You turn a source of anxiety into a project you look at together.

Sorting useful advice from noise

Not all opinions are worth the same. Really listen to those who know freelancing or your trade, their feedback is precious. Put into perspective the fears of those who've never left employment, they mostly speak about themselves. An opinion doesn't carry weight just because it's said with confidence.

You don't have to convince everyone

Some won't understand your choice, and that's fine. You don't need their green light to move forward, only your own clarity on the why and on the numbers. The day your plan stands up for you, other people's opinions weigh much less.