[dlnovell]

I held my nose and jumped in feet first. Actually, I spent 3 months backpacking around Europe first, then went home and just didn't get a new job. It took 6 months to land a client, then 2 to land another, then 1 to land a third and then I was off to the races.

I would not do that approach again.

You've already got some consulting revenue, that's a great start. Do you have a solid 6 months of living expenses saved up? If not, do that. Do you have a portfolio of different projects you've done and a good way to communicate them? If not, do that.

In the small amount of free time you currently have, I'd look very selectively for a large contract. Once you land it, put in your two weeks and make the jump.

Once you're on your own, never stop prospecting. Even when you have too much to do to take on a new client, you have to keep the pipeline full - it's the only way to make it work because you'll invariably have some contracts end abruptly. I was real bad at that part of it, and that's why I stopped after ~4 years.

[rootsudo]

Same story as me, backpacked Asia for a year, went back home, landed a client, then another and another.

Time management became my biggest issue, fired one client and now balance two.

And been stuck in USA since covid, sigh.

[dominotw]

> It took 6 months to land a client

How does one go about finding a client.

[tomlagier]

Advertise.

* Tap your network. Post on social, bug old coworkers, ask friends and family. Know what skills you are selling and at what price.

* Build your brand. Create a website, LinkedIn, and social media accounts. Start blogging or posting regularly somewhere. Even if you don't get clients this way, it will increase your credibility.

* Reach out. Look through job postings and hiring sites. Cold email companies that you're interested in working with. Refine your elevator pitch. Join networking communities.

[readonthegoapp]

I listened to an indie hackers pod that had some person saying she got her clients often or mostly (at the early stages) by word of mouth.

Meaning

Could be _anybody_ you knew

Know

Talk to

See in passing

This girl had huge bubbly energetic personality

But I think the takeaway is that you can/should be in the habit of letting people know

Even people who are not in the business etc

They all know people, are married to people, etc