You’re Not Broken—You’re Just in the Wrong Environment
Why Freelancing Worked for Me (And Might Work for You, Too)
For years, I went through the motions of interviewing for jobs I knew weren’t the right fit.
Not because the companies were bad—but because deep down, I knew I’d have to adjust too much of myself just to belong.
I’d show up to Zoom interviews surrounded by sticky notes, index cards, and notebooks filled with talking points. I’d try to anticipate every possible question, rehearse my voice, and edit my personality.
And that was the problem:
If I had to try that hard to fit, was this even a space I was meant to be in?
The Difference Between Professional and Performative
I applied for roles in corporate environments where I knew I’d have to code-switch or filter myself to survive. And don’t get me wrong—I have no problem being professional.
But there’s a difference between being professional and being performative.
I kept chasing opportunities that required skills I didn’t actually thrive in—thinking on my feet, improvising responses, keeping up with vague, open-ended conversations.
That’s not my zone of genius.
I thrive in the work itself. In creating something meaningful. In building systems, telling stories, and making things better through thoughtful execution.
What Finally Worked
At some point, I stopped forcing myself to chase what didn’t fit—and started showcasing my actual strengths instead.
I put myself on a freelancer platform, uploaded samples of my work, and let my portfolio speak for itself.
The dynamic shifted.
Instead of nerve-wracking interviews, I started having low-pressure conversations with clients who had already seen what I could do.
“Hey, I saw your work. Can you do this for me?”
That was it. No long interviews. No personality tests.
Just: Can you do the work? And if yes, let’s move forward.
Freelancing isn’t always stable. But stability is relative. With enough clients, multiple streams of income, and a strong system behind you, you can create your own version of stability.
The Real Shift: From Fixing Yourself to Finding Fit
For a long time, I thought I needed to “fix” myself.
I’m not great at improvising—maybe I should take an improv class.
I talk too much—maybe I should learn to be more concise.
And sure, I could work on those things. But instead of asking,
“How do I fix this?”
I started asking,
“Where does someone like me already thrive?”
Because here’s the truth:
✨ What looks like a weakness in one context is often your greatest strength in another.
In job interviews, my need to go deep and layer context made me seem long-winded.
In creative projects, that same quality made me a strong strategist, storyteller, and thought partner.
Flip the Script
If you’re feeling stuck, frustrated, or like you’re always trying to contort yourself into roles that don’t fit—flip the script.
Stop asking:
“How can I become the person they want me to be?”
Start asking:
“Where do people like me already thrive?”
Because when you stop trying to perform and start building in alignment with who you are, everything gets lighter.
And ironically? You get further, faster.
🚀 Want Help Making That Shift?
I work with multi-passionate creatives who are stuck in systems that don’t fit. Together, we clarify what you actually want, structure your next steps, and build a system around your strengths—not your perceived weaknesses.
