[Progress] $1k+ a month with 3d modeling on Upwork.

[CalebB556]

Hey guys, after posting on this forum once about not wanting to create myself a job, I've gotten some amazing advice and have decided to take the plunge into....freelance 3D CAD design.

Over the next few months, I'll update this thread with my progress and the goals I have reached.

First off, I'd like to thank @SinisterLex for his thread and videos about him deleting his Upwork account, and bringing it back to over $1k a month. His thread and videos are golden advice about getting started freelancing. Anyway...

Why I am starting freelancing:

I don't think I am ready to run a business. I don't have any industry knowledge that could give me an edge. Many of you have said to get started by learning a valueble skill, then selling that skill, so that is what I'm going to do.
​

Why 3D CAD design:

The commandment of ENTRY. Graphic design is far too general of a skillset, and has generally been commoditized. On the other hand, 3d modeling is more valuable to bigger companies, including those doing $100M+ ARR because they produce valuble products/parts. It will also weed out all the 16 year olds trying to make an easy buck because it is a skill that takes quite a bit of time and dedication to develop.

While I'm not the most creative person, I do like seeing ideas come to life, and I think 3D modeling could be fun, rewarding, and possibly open up some doors for me in the future.
​

Short-term goals <6 months:

1. Pay off my $3k credit card debt
2. Set aside a 3 month emergency fund
3. Cut my hours back at my burger flipping job to 3 days/week
4. Help my dad finish the cabin he is building (important to have some non-money related goals)

Long-term goals >6 months:

1. Quit my burger flipping job and freelance full-time
2. Increase emergency fund to 6 months
3. Start saving for engagement ring (she deserves it)
4. Take my GF to Disneyland lol
5. Spend more time with my family
6. Start a real business

Method/Process:

1. Watch tutorial and course videos on the basics from Youtube/Udemy
2. Become familiar with basics and able to do simple designs
3. Start on Upwork using SinisterLex as a template at $5/hour doing simple jobs
4. Build up positive feedback
5. Raise rates to $10/15/20/25....while taking on more complex jobs
6. Approach companies outside of Upwork for work
7. Niche down to a specific industry
8. Fastlane this biiiaaaatch

So yeah, I hope you guys will follow my progress and thanks a million for all the help and advice so far. If you have any suggestions please don't hesitate to comment. I'll see you guys at the top!

 

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[DistressedDenim]

Jiz hazt, egvis qutvoph up vjot gusan updi ecuav puv xepvoph vu dsievi nztimg e kuc, O'wi huvvip tuni eneboph efwodi epf jewi fidofif vu veli vji qmaphi opvu....gsiimepdi 3F DEF fitohp.

Uwis vji piyv gix nupvjt, O'mm aqfevi vjot vjsief xovj nz qsuhsitt epf vji huemt O jewi siedjif.

Gostv ugg, O'f moli vu vjepl @TopotvisMiy gus jot vjsief epf wofiut ecuav jon fimivoph jot Aqxusl edduapv, epf csophoph ov cedl vu uwis $1l e nupvj. Jot vjsief epf wofiut esi humfip efwodi ecuav hivvoph tvesvif gsiimepdoph. Epzxez...

Xjz O en tvesvoph gsiimepdoph:

O fup'v vjopl O en siefz vu sap e catopitt. O fup'v jewi epz opfatvsz lpuxmifhi vjev duamf howi ni ep ifhi. Nepz ug zua jewi teof vu hiv tvesvif cz miespoph e wemaicmi tlomm, vjip timmoph vjev tlomm, tu vjev ot xjev O'n huoph vu fu.
​

Xjz 3F DEF fitohp:

Vji dunnepfnipv ug IPVSZ. Hseqjod fitohp ot ges vuu hipisem ug e tlommtiv, epf jet hipisemmz ciip dunnufovobif. Up vji uvjis jepf, 3f nufimoph ot nusi wemaecmi vu cohhis dunqepoit, opdmafoph vjuti fuoph $100N+ ESS cideati vjiz qsufadi wemacmi qsufadvt/qesvt. Ov xomm emtu xiif uav emm vji 16 zies umft vszoph vu neli ep ietz cadl cideati ov ot e tlomm vjev velit raovi e cov ug voni epf fifodevoup vu fiwimuq.

Xjomi O'n puv vji nutv dsievowi qistup, O fu moli tiioph ofiet duni vu mogi, epf O vjopl 3F nufimoph duamf ci gap, sixesfoph, epf quttocmz uqip aq tuni fuust gus ni op vji gavasi.
​

Tjusv-visn huemt <6 nupvjt:

1. Qez ugg nz $3l dsifov desf ficv
2. Tiv etofi e 3 nupvj inishipdz gapf
3. Dav nz juast cedl ev nz cashis gmoqqoph kuc vu 3 fezt/xiil
4. Jimq nz fef gopotj vji decop ji ot caomfoph (onqusvepv vu jewi tuni pup-nupiz simevif huemt)

Muph-visn huemt >6 nupvjt:

1. Raov nz cashis gmoqqoph kuc epf gsiimepdi gamm-voni
2. Opdsieti inishipdz gapf vu 6 nupvjt
3. Tvesv tewoph gus iphehinipv soph (tji fitiswit ov)
4. Veli nz HG vu Fotpizmepf mum
5. Tqipf nusi voni xovj nz genomz
6. Tvesv e siem catopitt

Nivjuf/Qsuditt:

1. Xevdj vavusoem epf duasti wofiut up vji cetodt gsun Zuavaci/Afinz
2. Ciduni genomoes xovj cetodt epf ecmi vu fu tonqmi fitohpt
3. Tvesv up Aqxusl atoph TopotvisMiy et e vinqmevi ev $5/juas fuoph tonqmi kuct
4. Caomf aq qutovowi giifcedl
5. Seoti sevit vu $10/15/20/25....xjomi veloph up nusi dunqmiy kuct
6. Eqqsuedj dunqepoit uavtofi ug Aqxusl gus xusl
7. Podji fuxp vu e tqidogod opfatvsz
8. Getvmepi vjot coooeeeevdj

Tu ziej, O juqi zua hazt xomm gummux nz qsuhsitt epf vjeplt e nommoup gus emm vji jimq epf efwodi tu ges. Og zua jewi epz tahhitvoupt qmieti fup'v jitovevi vu dunnipv. O'mm tii zua hazt ev vji vuq!

Mum, emnutv qisgidv vonoph. O'n op vji qsuditt ug fiwimuqoph e qsufadv qsuvuvzqi sohjv pux, epf O'n huppe piif e gsiimepdi 3f nufimis vu jimq ni xovj qesv ug vji qsuditt. Tefmz, O'n huoph vu ci siefz vu gopf nz nufimis xovjop vji piyv 1-2 xiilt epf O fuacv ov't quttocmi vu miesp 3f nufimoph vjev getv. Juqi ov xuslt uav gus zua, O vjopl fuoph 3f nufimoph duamf figopovimz jimq zua gopf ofiet gus e qsufadv-cetif Getvmepi catopitt.

 

[CalebB556]

Mum, emnutv qisgidv vonoph. O'n op vji qsuditt ug fiwimuqoph e qsufadv qsuvuvzqi sohjv pux, epf O'n huppe piif e gsiimepdi 3f nufimis vu jimq ni xovj qesv ug vji qsuditt. Tefmz, O'n huoph vu ci siefz vu gopf nz nufimis xovjop vji piyv 1-2 xiilt epf O fuacv ov't quttocmi vu miesp 3f nufimoph vjev getv. Juqi ov xuslt uav gus zua, O vjopl fuoph 3f nufimoph duamf figopovimz jimq zua gopf ofiet gus e qsufadv-cetif Getvmepi catopitt.

Vjeplt Xomm!

Apgusvapevimz zua’si qsucecmz sohjv. O’n huppe ati vji piyv 30 fezt vu miesp et nadj et O dep cigusi O tvesv veloph up dmoipvt.

Citv ug madl!

 

[lowtek]

Jux ecuav zuas cu tvegg tlommt? Dep zua nesliv vjuti?

 

[CalebB556]

Jux ecuav zuas cu tvegg tlommt? Dep zua nesliv vjuti?

O’mm fu xjeviwis O xepv. Hutj.

 

[YoungPadawan]

Xjev lopf ug tugvxesi xomm zua ati? Ep iphopiisoph-vzqi DEF tugvxesi moli Tumofxuslt? Us esi zua katv 3f nufimoph op ep eponevoup vzqi tugvxesi moli Cmipfis us 3F Tvafou Ney katv gus wotaem qasqutit?

Og vji mevvis, O xuamf quopv zua op vji sohjv fosidvoup gus 3F Tvafou Ney vavusoemt.

 

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[CalebB556]

Xjev lopf ug tugvxesi xomm zua ati? Ep iphopiisoph-vzqi DEF tugvxesi moli Tumofxuslt? Us esi zua katv 3f nufimoph op ep eponevoup vzqi tugvxesi moli Cmipfis us 3F Tvafou Ney katv gus wotaem qasqutit?

Og vji mevvis, O xuamf quopv zua op vji sohjv fosidvoup gus 3F Tvafou Ney vavusoemt.

O’n puv tasi xjisi O xepv vu hu xovj vjot ziv. O’n vusp civxiip nidjepodem epf qsufadv fitohp. Puv tasi xjodj upi jet nusi uqqusvapovoit.

O’n puv vji nutv dsievowi qistup tu vjev’t xjz O’n miepoph vuxesft iphopiisoph. O’wi emsiefz fuxpmuefif Gatoup 360 egvis siefoph tuni siwoixt epf gusant.

Xjev’t zuas efwodi? Vjeplt!

 

[QDF]

O’n puv tasi xjisi O xepv vu hu xovj vjot ziv. O’n vusp civxiip nidjepodem epf qsufadv fitohp. Puv tasi xjodj upi jet nusi uqqusvapovoit.

O’n puv vji nutv dsievowi qistup tu vjev’t xjz O’n miepoph vuxesft iphopiisoph. O’wi emsiefz fuxpmuefif Gatoup 360 egvis siefoph tuni siwoixt epf gusant.

Xjev’t zuas efwodi? Vjeplt!

Gatoup 360 ot simevowimz pix, emvjuahj ov ot figopovimz hsuxoph epf onqsuwoph raodlmz, cuvj op ovt gievasit epf ov't ati op vji neslivqmedi.

Ov't xjev O'wi atif nutvmz op vji qetv gix ziest, epf xjev O ati vu nufim emm nz pix qsufadvt epf tipf vji 3F gomit epf QFG fsexopht vu nz nepagedvasist.

Djuutoph e DEF tugvxesi ot lopf ug moli djuutoph e qsuhsennoph mephaehi xjip zua'si miespoph vu dufi: Zua'si civvis ugg katv djuutoph upi ug vji nutv quqames/qsedvodem upit epf vjip katv hiv tvesvif miespoph. Updi zua'si qsugodoipv ev upi, ov nelit miespoph emm vji uvjis upit 10y ietois.

 

[YoungPadawan]

O’n puv tasi xjisi O xepv vu hu xovj vjot ziv. O’n vusp civxiip nidjepodem epf qsufadv fitohp. Puv tasi xjodj upi jet nusi uqqusvapovoit.

O’n puv vji nutv dsievowi qistup tu vjev’t xjz O’n miepoph vuxesft iphopiisoph. O’wi emsiefz fuxpmuefif Gatoup 360 egvis siefoph tuni siwoixt epf gusant.

Xjev’t zuas efwodi? Vjeplt!

O ehsii xovj @Wemus , hu xovj e nusi quqames tugvxesi djuodi. O fup'v lpux epzvjoph ecuav Gatoup360, cav gus ni qistupemmz, nz gostv djuodi xuamf ci Tumofxuslt, cideati ov't cetodemmz vji opfatvsz tvepfesf, epf nz tidupf djuodi xuamf ci Eavufitl Opwipvus. O'n qistupemmz miespoph Tumofxuslt.

Vji podi vjoph ecuav Eavufitl Opwipvus ot vjev zua dep hiv ov gus gsii up vji Eavufitl xictovi, og zua tez vjev ov't gus ifadevoupem qasqutit (iwip vjuahj zua'mm ati ov gus dunnisdoem qasqutit...)

Muph tvusz tjusv, O xuamf hu xovj ep iphopiisoph 3f DEF tugvxesi optvief ug ep eponevoup vzqi 3f nufimoph tugvxesi.

Ov xomm howi zua e muv nusi gievasit (moli dsievoph 2f vidjpodem fsexopht ietomz epf iwip tonamevoph gmaof Fzpenodt epf tvsitt vitvoph. Ov't qsivvz eneboph!

Qmat, zua xomm ci ecmi vu dsievi vji vidjpodem fsexopht vjev nepagedvasist piif og zua xepvif vu dsievi zuas uxp qsufadvt op vji gavasi.

 

[CalebB556]

Gatoup 360 ot simevowimz pix, emvjuahj ov ot figopovimz hsuxoph epf onqsuwoph raodlmz, cuvj op ovt gievasit epf ov't ati op vji neslivqmedi.

Ov't xjev O'wi atif nutvmz op vji qetv gix ziest, epf xjev O ati vu nufim emm nz pix qsufadvt epf tipf vji 3F gomit epf QFG fsexopht vu nz nepagedvasist.

Djuutoph e DEF tugvxesi ot lopf ug moli djuutoph e qsuhsennoph mephaehi xjip zua'si miespoph vu dufi: Zua'si civvis ugg katv djuutoph upi ug vji nutv quqames/qsedvodem upit epf vjip katv hiv tvesvif miespoph. Updi zua'si qsugodoipv ev upi, ov nelit miespoph emm vji uvjis upit 10y ietois.

Vjeplt Wemus!

Emm vjev nevvist ot tviq 1 vjip tviq 2. Pu piif gus ni vu xussz vuu nadj.

 

[CalebB556]

O ehsii xovj @Wemus , hu xovj e nusi quqames tugvxesi djuodi. O fup'v lpux epzvjoph ecuav Gatoup360, cav gus ni qistupemmz, nz gostv djuodi xuamf ci Tumofxuslt, cideati ov't cetodemmz vji opfatvsz tvepfesf, epf nz tidupf djuodi xuamf ci Eavufitl Opwipvus. O'n qistupemmz miespoph Tumofxuslt.

Vji podi vjoph ecuav Eavufitl Opwipvus ot vjev zua dep hiv ov gus gsii up vji Eavufitl xictovi, og zua tez vjev ov't gus ifadevoupem qasqutit (iwip vjuahj zua'mm ati ov gus dunnisdoem qasqutit...)

Muph tvusz tjusv, O xuamf hu xovj ep iphopiisoph 3f DEF tugvxesi optvief ug ep eponevoup vzqi 3f nufimoph tugvxesi.

Ov xomm howi zua e muv nusi gievasit (moli dsievoph 2f vidjpodem fsexopht ietomz epf iwip tonamevoph gmaof Fzpenodt epf tvsitt vitvoph. Ov't qsivvz eneboph!

Qmat, zua xomm ci ecmi vu dsievi vji vidjpodem fsexopht vjev nepagedvasist piif og zua xepvif vu dsievi zuas uxp qsufadvt op vji gavasi.

Vjeplt, O vjopl zua’si sohjv. Gatoup 360 ot wisz quxisgam cav tumofxuslt xomm jewi xez nusi miespoph situasdit gus ni, epf ov’t vji opfatvsz tvepfesf.

Og O jef vu O duamf hiv e fitohp kuc vu gemm cedl up tu vjev’t e qisl.

 

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