Freelancing Stories: Find Your Path As a Freelancer, With Giulia Modena

In this month's installment of my Freelancing Stories blog series I've invited web communication and brand vision expert Giulia Modena to share her powerful and inspiring freelancing story and how to find your path as a freelancer. 

Giulia runs a freelance small business, and is sharing how she trusted her gut while also evaluating the possibilities, when deciding she needed to invent a creative job of her own. Her interview was of huge inspiration for myself, so full of insights and actuable tips. Hopefully you'll find her story inspiring too...

Want to be the next to tell a story? Get in touch! >>

What do you do?

I’m a freelance communication specialist. I help professionals and small business owners to shape their vision, find their brand identity and tell their stories online, in a clear, effective and graceful way. I like to go through all the process and work on personal branding, web copywriting and social media strategy. Most of my days are spent imagining, designing, writing and... drinking coffee!

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How did it all begin? When did you decide to go for it?

I studied Literature, at the University, and then History. I’m a researcher, I have completed a PhD in Modern History: for some years, I followed the stories of forgotten people in dusty pages of archives, I learned to read them, I wrote a lot, I studied the Social History of Culture.

I also loved the web from the beginning, I like paper as much as digital, I studied the basics of graphic design and I become fully aware of how much I like to give shape to things, to put them in order, to make them visible to other people.

I realized my place wasn’t in the academic environment and I started a personal process to reinvent my hybrid profile. Was it even possible? How can you find your path as a freelancer? The only way I knew: studying a lot and getting passionate about things.

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What was your biggest goal or dream when you started?

I’m a creative person. I’m moved by the desire to create something useful and valuable to others. I feel good when I see my work solving a problem, or making a professional proud of his/her business. At the same time, I’m moved by the concrete need of being able to support myself, doing a job I’m passionate about.

This decision was probably the greatest I took: to design my own business, live at my own terms and do something good for other people.

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How was it, when you took the risk? Anything you didn’t expect?

Well, it was scary and liberating.

I’m used to analyze everything: for me it wasn’t a sudden decision. I evaluated my possibilities, worked elsewhere and then waited until I knew I had a small safety net. But still, it was a leap of faith in myself and it was scary.

I think I’ll have to deal with worries on a daily basis, because this job saves many unexpected things, but some of them are really good, so it’s worth the risk. One of the best things that has happened since I started? The authentic connection with creative people who inspire me every day (yes, it can happen on Instagram).

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Did/do you have to face adversity?

I don’t know how to answer to this question: well, I’ll go with the truth.

Yes, I had to face adversity. Life happens. I started my business in a moment of disorientation and pain, due to family issues. I’m mentioning this just to raise a couple of points: I believe we all are capable of difficult things but we could do with a little support.

Yet probably my greatest adversity was my lack of self-confidence. Will I ever be able to do this? But life is teaching me perspective and resilience.

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What’s your biggest goal for your freelance career at the moment?

My biggest goal is to last through time. I like small businesses, I know I’m oriented to a slow and sustainable growth. I’d like to attract more people who appreciate and choose my whole approach, and maybe a few dream clients too. I’m attracted both to visuals and writing, so I’d like to explore the world of communication design. I’m also thinking about education: soon or later I’d like to teach some of the things I’ve learned.

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Tell us the secret! Your best tip about freelancing?

Trust the process. If you feel that freelancing is the good fit for you, start thinking seriously about it. Find your path as a freelancer. Ask yourself if you want to create a job position that resonates with you. Then, think about what you can do... Learn something new, study, be curious, find your sources. Take some time for yourself and explore your motivation.

This is why I’m so interested in personal branding and communication: it’s all about your unique personality, your history and the problems you can solve. (And it’s almost therapeutic). The best tip? Commit to yourself. Make a plan and start doing things.

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Want to be featured in the next episode of Freelancing Stories? I'd love to hear from you! If you run a freelance business (of any kind) and would like to share your inspiring story, please feel free to get in touch!