From Sales to Multi-Job Freelancer: Realizing 'It Continues Because I Love It'

I am an SEO writer, a school instructor, a model, and recently started songwriting. I am a multi-occupational freelancer.

SEO writing aims at attracting customers by aiming to rank first on Google to bring in many customers and direct them to the website. Although many may have the image that writing is a liberal arts job, logic is very important. In essence, SEO articles are explanatory texts, so it might be better to think that people with a science background are more suited for this job. Also, the knowledge and study of SEO writers are in a constant cat-and-mouse game, so SEO writers must always have the latest SEO knowledge and keep rewriting.

As a school instructor, I first have the basic SEO skills, so I started the SEO writing course and became its instructor. Also, since many writers work as freelancers or as a side job, they often have to secure their own projects through client interactions. I used to be in sales until March 2019, so I also share my sales experience.

There are various scenes like video shoots and photo shoots, but the reason I chose seemingly different jobs like SEO writer, school instructor, and model comes down to this: I have a strong consistency in creating socially beneficial content. As for why I started modeling, it's because as a writer, I found it hard to find free materials for negative keywords like sleepy, painful, or stomachache. Having models for such negative words would make the articles more relatable. Also, due to my age, I often play roles like women struggling with menopause.

It might seem like writing SEO articles, but it's actually being a school instructor. In a one-hour consultation, students come with various issues. For instance, making high-level judgments, especially for students with deep-rooted issues that the school can't solve, and guiding them to seek medical help or counseling in a way that they can accept, is emotionally taxing. Also, some students initially say they want to start a side job or become independent, but they lack the output skills. I respect autonomy, so I don't blame them if they don't submit assignments. However, I make sure to tell them that everything is their own responsibility.

I have a gut feeling that one student will surpass me and start a great business within three years. Meeting such a student is a rare and happy event, not just for school instructors but for all educators. I tell all my students that instructors are just a stepping stone. If my teachings end with me, the world won't progress. I'm grateful to have met a student who I believe will take my teachings further.

It's not stress but emotional labor. There are moments when I realize that a student is discarding everything I taught them. Even though they paid a significant tuition fee, some students might just want the appearance of learning. When I encounter such students, it hurts, but I believe in teaching until there's nothing left to teach. It's challenging to come to terms with this.

Emotional labor is required in jobs like nursing, childcare, and caregiving. For example, nurses might face violence from patients, but if they retaliate with violence, they're letting their emotions control them. Nurses control their emotions, even when they're hurt or in pain, to provide gentle care. This is a significant burden for humans, and instructors also need this. Even if a student discards my teachings, I won't let my emotions get the better of me.

Though I call myself a writer, my job is more like a director's. I'm increasingly taking on SEO director and consultancy roles. As for instructing, it's emotionally taxing. My father was a high school teacher and never took a break, but I'm different. I pay close attention to my students, which might break me mentally. So, I plan to take intervals after a year of instructing.

Initially, modeling was just a side job for me, but I found it incredibly fun and fulfilling. It gives me a sense of excitement and joy in work. I plan to take on more video and photo shoots and aim to skill up in this new genre.

When I was in sales, my company taught me to 'eat for conversation's sake' and 'pay for experiences.' It means to pay for the value of an experience, not just the taste. Salespeople need to constantly gather fresh topics, and I believe in paying for experiences. Whether it suits my taste or not, as long as I experience it, I can talk about it with customers.

Those who don't thoroughly engage won't truly enjoy things. For instance, when I got interested in fashion, I roamed department stores to create a fashion benchmark for myself. I looked at all fashion without bias before deciding what I liked. Most people might not have the passion to do this, but I did, and that's why I find fashion so enjoyable. Thorough engagement leads to unparalleled joy.

I see my job as a small part of the global workforce. Society functions through everyone's cooperation. The fact that we can spend a day with this group is part of a larger cycle.

Based on my experience, many students want to succeed as freelancers, but those who start for negative reasons, like disliking their current environment, rarely succeed. Those who genuinely love their job and want to pursue it are the ones who succeed. When choosing a significant career, it's crucial to do it for genuine love and excitement, not for negative reasons like bad relationships or dislikes.