I am The Gigmother.

If you’re thinking about switching to full-time freelance work, you probably need someone to talk to. Someone who’s been there and won’t sugarcoat the hard facts. Or maybe you’re already freelancing, but you could benefit from a trusted advisor.

Someone like a mother, a mentor, and bullshit detector, all in one. That’s the Gigmother.

I know it’s tough because I’ve been there.

In 2009, I switched from being a full-time ad agency copywriter to a full-time freelancer.

At the time, my husband was the stay-at-home parent for our family of 4, and my employment provided our income and healthcare. I was riddled with anxiety about what would happen if I didn’t succeed, and at the same time, compelled to succeed as an example for my daughters. A year into that transition, we added a son to our family.

Making the move was no easy decision, and it certainly wasn’t pain-free. I sorted through a lot of advice. I made little mistakes. I made big mistakes. And I dragged my feet on things I needed to do, more than once or twice.

Through it all, I was determined to make it work—because I gave myself no other option. And I built a creative business that endures today—marking 15 years in May 2024, serving clients around the globe.

Grit leads to The Gigmother

A certain wiki writes that “The Godfather” is a term “used to address an older and influential mafioso, as a sign of respect.”

I’m no mafioso. But I am older. Colleagues have told me I have influence. As The Gigmother, I help others who want to explore the freelance path.

Going freelance isn’t the big, bad, scary place it used to be 15 years ago. Today, we even have a name for it: the gig economy. People are paying attention to the 1099 crowd, and businesses have discovered that freelance talent enables greater innovation.

If you think freelance work is about living the dream, you’re partly right. It’s also about working hard and making tough choices. Investing in your business and planning for your future. The Gigmother is about finding your way to good decisions that work for you and the important people in your life. That’s why we can talk about all of it, like:

• Knowing your personal risk tolerance for making the switch

• Understanding and getting business insurance

• Finding a business attorney who has your back

• Managing the lines between clients, friends, and co-workers

• Planning for and paying quarterly taxes

• Surviving the perfect storm of tax time, slow business, and terror in your heart

And so much more. I’m glad you found me. And I’m glad you’re thinking about your next steps in this grand world.