My First Six-Figure Project: A Freelance Journey Milestone

Three years. Three years na akong freelance developer. Sa loob ng panahong 'yon, sobrang dami nang pinagdaanan—mga puyat for deadlines, non-stop na pag-aaral ng mga new technologies, at ang constant na paghahanap ng clients. Today, I just want to share a huge milestone for me.

This is not to brag, but more of sharing my gratitude and hoping to inspire others. For the first time ever, naka-land ako ng client for a six-figure project.

I still remember my journey clearly. Bago ako nag-full-time freelance, I came from a private company. After kong mag-resign doon, I also tried working as a System Developer sa government. Sa mga panahong 'yon, I still remember na to earn ₱50,000, it would take me two to three months of work, tapos kailangan pa ng seryosong pag-iipon.

Kaya every freelance project on the side, no matter how small, was a huge blessing. Bawat line of code na sinusulat ko, may kasamang pangarap na one day, I'll be able to do this full-time and lahat ng pagod ay magiging worth it. Those were the days that really shaped my dedication and work ethic. Tinuruan ako ng mga panahong 'yon to value every opportunity and to work hard to reach my goals.

And now, here we are. One day, habang nagche-check ako ng messages ko, isang potential client ang nag-reach out. After a few messages and presenting my portfolio, we closed the deal. The project value? Six digits.

'Yung downpayment pa lang, katumbas na ng pinaghirapan ko for a few months back then. Nung pumasok na 'yung bayad sa account ko, I couldn't help but smile and feel grateful. Ito 'yung feeling na you're slowly achieving the things you once just dreamed of. This is proof na ang tiwala sa sarili, hard work, and continuous learning really pay off.

While I'm celebrating this win, alam kong this is not the end. In fact, this is just the beginning. This money isn't just a number; it's a symbol of the trust my client gave me. Ngayon, my responsibility is bigger—to prove na I am worthy of that trust and the price tag that comes with it.

My goal now is not just to finish the project, but to exceed my client's expectations. Sana matapos ko 'tong project na 'to nang maayos at sa lalong madaling panahon. I want to prove na every peso na ipinagkatiwala nila ay worth it because of the quality and expertise I can deliver.

As I said, "Malayo na, pero malayo pa." Marami pa akong kailangang matutunan, marami pang challenges na darating, at mas marami pang goals na gustong ma-achieve.

To all my fellow freelancers, lalo na sa mga galing sa corporate or government work na nangangarap mag-transition, don't give up. The day will come when all your hard work will bear fruit. Just trust the process and your skills.

Thanks for joining me in this little celebration. Tuloy ang grind, sa Panginoong Diyos ang lahat ng kapurihan!