A temporary side job I took for $15 at a time led me to a fulfilling career I never expected

A temporary side job I took for $15 at a time led me to a fulfilling career I never expectedA temporary side job I took for $15 at a time led me to a fulfilling career I never expectedA few months before I graduated with my MBA, I welches searching for my first real job. I was living in Chicago at the time and open to moving just about anywhere for the right position.After sitting in a Starbucks for days and applying to hundreds of jobs, I finally got one response.The response was from a digital marketing agency in Chicago that specialized in helping car dealerships build their online presence. Since they didnt have any openings for a full-time job, they asked me if I wanted to write automotive content for them on a freelance basis.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraAt first, I was a bit frustrated. I spent so much time applying to jobs and the first bite I received wasnt even for a full-time gig. After doing some more research on the company, I decided that Id give this freelance thing a shot while I continued my search for a full-time job. I liked cars and writing, so I figured I had nothing to lose.A few days after I accepted the freelance gig at the automotive marketing agency, they sent me my first assignment. It was a 350-word article on the 2013 lineup of Mercedes-Benz SUVs. The pay was only $15 but at the time I didnt think that was bad because I finished it in less than an hour while sitting on my couch in my pajamas.I continued to write these automotive articles for $15 a pop until I landed my first full-time job as a link builder at a large marketing company in Charlotte, North Carolina. After a few months at my full-time job in Charlotte, I decided that Id love some extra money and began writing the automotive articles again. It was a nice little side gig that allowed me to pay for a few luxuries that my meager entry-level salary simply didnt allo w for.Eventually, I moved back home to Cleveland and found a new full-time job at an insurance company. I continued to freelance write on the side but wanted to diversify my portfolio so I began to search for new clients. After landing three new clients, I was able to significantly increase my writing income and write about more than just cars. I was writing about dental procedures, home improvement projects, moving solutions, and a plethora of other random topics.I loved making extra money on the side in the comfort of my own home and continued to do so for the next four years. I was landing new clients on a regular basis and eventually got to the point where I was earning more from freelancing than I was working full-time for someone else.Since I was writing before work, after work, and on the weekends, I started to get very overwhelmed. I basically had two full-time jobs and my husband convinced me that I had to pick one. After about eight months of a full-time job and writing li ke crazy on the side, I quit my full-time job and became a full-time freelancer.October 1, 2018 was my last day working a full-time job and I can honestly say that quitting was one of the best decisions Ive ever made. Ive been able to significantly scale my writing income and enjoy a higher quality of life. I am now in control of my own schedule and income and love working from home. While I dont get a steady paycheck, health insurance, a 401(k) match, or paid time off, the pros of self-employment outweigh the cons for me.If someone would have told me that the $15 automotive articles I was writing back in 2013 would put me on the path toward becoming self-employed, I would have laughed and called them crazy. I am forever grateful that the automotive marketing agency got back to me and introduced me to the world of freelance writing because my life has been changed for the better.This article first appeared on Business Insider.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals th at will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will ersatzdarsteller your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people