Heya, it’s been a while!
I sent my last newsletter more than a month ago because I was travelling (more about this in a future newsletter 👀). And then, I was almost immediately sucked back into the work grind. I thought December would be a chill month, but apparently not 🥲
Anyway, with 2024 ending soon, it’s time for the annual year in review, where I look back at the year’s highs and lows! Here are the things that stand out in my mind:
I started this year on a not-so-good note
I was hired by an agency to help with their client’s project. But the person from the agency was so difficult to work with that we parted ways before the project ended.
A major factor was probably that the agency’s instructions to me didn’t match what the end client wanted. I might write about the perils of this another time.
But I continued to work on awesome projects
I worked on roughly 120 projects this year, which is fewer than last year’s 140+.
I wrote on interesting topics, updated (lots of) help articles to cover new software features and talked to founders for case studies. I’m even helping to write a book!
Apart from writing, I revived my email implementation services in case I need another revenue source.
I also have a pretty big collab coming soon, but I don’t want to say too much about it for now…!
And I went on two epic overseas trips
These trips were part leisure and part work because I met some clients during them. Sure, we talk often via email, Slack and all, but seeing them in person really hits different.
More about the first trip here, and I’ll write about the second trip soon.
As things would have it, one of these clients stopped by Singapore (where I’m based) last week. So, we had lunch here too!
I also got my schedule under control
(Well…mostly anyway…)
This year, I added more buffer time for projects. This helped maintain calm in my calendar even when projects took longer than expected to complete.
I haven’t been worried about adding so much buffer that I have nothing to do. That time always somehow gets filled, one way or another.
Final score: Revenue is up by around 10%
Revenue for this year has been healthy. After watching my monthly revenue figures for many, many months in a row, I felt confident enough to give myself a pay raise from Q2 2024.
From sending my last invoices for the year yesterday, my 2024 revenue figures are around 10% higher than last year’s.
This increase doesn’t sound like much when you think about how I could previously double my annual revenue. But since I’m no longer starting from a low base and my capacity is more or less maxed out, I’m not expecting or aiming for dramatic revenue jumps.
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As a whole, I’m feeling optimistic for 2025. I feel like I stand in front of many diverging roads, each offering new opportunities and ideas to explore. It’s just up to me to choose which path to take.
But first: I’m doing one last bit of travelling before 2024 comes to an end. So, this is the last newsletter from me for this year.
As always, thanks for being a reader, and I’ll see you in 2025. Happy holidays! 🎁🎊🎉
(If you’re curious how my previous years went: here’s my 2023 year in review and my 2022 year in review.)
More freelancer news
Side hustle talk
In an opinion piece, Singapore finance blogger Dawn Cher, aka Budget Babe, suggested that people consider starting side hustles (plural) to build multiple income streams. Just in case they lose their day job (and main income source).
Interestingly, she believes starting a side hustle isn’t the same as moonlighting because your side hustle work doesn’t conflict with your main job. But she also advises double-checking your employment contract before you start, which I think is wise.
Separately, a Money Hacks podcast episode discusses whether fractional jobs are the “modern-day side hustle”.
Fractional jobs involve doing work at a senior organisational level, e.g. Vice President to C-level roles. These jobs offer higher pay since you’ll do higher-level work. But since the pay isn’t in the form of a regular monthly income backed up by nice payslips or CPF contributions, you may have trouble getting bank loans.
Listen to the podcast episode here.
(I also previously chatted with a fractional Chief Marketing Officer to learn more about fractional work. Check out my recap of the convo here if you’re interested.)
Claim yo’ childcare leave!
Last month, it was reported that many self-employed parents in Singapore eligible for government-paid childcare leave (GPCL) from 2019 to 2022 didn’t claim it.
Maybe these parents weren’t aware the government will help pay for the time they take off work to care for their children?
So, here’s a PSA that GPCL is a thing even if you’re self-employed. The payment amount is determined by the income you declared in your Notice of Assessment tax document.
More details on how GPCL leave works (and how to claim payment) here. And if you’re eligible and need to take this leave, claim it!
This post was first published in my email newsletter on 19 Dec 2024. If you liked it, sign up for my newsletter here:
