Freelancing taught me how to get things done. Startups taught me which things are worth doing.
As a freelancer, speed is everything.
You win by moving fast - closing the client, executing the campaign, getting paid. Every task feels urgent. Every delay feels risky.
But speed has a ceiling. You’re paid for what you produce, & when the project ends, so does the impact.
In a startup, that mindset gets reversed.
You don’t just write content - you build a content engine. You don’t just close one influencer- you build a system for 100 deals. At least that’s what the right startup will motivate you to do.
Scaling & compounding are the real wins.
So freelancing rewards output. Startups reward outcome.
But a good freelancer can build a successful agency, and a bad startup can stagnate your career.
The right fit though…can unlock a consistency & level of growth that freelancing never can.
I’m thinking of building a framework to evaluate if a startup is right for you - it would help me interview candidates well. Might help you pick the right job too.
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