You ever feel like you’re starting over, even when you’ve done the thing before?
That’s me right now.
I’ve been freelancing off and on for more than 20 years. I started back in the days when HTML was still considered a marketable skill by itself. Built websites. Wrote content. Ran a design team. Managed clients from coffee shops, bedrooms, and rented desks before coworking spaces had kombucha on tap.
But life isn’t a straight line. I stepped away from freelancing a few times. Held a regular job. Went back to college and earned my degree. Moved across the world and back. Raised kids. Faced some heavy stuff—suicide attempt, a heart attack, near rock bottom—but I kept moving.
Now? I’m back in the freelance world full time. And let me tell you: it’s different. The landscape changed. Old clients moved on. Websites disappeared. My name isn’t floating around like it used to.
So here I am, rebuilding.
What That Looks Like
It means rewriting my own site, polishing my portfolio, reintroducing myself to the world. It means trying to climb my way back to that sweet $100–$150/hour range where my work belongs. Not because I’m greedy, but because I know what I bring.
- I write clean, SEO-savvy content that doesn’t feel like a robot typed it.
- I build fast, good-looking WordPress sites that load like lightning.
- I understand branding, design, and structure because I’ve led teams, not just written blurbs.
- I know how to talk to clients like humans. No fluff, no mystery invoices.
I don’t sell magic. I sell honesty, reliability, and results. You’ll know what you’re getting, when you’re getting it, and why it costs what it costs.
How I Work (and What You Get)
When it comes to blog content, I bring strategy to every post. I don’t just write—I structure. We start with a short brief, or you send me a topic. I do the SEO research, create the outline, draft, polish, and optimize. You get a ready-to-publish piece that’s clear, natural, and designed to rank.
For websites, I offer full WordPress builds—home, about, contact, and blog—plus logo, branding, and four niche blog posts to kickstart your traffic. You choose your colors or show me a site you love. I design it, build it, and hand it off clean. Want help with hosting and domain? I’ll get you set up.
Where I Am Now
Right now, I’m splitting time between two worlds. My wife and two kids are in the Philippines, where we’ve been living for years. But I’m back in Tucson, Arizona, laying the groundwork to move them here full-time.
It’s not easy. Being 8,000 miles from your family puts a weight on your chest you can’t shake. My wife is holding it down on the other side of the world—managing the household, raising our little ones, making sure things don’t fall apart—while I’m here building a future. One client at a time.
This isn’t a vacation. It’s a mission. I’m here to land the right gigs, set the foundation, and make the transition smooth when they join me. Everything I do right now is for them.
Why I’m Sharing This
Because I think it’s helpful to be real. There’s a lot of content out there that makes freelancing look like an endless beach vacation or a coffee-shop dream life. That happens sometimes, sure. But it’s also scary, inconsistent, and full of weird feast-or-famine cycles.
I’m not here to sugarcoat it. I’m here to document what it’s like to restart. Not from zero, but from a place that feels like I’m building trust all over again. And I want to help others who might be doing the same.
What You Can Expect Here
This blog—Copy Over Coffee—is where I’ll share the real stuff:
- How I pitch clients in 2025 (with screenshots and templates)
- What tech I use to work faster (yes, including AI)
- How to price your work without undercutting yourself
- When to say no to a bad client (even when money’s tight)
- Lessons learned the hard way
There might be some storytelling. There will definitely be coffee.
Final Thought (For Now)
If you’ve been around the block, took a detour, and now find yourself back at the start—welcome. You’re not alone. Whether you’re freelancing full-time, doing it on the side, or just dreaming about it while stuck in a cubicle, I hope this blog helps.
I’ve been doing this long enough to know that it’s possible to rebuild. It takes grit, patience, and a good Wi-Fi connection.
Let’s get to work.
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