From charity to freelance consulting: Chloe's story

I have worked in charities in the UK and Asia all my life and have loved the people, the values, the missions of the organisations I worked for. I thought that was my route forever – gradually progressing toward my dream organisation and going up through the ranks toward a departmental director and maybe, eventually CEO of something.

I made it pretty far – senior management of a really respectable place with wonderfully committed people in change management and trying to help them do better at how they operate and plan their work. It felt promising, and I even managed to get an offer to step into a Director role. Then a bit out of the blue, my dad died. My brain melted a bit, I had a minor freak out, and eventually, the bigger opportunities that exist in the world opened up to me.

I took a wobble to my confidence to perform well in my job, which led me to think more deeply than I ever had about what life meant, what I was doing here and how to best use my short time on this planet.

My partner – a serial entrepreneur and inspirational optimist – coached me gently toward launching my own business. I read his copy of Escape the City and Tim Ferris’ 4-hour work week. We went on a walking holiday to the Peak District where the sky is bigger than here in London, and things seem endless and possible. Over the coming 3 months, we broke down my doubts about whether I would be able to do it: who would I work for, what would I offer, would I even enjoy the freelancer lifestyle, how could we spend our time if I wasn’t anchored to a location…? Things got exciting again, and I know my dad (who also worked for himself) would have approved, or at least understood.

I left my lovely job and colleagues and started my own business in March 2020, just as lock-down began (I’m still owed a leaving do!). Despite my overly sensible financial plan, which assumed I would not make any income at all for up to 6-months, I picked up a client within a month and started on the steep learning curve of consulting. It’s pretty different to being an employee and part of a team, even if my work was similar on paper – you can’t easily bounce ideas back and forth, and there is always an agonising wait for client feedback on your work.

The freedom that has come along with choosing my work has been a revelation. I work less than half the time and still make a decent living. I am becoming kinder to myself about what it means to be a ‘good’ person/productive member of society… is it really hours put in, or the great job you do despite the time put in? We are conditioned to believe that working hard (i.e. time put in) makes us valuable humans. But actually, who cares if I’m not putting in all the hours as long as I am paying taxes and looking after myself and my family?

I’m now a year in, with several clients on the books and sufficient income. I offer advice and research on strategic planning, business models and operational effectiveness to charities in the UK and through a social enterprise consulting agency to well-known NGOs across the world. Not really sure what that all means, but it is interesting to work with lots of teams. I still feel like I have an awful lot of learning to do – especially about marketing and finding my direction. I’m still slightly in limbo – waiting for THAT opportunity – the one that fits like a glove, the niche I can occupy brilliantly, the passion-meets-skill ikigai bit – but I am sure it will emerge once I relax into this a bit more. I think it will centre around climate change and equality and what NGOs need to do differently to respond to those challenges.

My mum is not very well now, and having the time to spend with her is so precious. My wonderful partner and I are also looking forward to exploring more of the world, living differently – perhaps on a boat or in a tiny house or another country for a bit – or whatever. I love the space and time I have to consider anything (COVID notwithstanding) for my future. I feel like I am standing on a tall cliff or building, breathing in that fresh air, and looking out over the world in a new way – anything and everything is possible!

To anyone looking for more autonomy, more choice, more time (depending on what you want) and more variety – I would encourage them to really consider freelancing or consulting. It involves more uncertainty and hustle than working as an employee, but there are ways to manage it if you can go with the uneven nature of work and time demand. Read up and listen to podcasts from those who have done it. There are lots of small

agencies who need a pool of great, flexible, but reliable people on their books and can find you gigs until you understand how to get clients yourself for that thing you do.

As for me, the thing I do is try to help any good cause do their thing, but I am looking forward to finding my ikigai, and in the meantime, I’ll be at mums for dinner or maybe on a boat.

Find me on LinkedIn.