Level 2 Seller Sky, aka SkyHam, always loved writing, but wasn’t sure how to turn this interest into something more until he found Fiverr. Read on to find out how he turned a lifelong interest into a full-time Gig.
Tell us a little about yourself. Who you are, where you’re from, how you got your start, and what you do on Fiverr.
Early on in my professional life I wasn’t entirely convinced yet it was possible to follow what I wanted to do, rather than what I thought I should do, or what was ‘smartest.’ With a big hand from Fiverr, I ended up doing the most wonderful combination of both.
It wasn’t until sometime after high school that I really began focusing on where working with my creativity could take me. It started with writing simple stories for fun in my spare time, but it slowly grew into something more. People liked what I wrote, and wanted me to write for them. And I was more than happy to do so. It wasn’t long until I was freelance writing for most of the day, and eventually building an online writing community of my own, where people and clients could connect over their love for the creative. I loved every minute of it.
Soon after that, I stumbled across Fiverr. The rest, as my more dramatic friends like to say, is history. Fiverr changed the way I thought about what I was doing, about where I was going in terms of working as a creative. Suddenly I had a new platform to build on, and one that could connect me with people from all over Earth at that. It was something for me to chip away at every single day and make for myself. It was exhilarating, but if I’m being honest, also a little nerve-racking.
It wasn’t long after creating a writing Gig that my first order came in. I’m not ashamed to say I spent a ridiculous amount of hours on that first piece, but the client loved it, and that’s what matters. Because from then on each new order was a little easier than the last.
This went on for some time until I came to a crossroads in my life, one that Fiverr helped me with. One in which I was able to pursue both what I wanted to do in life, and what I’d always thought I should do.
I’d been invited to study with several law faculties at home and abroad but couldn’t decide if or where to go. I knew I wanted to see the world but was worried I wouldn’t be able to support myself if I left my home country of Canada. Anyone that leaves their home can tell you there’s a lot to consider, that there’s a lot of unknowns, and that’s admittedly scary. But Fiverr was the one constant that put my mind at ease. Fiverr gave me the reassurance I needed to pull the trigger on that decision because I knew that I would still be able to work doing what I loved, and I’m thankful for that. I was able to travel the world knowing I had this job in my back pocket, and finally settle down to study law in Europe with a career I’d started at home. The simple beauty of being able to take your work with you is a truly wonderful thing. Never underestimate the power in that.
And that’s where I am today. Now I have multiple Gigs and my most popular one is a branding Gig where I provide creative names for those looking to build businesses or brands of their own. It allows me to work creatively in an entirely new and fantastic way all over again. Every day on Fiverr is exciting because you never know what you’re going to get, or what you’re going to learn, or how you’re going to grow. There’s always something new, and that simple reality is absolutely wonderful.
What motivates you as an entrepreneur? Why do you do what you do?
I’m always excited to see what’s waiting for me when I start my work day. Part of what motivates me everyday is the true variety of work I get to do here. An assortment of jobs you won’t find anywhere else. There are also orders that are similar of course, and that’s great too because I’ve got the experience there, but a great deal of the work I receive is in fact new. It could be a unique kind of startup, or a crazy product, or a corporation doing some really fantastic work, fiction writing, you just never know! And though there’s a lot more to it than that, it’s certainly a huge part of why it’s easy for me to put my head down and get to work.
Another part of Fiverr I really love is the chance to build something for yourself. The opportunity to establish a profile and portfolio that is your own and the result of work you do. It simply feels good. Not to mention the fact you’re also working with people from all over Earth, who all have unique stories and ideas of their own. Capturing these ideas and giving clients something they can not only use, but succeed with, is a fulfilling feeling. I’m also someone that just generally loves working with creative people, and my work here has presented me time and time again with the opportunity to do so. Whether I’m naming an energy company, or script writing a video game, collaborating with passionate people is a privilege and something that makes work feel less like work.
Is Fiverr your full-time Gig, or just a side hustle?
Though it began as a side hustle, I’m happy to say it’s become more of a full-time Gig for me. In the coming months I hope to be able to further grow my client base too, and have it become a ‘fuller-time’ Gig, if you will. Personal creative work and personal projects have also always been a big part of my life, and certainly still are, but in terms of creative employment, Fiverr is the full-time Gig for me! And I’m glad it is.
How have your skills grown since joining Fiverr?
The way in which Fiverr allows you to grow as a creative individual is absolutely brilliant, and there really is nothing else like it. Each order is like a little test waiting to show you something new about you and your creative abilities. Not only has Fiverr allowed me to work from wherever I am in the world, it’s also allowed me to hone my creative skills in ways I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. Every unique instruction in every order is a challenge, and with each one I complete, I learn just a little more, and I get just a little better at something. I strongly believe it’s important to constantly push yourself, to learn something new from every day that passes, and Fiverr has helped me to do just that. It’s both a unique workplace and a tool.
And believe it or not, many of the practical skills I have learned here on Fiverr apply to my academic life too. Multitasking, dealing with people in a professional manner, meeting deadlines, overcoming obstacles, building work schedules, sticking to those schedules, it all applies. I didn’t expect Fiverr to help me grow the way it has, but man am I glad it did.
Tell us about some of your favorite projects.
I’ve had some truly incredible and wacky projects over the years. It’s hard to remember them all, but there are certainly a few that I won’t forget anytime soon. One of my earlier projects that sticks out was for a man who was by trade a blacksmith, though he crafted only one thing: swords. Certainly a niche market, but they were undoubtedly beautiful works of art that took him weeks to make. He wanted back-stories written for each one he’d finished, and as a fan of fiction myself, that was quite simply a wondrous thing to write about. Another time I collaborated with a video game company to draft the history of their in-development game, and went on to do a great many projects with them, and they were all extremely interesting to write.
There have been many written stories too, of all shapes and sizes, and those are always fun. There have been energy companies doing some amazing work for the future, tech companies with bold ideas and products that could change the way we think, and not long ago there was even a space-flight company, making access to outer space cheaper and more efficient for the private sector. That was certainly very cool. Of course there have been many similar things over the years, from small businesses to books to products and beyond. There have been radio shows, magic shows, apps, law firms, investment firms, fashion lines, sports leagues, you name it. And despite doing a lot of these, they still often present new and unique opportunities too. I try very hard to treat every order as though it were the most important one, and in doing so, the work feels important. Because the reality is, whatever I’m naming or writing about is often the livelihood and result of months or even years of work for a lot of these clients. I think it’s important to remember and respect that. In the end, there are too many to remember all of them, but there are certainly those I won’t forget anytime soon. And who knows? Maybe my favorite project of all has yet to come! That’s the beauty of Fiverr.
What impact has Fiverr had on your life? Has it changed the way you think about your profession or career?
Fiverr introduced a new kind of mindset that truly changed the way I approached work. After writing on Fiverr for some time I added a branding Gig that soon became my main Gig, and presented a whole new way for me to challenge myself, learn and work. It showed me that I had creative skills beyond just writing, and that wasn’t something I had thought of before, and quite possibly something I may never have thought of without Fiverr. For that I’m grateful, because not only did it open new doors for me, it put me in a new world of new people to connect with.
Recently I’ve even branched outside the written / branding world and started turning some of my other hobbies into Gigs, such as calligraphy. It’s reminded me why it’s important to do what you love, and that it’s a privilege to do so. I’m thankful for everything I’ve learned on Fiverr, for the communities it’s connected me with, and the way it’s helped me grow. There’s no place like it, and I’m proud to be a part of it.
How has the Gig Economy changed your life? Tell us in the comments below!
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