Freelance to Freedom: The Roadmap for Creating a Side Business to Achieve Financial, Time and Life Freedom

by Vincent Pugliese

Vincent and his wife were stuck in dead end newspaper photography jobs, in debt, stressed, with a baby on the way while making $15 an hour. After winning the highest award in his field, Vincent was offered a 3 percent raise. He knew at that moment he needed a monumental change. One month away from their baby being born, Vincent and Elizabeth started a side photography business out of desperation. In less than four years, they grew their business to pay off all of their debt, including their home, and left their jobs for a life of freedom. With the world moving rapidly towards a freelance model, Freelance to Freedom is not only timely and necessary, but it's also entertaining, engaging and paints a picture for anyone looking for a life of freedom with money, time and location.

Genres: Business, Personal Finance, Finance, Nonfiction

235 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2017

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reads like a why more than a how. Reads like it was written to convince someone sitting on the fence that they can and should do it rather than what I was looking for, which was how.

It’s very broad, which I guess makes it more broadly appealing.

It focuses on debt, to which I cannot relate because I have none.

It’s not a bad read and has many good things to say. I did take away a few nuggets but I’ll keep looking for a read that’s more of a practical, nuts-and-bolts how-to, which this is not.

[Karl Roembke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth a read, but not exactly a 'roadmap to create a side business' (the sub-title). While the book has its inspirational moments, it's more like practical wisdom and life lessons from a guy whose been through his share of ups and downs as he started and grew his side business. Much of the author's advice would apply to anyone, whether self-employed as a freelancer or not.

Also, this book is a case study for the life changing principles taught by Dave Ramsey.

Why 4 stars and not 5? Precisely because the sub-title should have been something else

[Nichola · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly the personal story of a guy who realized his career and general consumer lifestyle were not leading to happiness. So he started doing wedding photography on the side and eventually made that their business. I didn't really see much to learn here in terms of the roadmap. He followed Dave Ramsey to begin with, then bought lots of business books. Then he and his wife (who is only mentioned in the business infrequently) worked part time while their built their reputation and worked their way into the wedding industry. Then they moved to just that job, and decided to move to a different city and homeschool and coach other people who want a business, and then find other ways to make money from his journey. I thought it was a bit ironic that his business depends on just the kind of spending that he had learned to avoid, and that although they talked about their unique style of photography, they also talked about building business courtesy referrals to and from other photographers (because of schedule and location issues) without any qualms.

[Michael Law · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book, you will be motivated! First, you will be motivated to simply get out from the bondage of debt. He shares his story and then shares how it is possible for anyone to get out of debt. But they first must be motivated, which Pugliese certainly does. They he motivates you on how to get out from a job that one dislikes but thinks is needed for financial security. When one realizes that it is not real security, that securing your own future in your own way is the only way then one can become truly free to do as one sees fit. Pugliese certainly motivates you to do that. He shows how he was able to become truly financially free, and how you can, too. With financial freedom comes freedom to spend YOUR time the YOU choose, not how an employer or anyone else chooses. What a motivating book!

[Đặng Linh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cuốn sách này giúp mình định vị được hướng đi của mình trước giờ chọn freelacer to freedom. Làm việc tự do các nước Mỹ 🇺🇸, Úc 🇦🇺, châu âu 🌍 hiện nay phát triển. Ở Việt Nam 🇻🇳 từ khi có dịch mọi người có xu hướng làm việc tại nhà. Nhu cầu này trong thời gian tới sẽ mạnh vì doanh nghiệp khó đỡ nổi tiền mặt bằng, chi phí khá cao nên sự lựa chọn doanh nghiệp thuê những chuyên gia vừa tiết kiệm không gian, thời gian mà lẫn tài chính. Ai cũng được tự do làm việc. Vấn đề quan trọng là tính kỷ luật cao.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually picked up this book thinking it was about freelance writing. It is not, but so much more! Though he doesn't use the term, this is a FIRE book. Pugliese is humble and honest, which will probably help many follow his path to freedom, and open about his personal journey. The layout of this book into phases makes it a great life planning tool that anyone can follow, no matter where they are on their financial journey. Full of practical ideas.

[Stephen · Rating 2 out of 5]

First half of the book was great. It was basically a memoir of how the author and his wife switched from working for a newspaper to becoming wedding successful photographers while also changing their relationship with money. The second part feels a bit more "preachy" and basically gives the impression that you're an idiot if you decide to continue to work for someone else.

[Ksenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great personal story-lesson

What I love about this book is not only helpful advises but also a great personal story. This story just an excellent proof that everything is possible to everyone.

[Patricia Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting memoir at the beginning about Vincent and his wife's path to financial independence. The second half is something else. The second half is broken into five parts and has more of the tone of self-help book.

[Barney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers practical insights into freelancing as a way to gain personal freedom. To be clear, the book is not about starting a business to accumulate wealth, but rather about living within your means while working for yourself so that you can carve out more time to enjoy life.

[Zoë · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is excellent! What a gift to pass on to others, the roadmap to financial freedom.

[Sharon C · Rating 5 out of 5]

The content is detailed for readers to understand that the entire process to freedom is certainly not an overnight thing. Easy to read, too.

[Eli]

this was an awesome read. I read it exactly when I had problem managing my income and it was pretty helpful.

[Jennifer Gyuricska · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quick read, written for those who want to get ahead and see a side business as the vehicle to take them forward.

If I'd been just starting out, I'd have enjoyed the book more.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

More personal story and how mindset changes than how to book.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn’t the worst book I’ve read on time freedom. Good grief I’ve wasted a few hours on some terrible ones (ironically) . Some good ideas, mostly fresh ones which is encouraging.

[sima Teimourianmotlagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, with every word of the book, I imagined my life. I’m sharing the enjoyable parts with you, hoping you’ll find it useful.

The book begins with: “This book is not about money, stocks, or investments. It has no charts or formulas. It doesn’t aim to make you more money. This book is about freedom, creating time, and living without a job you hate.”
It’s strange that people spend their entire adult lives working and only start living after retirement. Dissatisfaction is the first step to progress. The secret to happiness is achieving freedom, and the secret to freedom is courage.
The author provides solutions to leave jobs we hate and start fulfilling work. Remember, great freedom comes with great responsibility. Take responsibility for your life, overcome your fears, and be patient.
Follow the right path to enjoy freedom, work, and build your dream life.

راستش در تمام لحظات و با تک تک کلمات کتاب زندگی خودم رو تصور کردم و بخش های لذتبخشش رو براتون پست می کنم امیدوارم بخونیدش و ازش استفاده کنید.
کتاب با این جملات جذاب شروع میشه:
این کتاب در مورد پول، سهام یا سرمایه گذاری نیست، هیچ جدول و فرمولی ندارد حتی نمی خواد سعی کند که شما پول بیشتری در بیاورید، این کتاب درباره آزادی ست، درباره خلق زمان، درباره زندگی کردن بدون شغلی که از آن متفرید
عجیب است که یک انسان تمام دوران بزرگسالی اش را بگذارد با یک شغل و تازه بعد از بازنشتگی زندگی اش را شروع کند
خبر خوب اینکه نارضایتی اولین قدم در پیشرفت هر انسانی ست. راز خوشبختی رسیدن به آزادی ست و راز رسیدن به آزادی داشتن شجاعت
در ادامه کتاب نویسنده با ارایه چندین راهکاری اساسی سعی در ارایه روش هایی برای رهایی از شغلی ست که از آن متنفریم و شروع زندگی کاری که در آن نه تنها حس خوبی را تجربه می کنیم بلکه رشد می‌کنیم.
در پایان به قول نویسنده: یادت باشه آزادی بزرگ مسئولیت بزرگ هم داره پس مسئولیت زندگیت رو بر عهده بگیر و به ترس هایت غلبه کن . یادت باشه صبر و پشتکار کلید موفقیت
اگر مسیر رو درست پیش بری اونجاست که روی سرزمین الماس هات ایستادی جایی که از آزادی و کار لذت می بری و زندگی رویائیت رو می سازی.

[Lori Leachman]

Freelance to Freedom is an engaging read about one family’s path from debt and financial strain to career and financial independence. The book is a self help guide to taking control of your life by living with less, giving up the small things for a bigger purpose, envisioning your optimal future, and repurposing your skill set to get there. The book uses one couple’s well planned leap out of debt and into self employment to contextualize the necessary steps for the reader to reorganize, and possibly reinvent, his/her life. Again and again the importance of planning and focus are stressed as essential steps to creating a successful life change. Each section ends with 20 questions for the reader to answer to assess where they are with respect to the lessons in the book. The book is also supplemented with a variety of online resources. It is an empowering book.