I went back on Upwork and I didn't lose hope finding a client. During that moment, I didn't know anything aside from a simple data entry and research. Competition is tight on those jobs, that's why it's hard for me to find a client especially that I don't have a feedback on my profile yet.

April 2012, I've finally had my first ever client on Upwork! It was overwhelming. However, the downside with freelancing is that when you finish a project with a client, you have to find another one again, and again, and again. There are times that I am idle for few weeks or months after finishing one project. It's a good thing that I was able to find a long-term client. While working for him, I still look for some short-term clients, others are only project-based. Sad to say, my long-term client has to let go of me because his budget was tight. As a result, I was on the verge of giving up online work. I was being pressured to find a "real job".

Year 2013, I enrolled in college - a different course from what I took up previously. I studied Industrial Engineering and I work during my vacant hours. It was never easy. Until one day, clients keep pouring in until I can no longer handle my studies. It took me 4 semesters (2 years) in school before I've finally decided which to choose between work and studies. Since the opportunity is at my doorstep, I chose to dedicate my time with working from home. I had more time with my family and we get to travel often. No more exams to think of. Although I didn't finish this course, there's no regret on my part.

While working for different clients, I learned a lot in the process and I was able to upgrade my skills. From a simple data entry and research, I learned SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and different online marketing tactics. It was the start that I became in-demand to clients. Before, I was the one looking for clients every single day. Now, the clients were the ones inviting me to do the job for them.

Despite being in-demand to clients, I didn't settle for what I already know. My hunger for learning is unstoppable. When one of my clients asked me to design his website with some coding, I immediately accepted the task even though I didn't know anything about it. Thanks to my friend Google, I was able to deliver a high quality website and my client was so happy about it. Since then, I realized that website design and development is something that I'm really interested in. Now, I have built a LOT of websites (I already lost count) and I'm enjoying what I do.

I gained a lot of happy and satisfied clients over the years.