Episode Overview
What if your first freelance project paid just $15 and took a week to complete… would you keep going? In this first episode of our two-part series, I sit down in person with Afroditi, a Greek fashion freelancer who started on Upwork with no clients and no portfolio. She opens up about landing that first $15 sketch job, the fear and uncertainty she faced, and why Upwork felt safer than anything else.
Afroditi shares the raw, unfiltered truth of her first year freelancing: her strategies, the emotional toll of working without boundaries, and the surprising reasons she didn’t give up.
Listen to this powerful story of grit and growth, especially if you’re just starting out or need a reminder that every expert was once a beginner.
Resources
Afroditi’s Upwork Profile
253: Tabitha’s First $1K Month (and Why She’s Quitting Her Day Job to Go All In on Freelancing)
257: Why Afroditi Quit Upwork After Hitting $100K (Part 2)
Episode Highlights
- The $15 Sketch That Started It All: Her first project took a week and paid just $15
- Upwork: Slow but Safe: How the platform gave her security when everything felt uncertain
- Flat Rate vs. Hourly: The mistake that cost her time and money for a full year
- The Early Struggles: What led to her freelance crash and how she came back stronger
- Profile vs Cover Letter vs Pricing: Which matters more (and why)
- Portfolio Building When You Have No Clients: What she included and how she structured it
- Her Honest Pricing Strategy: From fixed fees to $70/hr, and what she charges now
Key Questions and Responses
Q: How long did it take to land your first Upwork project?
A: Three months of applying almost daily. The first one paid $15.
Q: What were the hardest parts mentally?
A: Feeling like I couldn’t say no, the pressure of client ratings, and working alone without support.
Q: What were your top 3 tips for getting hired on Upwork?
A: 1) Fully complete your profile and get verified, 2) Deliver amazing work, 3) Learn to write strong pitches.
Q: How did you raise your rates over time?
A: I started super low, but every time I got more confident or closed a project, I increased my rate, even if it felt scary.
About Afroditi
Afroditi is a fashion technical designer based in Athens, Greece. She transitioned from teaching cello to fashion, and after a tough start in the industry, she built her career on Upwork, eventually crossing $100K on the platform.