Freelance Writer Inspires With Lessons on Turning Struggle to Success

“If someone is not willing to help you, that shouldn't be the reason to remain in the same place you’re in now. Because you are the sole person in charge of your own life,” stated Olaniyi Musediq, a freelance writer located in Lagos, Nigeria.

That conviction motivated Olaniyi through the bumpy transition from full-time chemistry teacher to independent writer on Upwork. How he overcame self-doubt, geographic bias, resource limitations, and more are the stuff feel-good movies are made of.

Olaniyi shares his story and how the lessons he learned can benefit anyone seeking a more fulfilling career.

Inspiration comes full circle

In Nigeria, university students must serve in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for a year upon graduation. After he earned his chemistry degree, the NYSC assigned Olaniyi to teach organic chemistry at a secondary school in Nigeria’s Plateau state.

“The area is known for having low education levels,” he explained. “When children graduate from primary school, most of them get married or go into agriculture.”

He made it a personal goal to encourage his students to further their education, believe they could be whatever they dream, and be inspirational examples for others in their community.

To broaden their minds, Olaniyi tapped into a skill set that would later serve him as a freelance writer: passion.

“You have to understand who you’re dealing with. You have to understand the student themselves, understand what they need, because you can't just teach organic chemistry when the students are not interested in what you're talking about,” he said. “Sometimes, that required going off topic and discussing life issues so that I could relate with the kids and help them see a bigger future for themselves.”

What motivates him to care so much is that he believes every person has the power to change the world.

He believes that “if everyone thinks they can change the world, they will take action, then those actions will eventually create change.”

Outside of the classroom, he lived his philosophy by posting his thoughts on social media about poverty, government corruption, and other topics. “I talked about anything I thought wasn’t right. People were engaging with my posts, then a friend said, ‘Hey, you’re good, you should become a freelance writer or editor.’”

“I didn’t know what freelancing was,” admitted Olaniyi. “I was like, ‘Freelancing, is that a job you do for free?’”

His friend explained freelancing, then Olaniyi scoured the internet for more answers. He liked the idea of creating his own career success so much that he committed to becoming the best writer he could be.

The teacher turns into a student again

Olaniyi was honest with himself in knowing he had a passion for writing, but he needed to upgrade his skills before launching a business as a professional writer.

While holding down his full-time teaching job, he took on projects with a Nigerian editor. “I wanted to practice writing and receive constructive feedback. The pay was low, but I didn’t do it for the pay; I did it to learn.”

That was just the start.

“I took online courses on writing, but they weren’t enough,” he determined. “I realized that one of the best ways to ensure I constructed good sentences was to read as much as I could. I bought a lot of books and began reading every day. I still do. When I'm not writing, I'm reading and love to start my morning that way.”

He also turned to an unusual source to fine-tune his writing skills: YouTube videos on public speaking.

“There is a connection between public speaking and content writing,” said Olaniyi. “I spent hours watching famous speeches by influential people, studying their rhythm and how they constructed their sentences.”

After a year and a half of consistent writing education and practice, he felt confident to take the leap. “I said, ‘OK, it’s time to join Upwork.’ Then I quit my teaching job so that I could commit fully to my clients.”

What he didn’t expect was how hard it would be to get his first client.

A tough start ignites new solutions

“Getting started on any freelancing platform is tough,” Olaniyi acknowledged. “I started with Upwork because I knew it was a very good place to attract the right clients. I sent out proposal after proposal but as a newbie, I couldn’t get any projects.

“I thought I was doing something wrong. I did more research on how to write better proposals, updated my profile, and changed my strategy on how I approached prospects. But the jobs still didn’t come,” he admitted.

Olaniyi felt that being in Nigeria was a disadvantage when competing for projects. “As a Nigerian, I have to work 1,000 times harder than someone from North America to get a job. Many companies that want English speakers make the mistake of assuming that someone who is not a native speaker is not skilled enough for a project. But that’s not true. Companies should put everyone on a level playing field by having people compete on competence, not geography.”

“Companies should put everyone on a level playing field by having people compete on competence, not geography.”

But being Nigerian also gave Olaniyi an advantage.

“When you are a Nigerian, you are born with a burning desire to succeed,” he stated. “You want to do things. You have a go-getter mindset. When you set your mind on achieving something, you will get it. This mindset is why I get 5-star reviews and excellent feedback from my clients. I'm just eager to get something done and done well. The energy is there, the motivation is there, the inspiration is there. That is what being a Nigerian does to you.”

“When you are a Nigerian, you are born with a burning desire to succeed…The energy is there, the motivation is there, the inspiration is there. That is what being a Nigerian does to you.”

Lessons on writing your own future

How Olaniyi succeeded in his freelance career can apply to any professional, not just writers. Consider these takeaways from his experience.

Work hard, but not just for the money

“Don't do things because others are doing it and making money from it. Do it because it is something you are really passionate about. Because when you start, it might be difficult, but the passion you have for it will keep you motivated to continue devoting your best efforts.”

Know that self-doubt is normal

“Find people who believe in your success so when you have doubts, they can help you move past them. You’ll have tough times, but eventually everything will work out well.”

Don’t rely on others to create your success

“If I need help with anything, like understanding something, I reach out to people in my community. If you can’t find someone willing to help you, then you have to help yourself. For example, I belong to a WhatsApp writing group called Writing Hub 3.0. Members go there to ask questions, learn from each other, and support each other’s freelancing careers. I also research on my own. I take charge to keep moving forward. If someone is not willing to help you, that shouldn't be the reason to remain in the same place you’re in now. Because you are the sole person in charge of your own life. You drive your own engine. You create your own big breaks. Your life is 100% your responsibility.”

“If someone is not willing to help you, that shouldn't be the reason to remain in the same place you’re in now. Because you are the sole person in charge of your own life.”

Upskill regularly

“Evolve as the world evolves. The world will keep moving forward; staying stagnant is like saying you want to be left behind.”

Build confidence through knowledge

“At first, I didn’t think I could become a good writer because I didn’t have the knowledge. Once I continued reading, studying, and practicing, I developed the skills to feel confident. I also gained confidence from the book, ‘Lives of Poor Boys Who Became Famous,’ by Sarah Knowles Bolton. The most inspiring story for me was Abraham Lincoln, who had more obstacles than me, yet he became the 16th president of the United States. I thought, ‘If a poor guy from Illinois can do this, I can do something good with my life too.’’’

Olaniyi is available for writing and editing projects. Learn more about his services by visiting his profile on Upwork or scheduling a consultation.