Please feel free to provide evidence-based best practices, share a micro-victory, discuss strategy and concepts with a frame work, ask for feedback, and create professional conversation. Treat every post as if you're at work and representing the best version of yourself.
I'm a Developer, not a Designer but when things get tight financially while I'm pursuing business ventures I do whatever I can to find freelance clients. It'll be tough, but sometimes it's needed if the business is not paying yet.
Do you have any insights as to when the business will be self-sufficient? If it's not anytime in the next ~6 months, I would ask myself if this is something that needs my attention right now
When the going get's tough...
Zoom out.
If the equity you are gaining is gaining value, when are you expecting to cash in on that value? 2 years? 5? 20?
While that might be amazing in a few years, it is putting you in a weird spot now.
The question you need to answer is are you willing to "hustle" a little in order to gain those equity benefits in the long term?
It sounds like the answer is yes. You just need to keep reminding yourself of WHY you are putting in this extra work right now and let that fuel you.
I freelanced for 11 years. During that time I went through many different seasons of business. During some I worked 80 hour weeks. Other times (like when my kids were born) I barely worked for a few months.
The great thing about freelancing is that it can mold to what you need right now.
I no longer freelance, I instead spend time creating digital products and growing my newsletter for freelance web developers (link in my profile, it might be of interest to you!). Shoot me a DM too, I still have clients come in and I am always looking for freelancers to send them to!
1: If you have a business and you cant pay yourself, you dont have a business- you have a burden!
2: Get on the phone an call till your fingers bleed
3: Go in person to business till you feed bleed
4: Dont spam reddit with a bullshit backstory....