Victoria Carroll's income was "unstable" until a friend encouraged her to showcase her talents on Fiverr in 2018. Carroll's hard work and dedication in the early days has led to long-term success, creating a flexible lifestyle.
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| Victoria Carroll loves her current job which provides a steady source of income. |
What was your main job (or other sources of income) when you started your side hustle?
I lived in the Czech Republic and worked as an actor and filmmaker before I started doing voiceover work, but my income was always low (and irregular), so I had to work as a kindergarten teacher on the side. However, I did all sorts of things before I became a full-time freelancer. I played a Disney Princess, modeled for brands, taught English to Czech students...
When did you start your side hustle and where do you find inspiration?
I joined Fiverr, a platform for freelancers of all kinds, in 2018, and that was the start of my current career. I had just finished my first big voiceover and motion capture project for a video game (Kingdom Come: Deliverance) that was becoming quite popular and generating a lot of buzz, but I was still living paycheck to paycheck. A friend suggested I take voice acting more seriously and told me they had hired a voice actor through the site. I was really excited to try freelancing. The prospect of being able to work anywhere in the world and set my own schedule—especially in my field, which requires a lot of flexibility for auditions and filming schedules—was really exciting.
What first steps did you take to start your side hustle?
First, I set up a professional recording studio in my home, bought a microphone and soundproofing equipment. From there, I did research on what clients were looking for in a recording artist and how to best set up my Fiverr profile. This included creating videos and voice reels of my work, writing a good bio, and figuring out how to best communicate the details of the project to meet the needs of the client.
What were the biggest challenges you faced while building your side hustle and how did you solve them?
I was dedicated to building my career as a freelancer, which meant I often worked seven days a week. Sometimes my workdays were longer than 14 hours—and I spent most of that time in a small, dark recording studio in my home. I also worked holidays, and while I felt successful for all the time and effort I put into it, I was definitely burned out. After about a year of trying my best to service dozens of clients a day, I started setting clearer boundaries around when, where, and how much I paid. I made a rule about no Sundays—and I try to avoid weekends in general if possible. I also became more specific about the types of projects I was willing to take on and at what rates.
How long did it take you to see consistent monthly revenue?
I barely saw any revenue for the first six months. Then I started averaging around $1,000-$2,000 a month, and that number grew from there. By my second year of working full-time on Fiverr, I was making around $70,000 — the most I’d ever made… ever!
How is the current growth and revenue?
Since starting out, I've been fortunate to have my monthly income nearly double every year. Through Fiverr alone, I can currently earn around $250,000 a year.
You turned your Fiverr gig into a full-time business. What do you love most about it?
I think time is our most precious and valuable resource, so having the freedom to set my own schedule is what I love most about this profession. I’ve never done well in jobs that require me to be in the same place every day for hours. Fiverr is great from a time-saving perspective because your portfolio of past work is displayed on the site, along with thousands of honest reviews from previous clients to build trust, so you don’t waste time trying out jobs or looking for gigs — the work comes to you. It’s exciting to wake up every day and see what new jobs I’m taking on; it keeps things fresh. It’s great not having a boss! I’m completely in charge of how my business runs.
Last year, I was able to fund and complete my first feature film (a documentary about a shaman that will be released this year), including traveling to Peru to shoot, edit, and post-produce the project. I also got married and pregnant—all while working “full-time”!
So as a filmmaker and a new mom, my freedom is truly invaluable.
What advice do you have for others hoping to start a successful business?
Be prepared to put in a lot of time and effort at the beginning to establish yourself. When I talk to other freelancers about how they got started, they often say, I don’t think there’s any way to do it. I started out working long hours for low pay. But I was able to pay off my debt, build a huge portfolio, and build great, long-term relationships with brands and companies. If you invest in building your portfolio and client base early on, it will pay off once you establish yourself.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/dien-vien-tung-dong-vai-cong-chua-disney-chia-se-cong-thuc-kiem-250-ngan-usdnam-nho-cong-viec-phu-280770.html
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