Expanding Horizons

The next morning, Ethan woke up to an unexpected notification from his client.

"Hey, my friend needs a website too. I gave him your contact."

Ethan's heart raced. A referral? He hadn't even considered the power of word-of-mouth marketing, but here it was, happening organically. He quickly sent a thank-you message, his fingers trembling slightly with excitement. Within the hour, he was already in conversation with his next potential client.

This request was different. Instead of an e-commerce site, this was for a portfolio—a sleek, professional website for a photographer. It was simpler in design than an online store, but it still required a polished, high-end look. Ethan accepted the project without hesitation and, for the first time, upped his rate slightly. If he was going to build something sustainable, he needed to start valuing his work more.

In between classes, he sketched wireframes in his notebook. While working his shift, he jotted down ideas whenever he could. At night, he was back at his desk, building the site from scratch. Each project was an opportunity to refine his workflow and learn new techniques. He even began researching automation tools to streamline repetitive tasks.

By the end of the week, the portfolio site was finished. The client was ecstatic, and the glowing review came in almost immediately—another five-star rating to add to his growing collection.

But Ethan wasn't stopping there.

Determined to expand, he started reaching out directly to small business owners. He sent personalized emails, offering competitive rates for professional websites. Some ignored him, some asked for more information, and a few hired him on the spot. What had started as a trickle of work quickly became a steady stream of inquiries.

His freelancer dashboard, once a blank canvas, was now full of requests. His bank account, once on the verge of empty, now had a healthy balance that allowed him a little more breathing room.

The rush was exhilarating, but it also brought new challenges—balancing school, work, and freelancing was becoming harder. Client expectations were rising, and he found himself staying up later, working longer hours. The fatigue was setting in.

One night, after finishing yet another late-night project, Ethan collapsed into his bed. As exhaustion swept over him, he realized something crucial: he couldn't keep doing this alone. If he wanted to scale and turn this into something more than a side hustle, he needed help.

The next step was clear—he had to start thinking bigger. It was time to assemble a team.