Leaving the freelance lane

For the last few years, freelancing has been one of the most beautiful chapters of my life. It gave me freedom, curiosity, and a strange sense of ownership over every hour of my day. I worked from cafés, trains, campings… the whole «digital nomad» aesthetic, but with real deadlines and real invoices attached. It was beautiful.

But bills don’t care about your sunsets.

There was a moment when this way of living felt exactly like a dream. But little by little, the caveats showed up. I found myself spending less time building and more time chasing: chasing payments, unclear requirements, clients who vanished in the middle of a sprint.

“Being your own boss” eventually became “being your own entire company”, and the weight of that started to feel heavier than the freedom it promised. Burnout (1, 2) doesn’t always explode suddenly, sometimes it just settles slowly, between your keyboard and your motivation. And lately, it was there more often than I wanted to admit.

So I made a decision: step out of the freelance lane. I think I need a different kind of challenge now.

Next Monday, I’m starting a new job as employee in a multinational company, jumping into a role that I’ve felt so curious about for some time now: Site Reliability Engineer. A completely new chapter. New tools. New responsibilities. New rhythms. And, of course, new fears.

The hiring process itself was already an adventure: four interviews, one practical exercise, and a rollercoaster of imposter syndrome mixed with hope. I had never gone through anything like that before, but it turned out to be unexpectedly enriching. Every conversation taught me something about the company, the role, and myself.

But now the real thing begins. And honestly? I’m scared.

Scared of the schedule changes, the new routines, the expectations… and especially scared of not being good enough. I know that fear won’t disappear overnight but I’ll give it everything I have because I’m also incredibly excited. The tank is now full of optimism, motivation, curiosity… It feels like the right moment to reset, to grow, to be part of something bigger than my own invoice calendar.

Freelancing has been a beautiful ride. Now it’s time for a different road. Let’s see where it leads.