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Portrait of a Freelancer: William Gagné

Portrait of a Freelancer: William Gagné

<p><img alt="Image blog Momenteo" class="aligncenter size-full" src="http://blogmanagement.momenteo.com/Content/blog-img/20230626150358146Photo-Willy-Gagn%C3%A9.png" /></p> <p>Freelancer Profile - Meet inspiring people who have chosen to make a living from being self-employed. Discover their story and unique way of life through a very human perspective. This month, we meet with William Gagn&eacute;, a video content creator and photographer.</p> <p></p> <h3><strong>1-Tell us About Yourself</strong></h3> <p>My name is William, I am 23 years old, and I studied computer science. I would describe myself as a hybrid between a sports guy and a nerd. On one side, I love sports like kickboxing, soccer, running, and CrossFit. On the other, I am passionate about technology, coding, reading, and finances.</p> <p>What I do: I offer three ways of helping professionals build their clientele and have successful events.</p> <p>To achieve it, I manage a video production studio. We provide several services: photography, videos, webinars, podcast, etc.</p> <h3><strong>2-Where Does Your Interest in Photography Come From?</strong></h3> <p>When I was a child, I wanted to draw, but I was not good. I remember being frustrated because of this; it never came out how I wanted it to. One day, one of my friends lent me his camera, and everything changed at this moment. I started taking pictures for my friends for their Instagram accounts. Then, I started making videos!</p> <h3><strong>3-How Did You Become Self-Employed?</strong></h3> <p>It is not me who decided to become self-employed, but life itself! It can sound clich&eacute;, but since I was a child, I have been looking to do things my own way, to take a path different from others. At college, a friend and I started a small business where we were making websites. We were both studying computer science and found it amazing to earn money by being self-employed.&nbsp;</p> <p>A few years later, I quit a job in an agency to become an entrepreneur. At first, I only offered photography services, but my business model changed considerably with time! I now consider myself an entrepreneur and am no longer alone in this journey.</p> <h3><strong>&nbsp;4-What Is the Most Challenging Part of Self-Employment? </strong></h3> <p>I will not be original by stating answers that were already given: loneliness and uncertainty.&nbsp;</p> <p>Loneliness because we do not live typical lives. People my age are at university, trying to prepare for a job. When I try to explain what I do, most of the time, they have trouble understanding the reality of an entrepreneur. Moreover, even if you can have many employees, you start alone.&nbsp;</p> <p>Then, uncertainty because every entrepreneur has something that stands out from the others. This little unique touch of every business often has never been tested before. It is entrepreneurs who make the path and create innovation, and this without knowing at the start if their ideas will work.</p> <h3><strong>5-Which Part of Being Self-Employed Do You Like the Most?</strong></h3> <p>Deserving my failure, as well as my success!</p> <h3><strong>6-Tell Us About Your Work Routine.</strong></h3> <p>Generally, I try to wake up early. I arrive at the office in the morning when nobody is here yet to complete my tasks that require focus. Then, I meet with my partner Serge every morning to discuss what we must do; otherwise, according to the contracts, we are at our studio or outside to record. Most of our work is video editing and computer work when we are not traveling for a contract.</p> <h3><strong>7-What Are the Online Tools You Could Not Live Without?</strong></h3> <p>Pipedrive, Google Drive, the Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Premiere, Lightroom, After Effect), Toggl, Momenteo, Pandadoc.</p> <h3><strong>8-How Did You Learn About Momenteo, and How Long Have You Used It?</strong></h3> <p>It was Serge, my business partner, who told me about it! Before, I was using Airtable. If I am right, it will be my second year using it this fall.</p> <h3><strong>9-What Makes Momenteo Different from Other Accounting Tools?</strong></h3> <p>It was thought and made for a simple accounting. With, Momenteo, you cannot be wrong.</p> <h3><strong>10-How Did You Find Your First Customers? </strong></h3> <p>I was lucky! I worked in a bar, and someone I knew there contacted me for my services. Otherwise, I found some contracts on some freelance Facebook groups at first, and the rest is from a few volunteer contracts I did.</p> <h3><strong>11-What Are Your Tips for Someone Who Would Like to Get Into Freelance?</strong></h3> <ol> <li> <p>No need to have a perfect recipe: jump, and you will develop it along the way.</p> </li> <li> <p>Networking, networking, and networking.</p> </li> <li> <p>Target a specific person instead of everybody.</p> </li> <li> <p>Be techno-savvy and look to learn as many side skills as possible. One day, you will succeed.&nbsp;</p> </li> </ol> <h3><strong>12-What Are Your Tips for Someone Who Would Like to Start a Podcast?</strong></h3> <ol> <li> <p>Refrain from limiting yourself to your podcast theme; find a specific topic but something sufficiently large and general to be able to create several episodes.&nbsp;</p> </li> <li> <p>Give yourself some time: a podcast does not become viral instantly.&nbsp;</p> </li> <li> <p>Equip yourself with the tools you need, or work with a studio :)&nbsp; You can decide not to show yourself, but you cannot choose not to be heard: excellent sound quality is essential.</p> </li> </ol> <h3><strong>13-Why Are You Proud of Being a Freelancer?</strong></h3> <p>The autonomy! So many people complain about their job and conditions. I have power over my professional life.</p> <h3><strong>14-Do You Have any Big Plans for 2023?</strong></h3> <p>In my lost time, I am writing a book. A marathon.</p> <h3><strong>15-How Can We Contact You?</strong></h3> <p><strong><a href="mailto:willy@onest.live">willy@onest.live</a></strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-gagn%C3%A9-35439119b" target="_blank">Linkedin: William Gagn&eacute;</a></strong></p> <p><strong>Website: <a href="https://onest.live" target="_blank">https://onest.live</a></strong></p> <p></p> <p><br /> &nbsp;</p>

Ariane