Between the Briefs - How Isabel Sachs Made Freelance Sustainable
Founder of I LIKE NETWORKING, Isabel Sachs, on unpredictable schedules, business basics, and building a life on your own terms
Freelance life gets romanticised a lot. The flexible hours, the freedom, the coffee shop office vibes. But what does it actually look like day to day?
In this instalment of Between the Briefs, we go behind the scenes with Isabel Sachs, creative strategist and founder of I LIKE NETWORKING, to hear how she built a purpose-driven career without replicating a 9 to 5. If you have ever questioned the status quo or wondered how anyone survives without it, this one is for you.
What does your creative work actually look like day to day?
It varies, but I try to wake up, make coffee, and do 1-2 hours of focused work first thing. That's usually writing, getting to emails, and organizing my day. Then I'll go for a run or do a workout, and the day officially starts!
I try to schedule all my meetings for the afternoon, but sometimes it changes completely. I might be at an event, doing public speaking, or having calls at 10pm. The beauty and chaos of freelance life!
What do people often misunderstand about what you do or about being self-employed?
How much you actually work! A lot of people think that because you don't have a traditional 9-5, you work less. But in reality, it's incredibly hard to switch off.
Some of us work weekends, some work evenings, and yes, that means sometimes you're doing something fun at 2pm on a Wednesday.
But that's the whole point of being self-employed - having the freedom to choose HOW you work.
It's not for everyone, and that's totally okay!
What's been challenging or unexpected along the way?
The challenging part is, always, the money. It can be hard to grapple with the sense of not knowing where the next paycheck is coming from. I'd say it took me a few years to get better at managing that uncertainty and trust my systems.
BUT being self-employed with no overhead is definitely less stressful, to me, than being a business owner who's responsible for people's salaries. That's a whole other beast, and I'm not sure I'd want that responsibility again. I did it once - it was amazing - but the stress levels were definitely higher. Massive respect to the entrepreneurs building teams!
What's a small moment that felt like a real win?
One time walking in Dalston, someone recognised me and said my our mentoring scheme had changed their life when they needed it the most.
Those moments truly remind you why you do what you do.
Have you ever felt like giving up the freelance life?
MANY times. Although I mostly identify as an entrepreneur because I'm building different businesses, there are tons of similarities to freelancing.
When I moved to London, I actually tried having a few 9-5 jobs. It didn't work for me! I I need to feel a deep sense of ownership and autonomy, and I need value-driven, purposeful work to be fulfilled.
Maybe it's less "secure," but I've come to terms with the fact that this lifestyle seems to be better for me, at least for now.
Full disclosure though - I don't have kids, which I think could make this life much harder. Society really doesn't provide support for parents, let alone freelance parents or single parents. Even without kids, this is a cause I'm deeply invested in because if we don't fix this, we can't fix gender gaps!
Dear Reader: Find out more about this campaign from https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/team/joeli-brealey/
What do you wish someone had told you when you were starting out?
That it was okay to not replicate a 9-5! Work is still work, just in different shapes. And that I would absolutely love Excel (seriously!).
I also always say this - when I started my first business in Brazil, I was INCREDIBLY lucky because my parents and my sister all went to business school and work in corporate jobs. They encouraged me to attend a crash course in accounting, and for at least six months my dad was my "back office" - he reviewed accounts with me and helped with taxes. My sister helped me create my first cash flow, and my mother provided tons of support and introduced me to other people.
Without that support and basic financial literacy, I don't know if I'd have made it. If you're starting out, invest in understanding the business basics - even if it's not the "creative" part, it's absolutely essential.
You don't need to do things alone. Actually, you shouldn't. Asking for help and finding the support you need is ESSENTIAL.
And one more thing - as a freelancer you don't have someone dictating your work hours but you also have no one telling you when to rest. You gotta be responsible for that! Burnout is not cute!
Freelance life is not a blueprint. It is a patchwork. It is unpredictable, demanding, and sometimes lonely. But it is also full of possibility, autonomy, and unexpected moments of impact.
As Isabel reminds us, the creative path does not need to look like anyone else’s, and you do not have to walk it alone.
Explore more from Isabel Sachs:
Subscribe to the I LIKE NETWORKING newsletter
Find out more about the mentoring scheme
Visit I LIKE NETWORKING
Follow Sporty & Single
Read more real stories of creative self-employment in the full Between the Briefs blog series.
Between the Briefs is all about sharing the honest, human side of freelance life. If you’ve got a story of your own you’d like to share, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch here or drop us a message.