Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in freelancing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Anna Drescher, a mental health freelance writer and editor based in London, England.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I’m a freelance writer and editor. Psychology and mental health are my areas of expertise, so my clients are primarily in the health app space, mental health websites, therapists, and anyone else looking to improve the well-being of others. I also work with a few clients as a hypnotherapist and mindfulness teacher.
Tell us about yourself
When I finished my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology many years ago, I started working in the mental health field - first as a support worker at a psychiatric hospital and then in the community. For almost ten years, I worked in various roles, including as a project manager (in service user involvement) and an assistant psychologist in a prison service for men with personality disorders. In between, I moved to Australia to complete a Master’s degree in mental health with a specialization in psychotherapy, did my yoga teacher training in India, and qualified as a solution-focused hypnotherapist. I met so many amazing people over the years, and although working in this sector can be difficult, it has enriched my life enormously.
But what I’ve always loved is to write, and on one fateful day during the height of the pandemic, I thought, ‘why can’t I be a writer?’ So I set off on a journey that has landed me here – getting paid to write about topics that fascinate me and support people across the world to help themselves and their mental health.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Being a business owner! I never saw myself as a businesswoman, but now I’m here, I know this is what I was meant to be. I love watching my business grow, looking back at where I started to where I am now and setting new goals for the future. Every new client is an accomplishment for me. Whenever someone says my words helped them, it motivates me to keep going.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
As a writer, you rely on your creativity to flow and always need a clear mind to put words down on “paper.” That can be a challenge sometimes because, as a human, I have good and bad days. Although I've worked with some great people, I've also had negative experiences, like being ghosted and not being paid.
Self-doubt can also interfere with your flow, but over the past two years, I’ve learned that believing in myself is free and actually not that hard. Changing my mindset has done wonders for my business!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Do something small (or big!) every day that will bring you closer to your goal.
- Visualize what it is you want (not what you don’t want) and make that your single focus. If you really want something, you can achieve it.
- Make time to celebrate even the smallest wins. Be kind to yourself – I know it sounds like a cliché but honestly, bullying yourself isn’t going to make your business grow.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.mentalhealth-writing.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/freelancewriterannadrescher/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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