Introduction:
What if dropping out of college was the start of something bigger? Meet Aakash, a 23-year-old from Pune, India, who turned his love for words into a ₹5 lakh/month freelance writing empire — without a degree, connections, or capital. His story is a masterclass in consistency, smart positioning, and internet hustle.
💡 The Turning Point
Back in 2020, during lockdown, Aakash dropped out of college due to personal issues. While searching “how to earn from home,” he discovered Upwork and Medium. He made ₹300 from his first client — a blog post about tea!
He reinvested in:
- A cheap domain + portfolio site
- Free online writing courses (HubSpot Academy, Coursera)
- Grammarly and Hemingway apps
📈 His Growth Strategy
Within 6 months, he cracked the $1,000/month mark. How?
- Niche down: Focused on SaaS & finance blogs (better-paying clients)
- Cold emails daily: Sent 15–20 targeted pitches every morning
- Built authority: Published 1 Medium article/week and posted client results
🛠️ Tools He Used
- Upwork (initial clients)
- LinkedIn + Twitter for networking
- Notion for client management
- Payoneer to receive international payments
💰 Current Income Breakdown (March 2025)
- Retainer Clients (3) – ₹3.2L
- One-time projects – ₹1.1L
- Course sales + templates – ₹70K
🚀 Aakash’s Advice to Beginners
“Don’t wait to feel ready. Start messy. Focus on value — not just money — and everything compounds.”
✅ Actionable Tips for Readers:
- Start on Upwork or Fiverr, but build your personal brand
- Create a 1-page portfolio using Carrd or Notion
- Write about topics you love, then learn how to sell them
- Use AI tools like ChatGPT to brainstorm, not to replace yourself
🎯 Final Thoughts:
Aakash’s story proves that with a laptop and hunger to learn, you can rewrite your destiny — one article at a time. The internet rewards creators, not credentials.
