Worldview #002 - Why I Quit Freelancing for a 9 to 5

In my third year of college, I was sure about two things:

I didn’t want to do a “job.” And I definitely didn’t want to study further.

Like every ambitious 21-year-old with a Wi-Fi connection and a slight God complex, I went down the internet rabbit hole and discovered freelancing.

Work from anywhere. Set your own rates. Choose your clients. It sounded like freedom, and for a while, it was.

I built a small portfolio, polished my writing, and started applying for gigs. Within a month, I landed my first client who paid me INR 12,000 a month for a few hours of work each day. At 21, that felt unreal. I HAD CRACKED THE CODE!!

Over time, I worked with digital agencies, e-commerce brands, and edtech companies as a social media manager. Every new client felt like a new level unlocked.

But slowly, the thrill started fading. Different clients, same problems, and that one big question that never left my head - is this it?

So I did something unexpected. I quit freelancing and took a 9 to 5. And if I had to do it again, even a third time, I would. Here’s the story.

1. Freedom without structure is still chaos

Freelancing gave me flexibility, creative freedom, and control over my time. But it also came with noise - client management, unpredictable income, chasing feedback, and that constant question: what next?

It’s easy to confuse flexibility with progress. You feel busy, but rarely aligned.

Today, I still have what I loved: creative autonomy and interesting things to work on but within a system that gives them direction.

Structure protects creativity. It gives freedom a foundation so you can focus on the work itself, not on holding everything together.

2. The leverage of a team

Freelancing teaches independence. But working with a team teaches collaboration, and how collective energy multiplies results in ways solo effort never can.

At GrowedIn, I work with people who share the same vision but think differently. We debate ideas, refine processes, and turn half-baked thoughts into plans that actually move.

Some of my best ideas, including this newsletter, have come from casual conversations that started with “wait, what if we try this?”

When everyone’s aligned but brings a unique perspective, your growth stops being linear. It compounds. You start learning through osmosis - by simply being around people who think deeply and build differently.

3. The feedback loop accelerates you

As a freelancer, feedback is rare. Sometimes clients have no idea what they want, and sometimes they’ll say “this is great” just to avoid a longer call.

Inside a company, feedback is a daily sport. It can be blunt, unexpected, and occasionally ego-crushing, but it makes you better.

You start understanding why something works instead of just how to get it done. You get better at judgment, communication, and timing.

And the best part? You’re not the only one thinking about how to make the work better. Ideas bounce around, evolve, and come back 10 times stronger.

4. The bigger picture

Freelancing gave me freedom. Building something with a team gave me purpose.

Today, I get to see how small, intentional systems create big outcomes for clients, the team, and the business at GrowedIn.

It’s harder, yes. More responsibility, more moving parts, more things to figure out. But also, more meaning. You start seeing how your daily actions fit into a larger story, and that kind of fulfilment doesn’t come from working alone.

My takeaway

This may ruffle a few feathers, but I’ll say it anyway. Once you’ve felt what shared momentum feels like, working alone starts to feel too small.