When I look back over the past 17 years of freelance life, I see more than just time passing, I see a continuous evolution: from curious beginner to confident specialist, from side project to full-time studio, from freelance hustle to trusted partner for industrial & B2B clients.

My professional journey into freelance began when I realized that what I really loved was turning CAD data and technical concepts into visual stories. Today I describe myself as a 3D visualization specialist - but in the early days it was simply: “I want to make cool stuff in 3D”

Lessons learned:

#1: Find your niche early. Doing everything is tempting, but being known for something specific creates clarity for both you and your clients.

#2: The craftsmanship matters, but so does reliability. Being the one freelancer clients can count on makes a big difference.

#3: Upward mobility in freelancing means increasing value—not only more projects, but deeper impact. Want to move up? Move toward solving harder, higher-stakes problems.

After 17 years in the freelance world, I still wake up excited.

If you’re reading this and considering your own freelancing path: remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Best,

Max

studio@maxkulich.com