EPISODE 324 SHOW NOTES
Welcome back! In today’s episode, we sit down with Sarah, a former special education teacher who transitioned from the structured world of classrooms to the flexible, fulfilling life of freelancing—all while navigating new motherhood, pregnancy, and the realities of being a full-time work-from-home parent.
After spending six years teaching elementary special education, Sarah made her first big shift into a leadership role as an education director at a tutoring company. It was there that she unexpectedly picked up business and marketing experience—skills she didn’t realize would later become the foundation of her freelance career.
When Sarah gave birth to her daughter in November 2023, her priorities shifted. She knew she wanted to be more present at home, but she also wanted to continue using her skills and contributing financially. So, during nap times and commutes, she began exploring new possibilities and binge-listening to podcasts. In August 2024, she enrolled in a freelancing course, determined to see if she could make this work.
Despite a full plate—juggling a baby, pregnancy, and part-time work—Sarah pressed forward. She took her time building confidence, practicing her pitch, and applying what she learned. Just two months later, she landed her first client through word-of-mouth: her boss’s husband needed help with social media. That small “yes” opened the door to more opportunities, and by December, she had a second client from a local Facebook group. By March, she had transitioned her existing employer into her biggest freelance client—pitching her own custom role focused on marketing and social media.
Now, Sarah is a freelance marketing professional working part-time, with a growing client roster, a flexible schedule, and the ability to be present for her growing family. In this conversation, she shares what it looked like to take intentional steps (not giant leaps), why word-of-mouth is still powerful, how she used her existing experience to get started, and the honest truth about building a business with a baby.
Whether you’re a teacher wondering what’s next, a mom craving flexibility, or someone curious about starting a business with limited time, Sarah’s story will show you what’s possible when you trust your gut, take the first step, and keep showing up.
Let me know what you thought of today’s episode – just email me at [email protected] or DM me on Instagram @micala.quinn!
More about the Live Free Podcast with Micala Quinn:
How do I get started? What if I fail? Who will hire me? Is it really possible to create a consistent, full-time income from home?
Welcome to the Live Free Podcast with Micala Quinn where we will be answering these questions PLUS many more! Whether you’re just starting your freelance business (heck even if you don’t know what freelancing is yet) or you’re looking to scale, this podcast will give you tangible business advice along with inspiring interviews to help you create a life and career that works for YOU and YOUR family.
Your host, Micala Quinn, started out teaching high-school English, but when her first child was born, she immediately began searching for something more. She wanted a way to stay-at-home with her daughter (and future babies), but still needed to bring in a full-time income to help support her family. Micala started freelancing, quickly replaced her full-time income, and now helps other moms (like you) get started and grow their freelance business from scratch to 5K and beyond! She believes that being a working mom or a stay-at-home mom no longer needs to be a black and white decision. You CAN have both. On your terms!
Our motto is Mom Strong, Work Smart, and Live Free. Are you in? We’d love for you to join us each Monday, as well as in our Live Free Podcast Facebook community!
This post about about a WAHM Success Story journey to freelancing may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one of our affiliate links and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission from the seller at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have used, tested, and love ourselves!**
