When Tasha received the email that her position had been terminated, she stared at the screen in disbelief. Her hands trembled slightly as she read it again, hoping she’d misunderstood something. But no — her department was being downsized, and she was one of the casualties.
For a moment, the world stood still. She had worked in that company for three years, pouring herself into the routine, the deadlines, the security it gave. And just like that, it was over.
It would’ve been easy for Tasha to spiral — to spend her days binge-watching shows, scrolling endlessly, or wallowing in uncertainty. But something inside her clicked. Maybe it was the stillness of rock bottom or the quiet voice that said, “This could be the beginning, not the end.”
The Before — Life in the Comfort Zone
Before the layoff, Tasha was working in operations at a logistics company in Nairobi. The work was steady but uninspiring. Every weekday looked the same — wake up early, commute through traffic, answer emails, attend meetings, go home, sleep, repeat.
“I wasn’t unhappy,” she says, “but I wasn’t fulfilled either. I kept saying I’d figure out what I really wanted later.”
She loved writing — always had. In school, she would write stories in the margins of her notebooks. She once dreamed of being a journalist or publishing a novel. But life had happened, and writing became “just a hobby.”
She rarely wrote anymore. There wasn’t time, and honestly, there wasn’t motivation. She was tired, busy, and afraid. What if I’m not good enough? That question haunted her more than she admitted.
The Breaking Point
Losing her job shook something loose.
“I was terrified, but also strangely free,” Tasha says. “For the first time in years, I had time. I had no excuses.”
The first few days were rough. She updated her CV, applied for jobs, and worried about money. But deep down, she felt this was her chance. If she didn’t try writing now, she might never do it.
She opened her old Google Docs folder, full of half-written pieces and blog ideas. One night, she clicked on a document titled ‘Things I Want to Say.’ It was raw, emotional, unfinished. But it sparked something.
“I cried when I read it,” she says. “It reminded me that I still had a voice. I just hadn’t been using it.”
The Shift — From Dreaming to Doing
Determined to give writing a real shot, Tasha made a plan.
First, she set up a simple routine:
- Write for two hours every morning
- Read one article about freelance writing daily
- Pitch one editor or blog every week
She signed up for a free writing challenge on Twitter, followed Kenyan and international freelance writers, and immersed herself in YouTube videos about freelancing, Upwork, Medium, and Substack.
“I didn’t know what I was doing,” she laughs, “but I showed up every day. That was the difference.”
She also reached out to a former colleague who now worked in digital marketing. He helped her understand content writing and SEO. In exchange, she helped him edit his brand copy. It was an informal mentorship — but it made all the difference.
Within a month, she had written five blog posts and published her first article on Medium. It didn’t go viral, but someone DM’d her to say it resonated deeply.
“That message gave me life,” she says. “For the first time, someone who wasn’t my friend or mum thought my words mattered.”
Growth — The Power of Showing Up
Consistency became her superpower.
She turned down social events to finish articles. She wrote even when the words didn’t flow. She tracked her pitches, accepted rejections, and learned how to improve.
She started getting small gigs — editing bios, ghostwriting LinkedIn posts, creating blog content for startups. The pay wasn’t great at first, but the experience was gold.
Her writing improved. Her confidence grew. And so did her portfolio.
Three months in, a fintech startup offered her a part-time gig writing for their blog. It paid more than her old job — and gave her the freedom to work from home.
Tasha couldn’t believe it. “All I did was decide to try,” she says. “I didn’t wait to be perfect. I just showed up and did the work.”
The Mindset Shift — From Scarcity to Skill
Tasha used to think of jobs as something you got — if you were lucky enough or knew the right people. But now she sees skills as something you build — and market.
“I stopped asking, ‘Who will hire me?’ and started asking, ‘What can I offer?’ That question changed everything.”
She began investing in her skills. She took a paid writing course. She read books on productivity, creativity, and business. She stopped thinking of herself as just a writer and started seeing herself as a creator and entrepreneur.
Her mornings became sacred — writing, learning, pitching. She used apps like Notion to track ideas and deadlines. And when she started earning enough, she built her own website.
Where She Is Now
Today, Tasha is a full-time freelance writer. She writes for African startups, international blogs, and growing brands. Her words help businesses connect with their audiences. But more importantly, writing has helped her reconnect with herself.
She’s also mentoring two young women who want to pursue creative careers — something she once wished for herself.
“I still get scared,” she admits. “But fear isn’t a stop sign anymore. It’s just a reminder that I’m growing.”
Tasha’s Reflection
“Losing my job felt like the end, but it gave me back my life. I didn’t have a plan — I just had a voice and the decision to use it. You don’t need permission to start.”