If you’re running a business, you probably know that there are massive challenges that can come before you start seeing growth and profit. There are often expenditures, along with small scale jobs that help you just get by, all before it all feels like you’re reaching an audience. Similarly, if you’re someone looking to move into a career for something you have a background or skills in, it’s not always easy to land a full-time job in your area of speciality.

Whether you are wanting to build a profile in your community as the go-to person for a particular service, or you’re trying to expand the reach of your small business, things don’t always have a clear trajectory.

But that’s okay, because like most things in life, there are always options off-the-beaten path that can help us elevate ourselves and our opportunities.

One of these pathways, that in my opinion is severely underrated, is freelancing. Freelancing can be used not only as not only a revenue stream, but also as a tool of exposure, experience and growth. It doesn’t matter if you’re early on in your journey or later down the track, freelancing can help immensely in your pursuit of success.

Why freelance?

First off, freelancing can be a lucrative way to work in more than one way. You may be able to demonstrate your value in your area of knowledge and skill and then come under the wing of someone working in that very industry or practice. They may understand what it’s like to have been in your position, and respect the work you’ve already put in to get to the point you’re at.

The beauty of freelancing is that there is often plenty of business looking for this kind of casual and flexible worker, that is skilled in their area, and you may be in high demand, depending on your experience and skills.

Freelancing also helps to sharpen your expertise in your area, or if you’re a business, it can even provide the value of lessons and exposure. You’re effectively getting a first-hand look at the industry from a point of view that demonstrates where you are now and where you’d perhaps like to be at.

We can learn massive lessons from being around new ways of working, new technology or new methods which we may not be totally familiar with.

It also allows us to figure out the dos and don’ts that will be fundamental in our own careers and businesses.

Freelancing can be a great tool that helps us both in the here and now and also in our future.

So, maybe think about freelancing as an option that furthers your position and helps you make some income in the process, because many of the successful people you come across may just have their own freelancing stories.

Like every article on TomorrowMoney, this is not personal financial advice.