There’s so much that can be said about milestones; as small business owners or freelancers, we’ll often find ourselves at points where we romanticise the big moment, the day when everything changes. We dream about that one client who will change the whole trajectory of our businesses or that viral post that’ll put us on the map, but the truth, as I have learned it, is that success rarely comes in a single, earth-shattering event. It’s built word by word, client by client, day by day.

As I sit here reflecting on the 350+ projects that have allowed me to reach this four million-word milestone, I’m struck by how ordinary most of those days were. There were no fireworks, no sudden influx of fame or fortune. Just me, showing up at my desk, fingers on the keyboard, creating sentences and paragraphs for clients across various industries.

Some days were a struggle, yes. Words felt stubborn, refusing to align in the right order. Other days, the writing flowed effortlessly; it came to me as naturally as breathing did, and I’d look up to realise hours had passed in what felt like minutes, but most days were somewhere in between—steady progress, one word after another.

This milestone isn’t about the number itself but about persistence and the cumulative effect of small actions over time. It’s about the trust that my clients placed in me, allowing me to tell their stories and promote their businesses. It’s in the countless revisions, the feedback that helped me grow, and the challenges that pushed me to expand my skills.

I see this growth not just in the quantity of words but in their quality. I’ve learned to adapt my voice to different brands, to research more efficiently, and to shape different narratives. I’ve learned the power of simplicity and the impact of well-chosen words.

To every other frelancer and small business owners: I hope you take time to marinate in and celebrate your milestones, however big and small they might seem. But more importantly, honour the daily grind, those are the moments wheni the real progress happens.

As I look toward the following million words and hundreds of projects, I can’t help but feel my heart burst at the seams with an overflow of gratitude. To every client who’s entrusted me with their message, to every reader who’s engaged with my words—who dares me to create and share—thank you. Here’s to the magic of language and the stories that it allows us to tell.