Kushal Khandelwal’s Post

In 2021, I got ₹50 for my first branding gig. Today, 1 PROJECT got me ₹1,04,750. (I’ve never talked about this publicly) After grinding for MONTHS on Photoshop, I got my first brand design gig through my friend Haricharan. Really excited about the project, I started working on it before even finalizing the price. And that’s where it all went WRONG. A guy Haricharan knew got me the gig. The same guy had already priced the entire project at JUST ₹100, Even worse, he charged a “50% commission” for getting me the gig. I was surprised, and disappointed. But HAPPY that it was my first paid gig. So, I gave it MY ALL. Simon taught me how to make a brand guide, improve and present my logo at its best with mockups. I finished everything in just 72 HOURS. After handing it over to the client, I posted it on Behance, and it got ONLY 3 likes. But honestly, it was enough to keep me going. I practiced more, worked on more mock projects for my portfolio, always making sure to do my best EVERY SINGLE TIME, unknowingly getting better at design, stacking up my portfolio. With time, that portfolio got me my first job. The first job introduced me to new people. New people got me into new places, and all this got me where I am now. So, do your best. Even when it doesn’t pay off instantly. Even when it makes you doubt yourself. Because eventually…  it will.