Six Figure is a biweekly PiggyVest series that focuses on how real Nigerians achieved dramatic income growth that made them millionaires.

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For this week’s episode of Six Figure, we spoke to a writer who grew his income from ₦95k/month to ₦2 million/month after losing his job. He tells us how working multiple jobs got him fired and what other people can do to earn six figures. 

What was your first job and salary? 

My first job was as an intern in a digital marketing agency, where I earned $300 (₦95k at the time) per month. 

What were you doing as an intern? 

I was an errand boy [Laughs]. But, technically, I was doing ‘project manager’ work.

What do you do now? 

I’m a freelance B2B SaaS writer. 

What does your job entail? 

I write content across various formats — whitepapers, infographics, blog posts, webinar scripts — for software and business-to-business companies. 

Great. Can you highlight your income by year for as long as you’ve been working?

I started earning in 2019. That year, I made ₦30k/month from writing for a colleague of mine who mainly outsourced me for work. Afterward, I got an actual job as an intern in the digital marketing agency, where I got paid $300/month. 

A large part of 2020 was a learning curve, so I couldn’t increase my rate by much. 

In 2021, I got into freelance writing full-time and made around ₦1million per month. 

In 2022, I make around ₦1.5 to ₦2 million per month. 

Interesting. Between 2019 and 2022, you moved from earning ₦95,000/month to ₦2 million. How did this increase happen? 

I was an intern when I earned $300 monthly. Unfortunately, the income wasn’t enough to cover my personal expenses, which forced me to take on other gigs. All hell broke loose when my then-boss found out. He fired me. 

After a few months, I began to build my profile on Upwork. Fortunately, I did pretty well for myself in the initial stages. After a few months of haggling with clients and getting weak job offers, my big break came when I shot up my rates (I’ve increased it a few times since). 

Now, I earn up to ₦2 million/month.

Amazing. So how has life changed since you achieved that income jump?

I’m able to spend more on the things I love (e.g., designers, expensive gadgets). If I want it, I get it. 

Ahn ahn. I’m here for it! 

[Laughs] But I’m very wary of my spending tendency, though. This is why I try to invest as much as possible. But overall, my life has changed tremendously because of my increased purchasing power. 

While achieving your income increase, did you receive extra help from a career mentor/coach? 

Not at all. I’m self-taught. 

Oh wow. 

Yes. Nonetheless, I’ve had the privilege of having a few expert freelancers in my network — they keep me grounded in my growth trajectory with helpful resources and opportunities. 

What advice would you give to someone who wants to earn six figures?

The first and foremost will be to upskill. But besides gaining a valuable skill that can help employers or clients either problem-solve or unlock new growth opportunities, you can also drill down on the basics of negotiation. 

You want to know your worth, then charge and negotiate accordingly. If you’re going to ask for an increase in remuneration, please give a valid reason. Remember, the high demand for the value you bring to your client’s project means they probably need you more than you need them.