Today marks a pretty amazing milestone, at least for me.

For the first time since I started freelance writing, I’ve had to put a notice on my Services page saying that I have a full workload, and I’m not likely to take on any more work, unless I find the project personally interesting and the budget is equally interesting.

For me, getting to this point has been relatively quick; there are writers who slog at it for years, trying to fill up their billable hours with work, and never quite making it. Suffice it to say, I’m feeling a slight tinge of pride (if you think pride goes before a fall, please fall out of your chair here; nobody ever mentioned whose fall pride precedes).

But my move into freelancing was borne out of necessity, and like all of us I was desperate for work when I began. The desperation to have enough money to feed your family, fuel the car and pay the rent on time causes a sense of panic some would compare to the sensation of suffocating: gasping for more air, and not getting it. Feeling strained and closer to the end of it all by the moment.

I’m going to tell you a simple concept that has helped me build up great relationships with great clients and put food on the table for my family.

Best of all, you can start doing this today—right now, even.

There are a hell of a lot more factors to freelancing success than can ever be covered in one post. Or even one book.

But here’s one strategy that will get you far. Very, very far. Freelancers have a reputation for having a bit of a fickle streak, sitting at home and doing work only when they feel like it. The reputation exists simply because this is how many freelancers are. Shocking, ain’t it?

And yet it’s so, so easy to set yourself apart and develop a fantastic reputation.

Here’s how.