Living in a big city as a budding freelance journalist could be somewhat scary. Fact is, it could be downright overwhelming. But it doesn't have to be. I know a little something about the subject.

A few years after finishing graduate school I moved to Atlanta, Georgia. When a college buddy of mine asked for my assistance in helping him start a newspaper for Operation PUSH, I jumped at the chance.

Even before the first issue hit the streets, the newspaper already had name recognition. The level of recognition was magnified to an even greater degree because the PUSH founder, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, declared his candidacy for the U.S. presidency. I can still recall the hypnotic chant of that day: Run Jesse run! Run Jesse run!

The start of that small tabloid, which had a readership of maybe 1,000, opened the door to other possibilities. We added a sports section, and that's when things began to change for me.

Now that I had access to every level of sports in Atlanta, all I had to do was make the most of it. All the while, I realized that gaining access to the pros and colleges was not enough. I felt there was a need for me to perform at a high level. I was driven to demonstrate that my skills were at least on par with my peers who worked for the radio and TV stations and the well-known daily newspaper.

So, how did it all come to pass? For starters, it's important to embrace opportunity. Look for it, expect it. Create your own opportunity. Believe in your ability to excel, believe in your ability to improve. And while you're at it, be sure to consult those who are in the position you aspire to be in.

Don't be hesitant to ask questions. You may even offer a few hypotheticals in your inquiries. For example; ask a writer how he or she handles situations in which an interview subject is uncooperative. Or, you might ask a photographer to identify the most interesting person they've ever photographed and why that person was the most interesting.

Another bit of advice - don't forget to follow up your questions with observation. Take the time to watch these folks as they work. There's no need for you to be a clone. But you're bound to learn something if you continue to look. You'll get a better feel for how they get the job done. At the same time, you're likely to come up with a few helpful ideas that you had never thought about before.

Being talented at what you do is all well and good. But it takes a feverish work ethic to become the best that you can possibly be. Regardless of how well things are going in your career, continue to work on your craft. Never stop striving to improve on every aspect of what you do. Finally, rid yourself of any shyness you may have about showing your work. When you can provide samples of what you've previously produced, it serves as a visual version of your resume. It also speaks volumes about you as a professional.