Updated September 2026: This is my original interview with Hisham Sarwar, one of Pakistan’s well-known voices in freelancing, online work and digital skills. I have refreshed the introduction and context for 2026, but the interview answers below are preserved as the historical interview rather than rewritten to sound “current.”
Hisham continues to publish about freelancing and skills through BeingGuru in 2026, including current commentary on how freelancing has changed and why specialized skills matter more than generic services.
Why this interview is still useful: several themes remain highly relevant today—taking action, communication, continuous learning, reading, teaching others and building useful skills instead of chasing shortcuts.
Hisham Sarwar Interview: Freelancing, Skills & Advice
Note: The answers below are preserved from the original interview. Some references describe Hisham’s career, goals and circumstances at the time of the interview.
What do you do exactly?
Hisham Sarwar: I am a freelancer; own a small company providing web development/graphic designing. I also own a blog called beingguru.com
What convinced you to become a trainer and help other people?
Hisham Sarwar: Pure accident, I discovered by accident that if you help people, Allah gives it back to you in such mysterious ways you could not have best possibly imagined. Training is giving, sharing knowledge with those who are looking to change their life. My prime objective is to reshape every Pakistani life through series of trainings online/offline and convince them ‘yes you can’.
If you could go back 15 years, would you change anything?
Hisham Sarwar: I wish I had develop a reading hobby which I currently do. I typically read around 30 books a year. Reading made me a better person and interestingly I got to know that, more I read, less I know. Reading helps you in your communication, life and business.
Where do you see yourself after 10 years?
Hisham Sarwar: Well who has seen 10 years but lets see. I would like to make BeingGuru world’s famous motivation/inspiration and tech blog. I plan to release its clothing merchandize in Pakistan and India. I want to take my trainings to the next level by reaching out to more people, especially in remote cities of Pakistan such as Thar, or perhaps swat in KPK and Zhob in Pakistan.
Every Pakistani has a right to get education; I am on that mission already to teach people through internet. My internet videos are all free, I don’t charge a single penny. My seminars, workshops (physical) are paid though.
Who is your source of motivation?
Hisham Sarwar: My inner happiness. Anything that pleases my soul is my source of motivation. I love reading a lot, I do lot of experiments with my work and I love walking, it energizes me to think better. World’s 70% of rich people read. I fail to understand why people do not develop this amazing habit.
What is your greatest accomplishment so far?
Hisham Sarwar: Getting featured on Guru.com home page hall of fame for 2 years, remaining the top seed freelancer on guru for good 14 weeks is something I will cherish all my life. Recently, the very idea of changing people life by giving them education pleases me a lot.
What is one thing you regret?
Hisham Sarwar: I regret not starting early and catching on the computer wave. The 1st mover advantage could have been well capitalized had I acted earlier and started working online around late 90’s when windows emerged.
What is one thing you are proud of?
Hisham Sarwar: I am self employed for almost two decades. The very idea of contributing in the lives of people, people who surround me as my employees or students who live far across pleases me the most. I have discovered my purpose of existence, i.e to share knowledge and contribute in the lives of the Pakistani people.
What have you learned while training so many people?
Hisham Sarwar: People are hungry to learn but they are afraid to reach out and seek knowledge.
What is the core problem young people should work on?
Hisham Sarwar: Not taking action. By not acting, youth is depriving themselves of even standing a chance of making an impact. Also the art of communication should be learned. If you can communicate well, there is good chance that you will prosper in life.
What are the top three skills new people should develop?
Hisham Sarwar:
- Reading
- Speaking
- Learning
Any suggestion or lesson for my readers?
Hisham Sarwar: We often think about doing things but we are unable to do. That is because of the presence of fear. The fear does not allow us to take actions.
The fear of failure, the fear of losing in life race or our loved ones. Once we realize, our destiny is written by the greatest artist in the universe, this one thought should suffice to live a fearless life. I believe, what’s in our fate can’t be taken away and what’s not in our fate can’t be achieved.
What Still Stands Out From This Interview in 2026?
1. Action matters more than endless preparation
The answer about young people “not taking action” is still one of the strongest parts of the interview. AI, freelancing platforms and online courses have made information easier to access—but execution still separates people who build a portfolio from people who only consume tutorials.
2. Communication is a freelance skill
Technical ability alone is not enough. Freelancers still need to:
- understand the client’s problem;
- write clear proposals;
- set expectations;
- explain decisions;
- handle revisions professionally;
- build trust remotely.
3. Specialized skills matter more in 2026
Hisham continues to publish on BeingGuru in 2026 about the way freelancing is evolving. Generic low-skill services face much more competition now, while specialists who can solve valuable business problems have a stronger position.
That can mean moving from “digital marketer” to a narrower skill such as:
- Google Ads conversion tracking;
- Shopify CRO;
- AI workflow automation;
- short-form video editing;
- WordPress performance;
- specialized design/development;
- Google Ads policy/compliance work.
4. Learning should become visible proof
Reading and learning are useful, but modern freelancers need proof. Turn what you learn into:
- portfolio work;
- case studies;
- GitHub/design samples;
- YouTube tutorials;
- public audits;
- articles;
- client results.
How to Start Freelancing After Reading This Interview
- Choose one skill with real market demand.
- Learn the fundamentals deeply enough to solve a real problem.
- Create 3–5 portfolio examples.
- Build profiles on one or two relevant platforms.
- Learn proposal and client communication.
- Start applying/outreaching consistently.
- Track which offers get replies.
- Improve your positioning instead of competing only on price.
- Build an owned presence outside freelance platforms.
Related Guides
- How to Start Freelancing
- Best Fiverr Alternatives 2026
- How to Make Money on Fiverr
- How to Make Money Online
Final Takeaway
The most useful lesson from Hisham Sarwar’s interview is not a platform trick. It is the combination of learning, communication, action and helping others. Platforms and tools change quickly; those four advantages continue to compound.
