Podcasts about freelance

In this episode, Joe Rando and Carly Ries officially draw a line in the sand. After nearly 300 episodes and hundreds of conversations with solopreneurs, they name the single insight that keeps showing up in every episode that lands differently: the Life-First Business. Joe and Carly explain why most solopreneurs unintentionally build a business that ends up owning them, why that happens by default and not by choice, and why the forces reshaping work right now make this the right moment to name it, claim it, and build a movement around it.Key PointsMost solopreneurs start by asking "what can I sell?" but the better starting point is designing the life you want the business to serve.Falling into The Ownership Trap isn't a character flaw. It happens by default when you say yes to revenue before you've designed the life around it.A Life-First Business is not about working less, it's about making conscious tradeoffs so the business gives you the freedom that actually matters to you.AI is reshaping the solopreneur landscape in two directions at once: pushing people out of traditional employment and empowering them to run a real business solo.The Life-First Movement is bigger than LifeStarr. If you're helping solopreneurs build businesses that serve their lives, Joe and Carly want to hear from you.FAQsWhat is a Life-First Business? A Life-First Business is one designed from the start to serve the life you want, not the other way around. Instead of building around your skills and seeing what life fits around the business, you begin with Step 0: defining what you want your life to look like. The business is then designed to support that.Does Life-First mean working less or only part-time? No. A Life-First Business is not about working fewer hours or generating passive income from a beach. It's about making intentional tradeoffs, choosing the freedoms that matter most to you, and building a business that protects them, whatever that looks like for your life.Why is this conversation happening now? Two forces are converging: AI is displacing or reshaping traditional jobs, pushing more people toward solopreneurship as a real option. At the same time, AI is giving solopreneurs the capability to run a serious business without a team. That combination makes this the right moment to define what a well-designed solo business actually looks like.What is The Ownership Trap? The Ownership Trap is what happens when a solopreneur builds without a life plan (saying yes to whatever pays, running everything on memory and email, with no system and no plan to evolve). The business grows, but it starts running the person instead of the other way around.What is the Life-First Movement? The Life-First Movement is the category of people, businesses, and ideas organized around one belief: the business exists to serve the life. Joe and Carly are building this movement at LifeStarr, but they're clear it's bigger than any one company. If you're working to help solopreneurs build businesses on their own terms, they want to connect.Life First. Then Business.

  Freelance writing includes books, poetry, and lyrics/music. I look at this way... I have now accomplished, all three in my lifetime. I have also thoroughly enjoyed doing... all three.  This song was recently pitched to the same independent producer for Sundance Films. This is a true story of my first real, true love. A lifetime love that only happens, in my opinion... once. To know, he never fully converted to his Amish community. She never fully went back to her Mormon roots, community. I made 2 promises to him, and his family. However, the one promise, I could not keep... was the one that broke up our unity. Life is short. Keep pursuing those dreams. Don't fret when you fail. Consider it a learning curve and critical block to build upon.  As far as continued surprises with my health. We definitely were missing something unexpected. Back to the hospital tomorrow, so they can figure out the culprit. So far, I was told, it is not diet related. My greatest fear? Being insulin bound, independent. My birth father is diabetic, started as diet related, but never cleared. More to follow..

After a recent vacation adventure, Jen shares with Pete an experience of falling on her face, and together they noodle on the advantages of failures.Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about:What makes us return to an activity, after we have failed?How can we set others up for success, even in difficult environments?How might we actually seek out more things to fail at? More from us in your inbox. Subscribe to Box O' Goodies. A weekly email with the books, podcasts, quotes, and other noodles Jen and Pete are mulling over.Listen to all episodes and read full transcripts at thelongandtheshortpodcast.com.Reach us: hello@thelongandtheshortpodcast.comPete's work: humanperiscope.com · Jen's work: jenwaldman.com

Someone popped into Brandi's inbox this morning and asked, “What's the biggest mistake beginners make when they're trying to get their first client?”The answer: working for free or undercharging, because you think a low price is what finally gets somebody to say yes.It isn't. It's the exact thing keeping you from getting hired. In this episode, Brandi gives you real numbers, no guessing, no “whatever you think she'll say yes to.”In this episode, you'll learn:Why two students pitched $500 to $750 for a full year with no clients, then landed clients within 45 days after raising to $1,500The dentist test that explains exactly what a lowball price signals to your prospectThe actual going rate for a brand new ad manager with zero experience, and where it came fromThe math on 5 to 7 clients at $1,500 versus needing 20 clients at $500 to hit the same $10K monthThe risk reversal method: the only time you go under $1,500, and the hard floor you never crossWhat to charge if you're coming from corporate, an agency, or white labelingThe exact script for when a prospect asks about your experienceWhy hourly pricing has built-in punishment for getting good at your jobMentioned in this episode:Confident Ad Manager Bootcamp (October, last one of the year, four days of free content plus two bonus trainings on the watch page): https://confidentadmanager.comConversions for Clients, for early-stage service providers landing their first clients: https://conversionsforclients.comStrategist Society, apply for a spot: https://thestrategistsociety.comNot All Clients Are Created Equal: The Champagne Client Matrix https://brandimowles.com/278How Much Time Does It Take To Run a Freelance Ad Management Business? https://brandimowles.com/297Follow Brandi on Instagram: https://instagram.com/brandimowlesReady to scale past $10K months?If you already have a business, you're doing around $4,000 a month, and you are completely capped out on hours, that's a different conversation than pricing your first client. Head to https://thestrategistsociety.com and apply for a spot. Let's get on a call and look at where your hours are actually going. If Brandi can help, you'll talk about it. If she can't, you'll still walk away with a game plan and clear next steps.Loved this episode?Leave a review on Apple or hit the stars on Spotify. It takes one minute, and it tells Brandi to keep doing the dang thing for another 300 episodes. Then come tell her which number you're raising over on Instagram @brandimowles.Now go do the dang thing.Follow the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/serve-scale-soar/id1477998650Follow Brandi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandimowlesFollow Brandi on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Brandiandcompany

Tired of being told you need to post three times a day to grow your business? This episode is your permission slip to stop.Carly and Joe sit down with Polly Pollock, the creator of capacity-conscious marketing and founder of the Antisocial Marketing Kit. Polly runs a thriving business without an active social media presence, and she is here to show you how it is done.In this conversation, Polly shares her journey with a late ADHD diagnosis and how it reshaped the way she runs her business. She breaks down why popular, trendy marketing advice leaves so many solopreneurs burned out, and she offers a real, step by step alternative built on visibility strategies like podcast guesting, guest teaching, and strategic partnerships.You will learn:Why consistency does not mean showing up every single dayHow to time-block your marketing so it takes a few focused hours a week, not hours a dayWhy one signature offer beats a stack of five or sixHow to find where your ideal client actually spends their timeA life first reminder to protect your weekends, your evenings, and your funIf you have ever felt stuck in the noise of online business, this episode will help you free yourself from the marketing you hate and focus on what you love.Grab Polly's free Antisocial Marketing Kit at antisocialkit.com.Leave a five-star review, share this with a fellow solopreneur, and subscribe wherever you listen.

Are modern church services finally moving away from dark, concert-style rooms and shifting back toward brighter environments? And if you are a lighting director, how do you make the jump from the MA2 console to the MA3?In this episode, we are joined by freelance AVL production expert Aria Hailey. Aria shares her journey into live production and discusses the reality of freelancing in the current industry. We explore a massive trend happening right now: why so many highly skilled audio and lighting techs are actually leaving the touring world to take full-time church tech jobs.In this episode you'll hear: 0:00 Intro: How Much Trouble Will Toby Get Into in Vegas?4:45 Aria Hailey's Journey Into AVL Production9:15 The Highs and Lows of Freelancing in Live AVL13:00 Overcoming "Blue Dot Syndrome" in Live Production15:15 The Trend: Are Techs Leaving Tours for Church Jobs?20:00 Designing Church Lighting for the Congregation (Not Your Ego)23:00 Lighting Trends: Are We Shifting Back to Brighter Church Services?28:15 How to Train the Next Generation of Church Lighting Techs33:00 Console Talk: The Biggest Differences Between MA2 vs. MA335:30 Tech Disaster Story: "Hey, There is Smoke Behind Me!"40:00 Keep Sundays Running: The Power of SnacksTake our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!  Connect with HouseRight on your next integration project here. Check out jobs at HouseRight here.  Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here. Resources for your Church Tech MinistrySell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here. Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.  Connect with us: Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here. Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here! Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review! 

Freelance sportswriter Steve Kroner joins Extra Innings with Bill Laskey after the Giants lose three straight games over the weekend against the Padres.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New York to London- CHOREOGRAPHER, Aaron Thao is creating new work through incubators and creative collaboration, offering ballet work- "it may not pay 1000 pounds (British GBP) but there is money for performances- these are professionals and should be compensated..." Some Key Conversational Point(e)s:Social media, ballet audiences, and the athletic side of danceHow a modern class led Aaron toward balletFrom medical school to dance medicine and New York trainingBuilding a freelance career across dance and side jobsWhy London's freelance scene and talent pool drew him in..Leading with kindness in a toxic ballet cultureA NON Traditional PATH to DANCE as a CAREER- take a listen- Violin, Medical School, Business, and BALLET! For More on MORE ZAP please visit www.morezap.comor www.passion-power.comIf you're in LONDON September 12/13 check out the performances--Sadler's Wells TheatreAnd GALA performances in upstate New York= listen and jot down the deets.If you are interested in taking a workshop or clinic, contact us; we design Creative Projects that are customized.Publicists can pitch MOREZAP@GMAIL.COMNames mentioned in the opening remarks include social media influencers/principal dancers, Skyler Brandt, ABT, Isabella Boylston, ABT new mom and still twirling.. Stephen McRae, Royal Ballet. Note; Michelle Zeitlin, Host of Passion to Power is also a former ballet dancer, who has performed in NYC, Russia and in Europe, including with the Joffrey Ballet Concert Group and Kirov Ballet (Leningrad)

Invité: Alexandre Courbin l CMO & marketing freelancer | Ex-CMO Eskimoz, Malt, Seekube, BCG | 12y in B2B growth Comment mesurer le ROI du marketing B2B et améliorer l'alignement entre les équipes marketing et commerciales ?Dans cet épisode du podcast Marketing B2B, Alexandre Courbin partage ses méthodes pour structurer les Marketing Ops, optimiser la génération de leads et rendre la contribution du marketing au pipeline et au revenu plus visible.Fort d'une expérience en marketing B2B, CRM et acquisition digitale, notamment chez Malt, Eskimoz et PhotoRoom, Alexandre Courbin explique pourquoi le marketing devient parfois une « boîte noire » pour les dirigeants. Il présente les indicateurs permettant à un CMO, un CEO ou une équipe Revenue Operations d'évaluer concrètement la performance marketing.Au programme de cet épisode :Comment mesurer la performance et le ROI du marketing B2BComment aligner les équipes marketing, sales, SDR et BDRComment définir et qualifier un MQLComment construire un funnel marketing et commercial partagéComment segmenter et prioriser les prospects grâce au CRMComment améliorer le lead scoring et la qualité des leadsComment combiner inbound marketing, outbound B2B, publicité et événementsComment utiliser les signaux d'intention pour engager les prospectsComment mesurer l'attribution marketing et l'impact du brandingComment tester une stratégie marketing grâce aux groupes de contrôleAlexandre Courbin défend une approche fondée sur la qualité plutôt que sur le volume de leads. Une définition commune des prospects qualifiés, associée à une segmentation dynamique du CRM, permet de réduire le bruit, de mieux prioriser les comptes et de recréer de la confiance entre le marketing et les commerciaux.L'épisode aborde également l'efficacité de l'outbound en B2B. Les contenus, événements, publicités et signaux d'engagement peuvent servir de points d'entrée pour lancer des conversations commerciales plus pertinentes, sans recourir à une prospection générique ou excessivement insistante.Enfin, Alexandre Courbin analyse les limites de l'attribution marketing. En B2B, chaque vente ne peut pas toujours être rattachée à un canal unique. Il recommande donc de suivre la contribution globale du marketing au pipeline, aux opportunités et au revenu, tout en évaluant l'effet du branding sur le coût d'acquisition et la performance des autres canaux.Un épisode destiné aux CMO, responsables marketing B2B, Marketing Ops, responsables demand generation, équipes growth, sales et Revenue Operations, ainsi qu'aux dirigeants de startups et de scale-ups souhaitant construire une stratégie marketing mesurable, rentable et alignée avec les objectifs commerciaux.Au menu de cette conversation entre Alexandre et Mony :0:05 Début du parcours d'Alexandre1:45 Le marketing devenu illisible5:11 Les symptômes côté dirigeants8:29 Qualifier mieux les leads11:48 Définir le bon MQL16:45 Relancer sans être intrusif21:02 Aligner inbound, outbound et CRM24:14 L'outbound à froid en question28:14 Mesurer l'attribution marketingRéférences :LinkedIn d'Alexandrehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrecourbin/ – ⚡ Connecte-toi à Mony⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ici⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Je suis Mony Chhim et je suis freelance LinkedIn Ads pour entreprises B2B (45+ clients accélérés)

Signing the wrong client can mean months, or years, of stress, churn, and heartburn. In this episode, Carly and Joe break down how to vet clients and contractors before you commit.They cover why doing your homework upfront matters, how defining your business protects you from the wrong fit, and why personality can be just as important as the actual deliverables. You'll hear a clever way one consultant uses personality tests and questionnaires to gauge compatibility, why the gut check still reigns supreme, and the red flags that should make you pause. Think early freebie requests, panicky urgency, and how a prospect talks about past providers.Plus, Joe shares one of the worst hiring mistakes of his career and the lesson that stuck with him ever since. Hint, watch how people treat the waiter.If you want fewer bad-fit clients and more long-term relationships, this episode gives you the framework to get there.

In this episode of The Freelancer's Teabreak, I'm going to discuss the power of freelance friendships, and how to find your own freelance friendship circle 00:00 Welcome & Take a Break 01:19 Drains vs Radiators 02:14 Alicia's Story 04:39 The Freelance Business Lounge 05:17 Membership Details 09:02 Get Involved 10:16 Goodbye

Inspired by Pete's mum, Pete and Jen noodle on the qualities of leadership that allow everyone in the room to succeed, whether in the back of a car, on a stage, or in an office.Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about:What are the correlations between parenting and leadership?How might you lead by example, as opposed to with words?In what way is behavior and energy contagious to a full team? And how might we consider that in the approach to our work? More from us in your inbox. Subscribe to Box O' Goodies. A weekly email with the books, podcasts, quotes, and other noodles Jen and Pete are mulling over.Listen to all episodes and read full transcripts at thelongandtheshortpodcast.com.Reach us: hello@thelongandtheshortpodcast.comPete's work: humanperiscope.com · Jen's work: jenwaldman.com

Think being a solopreneur means doing everything yourself? Think again. In this episode, we sit down with Rachael Davila, a virtual assistant since 2005 and founder of Extra Hands! Virtual Assistance, to break down everything you need to know before hiring your first VA.Rachael has seen both sides of the desk. She spent 16 years as a VA before hiring her own in 2021, and that experience gave her a fast education in why delegation feels so scary. We get into the real difference between "doers" and "collaborators," how to know which one your business actually needs, and why the cheapest VA is rarely the most affordable choice.You will also hear when to bring on support (spoiler, before you are drowning), how to document your processes even if your brain does not work that way, and why a human VA still beats AI for relationship-driven businesses.Whether you are curious, overwhelmed, or somewhere in between, this conversation will help you delegate with confidence.What you will learnThe difference between a doer VA and a collaborator VAThe signals that tell you it is time to hireWhy cheaper VAs can cost you moreHow to find and vet the right-fit VA at any budgetWhen a human VA beats AI (and when it does not)Rachael's life-first advice: start small and build trustLearn more about Rachael at extrahandsva.com and check out her podcast Hey! Do I Need a VA?Enjoy the show? Leave us a five-star review and share this episode with a fellow solopreneur who needs it.

With the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup underway in Berlin, Hoopsology brings in freelance women's basketball journalist Eden Laase (The Athletic, Yahoo Sports) for a deep dive into the tournament's biggest storylines — starting with the team many believe is Team USA's most legitimate challenger yet: France. Eden breaks down exactly how France built its current golden generation, pointing to a rare convergence of elite young talent (Dominique Malonga, Pauline Astier, and Carla Leite among them), the country's growing investment in basketball academies like INSEP, and the outsized influence of Gabby Williams — an American-born naturalized French star who brought a new competitive swagger to the program. Eden also credits Marine Johannes with opening the WNBA pipeline for French players despite pushback from the French federation, a decision that's paid off with France entering the knockout rounds a perfect 3-0 and ranked the tournament's second favorite behind the US, according to Eden, just ahead of a talented Belgium team led by Emma Meesseman and Julie Allemand. The two dig into what makes France so dangerous — elite team defense anchored by Defensive Player of the Year candidate Gabby Williams, and a roster that came within a single point of beating Team USA at the Paris 2024 gold medal game — as well as where they're vulnerable: interior size and a reliance on three-point shooting that may not hold up all tournament long. The conversation turns to Team USA, playing without four-time MVP A'ja Wilson, and the very real chemistry questions that surfaced in a shaky group-stage win over Italy before Breanna Stewart stepped up as a go-to scorer against the Czech Republic. Eden explains why the influx of international players into the WNBA has fundamentally changed the psychology of these matchups, with rival national teams no longer intimidated by facing their own WNBA teammates and opponents. From there, the two zoom out to discuss the broader globalization of women's basketball, including the WNBA's international expansion ambitions, Cathy Engelbert's retirement, League Pass making the league accessible worldwide, and the emergence of alternative leagues like Unrivaled and the mysterious Project B. Eden closes with a scouting report on under-the-radar teams to watch, including a surprising Hungary squad and a South Korea team on the rise, before offering casual viewers a simple way to appreciate the tournament: watch how each country's culture shows up in how its team plays.

Southampton were minutes away from their first Championship away win of the season before Lincoln City's late equaliser left Saints reflecting on another two points dropped—and raised fresh questions about Tonda Eckert's game management.Martin Starke is joined by Alfie House, Tom Prentki and Martin Sanders to examine the 1-1 draw, from Welington's spectacular goal and James Ward-Prowse's return to the substitutions that allowed Lincoln to take control. Did the late switch to a back three invite unnecessary pressure, and does Eckert have enough quality on the bench to change matches?Those concerns lead directly into Tuesday night's meeting with unbeaten Swansea City at St Mary's. Freelance sports journalist George Rees-Julian joins the panel to explain Swansea's impressive start, where they can be exposed and how Saints may need to change their midfield and defensive setup to get the result.Plus, the panel discusses Keven Schlotterbeck's encouraging start, Jay Robinson scoring on loan and the latest TSP Player of the Week.If you enjoy the podcast, please follow the show and leave us a rating or review. You can support TSP and join our Saints community at patreon.com/totalsaintspodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S11E16 – The Freelance Crew compete against each other in trivia. Email us your questions at: FreelanceHeroismPodcast@gmail.com Visit Freelance Heroism on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/freelanceheroism/ We have a Patreon! Any support you can provide goes toward us giving you a better podcast listening experience: https://www.patreon.com/Freelance_heroism Check out Deece's webcomic! http://www.1d4rounds.com/ Find the cast on BlueSky: Deece: https://bsky.app/profile/roguist.bsky.social Rae: https://bsky.app/profile/raedrie.bsky.social You can find our gameplay videos on our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6TwfLOFsl192ExdAugebgg/ You can check out our web page here: https://rss.com/podcasts/freelancehero/ Intro theme is St. Augustine Red by Blue Dot Sessions, which is licensed under an AttributionNonCommercial 4.0 International License. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Blue_Dot_Sessions/cafe-nostro/st-augustine-red/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Freelance writer and founder of Doors Open Dishes Nicole Schnitzler joins Bob Sirott to talk about some of Lincoln Park’s best dining spots, including, Vanille, John’s Food & Wine, and Beacon Doughnuts. She also shares what Doors To Dishes does for the community and an upcoming event with Esperanza Community Services.

Join Creative & Coin: https://link.motionhatch.com/matt-pod Get the free guide: https://link.motionhatch.com/200k-free-guide-pod Matt Carr Jr: https://mattcarrjr.com/ Connect with Motion Hatch:✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter

Every solopreneur eventually meets the client who pays the bills but crushes the soul. The one who calls at odd hours, ignores your boundaries, pays late, and somehow still feels impossible to let go of because the money is good.In this episode, Carly and Joe tackle one of the hardest parts of running a life-first business, walking away from a client you cannot afford to lose. They explain why the difficult client is not always the mean one, sometimes it is the perfectly nice person who has pulled your business away from its core.You will learn how to do the real math on what a problem client is actually costing you per hour, why communicating your boundaries comes before firing anyone, and how raising your rates can either fix the relationship or end it cleanly. Carly and Joe also share why keeping things professional matters more than venting, how to give enough notice so you never leave someone in a lurch, and what to do with your freed-up time once the client is gone.Whether that client is your only client or the one funding your vacations, this conversation gives you a clear, calm path out. Your paycheck and your peace of mind do not have to be at war.Leave a five-star review, share this with a fellow solopreneur, and subscribe wherever you listen, including YouTube.

Freelance reporter Judith Crown joins Jon Hansen to talk about the privately financed rail proposal that would take you to O’Hare in 15 minutes. Judith shares what tracks would be used, how neighbors feel, and what planners are saying. For more stories by Judith, visit www.chicagobusiness.com.

For Jews in the pews, the wail of the shofar is the signal sound of the Jewish New Year. But for congregational rabbis, it's like the crack of a starting pistol, setting them off on a six-week sprint of preparation and facilitation. The role of the pulpit rabbi can be emotionally draining, with unrealistic expectations and a lack of boundaries for their personal lives. Logistics, administration, governing boards and committees take over, leading some to search for a new path. Enter the freelance rabbi. Not in Heaven host Avi Finegold covered the rise of the freelance rabbi in the most recent issue of Scribe Quarterly. As membership numbers at synagogues continue to fall, demand is increasing for spiritual leaders who can fit into their lifestyles. These freelance rabbis are unaffiliated with any synagogue, and they're available for officiating lifecycle events like weddings, funerals, baby namings, or b'nai mitzvah. This week, our rabbinic podcasters—including our very own Matthew Libel, longtime freelance rabbi in Winnipeg—look at what's behind the trend and where it's going. What does a community lose when participation becomes an à la carte experience? And how does shifting to the gig-work world ultimately affect the rabbi's mental health? Credits Hosts: Avi Finegold, Yedida Eisenstat, Matthew Leibl Production team: Zachary Judah Kauffman (editor), Michael Fraiman (executive producer), Alicia Richler (editorial director) Music: Socalled Support The CJN Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) https://pnc.st/s/not-in-heaven

Taking inspiration from the Disney Map, Jen and Pete noodle on what their own mind maps might look like, and how they might be created in the first place. Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: What is the Disney Map? How might seemingly disparate projects actually be related? What does the 30,000 foot map look like for Pete and Jen? And what about the sea level map? More from us in your inbox. Subscribe to Box O' Goodies. A weekly email with the books, podcasts, quotes, and other noodles Jen and Pete are mulling over.Listen to all episodes and read full transcripts at thelongandtheshortpodcast.com.Reach us: hello@thelongandtheshortpodcast.comPete's work: humanperiscope.com · Jen's work: jenwaldman.com

Have you ever wondered how long it actually takes to run a freelance ad management business?Maybe you already have one and you are working your little booty off, opening your bank account thinking, “Holy bananas, I am not making enough money for how much I am working.” Maybe you are making good money and feel weird because you are not working enough, so you start inventing work. Or maybe you have not started yet and you are trying to figure out if you even have the hours.In this episode, Brandi answers the time question with actual numbers. Not “it depends.” Real hours, broken down by stage, plus where those hours belong so you stop pouring time into things that have never landed anyone a client.In this episode, you will learn:Why four hours a week is enough when you are just starting a freelance ad management business, and how those hours split between education, list building, and marketing minutesThe 40 to 60 minute Monday list-of-25 process and why a visual timer keeps it from eating your whole dayWhy 30 minutes a day of marketing minutes is the one thing that never changes at any stageThe four hours per week per client breakdown (1 hour reporting, 1 hour creative, 1 hour copy, 1 hour campaign setup and monitoring) and why that is the ceiling, not the targetWhen your time per client should drop way below four hours, and the red flags that mean you need to fix your processWhy onboarding is the most expensive thing in your calendar and how retention is a time strategyHow a Strategist Society member is doing $40,000 months working 30 to 35 hours a week, and how Brandi runs a million-dollar-a-year business in under 25Mentioned in this episode:Free live bootcamp (October): brandimowles.com/bootcampStrategist Society applications: thestrategistsociety.comDM Brandi the words TIME MANAGEMENT on Instagram @brandimowles if you want a full series on time managementThe Invisible Time Thief: Context Switching and Productivity: brandimowles.com/199The Conversions for Clients training: Creating Reports Clients Actually Want (available in Conversions For Clients)Ready to scale past $10K months?If you already have an ad management business and you are looking for more support and one-on-one coaching from Brandi, head to thestrategistsociety.com and apply for a spot. We will let you know when one opens and hop on a call to find out exactly where you are stuck. That is where you go if you want to make big girl money while getting your clients ridiculously good results and living a freedom-filled life.Loved this episode?Screenshot it, share it to your stories, and tag @brandimowles. And if the podcast has given you value, leave a quick review on Apple or drop some stars on Spotify. It is the biggest, kindest gift you can give a podcaster, and I appreciate every single one.Now go do the dang thing.Follow the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/serve-scale-soar/id1477998650Follow Brandi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandimowlesFollow Brandi on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Brandiandcompany

Warren Kornblum spent decades inside some of the biggest brands in retail, including Toys R Us across 27 countries, and he is convinced the solopreneur holds an advantage the giants would kill for. In this episode, Warren joins Carly and Joe to break down what really builds a brand when you are a business of one.Warren makes the case that branding was never about technology, reach, or advertising. It is about the customer, and solopreneurs are uniquely positioned to keep that focus razor sharp. He introduces his idea of the brand stand, the promise your business makes and keeps, and explains why a relationship will always beat a transaction.You will also hear why chasing followers and views can quietly work against you, the difference between share of mind and share of heart, and the danger of using AI to do the personal work that actually earns trust. Warren keeps it refreshingly real, and by the end you will have one simple thing you can start doing this week.In this episode you will learn:Why the solopreneur has a branding advantage over billion-dollar companiesWhat a brand stand is and how to build one that does not collapse into performanceThe difference between share of mind and share of heartWhy vanity metrics mislead you and what to measure insteadHow to earn trust without selling your soul for likesWhere solopreneurs most often overpromise and underdeliverWhether you are just starting or years into building your business of one, this conversation will change how you think about your brand.

Adrie pulls a daring move with the help of Beucephalus and Kaeviir and EDG4R set a trap. Email us your questions at: FreelanceHeroismPodcast@gmail.com Visit Freelance Heroism on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/freelanceheroism/ We have a Patreon! Any support you can provide goes toward us giving you a better podcast listening experience: https://www.patreon.com/Freelance_heroism Check out Deece's webcomic! http://www.1d4rounds.com/ Find the cast on BlueSky: Deece: https://bsky.app/profile/roguist.bsky.social Rae: https://bsky.app/profile/raedrie.bsky.social You can find our gameplay videos on our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6TwfLOFsl192ExdAugebgg/ You can check out our web page here: https://rss.com/podcasts/freelancehero/ Intro theme is Waltz op. 64 no 2 in c-sharp minor composed by Frédéric Chopin and performed by Olga Gurevich. License: The song is permitted for commercial use under license public domain, non copyrighted. http://www.orangefreesounds.com/

In this episode, Audrey Havey shares her journey from freelancing to co-owning a creative studio with her husband, Justin. They discuss the challenges and strategies of running a small studio, balancing multiple roles, and navigating the evolving creative industry.

An AI creative director combines design fundamentals, AI fluency, tool selection, and repeatable workflows to produce better creative work.The boys over at Fast Hour invites a 24-year-old AI creative director to give away her playbook and somehow gets reminded that buying more AI subscriptions does not count as mastery. Jamey Gannon explains why AI is a skill, what top operators do differently, how Midjourney mood boards become brand systems, and why sometimes the smartest AI move is opening Photoshop.Jamey Gannon explains how self-taught design, social media, freelancing, and AI fluency shaped her work as an AI creative director. Jamey Gannon demonstrates Midjourney mood boards, SREFs, Midjourney V8.2 Edit, Krea K2, Claude, Figma, Photoshop, Flora, Nano Banana, and the CXO brand system, including when to build custom tools instead of forcing an existing workflow.---⏱️ Fast Hour00:00 Who is Jamey Gannon?06:43 How Jamey taught herself design at 1512:23 Why Gen Z chases money over job titles15:35 What first freelance clients look like at 1718:43 Why social media is a freelance prerequisite22:16 Freelance math: 20 clients vs one salary24:13 How her sister makes $5K–$10K/month with AI27:08 What is an AI creative director?28:58 What the AI Creative Director course teaches33:05 Is Krea catching Midjourney?35:53 The "easy, fast, cheap" AI lie38:43 Three moments that hooked Jamey on AI42:23 How to build brand mood boards46:00 How one SREF cracked the brand style46:27 Midjourney + Figma: the pixel shader pipeline49:06 When you should not use AI51:53 Two ways to use Midjourney mood boards56:44 What top AI creatives do differently59:44 Build the tool when the workflow doesn't exist1:11:28 Midjourney V8.2 Edit: first live tests1:15:00 What works and what drifts in Midjourney Edit1:20:06 Midjourney Edit vs Nano Banana: identity lock1:21:32 Can Midjourney edit text and fonts now?1:25:23 Can Midjourney's edit model preserve logos and apparel graphics?1:31:05 Is Midjourney inpainting or regenerating?1:34:33 The verdict: using Nano Banana less1:37:34 Where Nano Banana still fits

Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com Episode 2159: Michelle Schroeder-Gardner explains how to land a first freelance client without a track record to point to. She recommends running a blog that doubles as a live portfolio, creating sample work, taking selective low-pay or free projects that genuinely build credibility, and then networking in the places clients already gather - a practical on-ramp to self-employment and side hustles. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.makingsenseofcents.com/2015/03/how-to-find-freelance-work-with-no-work-experience.html Quotes to ponder: "The truth is, you need experience in order to gain experience and this applies to freelancers as well." "In the beginning, you should be more focused on getting your name out there, gaining valuable experience, and building your portfolio." "The worst thing that can happen is someone will say no." Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Growth consultant and author of The Damn Rules, Nick Richtsmeier joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about why internet-based inbound marketing systems have stopped working, aren't coming back, and what might work instead.00:27 Nick's Background and Work01:10 Why the Internet Is Toast03:09 What Distribution Means Now04:36 Inbound as Attention Arbitrage07:56 The Attention Economy Is a Casino13:37 Five Major Disruptions22:36 Trust and Attachment as Scarcity25:34 Friction as a Load-Bearing System30:10 Restoring Trust Through Human Contact35:01 Selling When People Are Scrolling39:19 Notice Meetings and Relationship Networks41:47 Why Friction Polishes Ideas50:37 The Damn Rules and Closing ThoughtsNick's bio:Nick Richtsmeier is the creator of Trust-Made Growth® and the author of The Damn Rules: How Vulnerability, Inefficiency, and Love Liberate Leaders from the Trustbroken Economy, a strategist and cultural navigator helping founder-led, relationship-driven firms build durable businesses in the age of AI extraction and from the wreckage of the trustbroken economy. Nick's links:Personal » https://nickrichtsmeier.comBook » https://nickrichtsmeier.comNewsletter » https://damnrulesbook.comLinkedIn » https://linkedin.com/in/nickrichtsmeierPodcast » “Damns Given with Nick Richtsmeier” available on all major platforms ----Do you know you need to niche down, but keep hesitating because you're afraid of picking the wrong niche, cutting off good opportunities, or boxing yourself in?You DON'T need more convincing that vague positioning is a problem.You DO need a way to make positioning feel less risky so you can finally choose a direction, test it in the market, and adjust without blowing up your business.On Tuesday, September 8th, 2026, at noon Eastern Time, I'm running a live workshop called Positioning For Soloists Having A Hard Time Niching Down.That's what we'll tackle in this workshop.It's the second session of my Fall 2026 Soloist Growth Workshop series for expertise-based business owners just like you.Live attendance is limited to 20, so don't wait.Learn more at: https://jonathanstark.com/sgsEnroll in Positioning For Soloists now »Hope to see you live in Zoom on Tuesday.

You've been told you need to become a full-time content creator to grow your business. Post every day. Fight the algorithm. Do the newest TikTok dance. But what if you hate social media, and still need leads?In this episode, Carly and Joe break down practical lead generation strategies for solopreneurs who don't want to build an audience on social media. From leveraging your existing network to borrowing other people's audiences to building a referral system that actually works, these are relationship-first approaches that replace the pressure to go viral with something that feels a lot more real.Whether you're leaving corporate and dreading the "you need to be on social media" advice, or you've been solo for a while and want alternatives to the content hamster wheel, this episode is for you.Key topics covered:Why solopreneurs don't need a massive social media following to generate leadsHow to use social media for relationship-building without posting or broadcastingUsing LinkedIn for direct outreach and genuine connection (not selling)Tapping your existing network (past coworkers, vendors, clients, friends, and family) as your first lead generation pipelineThe simple outreach message that lets people know what you do without being pushyBorrowing audiences through podcast guesting, webinars, guest articles, and PRHow to build a referral system instead of hoping word-of-mouth happens on its ownBook recommendation: The Referral Engine by John JantschMemorable TakeawayRelationships, reputation, referrals...everything you do should go back to human connection and trust.Resources & Links MentionedThe Referral Engine by John JantschLifeStarr Community Alex Hormozi's YouTube channel

L'IA peut vous aider à produire plus vite, à décliner vos contenus et à gagner un temps précieux. Mais il y a un risque : à force d'utiliser les mêmes outils que tout le monde, est-ce que nos marques ne vont pas finir par toutes se ressembler ?Et surtout, comment faire pour que l'IA comprenne vraiment ce qui fait la singularité de votre marque ?Dans cet épisode du Podcast du Marketing, je reçois Marion Cas, spécialiste de l'intégration de l'IA dans les Content Factories.Ensemble, nous nous intéressons à ce qui se passe avant le prompt.Parce qu'utiliser l'IA efficacement ne consiste pas simplement à choisir le bon outil ou à apprendre quelques techniques de prompting. Il faut d'abord savoir ce que l'on veut lui confier, ce que l'on préfère garder entre les mains des équipes et, surtout, être capable de lui expliquer précisément qui nous sommes.Nous parlons donc de stratégie de marque, de création de contenu, de brand guidelines, mais aussi de cette connaissance de la marque qui existe parfois davantage dans la tête des équipes que dans les documents officiels.Marion partage plusieurs exemples de grandes marques qui ont fait des choix très différents face à l'IA. Elle explique également pourquoi nos bons vieux brand books ne sont pas forcément aussi utiles qu'on pourrait le penser lorsqu'il s'agit de travailler avec une intelligence artificielle.Et vous verrez que derrière cette question très technologique se cache finalement un sujet beaucoup plus marketing : qu'est-ce qui fait qu'un contenu ressemble vraiment à votre marque et pas à celle de votre concurrent ?Un épisode pour prendre un peu de hauteur sur l'IA et réfléchir à la place que vous voulez réellement lui donner dans votre marketing.

Everyone loves the idea of being their own boss. But what happens when your side gig becomes a real business? In this episode of Biz, Lisa Lie chats with Cherie Clonan, CEO of The Digital Picnic, about what it actually takes to make the leap from employee or freelancer to business owner. Cherie gets brutally honest about the reality of building a business with bub in tow: three years without a salary, the pressure of making payroll, the temptation to quit, and why business ownership isn't necessarily the freedom fantasy we're sold. She explains how she knew The Digital Picnic had "legs", what changes when you go from selling your own time to building a team, and why the biggest leap might actually come after becoming a freelancer. Plus, Cherie shares her simple "horizons of growth" framework to balance the day-to-day work of keeping a business alive with the bigger ideas that drove you to start it all. In this episode you'll also learn: How to tell if your side hustle actually has legs Why you don't necessarily need to quit your job to start a business The reality of going years without paying yourself The moment Cherie realised she had become the bottleneck in her own business What changes when you hire your first employees THE END BITS Support independent women's media.Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions you definitely can't ask your boss for our Biz Inbox episodes - send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au. You can remain anon! HOST: Lisa Lie GUEST: Cherie Clonan - The Digital Picnic EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Courtney Ammenhauser SENIOR PRODUCER: Thom LionVIDEO PRODUCER: Marlena Cacciotti Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a trip down memory lane this week, Jen noodles with Pete on the ways in which we reflect, and how we might learn from our past self.  Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: What are different tactics for reflecting on the past? Why is it important to notice the repetitions in the problems we face? How might we look to the past for evidence or help with where we are now?   More from us in your inbox. Subscribe to Box O' Goodies. A weekly email with the books, podcasts, quotes, and other noodles Jen and Pete are mulling over.Listen to all episodes and read full transcripts at thelongandtheshortpodcast.com.Reach us: hello@thelongandtheshortpodcast.comPete's work: humanperiscope.com · Jen's work: jenwaldman.com

Are you stuck in the hourly billing trap, racing against the clock while your clients pressure you to go faster, cheaper, and more? In this episode, Jonathan Stark, the "Ditching Hourly" guy, joins Carly and Joe to break down exactly how solopreneurs can escape time-for-money pricing and switch to a value-based model that benefits both you and your clients.Jonathan shares the surprising moment he realized hourly billing was the root cause of nearly every frustration in his business, from scope creep to client tension to capped income. After making the switch, he doubled his income in year one and watched his client relationships transform almost overnight.This isn't abstract theory. Jonathan walks through his exact process for determining what your work is worth to a client, including his "why conversation" framework, a series of strategic questions that uncover urgency, business value, and what a home run looks like before you ever quote a price. He also explains how to structure a three-option proposal, why he defines scope last (not first), and how to handle scope creep without awkward confrontations.You'll also hear Jonathan's take on retainer pricing, why he doesn't send "rates are going up" letters, when hourly billing might still make sense for newer solopreneurs, and why he keeps contracts minimal even though any lawyer would call him crazy for it.In this episode, you'll learn:Why hourly billing creates a self-fulfilling cycle of scope creep and client tensionThe "why conversation" framework: three categories of questions that reveal what your work is actually worthHow to build a three-option value-based proposal that practically sells itselfWhy Jonathan prices first and defines scope last, and how that changes everythingHow to handle scope creep requests without damaging the client relationshipThe difference between project-based value pricing and retainer-based advisory pricingWhen hourly billing might still be appropriate (and when it's a trap)Why getting paid upfront changes the entire dynamic of client workHow to raise your prices over time without losing existing clientsResources mentioned:Jonathan Stark's free email course: valuepricingbootcamp.comJonathan's website: jonathanstark.comDitching Hourly podcastIf you found this episode helpful, share it with a solopreneur friend who's struggling with pricing. And don't forget to leave a five-star review and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, including YouTube.

On this episode Mark Simon is joined by Kamala Thiagarajan.This will be a little different for us. Kamala is a science journalist who spent part of her childhood in the United States and is now based in Madurai, South India. She won The June Biedler Prize and a Solutions Journalism Award for outstanding reporting on cancer in 2025. She's also reported extensively on COVID in India. Sometimes she reports on human rights and culture. Kamala has had bylines in the New York Times, The Guardian, on NPR, and the BBC. She's also a contributor to the new book from The Open Notebook, The Best Science Stories And How They Work.Kamala was recommended to us by Sandeep Ravindran, a recent guest who is the president of the National Association of Science Writers.Kamala talked about freelance writing life and provided examples of the kind of stories she's covered. She explained the challenges of doing science writing in India, commented on the state of science writing in the United States, gave strategies for dealing with work stress, and explained how she mentors other journalists.Kamala's salutes: The Open Notebook & The American Association For Cancer ResearchInterview on FreedomWithWriting.comhttps://www.freedomwithwriting.com/freedom/editor-interviews/interview-with-kamala-thiagarajan-publlished-in-the-new-york-times-npr-bbc-al-jazeera-scmp-and-others/Kamala's Seaweed Diver Storyhttps://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/05/07/1129895843/its-not-for-the-faint-hearted-the-story-of-indias-intrepid-women-seaweed-diversKamala's story about blind women helping catch breast cancerhttps://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2024/09/08/g-s1-15690/breast-cancer-tumors-women-blindKamala A Day In The Life Storyhttps://www.theopennotebook.com/2025/03/04/a-day-in-the-life-of-kamala-thiagarajan/ Subscribe to our newsletter hereYou can find all our episode guides for teachers and professors here,Please support your local public radio station: adoptastation.org Visit our website: thejournalismsalute.org Mark Simon's website MarkSimonmedia.comMark Simon's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-simon-92355124/

Adrie takes to the skies to investigate an explosion. Email us your questions at: FreelanceHeroismPodcast@gmail.com Visit Freelance Heroism on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/freelanceheroism/ We have a Patreon! Any support you can provide goes toward us giving you a better podcast listening experience: https://www.patreon.com/Freelance_heroism Check out Deece's webcomic! http://www.1d4rounds.com/ Find the cast on BlueSky: Deece: https://bsky.app/profile/roguist.bsky.social Rae: https://bsky.app/profile/raedrie.bsky.social You can find our gameplay videos on our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6TwfLOFsl192ExdAugebgg/ You can check out our web page here: https://rss.com/podcasts/freelancehero/ Intro theme is Waltz op. 64 no 2 in c-sharp minor composed by Frédéric Chopin and performed by Olga Gurevich. License: The song is permitted for commercial use under license public domain, non copyrighted. http://www.orangefreesounds.com/

Thinking about going freelance in the floral industry? You're not alone - many florists are choosing this path to build careers that reflect their creativity and values. But how do you actually make it work? In this episode, Clarissa Marchia and Kate Truhlar share with host, Yvonne Ashton, the strategies that helped them build thriving freelance careers. From leveraging social media to find your first clients, to networking within the floral community, to understanding your worth and pricing confidently - they cover the real-world tactics that matter. Whether you're just starting out or reconsidering your current business model, you'll hear practical advice on setting your fee, building your portfolio, and creating a fulfilling freelance career. Pull up a chair at The Florist's Table for honest insights into what it takes to succeed as a freelance florist. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. Visit the link for show notes and video podcast: https://www.mayesh.com/blog/5-tips-for-successful-floral-freelance-career 

Double-unicorn founder (WP Engine and A Smart Bear), Jason Cohen, joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about the ideas behind his new book, Hidden Multipliers.We talked about using AI as a facilitator rather than an answer machine, choosing ideal customers, differentiating a consulting business, how AI is changing SaaS and software work, and why writing can help you think in public.Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:56 - AI Skills as Facilitators04:16 - Choosing Your Best Customers09:42 - Building Strategy Around Yourself13:40 - Defining a Market22:29 - Problems, Alternatives, and Categories27:00 - Differentiating Consulting Services33:58 - The Fear of Closing Doors38:02 - Who Hidden Multipliers Is For41:14 - AI and the Future of SaaS49:33 - Why Expertise Still Matters53:24 - Distribution and Fast Followers59:13 - Worldview as Differentiation61:03 - Writing to Think68:28 - Where to Find JasonJason's LinksThe Book » https://shop.hiddenmultipliers.com/The Skills » https://skills.asmartbear.com/Jason's Blog » https://longform.asmartbear.com/Jason's Podcast » https://smartbearlive.transistor.fm/Jason's LinkedIn » https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncohen/ ----Do you know you need to niche down, but keep hesitating because you're afraid of picking the wrong niche, cutting off good opportunities, or boxing yourself in?You DON'T need more convincing that vague positioning is a problem.You DO need a way to make positioning feel less risky so you can finally choose a direction, test it in the market, and adjust without blowing up your business.On Tuesday, September 8th, 2026, at noon Eastern Time, I'm running a live workshop called Positioning For Soloists Having A Hard Time Niching Down.That's what we'll tackle in this workshop.It's the second session of my Fall 2026 Soloist Growth Workshop series for expertise-based business owners just like you.Live attendance is limited to 20, so don't wait.Learn more at: https://jonathanstark.com/sgsEnroll in Positioning For Soloists now »Hope to see you live in Zoom on Tuesday.

This week, Pete shares with Jen some lessons he has learned from his swimming coach, on how to measure progress...by stopping the measuring. Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: Why might our existing tools actually hinder our forward momentum? Where might we be able to rely on ourselves more, rather than searching for external validation?  Why is it important to go slow, in order to go fast?   More from us in your inbox. Subscribe to Box O' Goodies. A weekly email with the books, podcasts, quotes, and other noodles Jen and Pete are mulling over.Listen to all episodes and read full transcripts at thelongandtheshortpodcast.com.Reach us: hello@thelongandtheshortpodcast.comPete's work: humanperiscope.com · Jen's work: jenwaldman.com

Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 2148: Daniella breaks down how to set your freelance rate when you have no idea what to charge. She covers researching the going rate through freelancer communities and rate databases, then walks through the hourly wage method, factoring in your expenses, your unpaid admin time, and the share of your hours that are actually billable. She closes with the other factors that move your number, including experience, how fast you work, availability, and discounts for steady clients. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://iliketodabble.com/how-to-set-your-freelance-rate/ Quotes to ponder: "Don't focus too much on what other people are doing; set your rates based on what you feel is appropriate." "Reputation matters as a freelancer and clients will pay more (and offer consistent work more often) when you're reliable." "Keep in mind that low rates can help your business at the start, but eventually it makes sense to work fewer hours for higher paying clients and earn the same amount." Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices