In this episode, Paul and Kaleigh talk about why they’ve decided to wind things down with this podcast (and future course launches), as well as where they’re focusing their time and energy moving forward. Thanks for listening in and learning with us over the past few years. We 3 you.

In this special episode, we chat with the co-founders of this season’s podcast sponsor, Spiffy. Originally freelancers themselves, they share why they launched this software, how it came to be, and the problems they’re working to solve for fellow small business owners. Sponsored by our friends at Spiffy - the easiest way to create conversion-optimized checkouts, and take payments for freelancers, consultants and coaches. Check out spiffy.co/freelancer for more info.

Most freelancers have a lot of ideas and feel pulled in different directions when it comes to their businesses. Do I launch a productized service? A course? A new type of service? The reality is: You don’t have limitless time and energy. You need to focus. In this episode, we get into why rather than half-assing a bunch of things, you should “whole-ass one thing,” to quote Ron Swanson from the show Parks and Recreation. Sponsored by our friends at Spiffy - the easiest way to create...

How do you know if/when you’re officially ready to start teaching others and/or selling your first digital resources? We answer this question, share our firsthand experiences, and even get into how to know when it’s time to be done with this phase of your business. Sponsored by our friends at Spiffy - the easiest way to create conversion-optimized checkouts, and take payments for freelancers, consultants and coaches. Check out spiffy.co/freelancer for more info.

You might not realize it, but you can leverage videos as a secret weapon that puts you miles ahead of other freelancers. In this episode, we talk about smart, strategic ways we’ve seen freelancers use video as a business tool that helps with onboarding, cold pitching, project updates, and more. Sponsored by our friends at Spiffy - the easiest way to create conversion-optimized checkouts, and take payments for freelancers, consultants and coaches. Check out spiffy.co/freelancer for more info.

Looking to boost your freelance income, but not sure how to do that beyond raising your rates? We’ve got some suggestions for you that involved bundling and tiered pricing for productized services. This episode is a must-listen. Sponsored by our friends at Spiffy - the easiest way to create conversion-optimized checkouts, and take payments for freelancers, consultants and coaches. Check out spiffy.co/freelancer for more info.

During much of 2020, people around the world have been staying home or in lockdown during the pandemic. As a result, many of us are living and working in isolation, which can have negative side effects. Paul and I talk about how this is compounded by living in rural areas. We get into how we’re dealing (or...not dealing) with this current reality. Sponsored by our friends at Spiffy - the easiest way to create conversion-optimized checkouts, and take payments for freelancers, consultants and...

As a freelancer, part of your job means being on phone calls with clients and potential leads, editing or making revisions, doing research, etc. All of that takes time, and time = money. No business has 100% margins, so these costs need to be factored into the rates you charge...and you need to know how to communicate the value of that additional work with your clients. In this episode, we talk about how to do that well. Sponsored by our friends at Spiffy - the easiest way to create...

It’s late 2020 as we record this episode, and COVID is still top-of-mind for everyone. That’s why we thought it was important to get into a discussion around what happens to your freelance business if you get really sick. We talk about contingency planning, coverage, and how to plan for those times when we’re unable to work. Sponsored by our friends at Spiffy - the easiest way to create conversion-optimized checkouts, and take payments for freelancers, consultants and coaches. Check out...

Sara is a Lebanon-based UI engineer helping brands build modern, resilient, and inclusive user interfaces. She gets into how she discovered the freelance career path and talks about how a curious mind and sense of resourcefulness has fueled her success thus far.

Freelance writer Shayla Price has been working independently for about a decade now, and as a Black woman, she’s encountered her fair share of challenges along the way. She shares some ideas on how we can all lift up POC freelancers in our daily work and has some great thoughts around boosting inclusivity, too.

Kris Smith, known as “TheBlackTechie” online, is a consultant, podcaster, software engineer, speaker, and YouTuber currently living in Altanta, Georgia. She’s spent 10+ years helping companies organize and automate their ventures and technology systems. In this episode, she shares her freelance journey and talks about how she’s advocating for more diversity and inclusivity in tech.

Marshall Shorts is a designer, entrepreneur, and public speaker whose work centers around branding and creating more inclusive products and services. His TEDx talks “Branding Blackness by Design” and “Black Creatives Have Something to Say” serve as our jumping off points for this conversation.

In this episode, we chat with Boston-based writer and speaker Amma Marfo. We cover everything from how to increase diversity within your business to freelancing and introversion, as well as how her love for comedy has been helpful in her freelance career.

Anna N’Jie-Konte is the founder of Dare to Dream Financial Planning, a virtual financial planning company that serves women of color. Her goal is to help her clients develop a sustainable roadmap for financial success and build generational wealth. In this episode, she shares her experiences helping fellow Black women and sheds some light on the challenges this demographic faces around financial literacy.

This season, we’re putting a spotlight on diverse voices in the world of freelancing. With a handful of guests sharing their unique insights, experiences, and tips, listeners can get ideas on how to operate stronger, more inclusive freelance businesses while hearing from freelancers of color around the globe. Sponsored by Podia: podia.com/creativeclass

THERE IS SO MUCH DATA IN THE WORLD. So, as freelancers, what data should we track? And what are vanity metrics that don’t really matter? We’re sharing our insights and lessons learned through personal experience.

The answer, as always, is: IT DEPENDS. But in this episode, we’re talking about how to make an informed decision, who it makes sense for, and what to look for if you decide to hire a coach or mentor.

Often times, the “cliques” you’re part of/talk to, online and off, are a huge part of finding success in any type of career. So how do you find your communities (and then use them as a lever/springboard for your freelance business)? We’ll share our best tips.

Sometimes when you live and work in the same space, it can be hard to get into deep work because there are so many distractions around. A solo retreat might be just what you need to get laser focus on a major project--and Kaleigh shares some insight into her personal experience taking on early this year.

Many freelancers struggle when they’re getting started because they’re pulled in too many directions and try to be everything to everyone. What they really need is to pick a direction and lean into it. But how? We’ll talk you through the process in this episode.

Seth Godin talks about how all businesses have to be able to make it through “The Dip”: that period post-launch when interest drops off and you’re not quite established. So how do you get through that period...and how do you realize when you’re out of the dip? We’ll share our takes on that question and more.

Burnout happens when you’re overloaded in your business--and it’s a big reason freelancers can’t sustain their operations for the long haul. So how can you stoke what Paul calls “THE FIRE” so that you’re always excited and motivated about your work? We get into some tactics and ideas for stoking THE FIRE and talk about why it’s so important.

Audience-building is on the to-do list of many freelancers… but does it need to be? In this episode, we’re talking about how to decide whether or not audience-building is right for you and if it makes sense long-term for your business.