Have you ever wondered how a simple passion like writing can morph into a successful full-time freelance business? Let's hear it from Dominic, the CEO and founder of UC Marketing, who shares with us his transformation from being an entry-level provisioning coordinator to running a successful content marketing freelance venture, with complete personal control over lifestyle and work/life balance. With his wealth of experience, Dominic serves up a plateful of insights - navigating the...

Welcome aboard to this enlightening journey into the realm of global freelancing. Ever wondered about the freedom to live anywhere, work in your pajamas, and not be tied to a 9-to-5 schedule? What about your client's schedule - and their language, preferences and priorities? We discuss how to make the most of geoarbitrage, the growing number of digital nomad visas, and the fact that this lifestyle is not necessarily forever - you can change your mind if it's not right for you. As appealing...

Get ready to unlock a world of choices. Welcome to an intriguing discussion with Olumide, an entrepreneur, digital nomad, and new dad who has redefined the meaning of success through his unconventional lifestyle. His inspiring immigration story sparks the start of his journey, followed by his decision to step away from the traditional and embrace digital nomadism, and the significant shifts in his life as he transitions into fatherhood. Our conversation takes us into the depths of artificial...

How do you know if you're charging enough for your freelance services? Are you leaving money on the table or pricing yourself out of the market? Listen in as we reveal the secrets to mastering freelancer pricing and valuation, with insights on positioning yourself in a competitive market and finding your unique value. We'll share lessons from successful freelancers on LinkedIn and discuss the importance of becoming the go-to person in your niche to secure the work you deserve. Discover the...

Ever wondered how to protect yourself from exploitation and set clear boundaries with clients as a freelancer? Join us in our conversation with Annabel Kay from KoffeeKlatch, expert in helping freelancers establish the right agreements and contracts. Learn about the importance of having solid contracts for both parties, and explore how this can even help address the gender pay gap which persists among solopreneurs. Managing client expectations can be a challenge for freelancers, but with...

Ever felt drained by the idea of attending face-to-face events as an introverted freelancer or solopreneur? You're not alone! In this enlightening episode, I share my personal journey on overcoming the challenges of being visible and humanizing my work, all while maintaining my introverted nature. Listen in as I reveal the importance of making the most of conferences and networking events, despite the energy it may require of introverts like us. Get ready to level up your conference...

Have you ever thought about packing up and embracing the digital nomad lifestyle? Join us in our engaging conversation with Danish Soomro, an original digital nomad and founder of the Digital Nomads Around the World Facebook community, as we discuss his unique perspective on citizenship, global mobility, and his entrepreneurial journey. During our discussion, we explore the growth of global mobility platforms, the impact of COVID-19 on digital nomadism, and how traveling has made us more...

A bonus episode today, as I just got home from Estonia. Spain is my physical home of choice, but Estonia is my digital home, and there are many good reasons for that.  After last week, it feels like more than a digital identity as well, that is conferred by my little blue e-Residency ID card. I'd love to know what you think, and if you want to learn any more about the Estonian e-Residency programme then just give me a shout... You can even send a voicenote, via...

How long have you been networking online as a freelancer? One of the people I first saw doing it well, was Ali Meehan from Spain's Costa Women. A "superconnector" on the Costa Del Sol, she has long been a powerful force for bringing people together, and supporting and uplifting other people in achieving their goals - whether that is to relocate to the sunshine, or launch a brand new venture. Because when you choose to integrate your life and your work by living where and how you choose, we...

Freelancers typically bring a range of innate character traits combined with life experiences, to forge their unique role in the world. But what if that life experience is an incredible story of multi-country immigration, parental sacrifice, culture shock, and personal transformation? In the case of today's guest Lumjana Shehu, it means you want different choices for the next generation in your home country, and so you work to create skills and opportunities for young people. Helping...

Extra episode this week, as I was determined to share my take-out thoughts and themes from the Running Remote conference, in Lisbon April 2023. I needed to capture these thoughts while I was still buzzing with the learning and inspiration gleaned, from the contacts and connections and conversations I enjoyed at the "#1 Remote Work Conference For Enterprises and SMEs" Spoiler alert: The future is freelance, flexible, AND remote 😎 Let us know what you think, and what subjects you'd enjoy...

Speaking at events is part of every freelancer's essential personal brand template today, and since the remote revolution, opportunities to do so virtually have exploded. Summits, webinars, livestreams, conferences - virtual or hybrid - have unlocked so many new ways to share your message and what you have to offer. But not everyone is happy and confident about embracing this opportunity and making the most of it. What if you are nervous, uncertain, or not in your first language? What if you...

I have lived in Spain as a freelancer for many years, and it's easy to lose sight of how the bigger picture has changed in that time. The Spanish economy has transformed itself digitally over the past decade, and recent legal changes have started to support and encourage innovation and enterprise. We even have a brand-new digital nomad visa, which finally recognises that people come here to enjoy the lifestyle, while doing business and earning from elsewhere. To discuss the social and...

Smart freelancers and solopreneurs make the most of the tools they have available, to deliver their best work. But the explosion of AI apps, in particular for conversational content generation, has taken the world by storm, at an unprecedented pace.  Many are confused, concerned, and uncertain about how this will affect all our different professions. So today Maya unpacks some of the legal and ethical concerns, and the risks to your business and reputation, that you must consider. Along...

Podcasting is amazing, for freelancers and solopreneurs. Well, I guess I would say that! But don't take my word for it. Steph Fuccio specialises in helping independent entrepreneurs get started and keep going with their own audio and video shows, and her enthusiasm for this market shines through in this conversation. She uses her extensive experience and technical chops to provide personalised support, from editing to cheerleading, and she is a persuasive advocate for the impact of adding...

Some changes today with your favourite freelancing podcast, but don't worry - it's all good.   We're re-launching independently, while paying tribute to the former owners of this show, Xolo, for all their amazing support (and the great business services they offer to the global freelancing community.) Come with on this journey, as Maya Middlemiss explores the crucial themes underpinning independent entrepreneurial transformation in 2023... Business without borders, practicalities from tech...

Dean is the original digital nomad, and has been travelling the world for many years, learning, growing, and supporting others along the way. He is the founder of Digital Nomads Israel, one of the largest and most engaged digital nomad communities in the world with over 38,000 active members. Over the last 10 years, he has empowered thousands of people to choose a life of freedom through Digital Nomads Israel, his captivating keynotes, government & business  collaborations, advocacy and...

Today we unpack a sought after yet accessible niche for freelancing, with the help of Devlin Peck - expert in instructional design. Online learning has been through a transformative time in recent years, and demand for experts is high. Especially those who can master both the technology and the creative aspects of creating great experiences, for clients in every industry and location. Devlin helps freelancers learn the necessary skills, and offers a huge range of educational materials to...

In today's show we dig in to the world of tech hiring, in a time where the whole sector has been very unstable. So many freelancers not only offer tech-related skills, yet more of us work for tech startups and enterprises in other roles,  because this industry has always had a broad open mindset to working flexibly and innovatively. But 2022 saw mass layoffs and funding crises, and a flood of new talent on the freelancing scene at least temporarily. Where does this leave us? Levin Wense ,...

As we transition from 2022 to 2023, the future is bright, for the Future is Freelance show. Thanks to all the amazing guests who were part of our first year journey, and to the exceptional infrastructure provided by Xolo, we know that solopreneurs are poised to have their most exciting year ever. This time of year is when we plan, we set intentions, we focus on what means most: what we are grateful for, what we value, what we hope for, for ourselves and the wider world. We explore trends,...

Gather round the campfire everybody, come closer. Because Lidia Rumley wants to tell you a story... To help you tell YOUR unique story in fact, as a freelancer, a solopreneur - there's something about you which is different from everybody else out there. Lidia "The Brand Storyteller" can help you find your own individual fairytale. As freelancers, we're sometimes too close to our own work to find that golden thread, and that's where a branding consultant can be helpful, at any stage. But...

Even when you operate your business as an Estonian e-resident with Xolo, you still have think about your personal taxation - in a world where rules remain disjointed, localised, and confusing. But John Lee and the Work From Anywhere team have been hard at work demystifying this subject, and helping to make things easier than ever, both for individual location-independent people, AND those who want to hire their services - in a safe, compliant way. Walking his talk as a true digital nomad, who...

To compete in a global marketplace of freelancers, you need to stand out - to be distinctive, unique, and tempting, to your perfect client. That means you won't be everybody's favorite, but you know what - that's okay! When you're cooking up your unique freelancing flavor, you need to find something a little bit special. Something which lets you stand out, to your perfect customer, in a way that's both memorable and distinctive. Today's episode is all about creating and defining the special...

Being a solopreneur in a global marketplace is great, as you have access to a world of opportunity. But you're also contending with a world of competition too - so how can you stand out, to the clients you need to find you? This is one of our practical 'how to' episodes, which every freelancer needs to pay attention to and take notes. Just as previous guests have helped us to optimise our various social media presences, Xolo's very own specialist Zoe Nguyen today helps us to optimise our most...

Digital nomads sometimes get a bad rap, for impacting local communities in a negative way rather than creating positive change. But today's guest is working hard to counter that, with two fantastic projects. Tarek Kholoussy is a social entrepreneur with an MBA with honors from New York University and a career of working at top organizations like Goldman Sachs. In 2013, he left the corporate world behind in an effort to explore the actual world, and in 2018 launched Nomads Giving...