Deep Dive: 7 reasons why talking to potential customers is scary
The 7 reasons you might find it scary to reach out to your potential customers and how to deal with the scaries.
Deep Dive: The 9 reasons you resist picking a niche and how to deal with them
The 9 reasons you resist picking a niche and how to deal with them. By choosing a niche you get to make high-value solutions, become thé person to call. It allows for a clearer brand and specificity in your communication. And you free up mental capacity and get to see a clear path to making your business succeed.
The Lever Model for Freelancer Growth
Our culture demands growth, but personal and in business. Of course it’s up to you. You do not have to follow a growing path. If you choose to however, here are some ways you can achieve it in a sensible and effective manner.
Listen & Learn: My Favorite Podcasts
I've discovered podcasts in 2013 when someone I followed was a guest at the Unmistakable Creative podcast. It turned out to be a gateway-episode, because since then I was hooked. These are my favorites.
The opportunity for freelancers to be tribe leaders
How leading a tribe, rather than a bunch of individual clients, can lead to more connection, more chatter about your work and a bigger impact.
The 8 hard things about entrepreneurship.
The 8 hard things about entrepreneurship. See them coming and learn how to deal with these.
Two types of entrepreneurship: The Freelancer and the Entrepreneur
What type of entrepreneurship are you in?
Entrepreneurship is a big term. A bit too big. Knowledge or advice about entrepreneurship is inherently only applicable to some of it.
By breaking it up into the two main and very distinct types, it helps you see more clearly what the right strategy and path for growth is. And to know what not to do.
So, which one are you? Are you a "Freelancer" or an "Entrepreneur"?
I run into resistance when trying to commit to a niche. Here’s a letter I wrote to myself for support.
I find choosing and committing difficult. I know why it's important, but I keep coming up with counter-argument and excuses. I wrote a letter to myself for mental support. Hope it helps you too.
The 10 reasons why you should define your niche, especially when you're just starting out.
Defining a niche, focusing your work on specific people, picking specific goals. It all keeps coming back when I listen to successful entrepreneurs.
Now, I don't particularly like focusing. I like flexibility, options, variety. But even I have come to believe it good for you business and growth.
Here are the 10 reasons why you should define your niche, especially when you're just starting out.
Funny thing, I already wrote about the why. But when writing about the how, I realised I had more to say.
Talent is overrated. The name of the game is practice.
The craft of the top performer isn’t perfect because of their talent. It’s perfected by the endless hours of practice they put in. And so can you.
Should you ever work for free? (Pricing #5)
They will ask it. "Paid work will come!" "It's a great opportunity to show your work to potential clients!" How to deal with potential clients (and yourself!) when they ask you to work for free.
The case for following your talent over passion. Love what you do, by doing what you’re good at.
Now, this might not be a popular opinion. But I'm here to make a case for simply and boringly following your talent instead of your passion!
Because it's clear how talent leads to enjoyment. It's less clear that enjoyment always leads to skill.
Here are 11 reasons why it's much smarter, more joyful and sexier to do what you're good at, instead of what you're passionate about.
Stop trying to find your purpose, calling or passion! You're looking the wrong way! Try focusing on their origins instead.
Find your Purpose. Find your Passion. Find your Calling. Or your Mission. And for good measure, go with the Flow.
Pff, give me a break!
Finding Passion, Flow, Purpose, Calling and Mission. All these big words. All these things to find. I don't like it. Moreover, I think it's disempowering.
Why? Three reasons: (1) Size, (2) Metaphor and (3) Misdirection of attention.
Let me explain and give you a better approach.
18 ways to reframe a decision to help you pick and start faster.
Don't be a donkey. Learn how to start and pick between options by changing your approach to decision making with these 18 powerful ways to reframe the decision.
Pricing 2: How to figure out what your hourly rate should be.
There are roughly three ways to approach the price of your product. (1) Most logically is to base it on the value you deliver to the client. (2) To look at the price on the market for similar products. (3) And lastly, there is Cost-plus. To price your product or service based on what it costs you and put a margin on top of it.