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SHOWING 10 LATEST NEWS OUT OF 732

HOW WERE YOU DOING IN 2024?

As in previous years, the UK-based Leapers community for the self-employed organises an annual survey on the mental health of freelancers. They mainly target UK professionals, but people from other countries can also complete the questionnaire. It consists of 40 questions, and all responses are completely anonymous. Results will be published in January 2025. You can view past survey results on the website.

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WEEKLY DIGEST #51 OF 2024

• Reflecting on the year and planning ahead: A guide for freelancers, by Sarah Duran — 2024 is almost over, so it’s the perfect time to reflect and align your personal growth and business goals. Sarah prepared a handy guide to help you start.
• 5 beliefs that prevent freelancers from working effectively with subcontractors, by Austin L. Church — To keep growing as a professional, you need more support, and one way to achieve this could be learning how to delegate your work. This article addresses the most common limiting beliefs that keep many freelancers from delegating.
• How were you doing in 2024? Leapers organises an annual survey on the mental health of freelancers. They mainly target UK professionals, but you can fill in the questionnaire even if you are from other countries. Results will be published in January 2025.
• How to start consulting after retirement successfully, by Melisa Liberman — Feeling old? You can start your freelance business even in retirement, passing on your professional experience and know-how as a consultant. It’s a powerful way to stay connected to your industry and maintain your expertise and reputation.
• The freelancer’s guide to work-life balance: Tips for women juggling it all, from Freelancing Females — Simple but important principles to keep in mind when you're running a freelance business to maintain the right work-life balance.
• Why you shouldn’t fear rate increases: Strategies for success, by Lizzie Davey — Raising rates as a freelancer can feel risky, but it's essential for growth. This article presents a few points you should not overlook when pricing, especially how to communicate it clearly with your current clients.
• The power of prevention: Michal Novotný on movement and longevity, the Wisepreuners podcast with Nigel Rawlins hosted a Czech physiotherapist who works with world-class athletes such as Rafael Nadal and Hollywood actors such as Orlando Bloom. Among other things, Michal explained how prevention, personalized health strategies, and holistic wellness can extend longevity – a topic that is important not only for freelancers.

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RIDLEY SCOTT STORY

“There’s only one critic that means anything, and that’s you.” Ridley Scott, the legendary director of Blade Runner and Gladiator, shares a story about why he keeps a 40-year-old negative review of his work framed on the wall, reminding us that criticism—whether harsh or glowing—shouldn’t define us.

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MAKING A MARKETER

The team behind the Marketing Festival, one of Europe's leading conferences on digital marketing, has released a sequel to their "Making a Marketer" documentary. The video explores current marketing issues and challenges, featuring insights from industry luminaries such as Byron Sharp, Mark Ritson, and Steffen Saemann. The full documentary is available on YouTube.

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WEEKLY DIGEST #49 OF 2024

• The tricky task of discussing your freelancer rates with clients, by Lizzie Davey — Freelance rates can be daunting to discuss, but as Lizzie encourages, confidence is key. Reflect your value, adjust annually, aim for growth, and never undersell yourself.
• Be FreelanceAF course — Adam Faulkner has decided to release his online course for free; just use the code FREEAF. The course consists of six modules, in which Adam gradually goes through the different aspects of starting your own business, from developing a business mindset to pricing.
• Making a marketer 2 — The team behind the Marketing Festival, one of Europe's leading conferences on digital marketing, has released a sequel to their "Making a Marketer" documentary. The video explores current marketing issues and challenges, featuring insights from industry luminaries such as Byron Sharp, Mark Ritson, and Steffen Saemann. The full documentary is available on YouTube.
• Global workforce of the future, a report by Adecco surveyed 35,000 agency workers across 27 countries, offering valuable insights for freelancers as well. As the study shows, flexibility remains a top priority in the workforce, but many companies still struggle to implement it successfully. The growing demand for upskilling, particularly in AI and tech, underscores the need for freelancers to stay competitive by continually enhancing their skills. The report also highlights the transformative role of AI in boosting productivity, opening new opportunities for freelancers to adopt tools that enhance creativity and efficiency.
• Essentials: Using science to optimize sleep, learning & metabolism — Andrew D. Huberman continues his short-form podcast and, this time, answers the most frequently asked questions about evidence-based tools for improving alertness, enhancing learning, and achieving quality sleep.

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FREELANCING IN EUROPE 2024

The annual Freelancing in Europe 2024 report by Malt explores the evolving freelance landscape across the continent. With over 5,000 freelancers from six countries surveyed, the report offers a comprehensive view of trends, challenges, and opportunities. Supplemented by interviews with executives, it provides valuable insights for both freelancers and companies. Here are some key takeaways:

• Large corporations increasingly rely on freelancers, with a 55% rise in time spent on projects for big businesses since 2022. This underscores the growing role of freelancers in addressing skill gaps within major companies.
• Freelancers are focusing more on long-term client relationships, with 70% prioritizing the building of sustainable partnerships.
• Conversely, the top obstacles to successful freelance-client collaboration include unrealistic expectations, poor communication, and inadequate project briefings.

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WEEKLY DIGEST #48 OF 2024

• Essentials: Master your sleep & be more alert when awake, podcast by Andrew D. Huberman — A new short format of Andrew's podcast revisits previously discussed topics and summarizes key insights in about 30 minutes. In this episode, he shares essential sleep tips relevant not only for freelancers, for whom overall energy and well-being are very important.
• How to find your vision again, by our member Magdalena Cevelova — If you feel stuck and unmotivated in your business, it might be because you’ve achieved your vision and don’t have a new one. As Magdalena mentions, this often happens after reaching long-term goals, leaving us in need of fresh direction. Take time to reflect on your journey, celebrate your achievements, and welcome a new vision. Don’t rush—let it emerge naturally.
• Freelancers, be an investment, not an expense, by Austin L. Church — Do your clients truly see the value you bring? Austin opens his blog post by exploring how freelancers can change the way clients perceive them—from being seen as an expense to being viewed as an investment. By demonstrating their worth, aligning work with clients' financial goals, and focusing on results, freelancers can secure better opportunities and long-term partnerships.
• The pricing paradox — Sarah Duran summarizes learnings from the second Future is Freelance Forums, a collaborative event series for stakeholders from all levels of the freelance ecosystem. The article highlights strategies for sustainable pricing, balancing customization with systematization, decoupling time from money, and fostering transparency.
• What kind of solopreneur are you? from IMMA Collective — Understanding how your clients perceive a problem will help you communicate better, build trust and create a business that has a solid foundation.
• Balancing multiple gigs: How to manage your time as a freelancer, from Millo — Juggling multiple gigs doesn’t have to lead to burnout. This article offers practical strategies for effective time management and setting priorities, helping you avoid exhaustion and maintain a healthy work-life balance in your business.

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PRE-SALE PLATFORM FOR CREATORS

Are you hesitating to kick off a creative project because, for example, you lack the funds or aren't sure if there will be interest? Jiri Janousek and Marek Bouska recently launched the pre-sale platform if…deal, designed for creators. On this platform, you can essentially make a public commitment to bring your idea or project to life—if a set number of people purchase it in the pre-sale.

Unlike platforms like Kickstarter or HitHit, if…deal is relatively minimalist. To create your own offer, all you need to do is fill in a few basic details: what you’ll do and when, if X people buy in.

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WEEKLY DIGEST #47 OF 2024

• Good client checklist - Why freelancers need one, by Austin L. Church — To each freelancer, a 'good client' can mean something different. Defining what that means for yourself and creating a checklist, as Austin suggests, can help you make better decisions about who to work with and who to avoid.
• The annual Freelancing in Europe 2024 report by Malt explores the evolving freelance landscape across the continent. With over 5,000 freelancers from six countries surveyed, the report offers a comprehensive view of trends, challenges, and opportunities. Supplemented by interviews with executives, it provides valuable insights for both freelancers and companies. Here are some key takeaways:
• Large corporations increasingly rely on freelancers, with a 55% rise in time spent on projects for big businesses since 2022. This underscores the growing role of freelancers in addressing skill gaps within major companies.
• Freelancers are focusing more on long-term client relationships, with 70% prioritizing the building of sustainable partnerships.
• Conversely, the top obstacles to successful freelance-client collaboration include unrealistic expectations, poor communication, and inadequate project briefings.
• Independent consultants with Melisa Liberman, podcast by Sarah Duran — “When I left corporate, I realized how much of my confidence was tied to my title, the office, and the company name. Starting as a freelancer felt like starting over, but it also opened up so many new opportunities,” says Melisa Liberman, sharing her journey from corporate executive to accidental entrepreneur.
• 5 steps to get organized for freelancers, by Rachel Meltzer — Feeling overwhelmed? Here is a practical guide to getting and staying organized, with a unique tip on how to use AI, like Claude, to automate personal scheduling.
• How to write a cold email that gets the attention of high-paying prospects, by Lizzie Davey — Effective strategies for mastering cold emails that can actually be useful for writing emails in general: write conversationally (like you speak), focus on client needs, offer starter services, add a clear call-to-action, and follow up.
• Where’s the best place to live as a freelancer? from The Freelance Informer — If you are looking for your next digital nomad destination, Freaking Nomads ranks top destinations by internet quality, cost of living, co-working access, and more. European highlights include Las Palmas and Bucharest.

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STATE OF INDEPENDENCE IN AMERICA 2024

MBO Partners has released its 2024 State of Independence in America report, which offers unique insights into freelancing and the broader gig economy in the USA.

As the report shows, the independent workforce in the U.S. has expanded, driven by an increase in full-time independents (27.7 million, up 6.5% from the previous year). This group includes freelancers, gig workers, and independent contractors who prioritize flexibility and control over traditional job security. MBO Partners refers to this trend as the "Independent By Choice" movement.

You can download the full 24-page report here. Some important takeaways include:

• Millennials and Gen Z now make up 59% of the independent workforce, showing a shift toward younger, more diverse freelancers.
• 65% of freelancers are embracing generative AI to boost productivity, demonstrating their adaptability and forward-thinking approach.
• 31% now work with clients internationally (nearly triple the proportion who said so in 2012), underscoring the global potential of independent work.

The report also highlights that independent work offers mental and physical health benefits, with a majority of full-time independents feeling healthier (79%) and more secure (65%) than they would in traditional employment.

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