News and updates

SHOWING 10 LATEST NEWS OUT OF 866

WEEKLY DIGEST #28 OF 2026

• How Freelancers Can Stop Fighting Their Natural Rhythms and Start Planning Around Them — The latest Future Is Freelance session, hosted by Sarah Duran, focused on professional planning around our specific business and biological rhythms. Once you track when you have the most creative energy, when you need downtime, and how your energy or your surroundings change over time, you can utilize your time and opportunities better and more efficiently.
• Why Your Mind Is Your Practice, And The Case For Cognitive Vitality After 50 — Nigel Rawlins reminds us that for independent professionals, there is no mandatory retirement age—our minds are our practice. Grounded in cognitive science and interviews with experts thriving in their 70s and 80s, Rawlins explores how lifestyle, positive beliefs about aging, and demanding work create a virtuous cycle that keeps our thinking sharp. Instead of winding down, he offers a hopeful, data-backed guide to maintaining the mental peak required to keep building a business at any age.
• Build Your $300K Flywheel — Austin L. Church introduces a concept called the "300K Flywheel." Based on his own experience with freelancing and client consultations, he builds several well-thought-out steps that reinforce one another: market positioning, processes, target audience engagement, and so on. Once this flywheel starts spinning, the momentum generates predictable income and sustainable growth.
• 10 Truths About the Creative Profession We Don't Like to Admit — How do creative professionals themselves view their industry? Tom May shares the honest reactions of people who took part in this year's State of Creativity survey. By the way, you can still participate in the survey; you'll find the link at the end of the article.
• How to Manage Your Business When Your Battery is at 4% — "You cannot run a multi-department business using only willpower." Sara Gibson offers practical strategies on how to manage your business even when your personal battery is at 4%. She recommends reprioritizing tasks by required brainpower, batching operations into themed days, and automating back-office tools. By aligning your workload with your fluctuating energy levels, you can protect your business from burnout while giving yourself the necessary space to regenerate.

Share or discuss: LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Permalink

YOUR MIND IS YOUR PRACTICE

Nigel Rawlins reminds us that in the freelance world, retirement age is just a social construct. Instead of winding down, independent professionals can leverage their autonomy to keep their most valuable asset—their mind—in peak condition well into their 70s and 80s. By framing brain health not just as lifestyle advice, but as critical business infrastructure, Nigel shows how demanding work and purposeful habits actively protect our cognitive edge.

"Mental decline is common as we age, yet the research, and plenty of people still working well into their seventies and eighties, suggest it is far from inevitable."

Share or discuss: LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Permalink

WEEKLY DIGEST #26 OF 2026

• What Companies Get Wrong About Hiring Freelancers — Freelance business community founder Elina Jutelyte was a guest on the latest Freelancemap podcast episode, where she explained that collaboration issues rarely stem from freelancing itself. Instead, the problem is that companies hire independent experts but fail to adapt their mindset. As she puts it, companies should think about “how can you treat those people as part of your team, as humans, not as furniture.”
• AI Isn’t Breaking Work. It’s Already Broken — Cal Newport points out that AI saves time but doesn't boost performance due to tool-toggling and "workplace theater." It’s magnifying long-standing digital inefficiencies, which may finally force leaders to fix broken work.
• Introducing The Freelance Media Network — Jenny Holiday introduces a new curated and private online community designed to help media professionals connect, collaborate, find work, and support one another. As Jenny says, it is open to everyone from a freelance PR to a videographer working on a news desk.
• How to Sell a Service with No Experience — Sara Gibson shares actionable tips on how freelancers can break into new niches without a portfolio. Instead of competing on history, she teaches how to sell future transformation through conceptual case studies, transferable skills, beta offers, and personalized video audits, shifting the focus from past receipts to immediate value.
• The Reason AI Gives You Useless Answers (Fix This First) — Tiago Forte explains that generic AI results come from a lack of context, not bad prompts. He introduces Personal Context Management, using three layers—persistent, project, and perishable—to turn AI into a tailored partner, shifting your role from execution to strategic delegation.
• To Share or Not to Share (Your Freelance Income) — “Money is such an emotional thing…” Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland discuss a question from one of their podcast listeners: Should freelancers share what they make? Will people think you're just showing off, and what if you don’t do so well?

Share or discuss: LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Permalink

WEEKLY DIGEST #25 OF 2026

• Becoming a Freelance Illustrator for Marvel, Disney and DC — In this episode of Being Freelance with Steve Folland, Birmingham-based designer and illustrator Doaly shares his journey of transitioning from a comfortable, senior UX role to a full-time freelance illustrator working with Disney, Marvel, and DC.
• How Can You Showcase Your Freelance Work if You've Signed an NDA with Your Client? — An NDA limits the disclosure of sensitive client data, not your ability to demonstrate expertise, writes Elina Jutelyte in her latest LinkedIn post. As she states, you don’t need to name clients or share internal documents to prove your worth—you just need to showcase the capability behind the work.
• Behind the Scenes of My Six Figure Freelance Writing Business — Lizzie Davey shares a realistic, honest picture of what it really takes to build a sustainable freelance business, covering everything from what her client roster looks like to how she finds work.
• Getting Clients Without Talking About Yourself, by Lilli Graf — Selling your services or praising your own work can be incredibly difficult, especially for women often held back by Tall Poppy Syndrome. Instead of aggressive self-promotion, Lilli advocates for a shift toward extreme clarity: when you clearly communicate what specific problems you solve and for whom, you make it effortless for peers to advocate for you. Awareness of your offer spreads organically through a network of trust, without you ever having to actively pitch yourself.
• We Need the Friction of Existence — Benjamin Riley’s interview with Tomáš Baránek cuts through AI hype using cognitive science. Riley warns against AI-driven deskilling and explains why these models produce only "average" human thought. The dialogue delivers a vital message: professional creators need the natural friction of real life to truly think and create.
• Early Rejections — Rejection hurts today, but it fuels tomorrow. A short reflection on setbacks as a catalyst for growth, accompanied by a rare 1978 Guinness rejection letter sent to a young Seth Godin.

Share or discuss: LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Permalink

THE FRICTION OF EXISTENCE

Cognitive Resonance founder Benjamin Riley’s interview with Tomáš Baránek does a great job of cutting through the AI hype. Riley is very honest about the technology, explaining how tools might make humans lose their skills, and why big tech companies are wrong to confuse language with actual thought.

The conversation covers many different topics, however, everything connects back to one main idea: humans need the natural friction and effort of real life to truly think and create.

Share or discuss: LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Permalink

WEEKLY DIGEST #23 OF 2026

• The Neo-Shamrock a Cognitive Architecture for Independent Practice — Nigel Rawlins presents the Neo-Shamrock framework, reimagining Charles Handy’s classic organizational model as a cognitive architecture for freelancers. Rather than viewing outsourcing and AI adoption through a purely financial lens, Nigel explains how shifting tasks directly impacts a freelancer's long-term expertise. By balancing four "leaves"—Core, Cloud, AI, and Community—you can systematically leverage AI and outsourcing without falling into the "augmentation trap" or losing your core expertise.
• How to Shift Fields Without Starting Over, by Sara Gibson — Shifting fields doesn't have to mean burning bridges and starting from scratch. Sara explores how to use your existing experience as a springboard for a new career. Instead of throwing away years of work, she shows how to reframe your current skills and sell them in a new context.
• Cyclical Business Planning — Sarah Duran presents the next online session of her Future is Freelance Forum on June 16th, tackling Cyclical Business Planning. Alongside featured guests Jenni Gritters and Ivy Bromius, this session flips the script on traditional panels. Instead of just trying to survive the year, you’ll dive into a collaborative, workshop-style conversation about what changes when you design your business around your real rhythms.
• Why People Who Love Your Work still Don't Refer You, by Lilli Graf – Sometimes people love your work, yet they still don't recommend you. Lilli Graf breaks down the frustrating paradox of why mere admiration isn't enough. To get people talking, they need to know exactly what you do, have proof that it works, and know when and how to easily recommend you. If these points are missing, even your biggest fan simply won't mention you in a conversation with a potential client.

Share or discuss: LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Permalink

MARK MCGUINNESS'S FIRST BLOG POST

"Everything I’ve written and published since – hundreds of blog posts, four books for creatives and two podcasts – began with that first blog post." Mark McGuinness, coach for creative professionals, reflects on the twentieth anniversary of his first blog post in 2006 and describes how ignoring skeptics to build a daily writing habit completely transformed his career and personal life.

Share or discuss: LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Permalink

WEEKLY DIGEST #21 OF 2026

• Dotolist — Creating a One-Click Team, by Tomas Baranek — Collaborative tools don't have to be rocket science. Tom shares Dotolist, a minimalist, no-login task manager he built to coordinate one-off projects with tech-averse partners in just one click.
• The Dark Side of the Jevons Paradox, by Cal Newport — Ever heard of the Jevons Paradox? Cal explains how making workers hyper-efficient with AI won’t actually shrink the labor market. Instead, it will slash production costs and trigger a massive explosion in demand for services. However, he delivers a crucial warning: just as email and Slack accidentally trapped us in a cycle of endless interruptions, unchecked AI efficiency could easily backfire, leading to unprecedented digital overload and burnout for freelancers.
• She's Usually the Only Illustrator in the Room. Clients Come to Her — "My selling point is that I understand how museums work." On the Being Freelance podcast with Steve Folland, illustrator Jessica Hartzhorn shares her journey from a secret Instagram to becoming the go-to specialist in the museum niche using a B2B product brochure, video marketing, and standardized "no" templates.
• How to Use AI in Your Freelance Business — Sarah Duran summarizes her latest Future is Freelance Forum, framing AI not as a replacement, but a junior partner for grunt work. She highlights that automation requires defined processes and diagnoses what freelancers dislike doing.
• Prepare Your “NO” and Keep It Handy — Derek Sivers shares a practical strategy for dealing with high-pressure requests: preparing and memorizing a thoughtful, versatile "no" template in advance to reject unwelcome offers quickly and politely without guilt.

Share or discuss: LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Permalink

WEEKLY DIGEST #20 OF 2026

• Margareta Krizova Freelance Advice: Six Questions That Replace Your Business Plan — Business mentor Margareta Křížová joins Nigel Rawlins on the Wisepreneurs podcast to deconstruct the leap from corporate leadership to a 'third career' in freelancing. Drawing on her experience selling an M&A firm at 53, she reveals the six essential questions that replace bloated business plans and explains why a side hustle is the safest exit strategy. Margareta also warns against the financial trap of 'invisible work' and shares how to use AI as a strategic thought partner to amplify decades of professional judgment.
• I Spent 12 Years as a Freelancer. Today I Became a Founder, by Benas Leonavicius — After a decade of elite freelancing, Benas shares his transition from solo expert to agency founder. He dissects the 'clarity ceiling' that many high-earning independents face—where growth stops being about revenue and starts being about infrastructure. He explores overcoming the 'shoemaker’s problem' by building personal authority and a team to solve high-level client challenges at scale.
• Why You Need To Sell Your Talent Instead Of Your Time — Sara Gibson explores the shift from hourly billing to value-based pricing, introducing the Efficiency Penalty concept. She outlines a strategic framework for choosing between flat fees and hourly rates, while offering tactical advice on mitigating scope creep and implementing hybrid retainer models.
• Why Clients Ignore Your Portfolio — In this coaching episode, Preston Lee and Christine Olivas diagnose why freelancer Meg’s inquiries go cold after viewing her work. They shift the focus from treating a portfolio as a passive gallery to using it as an active sales tool, offering a breakdown of how to frame past projects to meet client expectations and drive conversions.
• The One-Person Empire: How to Beat 50-Person Content Mills at Their Own Game — Jamal Washington challenges the traditional agency growth model, arguing that solo professionals can outperform large-scale firms by using AI as strategic leverage. He outlines a high-margin business model where the freelancer shifts from 'content creator' to 'systems orchestrator'—deploying specialized engines to deliver high-volume results.

Share or discuss: LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Permalink

WEEKLY DIGEST #19 OF 2026

• The Other Work: What it Means to Work ON a Freelance Business — Sarah Duran highlights that working "on" your business—strategy, systems, and "invisible" reflection—is what prevents stagnation. It’s not just admin; it’s about setting direction and knowing what not to do. To stay sustainable, build this time into your pricing and calendar. You’re likely doing more of this work than you realize—it’s time to give yourself some credit for it.
• Project Backbone — Ever wondered how and where the internet actually flows around the globe? Project Backbone shows that the cloud isn't some intangible virtual entity, but a physical network of undersea cables and data centers. This map reveals where and how the digital world exists in the physical one.
• Your Product Has a New User. It’s Not Human — Internet usage is shifting with the rise of AI. Elena Verna points out that AI agents are the newest users. This reality shatters the assumption that products are built for people. Agents do not need aesthetics or polished UI. Instead, they demand machine-readable data, flawless APIs, and absolute reliability. If an agent cannot navigate your service, do you even exist in the new economy?
• Freelancers, Stop Pitching, Start Presenting — To truly captivate a client, a dry list of skills won’t cut it. Katherine Steiner-Dicks proposes a tactical shift: replacing the standard pitch with a TED-style narrative framework. As she says, by leading with a "throughline"—a single, compelling idea—you can move from being a price-driven commodity to a vision-driven authority.

Share or discuss: LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Permalink