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We would like to invite you to our two upcoming international freelance meetups, where you can network with other freelancers, debate freelance business with Robert Vlach, and enjoy the beautiful coworking environment:
Co-organized with Impact Hub Barcelona and Impact Hub Madrid as a part of our Freelancers On the Road meetup series, these meetups aim to establish contacts and exchange experiences between European freelancers, to support local freelance communities and coworking spaces as an ideal environment for collaboration and networking.
Experienced creator Jessica Abel explains why just making more work doesn’t lead to making more money: “Leaning on MORE doesn’t lead to an increased income. It leads to plateauing and burnout,” she observes and recommends focusing more on the business side of creative work:
Geeky, but useful. Derek Sivers shares his efficient data backup strategy, which requires about ten seconds daily and five minutes monthly.
"I’ve encountered far too many people who are chasing perfection before launching their new business or career," writes Dan Thornton in his short but very relevant essay where he discusses that striving for perfection at the very beginning can be counterproductive.
While attention to detail is valuable, obsessing over minor aspects can hinder progress. Success in freelancing often comes from learning and evolving, not from starting with a perfect offering.
Ever felt the urge to explore the world without putting your work on pause? Domenico Trimboli shares how a workation, a mix of work and vacation, helped to restart his freelance business and gives a couple of pieces of advice for first-time digital nomads.
"Don’t get me wrong – I am not advocating for workations instead of vacations. I love to take a proper vacation, and you should totally do that at least once or twice per year. But if you are like me, you can’t take five 2-week vacations per year. That’s where workations come in handy."
Freelancers, despite choosing self-employment for its freedom, often find themselves stuck in repetitive patterns that lead to boredom and burnout, says Dan Thornton in his recent article. He suggests that introducing small changes in daily routines, like altering workspaces, trying different foods, or adopting new hobbies, can rejuvenate creativity, enhance wellbeing, and prevent professional stagnation.
"You don’t need to turn your life upside down. Just plan some new experiences, even small ones. You might be surprised at how much difference it can make."
Are you familiar with the 1,000 True Fans thesis? It suggests that as a creative professional, you don't need millions of fans, just 1,000 true ones who will support you. Well, Jessica Abel debunks that as she highlights the discrepancy between the theoretical simplicity of finding 1,000 fans and the real-world marketing efforts required to reach and convert a much larger audience into true fans.
While the idea has inspired many, Jessica notes, "Getting those 1,000 True Fans, and keeping them, proves out of reach for almost everybody. When dejection and self-blame set in, it’s time for a little debunking." She offers insights into the challenges and choices creatives face in pursuing financial stability through their art.
Matthew Dowling of Freelancer Club published a great summary on what UK universities do to support student freelancers (namely at University of Plymouth, University of East London, University of Essex, Sheffield Hallam University, and University of Arts London).
See also our 2020 comprehensive review on Universities & freelancing in Europe.
"Feeling grim about your prospects?" asks Tom May at the beginning of the article and emphasizes that maintaining a positive mindset can lead to a turnaround in the most unexpected ways.
To put a concrete spin on it, he shares a few positive stories from the creative community – moments that have helped these freelancers keep going despite the gloomy climate.
The UK's IPSE has published its 2023 Self-Employed Landscape Report, which covers both the self-employed and freelance population.
There are over 2 million freelancers operating in the UK, an 11% increase since 2022. The results also show that 44% of the UK’s freelance workforce has been operating in this manner for over 10 years.
Here are some other interesting findings: