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SHOWING NEWS 21–30 OUT OF 792

WEEKLY DIGEST #23 OF 2025

• I Took a Nap at 2PM and Didn’t Hate Myself for It, by Sara Gibson — In this reflection on freelance life, Sara redefines rest not as something to be earned, but as essential for sustaining creative work. She replaces the guilt-ridden “Did I do enough to rest?” with the more compassionate “Have I rested enough to keep going?”—and shares small, tangible rituals like finishing early on Fridays, taking "fake commutes," or simply leaving the house, all aimed at preserving joy, energy, and mental health.
• The Workload Fairy Tale, by Cal Newport — Does working fewer days mean getting less done? Cal looks at 4-day workweek trials and argues that the real issue isn’t time, but how much unnecessary activity fills our schedules.
• How Personal Branding Helped Me Build a Six-Figure Freelance Business, a podcast by Lizzie Davey in which she describes how, step by step and little by little, she gradually built a personal brand that significantly increased her income and helped her attract interesting clients.
• Just the Right Length — Seth Godin reminds us that the “perfect length” of content—songs, books, videos—was often shaped by old tech limits, not creativity. For freelancers, the lesson is to adapt your work to today’s platforms and habits. Formats change; your content should too.
• 6 Tools for Moving Forward with Confidence Even If You Don’t Know What You Want, by Austin L. Church — Not sure what to do with your life? That’s okay, says Austin, who shares six tools such as experiments, semesters, and a “career portfolio” to help creative, multipassionate people move forward with confidence, even without a clear long-term plan.

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WORKING LESS, PRODUCING MORE?

Does working fewer days mean getting less done? In The Workload Fairy Tale, Cal Newport looks at 4-day workweek trials and argues the real issue isn’t time, but how much unnecessary activity fills our schedules. “Much of our weekly work might be, from a strict value production perspective, optional,” he writes.

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WEEKLY DIGEST #22 OF 2025

• Curating for the Curious: How Tomáš Baránek Picks Books That Matter, Wisepreneurs podcast by Nigel Rawlins — In this episode, Czech publisher Tomáš Baránek talks about why print books still matter in an AI world, how he chooses titles with lasting value, and why curiosity is key to staying sharp in business and life.
• The Freelance Business Reboot — An 8-week online program by Sarah Duran designed for experienced freelancers who feel stuck in a reactive, chaotic workflow. It helps you clarify your services, attract better clients, manage your time and money more effectively, and build a more intentional, sustainable business. The course costs $297, with more info on Sarah’s website.
• What I Wish I Knew Before… Pivoting, Hiring Help, or Launching Something New — What would Sara Gibson tell her past self about freelancing? “You’re not failing if it takes a few tries.” In this honest reflection, she shares five key lessons on pivoting your niche, asking for help, launching imperfectly, embracing non-linear growth, and redefining success on your own terms.
• Essentials: Maximize Productivity, Physical & Mental Health With Daily Tools — A short episode from Andrew Huberman’s Essentials series on how strategic timing of workspace, workflow, and routines can boost productivity.
• AI and Work (Some Predictions), by Cal Newport — The author of Deep Work and Digital Minimalism explores where AI is useful now, where it’s headed, and why the real disruption is subtler than expected. He sees the near future of AI in natural language interfaces for everyday software and in specialized LLMs for specific fields—long before we reach AGI.
• Securing Your Digital Workspace While Working from Public Places, by Stephen Rogers — As freelancers and digital nomads, we often work from public spaces like cafés—but that can be risky for your data. By following these 10 tips, like using strong passwords and two-factor authentication, you can prevent data breaches and cyberattacks.

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THE FREELANCE BUSINESS REBOOT

If you're an experienced freelancer constantly chasing deadlines, juggling too many clients, and wondering where your business is actually going, the Freelance Business Reboot might be exactly what you need. Sarah Duran has created an 8-week online program designed to help freelancers move from a reactive workflow toward a more intentional, sustainable business model.

The course covers topics like refining your services, attracting the right clients, managing your time and finances more effectively, and setting a clear direction for your work. It costs $297 and more details are available on Sarah’s website.

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WEEKLY DIGEST #21 OF 2025

• How We Built and Tested a Business in 3 Days with No Budget — You don’t need a budget or a perfect product to test a business idea. An article by IMMA Collective shows how you can quickly test a business idea, using a real-life example of a freelance carpenter who wanted to create a platform connecting solo craftspeople with construction companies.
• Preparing the Next Generation of Freelancers, by Sarah Duran — Recent insights from The Future is Freelance forum explored what success really means for freelancers and how to achieve it. The key takeaway? Communities and strong support networks are the most critical infrastructure for long-term freelance success.
• Is Your Business Growth Stalled? You Might Be Prioritizing The Wrong Relationships, by Elaine Potfeld — Having hundreds of friends on social media isn’t the same as having a few rich, real-life relationships, writes Selena Soo in her new book, reviewed by Elaine Pofeldt. She shows how intentional networking and nurturing the right connections can directly support your business goals—without burning you out.
• UK Households with Female Freelancers Should Be Earning Up To 43% More Finds Study, by Katherine Steiner-Dicks — Even in freelancing, where rates are self-set, women often earn less than men due to systemic bias and undervaluing their work. But as Katherine encourages, by recognizing their worth, charging fairly, and negotiating with confidence, women can reclaim financial stability and help break the cycle of inequality.
• Why I’m Done With Scope Creep (For Good This Time), by Sara Gibson — Knowing your boundaries and not saying yes to extra gigs (without extra pay) can actually help you earn more money, reduce stress, and provide better service to your clients.
• Stand Out By Saying What You Stand For, by Austin Church — “If you’re a solopreneur, then your personal values ARE your brand values,” says Austin. He recommends digging deep into your core beliefs and weaving them into your messaging and marketing—for authenticity, clarity, and a powerful way to stand out from others with similar skills.

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TESTING IDEAS WITHOUT BUDGET

You don’t need a big budget or a flawless product to test a business idea. In fact, starting small can be your biggest advantage. An article by IMMA Collective shares a good example: a freelance carpenter in Italy had an idea to connect solo craftspeople with construction companies—but instead of building a full app, he tested the concept using just a Notion page, a WhatsApp group, and a few personal messages. Within days, he had real interest and valuable feedback.

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WEEKLY DIGEST #20 OF 2025

• The Client Breakup Toolkit: How to Gracefully Let Go of Clients Who No Longer Fit Your Business, by Sara Gibson — “Be clear, direct, professional — and avoid over-explaining or apologising excessively,” says Sara as she provides a comprehensive guide on how to gracefully let go of clients who no longer align with your business goals.
• 2025 Freelance Rate Database — Feeling uncertain about what you should charge? Try this online calculator by Freelancing Females or check their rate database.
• Freelancer vs. Consultant: Key Differences, Benefits of the Shift & How to Transition, by Viktor Marinov — Ready to move on? This article discusses the transition from freelancer to consultant, explaining the key differences between the two roles, the benefits of making the shift, and how to effectively position oneself as a strategic advisor rather than just a service provider, including a step-by-step plan for leveraging your expertise and creating a more sustainable business model through consulting.
• Why New When? — Jason Fried reflects on the power of starting fresh: Creating something new, rather than expanding existing systems, opens up space for innovative thinking and exploration, uncovering valuable insights even if the project doesn’t fully succeed.
• New Client in a New Industry? Here’s How Not to Feel Clueless in Your Next Meeting, from The Freelance Informer — This might come in handy; a comprehensive guide to decoding industry-specific jargon and abbreviations.
• Why Global Business Expansion Requires More Than Just a Good Product, by Derek Vaughn — Thinking of going global? A great product is just the start. Navigating international markets requires more than innovation – think cultural intelligence, regulatory compliance, local talent strategies, and strategic partnerships. Derek has prepared this essential guide on what it really takes to thrive globally.

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OUR 5TH ANNIVERSARY

May 9 marks the 5th anniversary of Freelancing.eu 🥳

It is also Europe Day, celebrating peace and unity in Europe—now needed more than ever.

We hope you’ve been enjoying our newsletter and other activities, including in-person meetups across Europe. We hope to bring you more of these in the coming year.

Our editorial team has grown to four people (Dan, Nika, Daniel, and Robert) as we continue searching for high-quality content for freelancers to share with you all.

Thanks for your long-lasting support, and happy freelancing everybody! ✌

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ROBERT VLACH: GOOD AS EVER

A couple of weeks ago, Freelancermap published their annual Freelancer Study 2025, which we both supported and reported on with selected highlights.

The final, extensive PDF report also included quotes from 16 leading freelancing experts, including Robert Vlach as the founder of Freelancing.eu and best-selling author of The Freelance Way. His quotes were selected from Robert’s answers to questions submitted in February 2025. Here they are, published in full as a follow-up — enjoy!

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WEEKLY DIGEST #19 OF 2025

• Work on Your Act: The Life-Changing Benefits of Mastering Your Craft, by Matthew Fenton — Great reminder that flashy branding and daily social posts won't sustain your business—great work will. As Matt writes, if you want repeat clients, referrals, and less time chasing leads, the answer is simple (but not easy): master your craft. That means leveling up your core skills, gathering honest feedback, and testing new strengths in low-risk settings.
• Freelance Collectives: The Agencies of the Future — Sarah Duran shares the latest insights from The Future is Freelance Forums. One key insight? Freelancers thrive not in isolation, but in collectives—flexible, values-driven communities that combine the freedom of solo work with the support of trusted peers. These groups offer emotional safety, practical collaboration, and the kind of unexpected learning that only comes from shared experience.
• “Is the Digital Nomad Lifestyle Worth It in 2025?”, asks Jack Nolan in his recent article, where he explores the realities behind the lifestyle—separating the romanticized image from day-to-day truths. Jack highlights the benefits: Freedom to travel, cost savings, personal growth, and flexible work; but also dives into challenges like loneliness, lack of routine, visa complications, healthcare issues, and financial uncertainty.
• I Replaced My $700/Hour Coach with NotebookLM – Here’s What Happened, by Tiago Forte — A productivity expert and the author of Building a Second Brain, tests and shares his thoughts on NotebookLM, an AI tool that helps him organize his research, summarize key insights from documents, and generate new ideas—all grounded in his own notes and sources.
• Dopamine Dressing: The Secret to Being Happier at Work? by Jenny Holliday — Ever heard of dopamine dressing? As Jenny reveals, it’s the idea that wearing clothes you love can boost your mood, energy, and confidence at work. For freelancers, it offers a simple way to feel more motivated and authentic—whether you’re meeting clients, tackling tough tasks, or just trying to stay focused at home.

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