Weekly digest #53 of 2025

• YearCompass — For many freelancers, it has become an essential year-end ritual. YearCompass is a free workbook designed to help you conduct an honest review of both your business and personal life, allowing you to close 2025 with a clear mind. Instead of simple checklists, it offers 20 pages of deep-reflection questions to help you clarify your achievements this year and decide where to focus your energy in the year ahead. You can download it for free.
• Believing People’s Actions, by Austin L. Church — Business is a series of character judgments where believing actions over words is key to avoiding costly professional mistakes. Austin in this Long Idea suggests leading with trust while carefully gating access to your business based on demonstrated behavior. The piece explores how to maintain a healthy optimism without becoming an easy target.
• The greatest radio show of all time? Desert Island Discs has been airing on the BBC since 1942—retaining the same theme tune and format ever since. Guests from all walks of life choose eight tracks, one book, and a luxury item to take to a desert island. More than just music, the show offers profound insights into the lives of figures like Paul McCartney or Margaret Atwood. Over 3,000 episodes are available on the BBC website or via podcast apps.
• Why Getting Clients Feels Harder Than It Should Be — Lilli from IMMA Collective identifies six common patterns that often make client acquisition feel heavy for solopreneurs. Lilli explores how shifting from a "booty call" outreach style to nurturing existing trust can transform your business stability. It provides a roadmap for simplifying your path to a "yes" by clarifying your offer and designing better systems to support a human, relational approach to sales.
• A Quiet Truth About Getting More Freelance Work — “Editors absolutely would prefer to work with a dependable, reliable, consistent freelancer than a superstar.” Tim Herrera explains that for editors, reliability and clear communication are often more valuable than raw talent alone. While the advice is aimed at journalists, the principles of being easy to work with and hitting deadlines apply to every freelancer across all industries. By mastering the "boring" parts of the job—like responsiveness and dependability—you can secure repeat assignments and build a sustainable business in any field.
• Making Your Work Dreams Come True: Is It As Easy As Believing? — Jenny Holliday explores the thin line between manifestation and hard work, arguing that belief only works when paired with consistent action. Drawing on personal stories of book deals and career shifts, she highlights that "buying the ticket" is just as vital as dreaming big. The article offers a refreshing perspective on how to align your values with actionable steps to turn professional visions into reality.

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