#367: How to Use First-Principles Thinking to Fix Your Mental Blind Spots and Transform Your Freelance Business
Release Date: 03/12/2025
#384: The Value Shift—Where the Money Goes When AI Makes Content Creation Effortless
High-Income Business Writing
Freelancers everywhere are feeling it. The ground beneath our feet is shifting, because AI isn't just changing how we write. It's also changing where value lives in our industry. In this episode, I break down what few people are talking about: your writing skills might still be world-class, but they're now solving the wrong problem. Much of what I discuss was inspired by the brilliant new book Reshuffle: Who Wins When AI Restacks the Knowledge Economy by . The constraint that once made your writing indispensable has moved. And if you don't move with it, you risk becoming the business...
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#383: The Art of ‘Conversing’ with AI
High-Income Business Writing
Imagine walking into a friend’s house and rattling off a 20-minute monologue with every single detail of a challenge you’re facing. No pause. No space for questions. Just a nonstop, 20-minute word vomit. That’s how most of us are using AI. We dump a giant wall of text into a prompt, cross our fingers, and hope for magic. Instead of working with AI, we’re treating it like a command line. No wonder the results often fall flat! In this short episode, I share a better way—one that mirrors the way we’d talk with a trusted colleague. When you approach AI as a conversation...
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#382: The Truth About AI and Freelance Writers — What 157 Writers Just Revealed
High-Income Business Writing
The AI adoption picture is nuanced In this episode, I share some fascinating insights about AI usage among writers and the impact it’s having on their business. Last month, I sent out a simple 10-question survey to my community about AI usage, fears, and business impact. I received 157 complete responses from writers across every experience level, from brand-new freelancers to 15+ year veterans. What they shared was, in some ways, congruent with what I’ve been saying for the past few months on the topic of AI integration in our businesses as freelancers. But in other ways, the...
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#381: How to Have Better, More Productive Conversations with AI
High-Income Business Writing
AI is changing how we work. But many freelancers are falling into the trap of using it in the least effective way possible: by relying on massive, fully pre-written prompts that remove you from the creative process. In this episode, I share a better, more natural approach that treats AI like a trusted collaborator rather than a black box you dump instructions into. You’ll learn my simple 3R Prompting framework and see how an iterative, conversational workflow can help you get sharper insights, stronger ideas, and better final results. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why...
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#380: The AI Writing Debate — Moving From False Dichotomies to Creative Synthesis
High-Income Business Writing
The conversation around AI and writing is heating up. But too often, it’s framed as a false choice: AI is either “bad” and deceptive, or it’s the ultimate shortcut to productivity. In this solo episode, I challenge that binary thinking and unpack the real issues at stake for freelance writers. Sparked by a provocative LinkedIn post from Mariya Delano, CEO of Kalyna Marketing, this discussion dives into the myths and misconceptions that keep us stuck in unproductive debates. I lay out 10 false assumptions fueling the AI writing controversy. And I explain why the future belongs to...
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#379: 15 Reasons Why Hourly Billing Is Holding You Back
High-Income Business Writing
Hourly billing is the default pricing model for many writers. But it’s also a hidden trap that can sabotage your growth, undervalue your expertise, and limit your income. If you’ve ever felt frustrated by the ceiling on your earnings or struggled to position yourself as a trusted partner rather than a hired hand, this episode will change the way you view pricing forever. In today’s episode, I break down 15 compelling reasons why hourly billing is actively working against you — and what you can do instead to unlock your earning potential and build trust-based, outcome-focused...
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#378: Why AI Change Is Happening Faster Than You Think (and What That Means for Writers)
High-Income Business Writing
If you're feeling like your freelance business is shifting beneath your feet—but you can’t quite name what’s changed—you’re not alone. Most writers sense something is different… but they don’t know how to respond strategically. In this solo episode, I dive into what I believe is the real driver behind the changes we’re seeing in the freelance writing space. Yes, the economy has cooled, and that’s still a big factor, since marketing is one of the first areas to get cut when business is slow. But AI is now playing a much bigger role than most writers realize. And the pace...
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#377: When a Referral Goes Sideways (and How to Recover)
High-Income Business Writing
What do you do when a dream referral turns into a nightmare-in-the-making? One of my coaching clients recently found herself in a tricky spot. Her best referral partner had sent her what initially seemed like a solid lead. But after a few back-and-forths, things started to feel… off. The red flags were waving, and she could sense this prospect would likely become a difficult client. She wanted out. But she didn’t want to burn bridges with either the potential client or the trusted source who referred them. In this week’s short episode, I share the guidance I gave her — a...
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#376: The Capability Revolution: Why You’ve Been Using AI All Wrong (and What to Do About It)
High-Income Business Writing
AI isn’t just a tool for writing faster. It’s the key to systematically expanding your professional capabilities and breaking free from the “experience prison” that’s been capping your income. In this week’s episode, we dive into a powerful shift in mindset for freelancers: moving from viewing AI as a speed or productivity tool to leveraging it as a capability multiplier. I share how I used AI to confidently take on new, high-value projects I would have previously turned down. And how you can do the same to expand your business without months of study or expensive training. ...
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#375: The Lies We Carry With Us (and How They Hold Us Back)
High-Income Business Writing
What if a story that’s haunted you for years… was never true? In this short but powerful episode, we dive into a jaw-dropping true story that will make you question the narratives you’ve been carrying — especially the ones that have shaped your identity and decisions for years. It’s the story of Derek Sivers, entrepreneur and author, who spent 16 years believing he had ruined a woman’s life in a devastating car accident. The guilt became part of who he was — until a shocking encounter revealed the truth: the story he’d built his life around was never real. And that...
info_outlineEpisode Summary
Why do so many talented freelancers stay stuck year after year? It’s not because of market conditions, AI, or lack of experience — it’s because of hidden, faulty assumptions that shape decisions and limit options.
In this episode, we uncover how these invisible mental barriers hold freelancers back and how to break through them with a structured, practical approach.
What You’ll Learn:
- How to identify hidden assumptions that keep you stuck
- The Assumption Audit: A framework to challenge limiting beliefs
- How first-principles thinking helps you create better solutions
- Real-world examples of freelancers overcoming their mental roadblocks
- Actionable steps to test new empowering assumptions and create breakthroughs
Key Takeaways:
The Invisible Problem: Hidden Assumptions
- Many freelancers believe they’re stuck because of external factors (competition, AI, bad clients), but the real issue is often internal.
- Assumptions operate in the background like invisible software, filtering out opportunities before you consciously consider them.
- The biggest breakthroughs happen when you identify and challenge these faulty assumptions.
The Assumption Audit: A 3-Step Framework
- Define Your Sticking Point – What’s the biggest challenge in your business right now? What decision have you been avoiding?
- List Every Assumption – Write down everything you believe about this problem, even if it seems obvious or unchangeable.
- Challenge and Reframe – Use fact-based analysis to break down each assumption and explore alternative perspectives.
Examples of Limiting Assumptions & How to Reframe Them
- “I can’t find higher-paying clients.” → Fact: Many freelancers charge premium rates. The real issue isn’t a lack of clients—it’s a lack of a system to find and convert them.
- “AI is replacing writers.” → Fact: AI is a tool, not a replacement. Businesses still need human insight, strategy, and nuance. The opportunity is in using AI to enhance, not replace, your skills.
First-Principles Thinking: Breaking Assumptions Down to Their Core
- Instead of relying on “common knowledge,” analyze problems from the ground up.
- Example: Investors like Charlie Munger stripped business decisions down to fundamental truths, leading to long-term success.
- Freelancers can apply the same principle to business challenges—questioning industry norms and carving out unique solutions.
Reframing Your Problems for New Solutions
- Ask yourself powerful questions:
- “If I had to solve this problem in 30 days, what would I do?”
- “What if failure wasn’t possible?”
- “What if I reversed the problem and worked backward?”
- By shifting perspective, you open up solutions you may never have considered.
Testing New Assumptions
- Don’t try to change everything at once—pick one assumption and design a simple experiment to test it.
- Example:
- Old belief: “I need a huge portfolio to charge premium rates.”
- New belief: “One strong case study is more valuable than multiple weak samples.”
- Test: Create a deep case study and pitch it to five potential clients.
Avoiding Blind Spots & Taking Action
- Many freelancers struggle not because of a lack of information, but because they’re too close to their own business to see their blind spots.
- The fastest breakthroughs come from questioning deeply held beliefs and taking small, strategic steps toward change.
Listener Challenge:
- Identify the biggest challenge in your business.
- List all the assumptions you’ve made about why it’s a problem.
- Challenge those assumptions with facts.
- Pick one new, empowering assumption and design a small experiment to test it this week.
Want Help with Your Breakthrough?
If you’re serious about breaking through your biggest challenge, working with an experienced business coach can provide the objective feedback and accountability needed to accelerate progress.
I’ve coached well over 1,000 freelance writers, copywriters and solo marketers over the past 13 years. And I open up coaching spots a few times a year to help freelancers pinpoint blind spots, implement effective strategies, and achieve real breakthroughs.
If you’re interested in exploring this, email me [ed@b2blauncher.com] with “COACHING” in the subject line. I’ll reply with some questions to learn more about what you’re looking for. If it sounds like I can help, I’ll send you all details.
Final Thought
What assumptions are YOU holding onto that might be keeping you stuck? It’s time to break them down and build something better.