Deliberate Freelancer
The show for those who want to build a successful freelance business. We are NOT about the hustle. We are NOT about the feast-or-famine cycle. We are about building a business. Deliberately.
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#207: Let’s Give You Some Clarity!
05/04/2025
#207: Let’s Give You Some Clarity!
On today’s show I share two timely new resources: Introducing Deliberate Freelancer Clarity Calls! These are 45-minute Zoom video chats to talk through 1-2 challenges with podcast host Melanie Padgett Powers. Are you feeling stuck in your business and need help reigniting your momentum? Do you have a million ideas but need help zeroing in on the best one for you? Are you overwhelmed with your to-do list and need help cutting through the noise? Are you feeling insecure or uncertain about a proposal, project rate or pricing structure? Schedule a Clarity Call with Melanie — she can be a sounding board to help you cut through the noise and allow your best ideas to shine through. You can talk through roadblocks to help reignite your momentum. Or you can work together to uncover fresh solutions to client and project challenges. Clarity Calls are for any creative — any independent business owner — in any industry who is selling services. These calls are for those who are already freelancing and have at least a couple of clients — not someone who hasn’t started yet. This is a soft launch, with four slots open in May and in June. Each Clarity Call is $149. FREE! Growth Without Burnout Summit May 6-9, 2025 24 speakers Podcast guest and friend Austin L. Church created this amazing summit. While it is especially for freelance writers, much of it is focused on the business side, so I think all sorts of freelancers and solo business owners can benefit. Learn more and get your Growth Without Burnout Summit . Purchase a Growth Without Burnout Summit . What I Learned This Week: Schedule worry time. The Bookshelf: “” by Yael van der Wouden Resources: New! Deliberate Freelancer Growth Without Burnout Summit Growth Without Burnout Summit Support Deliberate Freelancer at
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#206: How to Stay Afloat During Turbulent Times, with Michelle Rafter
04/17/2025
#206: How to Stay Afloat During Turbulent Times, with Michelle Rafter
Today’s guest is Michelle Rafter, who lives in Portland, Oregon. Michelle is the owner of WordCount Editorial Services. She is a former journalist who is now a ghostwriter of books, research reports and articles for CEOs and management consultants. She’s a former newspaper staff writer, wire service columnist and freelance reporter who covered business, enterprise technology and workplace issues. Michelle has weathered several economic downturns in her longtime journalism and freelance career. She recently updated her blog post “,” so I invited her on the show to go through some of her tips. I also crowdsourced questions from the Deliberate Freelancer community so we could address your questions and concerns about the economy right now and how that may be affecting freelance businesses. Another potentially helpful resource: The American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) is hosting a webinar at 1 p.m. E.T. on Monday, May 19, called “.” In this episode, we talk about: The turmoil in the U.S. right now and the “tariff economy.” How you can make clients happy by going back to the basics. How to be a team player and be flexible with clients, while also sticking to your boundaries. How to be the freelancer that your clients know they can count on, especially when they’re stressed or in a jam. How to break down larger offerings into smaller, more affordable pieces. How to bridge your services to a new service or new niche. “Low key” marketing versus marketing during turbulent times. How to reach out to former clients, as well as following up on past conversations (that maybe didn’t lead to work at that time). Invest wisely when deciding to learn a new skill. The importance of having an “abundance mindset.” The importance of community and reaching out to a fellow freelancer who “gets it.” Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Michelle’s blog post “” ASJA webinar on May 19: “” (recording available to purchase afterward) ASJA on-demand webinar: “” ASJA on-demand webinar: “” Episode #199 of Deliberate Freelancer:
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#205: Embedding the “A” of DEIA into Your Business, with Sara Kobilka
04/10/2025
#205: Embedding the “A” of DEIA into Your Business, with Sara Kobilka
. Today’s guest is Sara Kobilka, who lives in New York state. Sara is the owner of Renaissance Woman Consulting. Sara has an insatiable curiosity that has driven her career in many different directions that she’s been able to connect in her freelance work. She primarily works in the STEM space. Sara is also a career coach, primarily for people looking to change industries or disciplines. She hosts LinkedIn sprints to help freelancers and others increase their presence on LinkedIn. She is passionate about incorporating diversity, equity, inclusion, access, accessibility, belonging and justice (DEIAABJ) throughout her work. In today’s episode, we focus on accessibility — how we can support people with disabilities and embed accessibility into our work. In this episode, we talk about: The current political climate in the U.S. and how it affects DEIAABJ. Why the term DEI is limiting. The wide variety of disabilities and the five primary categories of disabilities — it’s so much more than a person who uses a wheelchair. The “curb cut effect” — how accessibility designed for people with disabilities ends up benefiting the larger population. The disability community is one of the only (or only) marginalized groups you are able to join (when you break a bone, suffer chronic pain, have a temporary condition). The movement away from the term “invisible” disability. Remember: Progress over perfection. Areas to start with: alt text, hashtags, closed captions. Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Episode #176 of Deliberate Freelancer: Sara’s website, The Open Notebook’s list of Meryl Evans’ TED Talk: “” Sara’s blog post “” “” by Lindsey Mandolini
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#204: January and February By the Numbers
03/27/2025
#204: January and February By the Numbers
In today’s episode, I recap what my business looked like in January and February. This includes: Why I got a slow start to 2025. Why I’ve been focusing only on current clients and not marketing. How much I earned in January and February. How much I worked in January and February. The number of clients I did and the types of work. How I’m thinking about so-called “low-paying clients.” How I offered two options in a proposal for a new client. What self-care means to me. How I’m playing around with ChatGPT. What I Learned This Week: Goat therapy is awesome. The Bookshelf: “” by Josie Ferguson Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Episode #200 of Deliberate Freelancer: Episode #198 of Deliberate Freelancer:
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#203: Embracing a Fractional Role + Becoming an In-Demand Freelancer, with Matthew Fenton
03/06/2025
#203: Embracing a Fractional Role + Becoming an In-Demand Freelancer, with Matthew Fenton
Today’s guest is Matthew Fenton, who lives in Oregon wine country with his wife and two cats. Matthew is the founder of Three Deuce Branding, a one-man consultancy with a simple mission: “to help good people build great brands.” Since 1997, he has helped hundreds of clients — including Fidelity Investments, Wrigley and Valvoline — to achieve what he calls “brand clarity” by better positioning, strategy, and messaging. Matthew also spent seven years in client-side brand management, including two as a chief marketing officer. During that time, he launched White Mystery Airheads and led Trolli Sour Brite Crawlers to become the best-selling gummy worm in the U.S. Matthew is also the founder of Winning Solo, a coaching business designed to help other independent consultants and creatives to enjoy longevity, balance and success on their own terms. Today’s conversation is divided into two halves: Matthew recently became a fractional chief marketing officer for a longtime client. A “fractional” role has become a buzzword, at least in the U.S. freelancing world, and Matthew is the perfect person to talk about what this means and how we might consider becoming a fractional “whatever” — the role is not limited by industry or service. Then, we talk about a conversation that he and I had started offline about the importance of improving both the quality of your work and how you are to work with from the client perspective. In this episode, we talk about: How he was failing at the start of his freelance career. How he is focusing on his physical and mental health in the chaos of 2025. How his career took an unexpected pivot recently. What a fractional role is — and what it is not. The three qualities you need before you market yourself as a “fractional.” How to protect yourself as fractional when it seems you might be putting “all your eggs in one basket.” The benefits of being a fractional. How to set boundaries with a fractional client so you are not seen as an employee. The importance of doing outstanding work and improving your craft every single day. Strive to be in the top 5% of your craft. The problem with focusing on personal branding first and not your craft. “Talent” is not a good enough reason to rehire someone if they are difficult to work with. The four areas to evaluate so you can improve as a freelancer: core skills, adjunct skills, the work that brings in the work, and character traits. Three ways to ask clients for feedback so you can continue to improve. How time tracking has helped us improve our business — but also our craft. Ways you can begin to improve your craft. Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Book that Matthew mentions: “” by A. G. Lafley and Roger L. Martin
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#202: What a $600 Month Taught Alan Heymann
02/27/2025
#202: What a $600 Month Taught Alan Heymann
Today’s guest is Alan Heymann. Alan is the owner of Peaceful Direction. He is an executive coach and facilitator and is the author of two books on leadership analogies: “Don’t Just Have the Soup” and “Embrace Your Inner Peaches.” Alan is also a faculty member of the Georgetown University Institute for Transformational Leadership. In this episode, we talk about: How we’re dealing with the uncertainty of the world now. The importance of being transparent and vulnerable about our businesses on social media and elsewhere. Why Alan shared on LinkedIn that in July 2024 his gross revenue was only $600. Alan’s freelance world pet peeve. How he involved his virtual assistant in a reflection on ideal clients. Why LinkedIn is a paradise for introverts. How he respects his free time. How he checks in with his community or network. Why he loves connecting others. The journey of breaking out of the “employee mindset” or “late-stage capitalism.” How Alan blocks off a time twice a week for “exercise, create and learn.” Resources: Alan’s business, Alan’s LinkedIn post and blog post: “” Episode #62 of Deliberate Freelancer: Support Deliberate Freelancer at
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#201: My Fave 2024 Books & Most Anticipated 2025 Books
02/20/2025
#201: My Fave 2024 Books & Most Anticipated 2025 Books
On today’s show I discuss my favorite books I read in 2024 and share my most anticipated books of 2025, plus some popular authors coming out with new books this year. A few statistics first. In 2024: I read 67 books. I did not finish (DNF) 16 books. 67% of my books were fiction, with 33% nonfiction. All but one book was for adults; I read one young adult book. I read 21 debuts, or first-time-published authors, which was about 31% of all my books. All my books were physical books. I don’t use an e-reader or listen to audiobooks. Mystery/thriller was my most read genre. Here are the books I read that were mentioned in this episode: Worst Case Scenario by T.J. Newman Falling by T.J. Newman Drowning by T.J. Newman Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanaugh The Eddie Flynn series by Steve Cavanaugh Colored Television by Danzy Senna James by Percival Everett The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan The Caretaker by Ron Rash Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler The Women by Kristin Hannah The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent The God of the Woods by Liz Moore Long Bright River by Liz Moore The Frankie Elkin series by Lisa Gardner (loved books 1-2; hated book 3) Silent Came the Monster by Amy Hill Hearth The Madness by Dawn Kurtagich Dracula by Bram Stoker The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary Colton Gentry’s Third Act by Jeff Zentner Only Say Good Things by Crystal Hefner (memoir) The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin (memoir) The Message by Ta-Nehisis Coates (nonfiction) Into the Forest: A Holocaust Story of Survival, Triumph, and Love by Rebecca Frankel (nonfiction) How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley 2024 books I tried to read in January but DNFed: The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston (very popular but I couldn’t get into it) Behind You Is the Sea by Susan Muaddi Darraj (debut I was excited about but discovered the main characters were all teenagers) 2024 books I’m still excited to try: The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan Safe: A Memoir of Fatherhood, Foster Care, and the Risks We Take for Family by Mark Daley The Wives: A Memoir by Simone Gorrindo Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show by Bethany Joy Lenz (memoir) A Hunger to Kill: A Serial Killer, a Determined Detective, and the Quest for a Confession That Changed a Small Town Forever by Kim Mager and Lisa Pulitzer The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement by Sharon McMahon We Will Be Jaguars: A Memoir of My People by Nemonte Nenquimo and Mitch Anderson 2025 books I’m excited about: Back After This by Linda Holmes — publishes Feb. 25 (author of Evvie Drake Starts Over and Flying Solo) Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister — publishes Feb. 25 (author of Wrong Place Wrong Time) The Strange Case of Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker — publishes Feb. 25 (author of The Age Of Miracles and The Dreamers What If I Never Get Over You by Paige Toon — publishes April 15 It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan — publishes May 27 Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid — publishes June 3 (author of Daisy Jones & The Six) King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby — publishes June 10 (author of All the Sinners Bleed and Razorblade Teers) Kiss Her Goodbye by Lisa Gardner (fourth in Frankie Elkin series) — publishes August 12 All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall — published Jan. 7 (I loved it! Similar in tone to Station Eleven) Listen to Your Sister by Neena Viel — published Feb. 4 GoodReads’ “” Big-name authors with new books in 2025: Fiona Davis Anne Tyler Jojo Moyes Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Frederik Backman Kevin Wilson Alice Feeney Freida McFadden Riley Sager Lisa Jewell John Scalzi Grady Hendrix Stephen King — book #4 in the Holly Gibney series publishes May 27 Ali Hazelwood Abby Jimenez Jasmine Guillory Emily Henry Beth O’Leary Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at
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#200: WTF 2025! (Plus, My 2024 Recap)
02/06/2025
#200: WTF 2025! (Plus, My 2024 Recap)
On today’s show I discuss the rough start to 2025 and share my 2024 end-of-year review, which includes: My gross and net income for 2024 My expenses for 2024 My income goals and whether I hit those each quarter How I landed a new client How many hours I worked The importance of vacations, mental health days, spontaneous days off, and staycations A client mistake I made — you would think I’d know better by now! Clients I lost for 2025 What I Learned This Week: Go to for an easy and meaningful way to contact your U.S. congressional representatives and senators to let them know that you want them to DO SOMETHING. and why it works. “” — A great explanation from an attorney that I found informative and a bit reassuring. The Bookshelf: “” by Clare Pooley Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at
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#199: Struggling? How to Get Clients Now, with Rosanna Campbell
12/19/2024
#199: Struggling? How to Get Clients Now, with Rosanna Campbell
Today’s guest is Rosanna Campbell, a freelance content writer who writes “non-boring content” for B2B SaaS clients like Dock, Lattice, and monday.com. She lives in Madrid, Spain, with her husband, son, and their beagle who eats her furniture. Rosanna’s been freelancing for eight years. In this episode, we chat in-depth about six tips she shared in a recent LinkedIn post that helped her get clients when she found herself in a “total, terrible, terrifying scramble.” Rosanna is also consistent on LinkedIn, which we also talk about at the end of the episode. In fact, she is creating a workshop on how to be successful like her on LinkedIn, so I encourage you to follow her on LinkedIn for information on that workshop and lots of other great tips. In this episode, we talk about: Why and how she became a freelancer How some freelancers are struggling right now How she shifted her mindset to better “sell” herself How to think about niching down your service and your industry How to evaluate your LinkedIn profile and what it says about you How to make cold emails work for you The opportunities in your email inbox you’re missing out on Why she likes virtual coffee chats Why and how she’s become much more consistent with LinkedIn Resources: Rosanna’s LinkedIn post: “” Support Deliberate Freelancer at Episode #127 of Deliberate Freelancer:
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#198: November By the Numbers
12/12/2024
#198: November By the Numbers
In today’s episode, I recap what my business looked like in November. This includes: How much I worked in November. Why I got behind and how I dealt with it. The types of work I did and how I charged. My total monthly earnings. Why I offered to help a new client for “free.” What I Learned This Week: How Poet James A. Pearson (and his friend) look at burnout: “” Poet James A. Pearson on The Bookshelf: “” by Alan Bennett Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Episode #194 of Deliberate Freelancer: Episode #62 of Deliberate Freelancer:
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#197: Be Honest: Are You Self-Sabotaging?, with Melissa Hobson
12/05/2024
#197: Be Honest: Are You Self-Sabotaging?, with Melissa Hobson
Today’s guest is Melissa Hobson, who does business as The Ocean Writer Ltd. Her writing focuses on marine science and conservation. Melissa lives in Hastings, England. She has written for National Geographic, Scientific American, BBC Wildlife, BBC Countryfile, New Scientist, the Guardian and more. She also does some content and copywriting for NGOs and companies, but still focuses on the ocean and conservation. In this episode, we talk about: The revelation she had after a conversation with a friend. Using “I’m so busy” as an excuse. Fear of failure. What she did in her business after a mindset shift. How she gamified her pitching. How she organizes her finances. Using “busy” as a badge of honor or part of our identity. Try this: Ask yourself “why” five times. How she became interested in writing about the ocean. The importance of following your curiosity. Resources: Melissa’s article about in Katmai National Park, Alaska Support Deliberate Freelancer at Episode #163 of Deliberate Freelancer:
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#196: Wrap Up the Year on a High Note
11/21/2024
#196: Wrap Up the Year on a High Note
I’m excited about Bluesky! Are you on the platform too? Let’s create a Deliberate Freelancer starter pack — more on that in this episode — but follow me at . On today’s show, I share five questions to help you wrap up your year to create a “fresh start” in January. I explain the difference between these five questions and larger questions to ask yourself later in a solo business retreat to set up your year for success. The five questions are: What do I need to do now to line up work in January? What do I need to do to wrap up the year? Do I need to raise rates or fire anyone? Where do I need to improve my marketing and networking? How much money did I make this year? What I Learned This Week: Your standing desk isn’t making you any healthier: The Bookshelf: “” by Cal Newport Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Episode #149 of Deliberate Freelancer: Episode #123 of Deliberate Freelancer: Episode #148 of Deliberate Freelancer:
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#195: Infusing My Core Self Back into My Business
11/14/2024
#195: Infusing My Core Self Back into My Business
On today’s show, I talk about how hiring a business coach for a few months helped me get excited about my business again. Here’s what I share with you in this episode: Why I hired a coach. The initial goals I had with coaching and how that changed. How outlining who my “core self” was helped me with my business direction. Insights that my coach had that helped me. Why you should ask yourself if the services you provide “light you up” and bring you joy. How fight/flight/freeze/fawn may affect our businesses. What the Polyvagal Theory is and a few ways to quickly calm your nerves (see links below). What I Learned This Week: I need to create a menu of joy. The Bookshelf: “” by Ron Rash Resources: Support ad-free Deliberate Freelancer at Informative Menopause expert Dr. Mary Claire Haver’s book “” Article “” Reels to show you how to calm anxiety and stress through your vagus nerve: Episode #182 of Deliberate Freelancer: Episode #126 of Deliberate Freelancer: Episode #137 of Deliberate Freelancer:
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#194: October By the Numbers
11/07/2024
#194: October By the Numbers
On today’s new regular monthly episode I recap what my business looked like in October. This includes: How much I worked in October. The types of work I did and how I charged. Why a lower-paying passion project can be worth it. My total monthly earnings. How I landed a new anchor client. Why I sometimes break the “freelancing rules” and charge hourly and per word. What I Learned This Week: I am not as young as I used to be. The Bookshelf: “” by Beth O’Leary Resources: Email Melanie feedback or suggestions about “By the Numbers” episodes: Support Deliberate Freelancer at
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#193: How to Improve Your Money and Your Nutrition Habits, with Reyna Gobel
10/31/2024
#193: How to Improve Your Money and Your Nutrition Habits, with Reyna Gobel
Today’s guest is Reyna Gobel, MBA, MPH, a New Yorker who is a purpose-driven freelance writer. She writes journalism and content on personal finance, travel, pets, and health and nutrition. Reyna is a personal finance and health expert and award-winning author. Her articles and quoted advice have appeared in over 300 publications and websites, including Forbes, Money, Reuters, NPR, Harvard Health, and The Atlantic. Michelle Singletary selected three of her books as the book of the month in The Washington Post. Reyna co-created the and recently authored the fourth version of . In this episode, we talk about: How to reduce your “ghost spending.” The biggest mistakes she sees freelancers make with their finances. The importance of tracking your expenses. How budgeting apps can help you. How unexplained illnesses led to her nutrition journey. What she offers through her nutrition course. What I Learned This Week: The Bookshelf: “” by TJ Newman Resources: Book: “” Support Deliberate Freelancer at
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#192: The Prodigal Daughter Finally Returns to Her Podcast
10/24/2024
#192: The Prodigal Daughter Finally Returns to Her Podcast
I am finally back! I know, I know — this was way longer than that a “summer” hiatus. I’m sorry for the delay, but to be honest, I wasn’t sure I was coming back. I’ll talk about that in today’s episode and share why I did come back (mainly because of you, my wonderful listeners). Here’s what I share with you in this episode: A few minor changes to the podcast. How my income goals are going. Why my “summer” hiatus took so long. How I was reminded to prioritize what’s important to me. How I spent my summer vacation. Why hiring a business coach was the right move. What I Learned This Week: The that are most and least likely to cause Zoom fatigue. The Bookshelf: “” by Julie Chavez Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Episode #182 of Deliberate Freelancer:
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#191: It’s Summer Hiatus Time!
06/06/2024
#191: It’s Summer Hiatus Time!
I will be on summer hiatus from June to September. This episode gives you a quick update about my summer plans and provides a sneak peek into what I’m looking forward to talking about in September. Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Connect with Melanie on Threads Connect with Melanie on Melanie’s other podcast,
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#190: Unpack and Improve Your Money Beliefs with Austin L. Church’s Book “Free Money”
05/30/2024
#190: Unpack and Improve Your Money Beliefs with Austin L. Church’s Book “Free Money”
Today’s guest is Austin L. Church, who returns to the show to talk about his book “Free Money.” Austin lives in Knoxville, Tennessee. He helps e-commerce founders stand out online with their brand strategy. Lately, he’s been working as a fractional chief marketing officer, consulting for creator economy companies. He also coaches freelance creatives. Austin returned to the podcast to talk about his new book, “Free Money,” which I have read and highly recommend for all freelancers. In this episode, we talk about: Who this book is for and why he wrote it. How our beliefs about money from childhood affect our businesses now. The financial numbers you need to know to run your business. What “pessimistic pricing” and “weirdly precise” numbers are. Set a price that reduces the chances you will resent the client or the project. The fine line between setting boundaries and being difficult to work with. Why the “hustle” isn’t sustainable and can lead to burnout. The four stages of freelancing: Moonlighter, Hustler, Lifestyler and Diversifier. The money mindset questions Austin asks his clients. For example, fill in the blank: Wealthy people are __________. Making money is __________. How to address our money beliefs and improve our financial literacy. Why investing in a business coach can be important to improve your business. Resources: Austin’s book: “” Support Deliberate Freelancer at Connect with Melanie on Threads Connect with Melanie on
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#189: Evicting Freelance Scarcity Mindset and Jealousy, with Rachel Meltzer
05/23/2024
#189: Evicting Freelance Scarcity Mindset and Jealousy, with Rachel Meltzer
Today’s guest is Rachel Meltzer. Rachel lives in Massachusetts after doing the “van life” thing for a few years. She is a freelance writer for software as a service companies or SaaS. She’s written for Lenovo, Grammarly, Loom, FarOut, Six Moon Designs and more in the tech and outdoor recreation industries. She’s also a coach. She’s coached over 100 freelance writers on launching their businesses and getting clients and then scaling their businesses. She loves the freedom that freelancing gives her to thru-hike, live in a van, move whenever she wants, and spend time with her loyal cat, Bonnie. In this episode, we talk about: The winding journey that led her to a freelance writing career. How her Appalachian Trail thru-hike in 2018 changed her life. The value in community and sharing experiences with other people. How she went from a scarcity mindset to a healthier perspective. The jealousy we’ve had of other freelancers and how we fight against that. What she learned from a failed project. The importance of perseverance in landing clients. How to “ooch” up your rates. A simple system and aggressive outreach to get clients via LinkedIn. The script she uses in a LinkedIn connection request. What her weekly structure looks like — and why she changes it up about every six months. How she schedules time off in advance — instead of taking “burnout” vacations. Biz Bite: Use ChatGPT to create your weekly schedule. One of several tips on how to use AI she learned from Resources: Rachel’s free on June 11 Austin Church on The Guidebook: Jenni Gritters on The Guidebook: Episode #182 of Deliberate Freelancer: Episode #164 of Deliberate Freelancer: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Connect with Melanie on Threads Connect with Melanie on
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#188: What You Need to Know Before Getting Headshots and Branding Photos, with photographer Louis Tinsley
05/10/2024
#188: What You Need to Know Before Getting Headshots and Branding Photos, with photographer Louis Tinsley
Today’s guest is Louis Tinsley, a DC-based commercial photographer. Louis has been working in the industry professionally for more than 10 years and sits on the board of the DC chapter of American Photographic Artists, where he runs the annual Photo Assistant Workshop. He also recently joined the Northern Virginia Community College Photography & Media Curriculum Advisory Board. His clients have included General Dynamics Corporation, the TED organization, local news station WTOP, and DASH Alexandria Transit Company in Virginia. In this episode, we talk about: How Louis got into photography. What he loves about being a freelancer — and what he finds challenging. What a good headshot and branding photos can do for your business. What we should consider before we hire a photographer. What should be included in the conversation with a photographer you are considering hiring — how much retouching is done, what to wear, whether a makeup artist is included. How a photographer should work to put a nervous subject at ease. What happens after we do a photography shoot and what might be included in the package and services. How often we should update our headshots and business photos. How AI is affecting photography. Advice for freelance photographers about how to keep enjoying the work. Biz Bite: Try to control the flow of time as best you can. Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Episode #68 of Deliberate Freelancer: Episode #106 of Deliberate Freelancer: Connect with Melanie on Threads Connect with Melanie on
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#187: Offering Video Script Writing and Webinar Moderating, with Kelly McSweeney
04/25/2024
#187: Offering Video Script Writing and Webinar Moderating, with Kelly McSweeney
Today’s guest is Kelly McSweeney, a content marketing writer. Kelly works from her home office in Massachusetts with a small dog by her side. She has been a self-employed writer for nearly eight years, with clients that include research institutions, big tech companies and marketing agencies. Kelly explains cutting-edge science and emerging technology to intelligent, curious audiences. In recent years, she has added writing video scripts and moderating webinars to her services, which is today’s topic. In this episode, we talk about: The micro services freelancers can provide as a part of the video creation package. How Kelly learned the unique style of writing video scripts. How script writing is more collaborative and creative than writing articles. The length of projects and time involved. The different types of videos. Working with a video producer (whether freelance or from an agency). How to charge and the challenge with a longer pay cycle. What to consider when creating the scope of work. How to find clients. What moderating webinars entails. The qualities a good moderator needs. How generative artificial intelligence is affecting content marketing. Biz Bite: Use mind mapping to brainstorm. Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Episode #106 of Deliberate Freelancer: Connect with Melanie on Threads Connect with Melanie on
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#186: Creating a Netflix-like Membership Program for Your Clients, with photographer Annemie Tonken
04/11/2024
#186: Creating a Netflix-like Membership Program for Your Clients, with photographer Annemie Tonken
Today’s guest is Annemie Tonken. Annemie lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She has been a professional photographer since 2010 and is the owner of Megapixie Photography. She also teaches creative entrepreneurs how to run profitable, sustainable businesses they love, by focusing on how they can develop helpful business systems and strategies. And, she’s the host of a business podcast for photographers called This Can’t Be That Hard and the creator of the Simple Sales System, which is used by thousands of photographers worldwide to create in-person sales-level income and service in an automated way. In this episode, we talk about: How she became a photographer and later focused on family photography. How a surgery left her income and business vulnerable — and she vowed to change that. Her lightbulb moment that led to her membership program. Why we should think creatively about the business side — and not just the creative services we provide. The importance of listening to the challenges many of your clients continue to have. Tips on how to set up and sell your own membership program. Why this is a good model for branding photographers and writers, too. How to adopt this model to service businesses beyond photography. What freelance photographers struggle with and how Annemie responds. The three phases of business Annemie thinks about. Biz Bite: Conduct an audit of your business systems — with the goals of automation and outsourcing. Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Annemie’s website, podcast and courses Annemie’s account Annemie’s Connect with Melanie on Threads Connect with Melanie on
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#185: My First Year of Freelancing after Corporate Burnout, with Abby Nieten
04/04/2024
#185: My First Year of Freelancing after Corporate Burnout, with Abby Nieten
Today’s guest is Abby Nieten. Abby lives in the Indianapolis, Indiana, area, with her husband and three sons. A year ago she launched her freelance business, Shining Waters Editorial, where she is a copy editor and proofreader specializing in business content and nonfiction manuscripts. Abby also recently launched a monthly newsletter called , which is for authors, writers and other business professionals who want to create and publish content that impacts other humans. It offers a steady stream of encouragement, inspiration, connection and quality assurance tips to help you publish your work with confidence. In today’s episode, Abby and I talk about: How a layoff led to her freelancing career. Feeling undervalued and burnt out in the corporate world. How she prepared for freelancing while still working full time. How she’s getting clients. Trying to figure out pricing. Four pivotal lessons she’s learned over the past year. Why she wishes she had taken a break between being an employee and starting her freelance business. Just do it — you don’t have to wait until you build the perfect structure and business plan before you start freelancing. The challenge of finding the right client mix to provide more stability. The importance of keeping a “sunshine folder” of evidence of your good work. Biz Bite: Explore the technology you’re already paying for before buying the new “shiny object.” Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Abby’s website: Abby’s newsletter Connect with Melanie on Threads Connect with Melanie on
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#184: Becoming Comfortable and Knowledgeable with Contracts and Other Legalese, with Lawyer Brionna Ned
03/28/2024
#184: Becoming Comfortable and Knowledgeable with Contracts and Other Legalese, with Lawyer Brionna Ned
Today’s guest is Brionna Ned, a former big-law lawyer and in-house counsel for tech companies. She is now a legal educator and a writer. Her company, The Lawless Lawyer, is a legal education and consulting service for small business owners that provides you with the legal knowledge you need to create solid foundations in your business. She has a free workshop, “,” that teaches you what legal risk is, how to identify it, and why its foundational to managing the legal of your business. In this episode, we talk about: How Brionna went from lawyer to owning a legal education business. What she loves about her business. The basics of contracts. Why all service providers need a contract — and the reason is probably not what you think. How to put boundaries in your contract. Why it’s important to customize your contract and be sure you understand what it says. What to do if you — or your client — doesn’t want to use a contract. What to look for in a contract that a client sends you. How to explain to a client (and really, their lawyer) why certain contract provisions don’t apply to you and should be deleted. Why indemnification clauses are harmful and how to try to get them removed from a contract. If you can’t get indemnification clauses removed, know how to suggest changes to limit them in a scope. Don’t sign a non-compete clause. The difference between a non-disclosure agreement and a confidentiality agreement. How to be proactive in ensuring you will be paid and paid on time. What to do when you are not getting paid on time. Biz Bite: Not all money is good money. (Trust your instincts!) Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Connect with Melanie on Threads Connect with Melanie on
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#183: The Weird State of Freelancing Right Now
03/22/2024
#183: The Weird State of Freelancing Right Now
On today’s show, I discuss the current state of freelancing, which includes massive layoffs and shuttered clients in the media and tech world. But even if that isn’t affecting you — maybe you’re even having your best year yet — you need to be prepared for the lean times and to set up your business to lessen the risk of feast-or-famine. That includes setting yourself apart, diversifying, always marketing, and more. Here’s what I share with you in this episode: The number of layoffs in the media industry in the past year. The hits in the tech industry. The number of freelancers in the U.S. — the highest number in history. Should you panic — or investigate and embrace opportunities? How to be a “futurist” for your industry and why that’s important. Reflecting on whether your skills need to improve. How to set yourself apart from the competition. How to “bridge” to new projects and services. Why setting and tracking monthly income goals is crucial. At least 10 marketing ideas to try right now. When to raise your rates. Biz Bite: Organize your tasks into front stage and back stage. The Bookshelf: “” by Tracy Sierra Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Join the discussion in the Episode #64 of Deliberate Freelancer: Episode #180 of Deliberate Freelancer: Episode #116 of Deliberate Freelancer: Episode #160 of Deliberate Freelancer: Episode #54 of Deliberate Freelancer: Episode #53 of Deliberate Freelancer: C.J. Hayden blog post “” MBO Partners “” report “” Connect with Melanie on Threads Connect with Melanie on
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#182: A massive pivot from freelancing to owning a business with her husband, with business coach Jenni Gritters
03/14/2024
#182: A massive pivot from freelancing to owning a business with her husband, with business coach Jenni Gritters
Today’s guest is Jenni Gritters, from Oregon. She is a business coach for freelancers and creators. She’s also a former journalist, and a current writer who runs a small content and community agency called The Riverwoods Media Group. Jenni is the former co-host of The Writer’s Co-op podcast and workshops. Be sure to check out Jenni’s group coaching program for freelancers, called . In today’s episode, Jenni shares how she made a massive shift in her business, going from a freelancer; then part-time freelancer while raising two young kids, while her husband was a critical care nurse; then being the primary income earner while her husband took on the primary household and kid duties (and joined Jenni’s business). We talk about all that, but we also talk a lot about building a successful business, from Jenni’s coaching perspective, which I really appreciated and learned from. In this episode, we talk about: The many pivots and iterations of Jenni’s business. How, as a freelancer, she carried over the same negative work patterns she had as an employee. Going from reactive to proactive in our business. The decision for her husband to quit his nursing career and Jenni to become the primary income earner. Splitting her business between coaching and a content agency. How she structures her week — and why she takes Fridays off. How she makes money as a coach. How she switched from sole proprietor to an LLC to an S-Corp. Addressing the pushback against six-figure freelancers. How your identity as a journalist may be holding you back. How to evaluate and reflect on your business through a business audit. How to make micro changes to gradually change the structure of your business. Many freelance writers are experiencing a downturn — tips to find more work in this weird season. Biz Bite: Defining your “needle movers” every Monday Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Jenni’s group coaching program for freelancers: . Subscribe to Jenni’s “” free Substack newsletter Download Jenni’s free online payroll tool
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#181: Successful Marketing Tactics from Deliberate Freelancer Listeners
02/29/2024
#181: Successful Marketing Tactics from Deliberate Freelancer Listeners
In today’s episode, I am turning the microphone over to some of you, the listeners. Last fall I asked listeners to share their successful marketing tactics that landed them new clients. Today, eight listeners share their marketing wins with you. While each unique to the freelancer, there are a few themes. Often, the win originated from something simple, something that might not even have felt like marketing … and yet it paid off. Building relationships — which I talk about all the time — is also a theme here, as are staying curious and always looking for the opportunities in front of you. Here are the eight listeners sharing their success stories: Randy Ford Jonna Michelle Anja Lordanić Mustać Cat DiStasio Angela Myers Belinda Grace Fischer Nancy Keaton Pete Croatto Biz Bite: Do an energy audit The Bookshelf: “” by Amy Pease Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at Episode #180 of Deliberate Freelancer: Connect with Melanie on Threads Connect with Melanie on
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#180: How to Crush Your Fear of Self-Promotion and Get Clients Now, with C.J. Hayden
02/22/2024
#180: How to Crush Your Fear of Self-Promotion and Get Clients Now, with C.J. Hayden
Today’s guest is business coach and author C.J. Hayden, who lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. C.J. Hayden is the author of seven books and hundreds of blog posts, articles, and courses on marketing, self-employment, and productivity. Her bestselling book “Get Clients Now! A 28-Day Marketing Program for Professionals, Consultants and Coaches” has become the marketing bible for thousands of self-employed professionals and freelancers. C.J. has been a business coach for several decades now, helping self-employed professionals and creatives thrive. Her newest book is “Overcoming the Fear of Self-Promotion.” Other books include “The One-Person Marketing Plan Workbook” and “50 Ways Coaches Can Change the World.” In this episode, we talk about: How C.J. helps her coaching clients by being a “thinking partner” How the pandemic changed how we connect with clients Why referrals are the best way to land clients — and how to cultivate a referral network How introverts and shy people can prepare for networking conversations and build business relationships Marketing mistakes people make when trying to land new clients Consistent tactics — and creating a marketing routine —to get new clients Why tracking your follow-ups is important — and how to do it 7 types of fears we may have when it comes to self-promotion How to discover which fears you have and learn how to overcome them How the fear of success might be holding you back Biz Bite: (a community to help you get your writing done) Resources: Donate $5-$50 to support Deliberate Freelancer at Join the Connect with C.J. at Download C.J.’s free “” ebook Episode #173 of Deliberate Freelancer: Episode #167 of Deliberate Freelancer: Episode #164 of Deliberate Freelancer: Episode #61 of Deliberate Freelancer:
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#179: My Best Books of 2023
12/27/2023
#179: My Best Books of 2023
As we wrap up 2023, . With more than 175 episodes and almost five years of content, I’m sure you’ve received at least one nugget of information or tactic that has helped your business. If so, please consider donating at . It really helps offset the costs of producing this show. In today’s episode, I’m counting down my top 10 books of the year — 8 were published in 2023. I’ll start with a few of my reading statistics, share my top 10 and a few superlatives, and give you a heads-up about a few books coming out in 2024. Please enjoy, my fellow bookworms! And join us in the , where we’ll be talking about our best and worst books of 2023! I don’t want to spoil where my top 10 books fell in the list, so the following books are ones I recommended during this episode, plus superlatives and upcoming releases. Books mentioned in this episode: Nonfiction: What the Dead Know: Learning About Life as a New York City Death Investigator by Barbara Butcher The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet by Jeff Goodell Fiction: The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent Wandering Souls by Cecile Pin Go as a River by Shelley Read Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash The Night Shift by Alex Finlay Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay Falling by T.J. Newman The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James Superlatives: Most deserving of the hype: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin Least deserving of the hype: Happiness Falls by Angie Kim Hyped books that didn’t work for me and that I DNFed: Wellness by Nathan Hill; Shark Heart by Emily Habeck; Upgrade by Blake Crouch; The Quiet Tenant by Clemence Michallon; and In Memoriam by Alice Winn Most disappointing books: Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano and What Have We Done by Alex Finlay WORST book: Silver Alert by Lee Smith Most unputdownable and tense book: Drowning by T.J. Newman Romances that made me like romances: Nora Goes Off Script by Annabelle Monaghan; The Last Love Note by Emma Grey; Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley A 2023 book I still want to read: The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters My anticipated 2024 books: The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan, publishes January 2 No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall, publishes January 23 (mystery/thriller) Radiant Heat by Sarah-Jane Collins, publishes January 23 (for Jane Harper fans) The Women by Kristin Hannah, publishes February 6 (about Vietnam war) A Step Past Darkness by Vera Kurian, publishes February 20 (mystery/thriller) Murder Road by Simone St. James, publishes March 5 (mystery/ghost story) Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner, publishes March 12 (Book 3 in Frankie Elkin mystery series) The Husbands by Holly Gramazio, publishes April 2 (rom-com with magical realism ) Safe and Sound by Laura McHugh, publishes April 23 (mystery/thriller) If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay, publishes May 28 (mystery/thriller) Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at My admin status is back! Join us in the Episode #151 of Deliberate Freelancer: Episode #122 of Deliberate Freelancer: Episode #87 of Deliberate Freelancer: Connect with Melanie on Threads Connect with Melanie on
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#178: My 2023 Recap and 2024 Goals
12/21/2023
#178: My 2023 Recap and 2024 Goals
It’s the end of the year! On today’s show, I give a recap of my fourth quarter (hint: things are looking up!) and then a recap of my entire 2023. What goals are you setting for yourself? Do you set an annual income goal or a word of the year? What are you most excited about for 2024 in your business? And what do you need to work on? Join me and fellow listeners in the to share your plans and ideas with each other! This is the last business-focused episode of 2023. Next week will be my Top 10 books of the year for all you bookworms. I’ll also give a few superlative awards to books I read this year and list some fiction and business books coming out in 2024. Then, I’ll be on hiatus in January. I plan to return with new episodes in February. Here’s what I share with you in this episode: How much I earned in Q4 My big win for Q4 How many hours I worked each week on average in Q4 How much I earned in 2023, compared to my goal The surprises I discovered when I evaluated who my clients were this year My 2024 income goal My 2024 word of the year Biz Bite: Plan now for future you The Bookshelf: “” by Kate Alice Marshall Resources: Support Deliberate Freelancer at NEW! “” shared by Melanie My admin status is back! Join us in the Episode #174 of Deliberate Freelancer: Episode #173 of Deliberate Freelancer: Connect with Melanie on Threads Connect with Melanie on
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