#008 - Finding your freelance focus

#008 - Finding your freelance focus.

3 questions to help you zero-in on your core.

Want to grow your freelance business? Do less.

Don’t believe me? Try this:

Time how long it takes to count 1-26 as fast as you can…

Next, say your A-B-Cs as fast as you can…

Now try this. Count: 1-A, 2-B, 3-C, 4-D… all the way to 26-Z

Not so easy, is it?

Here are my scores:

Mixing tasks took 10 times longer to complete!

My point is this: doing too many things might be holding you back as a freelancer.z

• It prevents you from mastering any one thing
• It results in wasted energy and time from switching costs

As freelancers, we take on lots of things for many reasons:

• We’re trying to derisk our businesses with many offers
• We don’t want to say no to clients
• We don’t want to turn away revenue
• We love the dopamine that comes with starting new projects

Reading this list, I start to fidget awkwardly as I feel exposed...

I’m a chronic project starter. I have a pattern for experimenting with new ideas and often struggle to follow through on any one initiative.

Reflecting on ‘why,’ I came to two realizations:

1. “New and shiny” gives my neurodivergent, ADHD brain a dopamine rush
2. I’m afraid if I genuinely go ‘all in’ on one thing and it fails, it means I’m a failure

Conquering obstacles like these won’t come through diversification but rather from maniacal focus.

Discipline in identifying and sticking to your freelance core will maximize your prospects for success and release a steady stream of dopamine along the way.

Your freelance core is the center of three circles.

1. What can I be the best at?

The first circle sets out to understand what you can be the best at.

This isn’t about setting a goal to become the best at something or planning to become the best.

It’s about finding clarity on what you have the potential to excel at.

Just because you’ve been doing something for years or because you have been able to make money at it doesn’t mean you have the potential to be the best at it.

An equally important question is, “What can’t I be the best at?

Holding on to things you can’t be the best at does a disservice to your client and yourself. Maybe you can get the job done, but it's a grind.

Questions to ask:

• What do I feel like I was born to be doing?
• What can I be the best at?
• What can't I be the best at?

2. What am I deeply passionate about?

The second circle clarifies what you’re deeply and genuinely passionate about.

It might seem trite to talk about something squishy, like passion as a driver of freelance success.

But passion is essential.

Building a free business is freakin’ hard.

You’re the head of marketing, sales, finance, and delivery.

Passion is your fuel for perseverance.

A critical distinction here is in discovering what you’re intrinsically passionate about, not trying to summon passion for what you already do today.

This isn’t to say you need to be passionate about the functional mechanics of delivering a particular service.

Instead, you could consider the passion tied to what your business stands for.

Example: I'm not passionate about writing and growing newsletters - yet anyways - but I'm deeply passionate about helping freelancers like you to thrive and find fulfillment.

Questions to ask:

• What things do I do where I enjoy the actual process for its own sake?
• What activities feed my energy?
• What drains my energy?

3. Where can I create the most value?

The third circle clarifies where you can deliver the most significant value for clients.

Delivering value should not be confused with merely solving a problem or satisfying a ‘job to be done.’

Not all problems or jobs are created equal, and not all yield value.

High-value projects produce outcomes and impact tied to a client’s strategic priorities. Often increasing revenue or reducing costs.

The more you can align with value, the more indispensable your work becomes to a client and the more you can (and should) charge for your services relative to your costs to deliver that service. a.k.a profit

Questions to ask:

• What strategic value does my product or service provide?
• What I deliver that value consistently and at a high profit margin?

Focusing your freelance core

Your optimal freelance core focus sits at center of these three circles

Yet, a trap many freelancers fall into is settling for two of the three:

Establishing the discipline to identify and stay true to your freelance core will:

• Leverage your exprtise, and reinforce you as the best
• Produce value for your clients (and value for your business)
• Ignite your passion and feed your energy

As you focus on your freelance core, you will create a virtuous cycle that builds momentum for your freelance business.

Have a great week my freelance friends.

Jeff Gadway
Founder, Freelance Marketing Alliance