#015 - Reflections & Projections

#015 - Reflections & Projections

I’m in a place to recharge over the holidays for the first time in years.

When I worked in-house for a global tech company, this time of year was always filled with last-minute planning for a big technology trade show that took place the first week in January (as if the holidays weren’t busy enough).

I never felt fully present with my family.

And I remember conference calls on Christmas or New Year's Day more than once.

I don’t share this because I’m proud of my hustle (quite the contrary).

I share it because this year feels, well…different.

I shipped some deliverables to a client on Friday (ahead of schedule) and closed my laptop.

My gifts were already bought and wrapped (another Dec 24th chore in a past life).

Clients know I’m out until January, and I have zero meetings scheduled on my calendar.

I write this email from the basement of my mother-in-law’s house feeling tired…

…but it’s not from work. Instead, I’m tired from a 90-minute walk with my wife and my dogs and, after spending the last 3 hours fully present, playing non-stop with my twin 3-year-old nieces.

In these moments, I remember why freelancing is important to me.

I have control over my priorities, energy, and boundaries.

Earlier this year, I wrote a post about my journey into freelance, and I stand firmly behind every word.

However, I must acknowledge that, in many ways, this year has been more challenging than any previous year as a solopreneur.

My freelancing partner and I felt the squeeze of a tightening economy, faced some difficult clients, and came up short in a few RFPs.

And yet, I’d never trade this lifestyle to go back to a traditional 9-5.

The freelance lifestyle affords me more opportunities and growth than my past careers ever did.

This year, I ran an online course on storytelling, invested in two businesses, and am bringing a new product to market next month. I brought my golf handicap down from 14 to 9.5, returned to the gym, and became a better partner and friend.

But what I’m most proud of is starting this newsletter.

It’s hard to believe it’s been 3 months since I hit send on the first issue and 6 months since I started working on the idea.

My goal is simple: to champion freelance marketing as a chosen career and to empower freelancers to find freedom and fulfillment.

15 newsletters in, and we’ve barely scratched the surface.

I’ve got big plans for Freelance Marketing Alliance in 2024:

• A free online community for freelancers to connect and support each other: pre-reg here
• Monthly office hours to come together and learn something new: sign up here
• In-person meet-ups for freelancers
• Coaching for freelancers
• And more weekly newsletters covering topics like:
• Pre-loading your year (coming next week)
• Building a positioning canvas
• Creating a value driver framework
• Lessons from Coca-Cola’s brand architecture
• And much more…

Thank you for going on this journey with me. The emails I’ve gotten over the last 3 months fuel me and are reminders that Freelance Marketing Alliance needs to exist.

We’re just getting started!

-Jeff

p.s. I thought I’d share 5 of my favourite books from 2023 in case you’re building your reading list for 2024.

1. Buy Back Your Time: Develop mindsets and systems to offload low-value tasks so you can make room for things that light you up.
2. Obviously Awesome: A practical guide to developing actionable positioning that makes your differentiated value obvious to a well-defined group of customers.
3. Sales P!tch: The follow-on to Obviously Awesome. Build a narrative-based sales structure that teaches your customers how to buy.
4. Atomic Habits: How to build sustainable habits (and ditch old ones)

p.p.s. On January 16 at 12pm EST, I'm hosting Freelance Office Hours (over Zoom). An opportunity to connect with other freelancers, learn new skills, and ask questions. Sign up here. More details will come in the weeks ahead. If you have ideas for topics to cover, reply and let me know.

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