How These Freelancers Work ON Their Business All Year
As freelancers, it’s easy to spend most of our time in the business - delivering client work, meeting deadlines, keeping things ticking over. But if we never step back, time has a habit of running away from us. We can be swept along on a current of what people ask us to do, not thinking about if it's where we want to be heading. This episode is a little different from the usual Being Freelance podcast format. Instead of a single guest interview, it’s a reflection on conversations with freelancers who consistently make time to work on their business - not just once a year, but regularly. You’ll hear how different people approach this in their own way: Some take themselves off on solo business retreats - sometimes to a hotel, sometimes just to a different room in the house — with no client work allowed. Others hold quarterly CEO retreats , stepping away from day-to-day delivery to review what’s working, what isn’t, and what they want more (or less) of. One even does a 'Weather Report', seeing what's on the horizon for their work, personal life, creativity, and the wider world - treating their business like something that moves in seasons. What they all have in common is this: They don’t leave their freelance business to chance. Regular reviews help remove mental load, bring clarity, and often make client work feel more enjoyable - because you’re no longer carrying half-finished thoughts about marketing, pricing, direction, or next steps in the back of your mind. You’ll also hear a very practical reminder: if you want thinking time, you usually have to put it in the diary first . Two or three hours, a half day, once a month or once a quarter - it all counts. This episode isn’t about grand five-year plans or fancy frameworks. It’s about creating space to ask better questions: Is this still working? Am I enjoying this? Is this profitable? Is this taking me where I want to go? Because freelancing doesn’t have to be something that just happens to you. With a little regular reflection, you get to design it - deliberately. Featuring the insights of these fantastic freelance guests, whose full episodes you should totally check out. Follow these links for their podcast conversations. - Writer Rebecca Rosenberg - Designer Brennan Gilbert - Writer & Editor Melanie Padgett Powers - Voiceover Emma Clarke - Market Research Consultant Katie Tucker JOIN THE COMMUNITY You're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends). beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU! The Being Freelance course is made for you! Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership . FREELANCER MERCH Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on: Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelance YouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland Being Freelance is hosted and created by freelance podcast editor Steve Folland .