7 things we're "resolving" to do at Mt. Freelance

Well, it’s 2025. Kind of wild, huh. I can remember when I was a kid marveling at the idea that the year 2000 was on the horizon. Here we are 25 years later. But I digress.?

As you might likely know Aaron James I have a platform called Mt. Freelance. We have some playbooks (i.e. digital books), a Facebook group, a podcast, and have had online and in-person meet-ups.

But the heart of Mt. Freelance is an online “MasterClass” we created offering all our hard-earned advice on the business of being a freelancer. And it just so happens to be on sale through the weekend!

If you work in advertising, production, design, marketing, or even health care, education or the arts… I’m guessing 2024 was a little unnerving on the career front. Even if you did well personally, you know the economy is rapidly changing and work isn’t working like it did before the pandemic and AI.

Aaron and I were fortunate to do pretty well freelancing last year – not from Mt. Freelance but by following the advice we lay out in Mt. Freelance. But we’re well aware that could change in the New Year.?

So here are 7 things we’re “resolving” to do in the New Year to encourage continued success. Maybe you want to try them on too??

1. Make your own work?

Call it a personal project, a passion project, a side hustle, or just art, but make something where the only client is you. Personal projects are far and away more entertaining than almost anything a client will hire you to make (we see you and your AI friend Matt Sorrell). Which means it will be the best project you work on all year because you get to be the boss. It will also be your best chance to get the attention of past and prospective clients because they will see what you can really do when you lean into your voice, talent and unique point of view. My most gratifying moments of the year personally and professionally came from writing and performing my new one-person show AC Dickson: Life Coach and I’m eager to evolve it and keep performing it in the new year.?

2. Give yourself a raise?

Wall Street is up 20% this year. Again. That’s why a dozen eggs, hotel rates, preschool tuition and just about everything else is more expensive and is going to get even more expensive. So if you’re still charging what you did 3 years ago you are making a lot less relative to the cost of living. If you are in demand you can absolutely add $50, $100 or $250 to your day rate (or $5, $10 or $25 to your hourly rate.) If not, you need to get more creative. If you’re looking for ideas we have lots of them in our course and money playbook that will help.?

3. Cultivate a new client

Easier said than done. But absolutely worth doing. Start with your connections. One good connection has a higher hit rate than applying for 100 jobs you have no connection to. Already reached out to your frequent clients and collaborators?? Look back to folks you went to elementary school with. Folks you went to high school with. Worked together back in the earliest days of your career. Know through church. Track down that person your aunt used to always say you should reach out to. So what if it’s been a few years, or even a decade or two. Reach out, see what they’re up to. If you connect and hit it back of let them know what you do and see if there are any opportunities to collaborate, or if they can put you in touch with their marketing person or department.?

4. Reframe your client relationships

Chances are most of your clients know you for what your primary area of expertise is. Editing, copywriting, design or project management. But if you’re still reading this you’ve probably been in the business a long time and can also think strategically, have a secondary and tertiary skill, and have a network that would allow you to take on a bigger project by hiring a team. The key is knowing what your clients current business problems are. How do you find that out? The next time a Zoom meeting ends early and they say, “okay, unless anyone has anything else, let’s give everyone 11 minutes back” don’t hang up. Pipe up. Say, “hey, I’m actually curious what some of your bigger business problems are right now.” Listen closely, think about how you might be able to help, put together a plan (with a deck) and ask for a meeting to propose your solution.?

5. Give your website a refresh

Do yourself a favor. Clear your mind and visit your website, preferably on your phone. Spend about 15 seconds taking it in. Then reflect. How does it feel? Does it make you happy? Does it look like the website of someone your ideal client would want to reach out to and hire? Does it make it clear what you do and make a case for paying you top dollar to do your thing? If you’re not feeling your website, potential clients aren’t either. So invest some time in making it shine. Naturally we have lots of advice on this front in the course and in our work playbook. And then when you have it dialed in reach out to clients and collaborators and post here when you’re done. A new website is news worth sharing. And hey, even if your website is super tight, giving it a light visual refresh is a great excuse to do some outreach.?

6. Keep in touch

This is so obvious. And yet it’s super easy to let a year go by and not be in touch with the folks who gave you huge chunks of work back in 2022 or 2023. It’s easier than ever to keep in touch. Holidays cards are an easy way. So is a newsletter (I just started one myself). But the most effective way is to reach out to folks semi-regularly with an email, text or LinkedIn message and just check in. See how they are doing. Compliment a recent project. Share your personal project or new website. Like their family pictures. Invite them to coffee if you have a genuine bond. Don’t just hammer them for work.?But maybe gently remind them you are available after a little back and forth.

7. Give back?

It’s both an amazing time to be alive, but also an incredibly rough time. Just as there is joy, love and wonder there’s also anger, fear and hate. And my worry is we are sadly in for more of the later in the short term. What can you give? Maybe it’s money to support an organization you think is helping to build the world you want. Maybe it’s board of director service. Or volunteering your talents or even building a team to help an organization expand and better communicate its mission. Maybe it’s putting on an apron and serving meals or firing up the tools and building a free pantry.?But it feels good to give and it's only way things are going to get better.

Okay, that’s what we got. How about you? Any things you are resolving to do in the New Year??