Introducing Independent Creative

It took me a long time to embrace my own creative side.

It started when I fell in love with the startup narrative in college. The idea of making something out of nothing and charting your own path was a totally new concept to me.

But once I realized that was an option, it was the only option I cared about.

So after college, I helped start a ticket marketplace called Tixers. We took on funding, built a product, grew the company, and in 2015, we were acquired!

But running a company is exhausting, and I needed a break. So in 2016, I took a job working for a venture-backed startup company in Columbus, Ohio.

I was still making products, and I absolutely loved seeing my ideas turned into designs and then further turned into functioning software.

But I didn't feel that sense of charting my own path anymore, and I missed it.

So I left in 2017 to go back out on my own. 

The start of something Unreal

I didn't really know what I was going to do. So while I figured it out, I helped friends produce podcasts, I did copywriting and marketing work, and I even built Wordpress websites.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was freelancing – and I loved it. It felt like I was back in control of my own destiny.

At the same time, I started my accelerator program called Unreal Collective. When I started Unreal, I thought I’d be working with a lot of other startup founders – and to some extent, that was true.

But as Unreal nears its three-year anniversary with over 100 clients who have gone through the program, it’s clear that a different core client emerged: creatives.

The majority of my clients (almost two-thirds!) are creative, client-based businesses.

I’m talking about designers, engineers, photographers, copywriters, videographers, marketers, and more.

Some of them own agencies. Some of them freelance full time, and some of them freelance part time.

I love working with these people. They are so talented and so fun to work with. They like making things and charting their own path as much as I do.

Helping creatives embrace their inner business owner

I noticed another pattern: a lot of the people coming to me needed help running and growing a business. Creatives are killer at whatever their craft is, but running a business requires a totally different skillset.

This realization led to the creation of Freelancing School. I built three flagship courses to help creatives make a living freelancing.

Recently, I created a free course and started building up a community for freelancers here too.

I'm on a mission: I want to help more artists and creatives build an independent living.

And Independent Creative here on LinkedIn is one more step to help do just that.

Introducing the Independent Creative

Every Wednesday, I’ll write articles, create guides, and share ideas that will help you make an independent living as a creative. 

It'll be quick, concise, easy to read, and easy to take action.

This week, I'm sharing the Creative Talent Directory.

A lot of people ask me for recommendations for talented creatives and freelancers – and I don't have nearly enough people to send their way.

If you want to be considered for a referral, click here and tell me a little bit about yourself!

After sharing this with my newsletter yesterday, I've already started building a directory of more than 50 creatives. I'm blown away.

Thanks for reading, and if you want to come along for the ride, all you need to do is hit subscribe and you'll get the next issue of Independent Creative next Wednesday.

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Jay Clouse is the creator of Freelancing School, which provides the training and community to help people make a living freelancing. He is also the founder of Unreal Collective, a community for founders, freelancers, and creators that runs a 12-week accelerator program.

You can connect with Jay on Twitter @jayclouse or sign up for his Sunday newsletter for creatives at jayclouse.com.