It's a wrap!

Amidst the festive cheer enveloping the Western world during Christmas, as the hustle and bustle winds down and I find a moment of tranquility, it's an opportune time to reflect on the bygone year—its triumphs and the doors left ajar.

Dispelling the tradition of boasting about an extraordinary year, I find myself on LinkedIn, a platform where successes are touted, but failures are often shrouded in silence. On a global scale, the world economy could have played a more benevolent role. In my ninth year of freelancing, a notable deviation occurred in 2023: a departure from the usual ascent to a downturn. As I gaze at the coming year, my fervent business wish is to resurrect it to the heights of 2022 and surpass them—a goal worthy of pursuit.

The evolution of our craft and commitment to excellence are perpetual. This year, the formidable force of AI came knocking, presenting an invigorating challenge. Acknowledging the nascent encounter, I foresee a more profound impact looming. The wave of AI is formidable; resisting it is futile. The prudent approach is to meld our expertise with AI solutions, creating something novel, swifter, and superior. Today's testament: a swift architectural edit, completed in less than 10 minutes using generative AI and refined with Photoshop, showcasing the synergy of human and artificial intelligence (That would have easily taken close to an hour with traditional methods.)

In our journey, discernment reveals that our most cherished clients are those hungering for growth—beyond the startup phase but not yet giants. While enterprise-level associations are commendable, breaking through the noise is a herculean task, considering the deluge of proposals. Yet, the jackpot lies in securing an enterprise client with an unwavering commitment to quality, wishing a potential addition to our roster in 2024.

A noteworthy shift in 2023 was the shrinking of our national footprint, with a staggering 98% of revenue streaming in from international clients. The harsh reality is that the local Turkish economy, in dire straits, deems us "too expensive." Yet, this adversity birthed a silver lining—no more local agency visits. Meetings now unfold seamlessly over virtual platforms, sparing me the need for physical presence. Regrettably, as the local economy faltered, acquaintances and even my sister sought refuge in the West. There has been a considerable move from Turkey to Europe; the ones who leave are usually the best talent.

Despite the common perception of freelancing as a solitary endeavor, I contend otherwise. Collaboration is the lifeblood of exceptional work. Emre, the 3D virtuoso, is in Taiwan; El?in, the maestro graphic designer, relocated to the UK; and recently, with forays into copywriting, Hilal, contributing from Greece. Their collective prowess not only elevated the quality of our work but also alleviated the burdens of my workload.

As I gaze ahead, 2024 beckons with the hope of a business upswing, fervently wishing for a respite from global conflicts. Gratitude extends to the steadfast clients and supportive friends who stood by my side throughout the year. Here's to a new year—filled with health, happiness, and prosperity—for all. Cheers to 2024!

And finally, here is a look to 2023: