Episodios

  • How to Ensure Right-Fit Clients for your Freelance Business (and Avoid the Bad Ones)

    How to Ensure Right-Fit Clients for your Freelance Business (and Avoid the Bad Ones)
    Jul 25 2024

    Not all clients are created equal.

    When I was a new freelancer, I didn't know any better when it came to selecting work that was a great partnership and would often settle for a paycheck or what "potential" I thought working with a client could give me.

    In one particularly difficult case, my client would call me every day to check in even though I had other client work to do and you know- I had a life!

    So, let's talk about how to navigate client selection so you end up with a roster of clients you're genuinely excited about.

    Listen to hear about filtering potential clients through discovery processes, establishing clear expectations with new clients, and professionally declining or managing poor-fit clients.

    Struggling with tough clients right now?

    Check out the "Managing Tough Clients" Workshop recording!

    Ever had a client who pushes your boundaries? Maybe they ask for discounts, try to change your scope, or never respond? This workshop dives into how to both prevent and handle client relationship issues. Learn how to take leadership in your client partnerships.

    Connect with Justine:

    • Website: https://www.justawildthought.com
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justawildthought

    Was this episode helpful? Screenshot this and tell a friend to go to justawildthought.com/podcast!

    Please rate and review Creatives in the Wild on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
    Más Menos
    19 m
  • Turning One Professional Opportunity into Many More with Emmy Award Winning Director and Producer Amy Sabreen

    Turning One Professional Opportunity into Many More with Emmy Award Winning Director and Producer Amy Sabreen
    Jul 11 2024

    Amy Sabreen (she/her) is a director, producer, writer and 3-time Emmy Award winner.

    She’s directed and produced top-rated unscripted television shows as well as award-winning documentary and branded content on 14,000-foot peaks, in the remote Alaskan tundra, below the ocean's surface, and in 17 countries.

    Career highlights include producing NBC’s Primetime Paralympic coverage in Beijing, producing features for NBC Olympics, X Games and a wide array of sports, adventure and socially conscious programming.

    This year, Amy began a new adventure, transitioning from freelance to a full time position as Director, Creative Production for Alterra Mountain Company.

    In this episode, Justine and Amy chat about:

    • How Amy turned her first professional opportunity into many more

    • The importance of building trust and maintaining relationships with clients

    • Asking great questions is better than pretending you know more than you do

    • Being nervous means that you care and want to do a great job

    • Choosing your criteria for what work to say yes or no to

    • The tricky line of being a high performer and trying to avoid overworking

    • Working as a woman in a male-dominated industry and the pressure that comes with it

    • Freelancers need to follow up with potential clients; people are busy and emails slip through the cracks

    • How Amy figures out whether a freelancer is a great fit for a project

    • Amy's dad's three questions to ask yourself when you're debating taking a job

    and more!

    Connect with Amy

    • Website: https://sabreenmedia.com

    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amysabreen

    Connect with Justine:

    • Website: https://www.justawildthought.com
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justawildthought

    Was this episode helpful? Screenshot this and tell a friend to go to justawildthought.com/podcast!

    Please rate and review Creatives in the Wild on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
    Más Menos
    47 m
  • Leaning into Reciprocity to Build True Community in Creative Work with Tori Duhaime

    Leaning into Reciprocity to Build True Community in Creative Work with Tori Duhaime
    Jun 27 2024
    Tori Duhaime (she/they) is a photographer and movement artist based in Richmond, Virginia. She works in the outdoor industry space as a photographer, marketing professional, program coordinator, and social media specialist. Their workflow and creative approach is heavily informed by her former career in dance as well as the abundant community gained over the course of years and places. In addition to capturing others' experiences in motion, Tori is a serial hobbyest from skiing to mountain and gravel cycling, climbing, rafting, hiking, and beyond. She is the co-creator of the Outdoor Adventure Photo Coalition in Richmond. In this episode, Justine and Tori chat about: Tori's journey from professional dancing to photography and movement art, and how her dance background informs her creative work The work of finding a new creative community after a cross-country move The rich sense of community in Richmond, VA, especially in cycling Building an inclusive community through mutual aid and reciprocity Dismantling scarcity mindset in freelancing: we can collaborate instead of compete How photography is an opportunity for representation and Tori's creative ways of using her art for inclusion Building a group for photographers to collaborate on a deeper level, rather than just taking the perfect shot The issues around complaining about people moving to west coast outdoor hubs The incredible benefits of east coast outdoor hubs, including Richmond How marketing departments need to examine their personal and professional channels for representation and more! Connect with Tori Website: https://www.toriduhaime.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toriduhaime The Outdoor Adventure Photo Coalition: https://www.instagram.com/outdooradventurephotocoalition/ Connect with Justine: Website: https://www.justawildthought.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justawildthought Was this episode helpful? Screenshot this and tell a friend to go to justawildthought.com/podcast! Please rate and review Creatives in the Wild on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
    Más Menos
    35 m
  • The 3 Money Mindset Mistakes Freelancers Make and How to Overcome Them

    The 3 Money Mindset Mistakes Freelancers Make and How to Overcome Them
    Jun 13 2024
    In my first few years as a coach and in all 7 years of my freelance work, I avoided money talk. But as time went on, I realized how crucial it is to examine both our relationships with money and how we manage it in order to have a sustainable business and a purposeful life in a capitalist world. I got there in part thanks to Rachel Rodgers, a business coach and CEO of Hello7, who helps women and marginalized communities empower themselves financially. Her book "We Should All Be Millionaires" changed everything for me. And since I now love diving into money with my clients, this week we're diving into three money tendencies I see often in my clients and how they can hold us back. I'll share a tip on how to work through each tendency and how the Money Clarity Course for Freelancers has resources to guide you to a more empowered financial mindset and management practices. Listen to hear about: Money Avoidance: "I don't know anything about money." "It's not polite." "Money is evil." "I can't even think about the state of my finances."The massive cost in avoiding looking at your money and how it takes away from your agency and ability to make informed decisionsA tip to learn to become more comfortable with the discomfort around money Money Overwhelm: "I feel so confused on what I need to do with my money." "I can't tell if this financial advice is valid or right for me." "I have analysis paralysis after going down the Google rabbit hole."How some freelancers are open and willing to talk about and think about money, but get in the weeds with the more tactical, hands-on side of it.A tip to collect data to figure out your current money status and where you're headed. Money Complacency: "I'm getting by okay, but know I could make better money moves." "I'm not sure if my positioning matches my pricing and wonder what raising my prices would do." "I wish I could prioritize money management but no one is holding me accountable."Your price is costing you: The small choices you make around money affect you in the long run, which can hurt if you're not making informed choices.How to take action and start making empowered money moves in the future. The Money Clarity Course for Freelancers Q3 cohort begins July 1, 2024! If you resonate with any or multiple of the tendencies I talk about here, you might love the Money Clarity Course this summer. It gives you an opportunity to be brave in addressing your money mindset and practices head-on, while providing accountability and resources to help you reach your financial goals. I spent years putting together this course and believe it's the only money course you'll ever need as a freelancer. We have live coaching calls every month plus lifetime access to the six sections of the course. We even have a certified accountant join in one module to give you the ins and outs of the financial system. This entire course is built to help you do the work. I have both the tools and coaching to help you get there. Let's do this. Explore the Money Clarity Course Resources Mentioned: Rachel Rodgers Hello Seven justawildthought.com/money Connect with Justine: Website: https://www.justawildthought.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justawildthought Was this episode helpful? Screenshot this and tell a friend to go to justawildthought.com/podcast! Please rate and review Creatives in the Wild on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
    Más Menos
    21 m
  • Structuring Creative Strategy as a Comprehensive Service with Colleen Goldhorn

    Structuring Creative Strategy as a Comprehensive Service with Colleen Goldhorn
    May 30 2024
    Freelancers: Join us for a 2-hour Intensive on June 27th all about authentic selling to turn a prospective client into a paying client! We'll cover how to lead potential client conversations, skill sets and tools available to you in those discussions, and a play by play, ready-to-use template created for you so you have an outline for every client conversation you're going to have moving forward. This is a tried and true process that I have developed in co creation with my clients and I'm so excited to share it with you on June 27th. RSVP here. Colleen Goldhorn (she/her) is a freelance graphic designer and photographer who lives and breathes all things outdoor adventure. She has over a decade of experience working with clients on design, photography, and branding projects, and founded her business with the mission of strategically connecting outdoor brands to their target audience. Through her business, Colleen Goldhorn Creative Co., she draws her inspiration from time spent outdoors, and specializes in working with clients who share her love of backpacking, road tripping, and adventure travel. In this episode, Justine and Colleen chat about: How a long hike on the Appalachian Trail eventually inspired Colleen to try freelancing The steps Colleen took to move from corporate to full-time freelancing during the pandemic The mindset needed to shift from freelancer to business owner and taking yourself seriously Allowing herself space to work on personal creative projects in addition to work and making time for rest If you're working 9 to 5 as a freelancer, why not take a full time employer job? How Colleen implements a 3-day workweek and the benefits from it Being flexible with the ebb and flow of work in order to balance workload and rest The professionalism that reflects in being very organized, and how Colleen stays organized with client work How Colleen structured her own project management system Being a one-stop shop for clients' creative needs and creating a comprehensive creative strategy Adding strategic steps and measurable metrics in client communications to maximize impact in work together The importance of strategically relating to intended audiences through visuals and copy and more! Sign up for the authentic selling Intensive on June 27th. Connect with Colleen Website: www.colleengoldhorn.comInstagram: instagram.com/colleengoldhorn_creativeco Connect with Justine: Website: https://www.justawildthought.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justawildthought Was this episode helpful? Screenshot this and tell a friend to go to justawildthought.com/podcast! Please rate and review Creatives in the Wild on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
    Más Menos
    35 m
  • How to Not Get in Your Own Way as a Creative Freelancer with Latasha Greene

    How to Not Get in Your Own Way as a Creative Freelancer with Latasha Greene
    May 16 2024
    Latasha Greene (she/her) is the owner and head artist of Jitterbug Art Studio. She's originally from Baltimore and currently lives in Denver, CO as a full time outdoor artist. Latasha creates bright and engaging imagery that celebrates diversity in the outdoors, illustrates the healing powers of nature, and showcases the importance of conservation. Her past clients include Otterbox, Brown Girls Climb, Merrell, Range Magazine, Craghoppers, SNEWS, Access Fund, The North Face and more. In this episode, Justine and Latasha chat about: Why Latasha decided to move across the country to dive deeper into art and get out of her comfort zone How she put herself in the right places for opportunities in the outdoor industry to come to her The opportunities that came with connecting with other female artists and entrepreneurs Latasha’s first big project: a hotel mural that spurred future work Why Latasha doesn’t believe in imposter syndrome Resisting gatekeeping, comparison and competition as a business owner Benefits and challenges of building a Patreon membership Diversifying creative work to avoid being boxed into a single form or style Collaborating with brands for social justice causes Breathing life into creative work when she feels burnt out or uninspired Structuring the creative process to be more efficient and less reliant on inspiration The importance of true rest and breaks and more! Connect with Latasha Patreon: www.patreon.com/jitterbug_artInstagram: instagram.com/jitterbug_artYoutube: heyjitterbug_ on youtubeWebsite: www.jitterbugart.com Connect with Justine: Website: https://www.justawildthought.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justawildthought Was this episode helpful? Screenshot this and tell a friend to go to justawildthought.com/podcast! Please rate and review Creatives in the Wild on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
    Más Menos
    42 m
  • The Two Main Elements of a Thriving Freelance Business (Solo Episode)

    The Two Main Elements of a Thriving Freelance Business (Solo Episode)
    May 2 2024

    I've worked with freelancers for over 6 years and was a freelancer myself for most of my 20s. On new solo episodes of Creatives in the Wild, I'm sharing wisdom and research I've gained from those experiences, so you can learn tools and strategies to use in your business right away!

    Today, we're diving into the two main elements freelancers need in order to go from side hustle to full time (or to simply find more ease in their business).

    Listen to hear about:

    • Being good at your craft, especially in a world of increasing AI
    • The importance of selling and sharing your own perspective and point of view
    • Having your own approach and style to make it easier for clients to work with you
    • Prioritizing personal work as a way to strengthen your skillsets and find more work
    • Protecting yourself against burnout by creating blank space for your inner creative
    • Being good at business: client management, services, and pricing
    • Nobody is born being a great entrepreneur, it's a learned skill
    • Selling a service that offers a purpose and gives an end result to clients
    • Money mindset and how it can shift a hobby into a functioning business
    • Choosing pricing models that suit your personal financial needs
    • Creating safety when deciding to go from side hustle to full time
    • Being comfortable with the discomfort of finding clients
    • Using empathy and listening in order to get jobs
    • Why collecting no's is a good practice
    • How craft and business skills feed into each other
    • How your adventurous spirit can help you run your business
    Use this episode as a personal pep talk if you're feeling discouraged in freelancing this year!

    Resources mentioned:

    Workshop recordings: https://www.justawildthought.podia.com

    Tools and templates for freelancers: https://justawildthought.com/tools

    Gear Library of free tools: https://justawildthought.com/free-resources

    Connect with Justine:

    Website: https://www.justawildthought.com

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justawildthought

    Was this episode helpful? Screenshot this and tell a friend to go to justawildthought.com/podcast! Please rate and review Creatives in the Wild on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
    Más Menos
    21 m
  • How to Nurture Freelance Client Relationships by Understanding their Needs with Kaylee Litle

    How to Nurture Freelance Client Relationships by Understanding their Needs with Kaylee Litle
    Apr 11 2024
    Kaylee Litle (she/her) is the founder of Kindling Design, a graphic design studio specializing in branding, web, and brand experiences for outdoor-minded companies. Through thoughtful design and creative problem solving, Kaylee's Signature Bonfire Brand Process offers clients an in-depth, guided experience through creating a meaningful visual identity that stands out. In this episode, Justine and Kaylee chat about: How building relationships and setting consistent expectations are keys to business. Questions to help determine whether a potential client is a good fit for you. How taking charge in the client relationship serves both parties. The importance of having an established process for client work. Question asking as a skill to determine your own needs and those of your clients How Kaylee differentiates being a "creative" vs. a "designer" Understanding yourself, your "why", and your work's "why" A creative way to brainstorm potential new services to offer How transparency is more valuable than money You are your biggest hurdle: Tips for newer freelancers and more! Connect with Kaylee Website: https://www.kindlingdesignco.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kindlingdesign Connect with Justine: Website: https://www.justawildthought.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justawildthought Was this episode helpful? Screenshot this and tell a friend to go to justawildthought.com/podcast! Please rate and review Creatives in the Wild on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
    Más Menos
    37 m