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Unless one is extraordinarily well organised, there will come a time in any successful freelancer’s career where they become overwhelmed with the amount of work they have on their plate.
While this is a happy problem, it is a problem nonetheless, and a potentially dangerous one at that. Client overload can lead to any number of unwanted outcomes such as a reduction in the quality of your work, the neglect of other parts of your business, and even the neglect of your family and other things that are important to you in life.
In an ideal world one would spot client overload from a distance and plan accordingly, but such an outcome is unlikely; especially if you have never experienced it before. After all, how can you spot and fully appreciate the ramifications of an impending situation that you do not fully understand? With that in mind, this post takes a “firefighting” approach and lays out what you should do to clear the decks in the event of client overload.
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Here’s the scenario you likely know all too well.
You’re working hard to meet your client deadlines, finish projects and deal with all the administration that goes with your current work.
Yet you know you have to make time to focus on gaining new clients, because once this busy period is over, you’re going to be back to the drawing board, having to hustle to get more money in the door.
Your ideal solution is a steady stream of clients, lining up to work with you, waiting patiently for you to slot them in.
Or better yet, contracts that renew month over month on a lucrative retainer that allows you to plan your work in advance, and make time for new clients when you’re ready.
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Who better?
When looking for the ideal freelancer to learn from, few might expect a reference to this notorious Star Wars character.
But really, who better than Han Solo to emulate?
Han deals with force users, droids and imperial fleets on a regular basis, yet he’s been gifted with nothing more than a quick wit, his fellow “nerfhearder” Chewbacca, and the Millennium Falcon.
Despite having the deck stacked against him, Han is still notorious for being one of the slickest smugglers in the galaxy—and although it’s a bit more exciting than web design or freelance writing, it still makes him a fellow freelancer!
Although his work was done ‘a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away’, let’s see what Han can teach us about making our way as successful freelancers in the world today.
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Most freelancers are guilty of getting too involved in the day-to-day running of their business at the expense of the big picture.
This “wood for the trees” approach becomes more acute the busier you get, which leads to a curious outcome — the more “successful” your business (in terms of the amount of billable hours you work), the less likely you are to run a business that meets your desired long term goals.
One thing I have learned over time is that more clients does not equal a “better” business. There is definitely more to life than how much work you take on, and keeping that in mind by carrying out periodical health checks on your business is the key to keeping your freelancing career on the right path.
In this post I want to focus on the five step process I follow about once every month to ensure that I am building a business that is successful and which allows me to live the life I want to live.
Note: I would recommend that you read my post on remodelling your business before starting on this.
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If you want to close more freelance deals, you’re going to have to sell.
Obvious, right? Most hustling freelancers out there already follow the Glengarry rule of thumb: always be closing. While magnetic marketing tactics can help turn this process to your favor, it still pays to know how to chase after great gigs yourself, and that requires knowing how to write a persuasive project proposal.
If your current proposal writing gameplan involves a blank sheet in Microsoft Word and no idea on how to correctly pitch your services, well, you are in desperate need of this post. 
The truth is, all of us freelancers can benefit from a CANI (constant and never-ending improvement) attitude when it comes to whipping up successful proposals.
That’s why if you’re looking to fall into our camp, or if you’re just out for some actionable tips to make your proposals better right away, you should take the time to read this post.
Let’s dig in!
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Natalie Sisson
Gregory Ciotti
Tom Ewer
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