I've just returned from my year-end planning retreat in Chattanooga, TN, and DAMN it was awesome.
This is only my 3rd year doing this and considering I started my freelance journey back in 2009, I discovered this secret WAY too late...
Planning is the secret sauce to having your best year ever (which 2023 was for my businesses).
But here's the kicker – it doesn't have to be a mind-boggling, complex ordeal. A stupidly simple plan that you actually use is worth its weight in gold compared to some over-the-top, convoluted plan that just gathers dust.
Let me share a little secret with you. I tend to be the king of "overcomplication".
I'd plan so intensely that I'd lose sight of the actual execution. But I learned my lesson, and now I'm all about finding that sweet spot in planning – the perfect balance.
As entrepreneurs, if we're just meandering through life without a plan, we're like driftwood caught in someone else's current. We get pulled INTO other people's plans, and that's not where we want to be.
In the world of freelancing, hanging out with that person with the plan often means working for an agency at a fraction of the price they're charging their big-shot clients. You become the outsourced work, not the mastermind behind the project.
That's probably not the dream you're chasing.
So, what's the alternative? We're going to craft our annual plan. This plan is going to be your North Star, your guiding light, pointing you in a direction that's infinitely better than aimlessly drifting along.
We're going to be intentional in our pursuits, not aimless wanderers.
That's the goal here, and it's a goal worth pursuing with all your freelance might.
So, let's create a plan that'll help 2024 be your best year ever, because remember... if you don't have a plan, you'll end up in someone else's plan.
In this episode you’ll discover:
For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/289
#212: How "Growth Hacking" Can Kickstart Your Freelance Business | With Ian Paget
#211: The Missing Skills You Need For Surviving (And Thriving) As A Freelancer | With Sarah Townsend
#210: Annihilating Fear So You Can Step Into Your True Power As A Creative | With James Victore
#209: Choosing A Niche That Attracts Your Best Clients (And Repels The Worst) | With Micah Woods
#208: Building A Flawless Experience For Your Clients | With Nicholas Di Lorenzo
#207: How Freelancers Can Use "The Rule Of 7" To Ethically Get More Clients | With Mike Janda
#206: Stuck With Low $$$ Projects? Here's How To Level Up To $50,000 Projects | With Ryan Koral
#205: How To Be "The Full Package" 6 Figure Creative | With Toby Lloyd
#204: How To Generate 1000 Inquiries Per Year As A Logo Designer | With James Martin
#203: Our Favorite 3 Methods For Creating Awareness | The Client Acquisition Series
#202: How To Attract Your Dream Clients | The Client Acquisition Series
#201: How Creatives Can Shamelessly (And Tastefully) Self-promote | With Peggy Dean
#200: The 7 Key Topics To Cover With Every Client BEFORE The Sale | The Client Acquisition Series
#199: How To Get A Complete Stranger To Hire You | Client Acquisition For Freelancers
#198: Dealing With Burnout, Mental Exhaustion, And Low Creative Juices
#197: Failure, Motivation, And What To Do When You Want To Give Up | With Andy J. Pizza
#196: The 80/20 Rule: How To Make More, Work Less, And Get Rid Of Bad Clients
#195: How To Break Through An 8-Year Income Plateau To FINALLY Hit 6 Figures | With Stephen Helvig
#194: Growing From 5 Figures To 6 Figures As A Freelancer | The Secret Ingredient
#193: Leveling Up From A Freelancer To A Business Owner To Make $20k/mo | With Lydia Kerr Of Telltale Design Co
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