Freelance Family Man

If you’re thinking about quitting your employee job to start freelancing full time, there’s a lot of questions you need to answer for yourself first.

Today’s episode talks about the milestones you need to hit before you leave your 9-5 so you can build your business and find clients. There’s no perfect formula, but with a little bit of work, you can be ready enough to make the leap.

1:40 What you need to do before you quit your job
3:00 Create a financial plan
5:20 The easiest way to find clients
7:35 Audit your professional network
11:45 The goal of the transition period
16:16 Finding time for your business
18:06 How do you know it’s time?
19:45 A good backup plan
21:10 The ultimate way to know it’s time

In this episode, I interview Preston Lee about his passion for helping freelancers become successful, while putting family first. Preston started his journey of freelancing as a side gig while putting his wife and himself through school. After several years, he took the leap into full time entrepreneurship. Since becoming a successful Dadpreneuer he has created a business that is dedicated to helping mentor and support others along their freelancing journey.

You’ll hear Preston share several turning points in his freelancing journey, how he has found the balance of work and family life and his best advice for those starting their own freelance journey. If you have considered starting as a freelancer, or if you are currently freelancing but would like to make the transition into full time solo entrepreneur life, listen to the expert advice from Preston.

When you’re a dad-preneur and a freelancer, overcoming mindset blocks is one of the most important things you can do to be successful.

In this interview with Adam Dukes, we talk about how to be a freelancing dad, how to earn money from home so that you can have more time with your family, and how to do what you’re passionate about.

Adam has a lot of great advice because he has done it himself, and he has also talked to a lot of other dads who have done it. We talk about the big four:
How to focus
How to simplify
How to overcome the fear of failure, and
How to overcome imposter syndrome.

0:00 Intro
3:20 Adam’s Story
6:15 Dealing with Fear of Failure
9:10 Impostor Syndrome
12:04 The Time Excuse
15:11 The Money Excuse
16:30 The Secret of Focus
20:30 How to Turn Little Wins Into Big Wins
23:10 The Importance of Mindset
25:45 Caring About the One

How can you possibly convert your employee experience into freelance material? Today's video is another part in our series about transitioning from an in-person 9 to 5 to an at-home freelancer who answers to no one.

Parenting comes first, though. So, you need to smoothly transition into this without sacrificing your income. I'm here to teach you how to do just that today. It's time to break free of your comfort zone and take the better route.

0:00 - Introduction
5:00 - How to Organize Your Portfolio
9:30 - Examples of how to Transition Your Employee Skills to Your Freelance Portfolio
16:40 - The Elevator Pitch on Your Portfolio
21:46 - Testimonials
25:40 - Your Portfolio Should Grow in Strength More Than Size
29:41 - Outro

Need some help trying to figuring out what to do as a freelancer when you're used to being an employee? This is the right place for you. Families want to have more time at home, but having a steady income is also necessary. So, how do you successfully quit your job and become a freelancer?

The first thing you need to do is figure out what you're good at. And there are more options out there than you realize. We'll help you figure out how to decide what's right for you and how to smoothly transition in a way that keeps you financially secure.

0:00 - Introduction
5:06 - Throw Away Your Resume
12:28 - Forget the Degree
16:20 - Pick an Industry
24:34 - Pick Your Service
28:40 - Transitioning Tips/Imposter Syndrome
34:32 - Exercise Time!
38:39 - Outro

Freelancing comes with freedoms that you will never experience as an employee. As time goes on, more and more employee “freedoms” are being taken away. These are both minor and major topics. Some of these are controversial, but they’re important, nonetheless.

When you decide to be a freelancing parent, you’re getting more time with your family, the opportunity to eat healthier, and time for more self-care. And that's only the beginning. I’ll be discussing all of this and much more about freedoms and the workforce in today’s video.

0:00 - Introduction
3:30 - Freedom of Location/Freedom to Raise Your Rate
8:30 - A Flexible Work Schedule
10:14 - The Health Freedom
18:47 - Education Freedom
34:32 - Freedom to Practice Religious, Political, and Philosophical Beliefs
37:10 - Outro

Join us early in the morning to discuss how to balance and build a business and family when they’re all under the same roof. Whether you call yourself a freelancer, entrepreneur, or small business owner, you love working at home or you would like to because family comes first. 

When the rest of the world is telling you to go back to bed, in other words “stick to the status quo, stay comfortable, don’t disrupt, don’t question, avoid the road less travelled because it’s too risky,” you tell them “No.”

Chad Gravallese, with ArrowLight TV brings you into a world where working from home has always been the norm, thinking for yourself is the rule not the exception and entrepreneurship is a way of living not just a way to make a living. He is a full-time Husband and Dad first, part-time entrepreneur, a work-from-home enthusiast, and self-employment advocate.

Self-employment, for now, is the best way to secure your freedoms and the best way to have the work-life balance that every family needs so that you can give your spouse and kids the time they deserve. 

In our conversations, you won’t just learn good philosophy, you’ll get practical advice from many self-employed families so you can start your day with clear priorities and confidence to pursue your goals. Most importantly, you will learn how to find your voice, meaning, you know what you believe, you know what you want, and you know what you stand for. 

When you begin freelancing, you can start to feel discouraged pretty fast. That's why I have Cameron King here on the show today to share with you yet another freelancing dad success story. His story helps us see why it's important to stick it out in the beginning. You may feel discouraged at times, but the only way you'll fail is if you give up and just go back to bed.

Cameron and I share the pressures of being sole providers for our families. That's definitely a scary pressure when you start trying to freelance as a husband and father. However, today, Cameron and I give you some positive and encouraging tips on how to push through the rough spots and reap the benefits you've worked so hard for.

Ben Armstrong is here with me today to discuss cryptocurrency, self-employment, and YouTube success. This man has done a little bit of everything, and he's proof that success doesn't come by giving up when things look grim.

You'll learn a lot here today about investing, how to grow your business, and what to do when your work isn't reaping the reward you're expecting. We've got plenty of tips here that will hopefully bring you hope and empowerment in your freelance business.

0:00 - Introduction
6:11 - It's Impossible To Go Back To The Typical 9 to 5
9:39 - How Cryptocurrency Changed Ben's Life
19:03 - How YouTube Is A Long-Term Investment, Too
29:02 - Four Ways Ben Earns Money From Content Creation
33:17 - Outro

Today, we’re discussing client stacking, your first projects, and starting an agency with special guest Tim Conley. We’ll even touch on the pros and cons of hiring freelancers versus hiring employees.

As you know, I’m a huge advocate for hiring freelancers. But Tim has some tips for when hiring employees can also be beneficial. If you’re starting to scale your business, and you’re looking to go from solopreneur to an agency, today’s video is for you.

0:00 - Introduction
5:01 - Selling Yourself And Testimonials
11:33 - Over-delivering?
18:49 - Scaling Into An Agency
26:31 - Employees Versus Contractors
31:55 - Outro

Wondering what the difference between a digital homebody and a digital nomad is? Today's video will help you see which one you are or if you're just getting started in freelancing, which one you want to be.

Not all types of freelancing are the same. Digital homebodies like to have a stable environment with deep roots in their community, whereas digital nomads like the freedom of travel and not being tied down. Here, I'll explain the pros and cons of each and tell you where digital nomads fit best.

I've got a very important topic for you today, and that topic is the freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is required for freelancers. If you consider yourself a freelance worker, then you need to be standing up for the right to free speech.

Just because we don't agree with others does not mean that we silence them. Instead, we use our own speech to debate them and debunk their theories. Today, I'll teach you why that the freedom of speech is so important and why censorship is getting so dangerous.

Businesses save a LOT of money by hiring freelancers. Don't pay mind to that hourly rate being higher than a traditional employee's rate. The real cost lies in benefits and those hourly salaries.

Here, I'll explain to you why freelancers are not only more affordable to hire, but they're actually better qualified and easier to train. This is because they focus solely on their trade and they come in with expertise.

When you hire a freelancer, all you have to do is let them know what your business needs specifically, rather than having to show them the ins and outs of their skill.

If you're wondering how to make money freelancing as a stay-at-home dad, I've got you covered. I've already made all the mistakes that you don't have to make. I know the ins and outs of turning 1 dollar into 10, and 10 dollars into 100, and so on. My story is proof that you don't have to work an in-person 9 to 5 to be a good provider for your family.

I'm making over $100,000 annually and only working 20 hours a week. This way, I can spend time with my family while having a stable income. It's the perfect work/life balance that at one point felt impossible. Today, I can teach you how to make this lifestyle possible for you, too.

Learn more: https://www.freelancingdads.com/

You’ve heard of the Digital Nomad, but how about the Digital Homebody? For many people, freelancing is appealing because of the freedom to go wherever, whenever, and still be able to work from your computer. This is what it means to be a Digital Nomad. But that’s not always the case for freelancers, especially when they have large families.

This is where the term “Digital Homebody” comes into play. Is your family your primary priority? Do you work to provide rather than just to have fun? If so, you may be a Digital Homebody. Today, we’ll talk about the differences between these two freelancer types and help you decide which path is right for you.

0:00 – Introduction
6:23 – What My Homebody Life Looks Like
10:28 – Preferring The Homebody Life Over The Single Life
12:52 – Balancing Work Life And Family Life
15:02 – You’ll Still Need A Schedule/Perks Of A Homebody Life
19:58 – Outro

Today, we’re talking about how you can get clients by upgrading your sales skills. We all have had that bitter taste in our mouths when we hear the term “sales.” That is, until we learn to differentiate between ethical sales and unethical sales. Yes, the world of sales CAN be ethical. I know it doesn't seem that way to many of you, but bear with me here.

I’m going to tell you how to become more confident in selling your services. Once you realize that you’re ethically selling your assistance and mutual collaboration, rather than lying and glamorizing your capabilities, you’ll see that the sales world isn’t all bad. Stick around with me today to learn more about how you can overcome this negative stigma around sales, which will lead to you growing your business easier than ever before.

0:00 – Introduction
6:10 – The Elevator Pitch
10:27 – Experience Makes It Much Easier To Sell Your Services
13:03 – Get To Know Your Potential Client’s Goals
15:38 – Repeating Back What The Potential Clients Tell You
17:55 – Relating Without Overshadowing
21:34 – The Call Is Beneficial Whether You Decide To Work Together Or Not
26:47 – The Qualification Process: Road Mapping Is Essential
31:49 – Getting A Sense Of Where Your Client Is At Currently
37:37 – The Priority Scale And Why It Is Important
42:46 – How To Discuss Package Options
49:14 – Make Clear What Your Contact Methods And Check-In Frequencies Are
54:36 – Outro: Final Tips For Strategy Meetings And Sales

Is The PRO Act really a threat to freelancers? What’s the difference between the law passed in California called Assembly Bill 5 (AB5) and the Pro Act? I’m going to clear up the confusion over these laws and what it means for your future as a freelancer and an independent contractor. Then I’m going to tell you exactly how to protect yourself from laws like these so you can work in the way that you want to.

 The PRO Act, like California’s AB5 already did, could take your rights to freelance away or at least make it more difficult to find clients. 

AB5 went into effect in January 2020 and passed in September 2019. Since that time, many freelancers in California lost their jobs because many companies had to either reclassify the freelancer as an employee or not work with them anymore. Now is the time for you to speak up and defend your right to self-employment. 

0:00 - Introduction
3:10 - The "ABC Test" And How The PRO Act And AB5 Are Similar
9:09 - Key Difference Between The PRO Act And AB5
12:00 - Union Bargaining Rights: Freelancer's Don't Want Pity
17:40 - How To Avoid These Laws: Speaking Up, LLCs, And Upwork
23:33 - Why The PRO Act Is Unethical
25:10 - Outro

In today’s episode, we’re talking about how to have a self-employment mindset in all aspects of your life. If you’re going to be a true entrepreneur, your personal life must reflect the entrepreneur’s mindset. It’s not just about your work life here. This career choice bleeds into every part of your existence.

As a self-employed person, you can’t care what other people think of you. It’s important that you challenge the social norm and that you’re always looking to create rather than consume. If you want to know what kind of person you need to be to successfully be self-employed, today’s episode is for you.

0:00 – Introduction
4:29 – What Does It Mean To Be Self-Employed?
9:02 – You Can’t Care What Others Think Of You Or Your Choices
11:47 – You’re Always Developing Your Skills
15:49 – Separating Out All The Voices In Your Head
20:14 – Making Sure No One Is Hijacking Your Mind
25:44 – Outro

Today's talk may be our most important one yet, as we discuss the PRO Act, which could mean the death of freelancing. If you live in California, you've likely heard of this bill. Even if you're not from California, this is still important, because this law is the model for the entire United States going forward.

In short, this law will make it to where you are considered an employee if you do what the government thinks is considered "too much work" for one company. Here, I'll teach you ways to get around this bill, but nonetheless, we still need to speak up for our rights to freelance.

0:00 – Introduction
5:02 – When The ProAct Began And What It Entails
11:52 – Why Freelancer’s Cannot Just Be Converted Into Employees
15:03 – The Cobra Effect
19:03 – Contractors Won’t Even Be Contractors Anymore If This Bill Passes
22:38 – How Politics Factor Into This Bill
24:53 – Text From The ProAct And What It Means For You
27:53 – The ProAct Will Force People To Join Unions Which Ends Freelancing Rights
30:27 – Why You Need An LLC Or a Corporation NOW
37:57 – Services Like Upwork Give You A Buffer, Too
43:00 – Outro

Today, I’m going to show you that there really are over 100 ways to freelance. While I won’t literally be discussing 100 different options here, I’ll be showing you why and how that this is possible. In fact, “100 different ways to freelance” is actually quite limiting. There are far over 100 different ways to be self-employed at home.

Whether you’re a writer, a graphic designer, a PR person, a lawyer, or even a YouTuber, there’s something in the freelance world for you. Pretty much any passion can be turned into a full-time work-from-home career. Here, I’ll teach you how to look at your skill sets and narrow down the best self-employed career route for you.

0:00 - Introduction
4:49 - Let Me Quickly Convince You That Now Is The Time To Start Freelancing
7:02 - What Can You Do As A Freelancer In 2021?
13:44 - Even Law Work Can Be Done Remotely
16:16 - Remote Jobs That Are Mostly Done From Home
17:01 - Outro