Author: James Cross

January can be a slowwwwww season for a lot of freelancers. There are two approaches you can take if this is the case for you…

 

Approach #1: Chill. Rest. Maybe complain a little. Play a lot of video games. Pout a lot.

 

Approach #2: Realize that you're the captain of your ship, and you're the only one who can make 2024 your best year ever.

 

You can view any “slow season” as a reason to complain, OR you can view it as a chance for major progress, rather than a setback. This is a perfect time for taking on big projects that can lead to both significant progress and (potentially) big money.

 

In this week's episode of the 6 Figure Creative Podcast, I've got 11 projects for you to consider taking on to make this year your best ever…

 

Think back to the biggest jumps in your business – whether it was when you were getting this thing off the ground, or you finally did that big thing you were scared sh*tless about…

 

I'd be willing to be some of your biggest step changes in your business were the result of something big you took on.

 

So if this is a slow season for you, don't waste it! This is a hidden opportunity to tackle those big projects. And with it comes big money.

 

In this episode you’ll discover:

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:

Ever felt like you wanted to reach out to someone, but didn't want to bother them?

 

Maybe it was an old acquaintance, a past client, or even a prospective client you've had your eyes on for a while…

 

Creatives typically have this voice inside our heads that says “don't do that… you'll just be bothering them”.

 

Here's something that may surprise you: That voice is usually a lying, thieving, horrible bastard who's simply holding you back from getting what you want…

 

What's even worse is that this voice is holding your prospective clients back from the rich experience of connecting with you and all of the value you could potentially bring to their lives.

 

If you want proof, just look at your own life. How many other people are constantly reaching out to you, bothering you with offers you don't want?

 

If you're like 99% of the rest of us, those things are rarely (if ever) happening.

 

 

It's something called The Rule of 7, and it's one of the keys to the incredible success of this week's guest.

 

This week I got to speak to a “7-figure creative” who turned his 6-figure freelance business into a 7-figure agency (which he eventually sold).

 

He's used the Rule of 7 ethically to get more clients, stay top of mind, build trust, win more projects, and ultimately, earn millions and millions of dollars through his creative business as a designer.

 

This is what separates struggling creatives from multi-million dollar powerhouse guests like Mike Janda.

 

In this episode you’ll discover:

“This ONE trick doubled my income”. As dumb and clickbaity as that sounds, it's kinda true.

 

Here's what I mean… the last time I did a deep dive into my freelance business, I realized something interesting…

That's pretty wild if you ask me, especially considering that most freelancers only follow up one time (if that).

 

Seriously, this is the “secret sauce” that could double your income if you're willing to commit and do it right.

 

Now, I know what you're thinking – “Follow up? That's it?”

 

It's way more powerful than it sounds because it's easy to do, yet so few actually do it.

 

Even if you're currently making just $10k a year. Imagine turning that into $20k just by implementing what I teach you in this week's podcast episode.

 

Today, we're diving deep into the world of short term and long-term follow-ups.

 

But here's the best part – you can automate the heck out of this. Most good CRMs (Customer Relationship Management software, in case you're not in the know) can make this easy.

 

In this episode you’ll discover:

Here's one of the biggest traps I see freelancers fall into when it comes to sales calls:

 

 

Why?

 

Two reasons:

1. They've never actually tried to close anything other than friends/family/referrals (the easiest to close, but rarely enough to keep someone 100% booked solid)

2. They've never actually seen how a real sales call is done

 

If you ever want to get to the point where you can stay booked solid, then you need to know how to get strangers to hire you.

 

Understanding how to run a great sales call is a huge piece of that puzzle.

 

The good news? You can just start super simple and then get more fancy as you learn more.

 

This week's episode will walk you through a super simple four-part sales process.

 

But here's the kicker: the big goal isn't just to make a sale… it's more about really getting to the heart of what the client needs.

 

And when you get to the heart of what they need, it's way easier to actually close clients.

 

In this episode you’ll discover:

If you're a freelancer who's ever felt like sales is a foreign language, prepare to have your mind changed.

 

First, it starts with understanding what sales really is. Sales is not just about persuasion… it's a process.

 

In this new podcast series, I'm going to give you a comprehensive guide to the entire sales process for freelancers.

 

My goal with this series is to go deep into each topic, making sure you come out the other side not just understanding sales, but loving it.

 

Why?

 

Because mastering sales is not just about closing deals… it's about opening doors – to better projects, higher pay, and greater confidence in pricing your services.

 

If you've ever felt like sales is your Achilles' heel, this might be your time to turn it into a secret weapon.

 

In this episode you’ll discover:

As we wrap up The Lead Generation series, you likely already know how important staying top-of-mind is.

 

 

So what are the 3 best strategies for nurturing your leads, and ultimately getting more gigs?

 

That's what this week's episode is all about!

 

In this episode you’ll discover:

Want to know the biggest sticking point in a freelancer's career? It's when you run out of friends and family to sell your services to.

 

The moment you move into the world of getting strangers to hire you is the moment you find out what you're made of.

 

It's honestly a scary place to be, but most people don't have large enough personal networks to stay booked solid with friends and family alone.

 

Enter The Complete Client Journey: this is the 7 stages you need to walk someone through as they move from stranger to repeat client.

 

This is what most freelancers are missing. They haven't mapped out their own personal journey for their business.

 

This week I have a special episode that walks you through mapping out each of the 7 stages for your own business.

 

In this episode you’ll discover:

Ah, freelancing, my friend! Let's talk about the art of nurturing relations in this wild, wonderful, sometimes impossibly difficult world.

 

You see, it's a bit like trying to find love on a dating app (which is where I met my wife 8 years ago). You don't just swipe right and immediately pop the big question, do you? No, no. It all begins with that elusive, deep connection.

 

In the dating world, you chat, you laugh, and you get to know each other. You share stories, experiences, and maybe even a few secrets. It's a dance, a beautiful journey… and it can take years.

 

 

And so it is with freelancing. You don't just send out proposals left and right, expecting clients to fall into your lap.

 

You take time, effort, and energy to build relationships and connect with people. You listen to their needs, understand their pain points, and offer genuine solutions.

 

Like a budding romance, it's about showing that you care. Just as you wouldn't propose on a first date, you don't rush into relationships with your clients.

 

Instead, you showcase your expertise and your passion for what you do. You build trust, foster connections, and, over time, you become their go-to person. That is the true art of nurturing leads.

 

This week marks the start of our three-part Lead Nurture Series. Listen now to learn The 4 Building Blocks of Turning Strangers Into Clients. Let's get started!

Ever had a heart-stopping, sweat-inducing moment? Yep, I’m talking about those times when the ground beneath you feels like it’s dropped a few hundred feet and your stomach decides to make a leap for your throat.

 

Now, in this beautiful age of technology, these moments don't just come from forgetting to set your morning alarm. For me, it came on September 29th.

 

Picture this: I’m a guy who doesn’t give two poops about personal social media scrolling. BUT, when it comes to Facebook and Instagram ads, I do invest a lot of money.

 

And on September 29th, someone played dirty and swiped access to my ads account. 19 days, folks. Nineteen. That's how long I was locked out, twiddling my thumbs while some hacker ran ads for elderly women’s bras on MY dime.

 

 

As hilarious as that sounds, they threw a huge wrench into my marketing machine that cranks out thousands of leads monthly.

 

Now, I’m no mathematician, but those 19 days of darkness cost me. We're not just talking about the pocket change of $3,000 they blew on those bra ads.

 

We're talking about tens of thousands of dollars with of lost opportunity because my ads were MIA. With paid ads, you can earn big if you spend big. Now, cut the ‘spend' part out for nearly three weeks. Ouch!

 

But let’s back up… Why am I even bringing up this drama?

 

Because we’re in an era where one simple digital slip can cascade into a financial avalanche. And here's the kicker: I thought I had my bases covered.

 

I had digital walls, moats, and guard dogs, all in the form of complex passwords and two-factor authentication. And yet, someone found that one unguarded window and climbed right in.

 

This isn’t a story for sympathy, but a plea for every freelancer out there. Those shiny digital tools and platforms that feel like extensions of our brains and hands? They're double-edged swords. One day, they're helping you dominate your niche, and the next, they're the nail in your financial coffin.

 

It doesn’t matter if you’re into paid ads, content creation, or just plain ol' social media engagement. Let this be a wake-up call. Our digital tools have multiple doors, and we need to make damn sure each one's bolted tight.

 

This week I'm sharing some insights on cyber security risks, including the one that got me, even though I thought I was secure.

 

The main takeaway is to be careful online. Small mistakes can lead to big problems.

 

In this episode you’ll discover: