To thrive as a freelancer, you need to think and act like an entrepreneur, not as a freelancer. Here are 5 ways to do this and how it will help you succeed. This is based on this article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/you-freelancer-heres-why-should-stop-acting-like-one-bautista

1. Here’s Why You
Should Stop
Acting Like one
w w w . v i r g i n i a b a u t i s t a . c o m
a r e y o u a f r e e l a n c e r ?

2. Stopthinkingand
actinglikea
freelancer
If you are a freelancer who has been chasing after
clients and worrying where to find your next gig even
before your current project is completed, then you
might be doing the wrong thing.
And guess what — before you know it, you’ll risk
burning yourself out.

3. whyfreelancersexperience
burnout
Chasing after clients
Dealing with unreasonable clients
Finding it hard to say 'no' to any project
Lack of time for themselves
Lack of specialization

4. Ifyouwanttothrive,take
offyourfreelancer’shat
andwearanentrepreneur’s
hatbeginningtoday.
04

5. 5waystoThink
andactlike
anentrepreneur

6. 1.haveclearly
definedvision,
missionandgoals
Askyourself,“WheredoIwanttobe
inthefuture(vision)andwhatimpact
doIwanttohaveasaprofessional
freelancer(mission)?”
Setyourownvisionandmissionby
firstbeingclearwithyourvalues.
Toachieveyourmajorgoals, break
themdownintoshort-termgoals.

7. tip
Be honest with yourself about where
you are now as a freelancer and be
clear with where you want to be in the
future — do these if you want to thrive
in the freelancing industry.

8. 2.identifyyour
coreproductsor
services
YouaretheCEOofyourown
freelancebusiness.Yourmainservices
dependonyourkeyskills.
Identifyyourcoreskillsetsby
combining2–5skillsthatcanmake
youdoonespecificjobeffectivelyand
efficiently.

9. tip
Have a focus. Avoid being
“jack of all trades, master
of none.”

10. 3.identifyyour
corecustomers
Identifytheclientswhoneedyourskills
themost.Theyareyourcorecustomers.
Findyourniche.Thiswillenableyouto
findtheperfectclientsthatmatchyour
skillsetsandinterests.

11. tip
Offer your services only to clients who
need results that you can deliver using
your core skills in a chosen niche.
That way, you get to excel each time and
every time.

12. 4.investin
marketing
Withoutcustomers,yourfreelance
businesswon’texist.
Don’tfallintothetrapofscanning
freelancemarketplaceseverydaytolook
forclients. Acustomerwhocanspareonly
$5foraserviceisnotworthyourtime.
Instead,investtimeandmoneyin
marketingyourservices.

13. -sethgodin
"Choose to do something better,
different, unique — to be the one and
only. And if you are the one and only …
you will be paid fairly, you will be
respected, you will get to decide what
happens next.”

14. How do you stand out in
the market?

15. buildandgrow
yourpersonal
brand.
As a brand, you need to create awareness
on the services you offer, establish your
credibility and strategically position yourself
in the market.

16. tip
Create your own website.
Leverage LinkedIn for personal branding
if you want to attract high-paying clients.

17. 5.investinlearning
Everysuccessfulentrepreneurinvestsin
learning.Everyfreelancerisalearner.
Togivevaluetoyourclients,youfirstneed
toaddvaluetoyourself.
Rememberthecliché,“Youcan’tgivewhat
youdon’thave”?It’sstilltrue.

18. -warrenbuffett
"Read 500 pages like this every day.
That’s how knowledge works. It builds
up, like compound interest. All of you
can do it, but I guarantee not many of
you will do it.”

19. tip
Enroll in massive open online courses (MOOCs).
Watch relevant videos on Lynda.com and other
similar platforms.
Read books and ebooks from your computer and
other devices.
Listen to audio books.
Find a mentor.

20. areyou
ready
tobreakfree?

21. good luck
on your journey!
w w w . l i n k e d i n . c o m / i n / v i r g i n i a b a u t i s t a
t a k e y o u r
f r e e l a n c i n g c a r e e r
t o t h e n e x t l e v e l !