Pain-Free Freelancing: The Ultimate Support System for the Solo Business Owner

Helping freelancers navigate the many pain points of self-employment and running a business.

Running a business is hard.

Running a business alone is harder.

Running a business alone, with minimal or zero experience, is downright daunting.

The third point often describes the life of a freelancer. Even when someone (e.g., me) has experience in an industry and transitions to full-time freelancing, it’s still a huge undertaking. Sure, there’s overlap and familiarity, but the structure of a defined role disappears.

In many ways, freelancing is a lengthy, solitary process of trial and error. Spoiler: expect many hours of trials with lots of errors.

HOWEVER, the learning curve doesn’t have to be too protracted and lonesome.

When my foray into freelance writing began in late 2017, I was fortunate to come across Jordan Markelle’s Facebook group, Writing Revolt, which was not only an ideal spot for networking but also a hotbed for problem-solving. Writers, from anxious beginners to grizzled veterans, posed dozens of questions on a daily basis. Unfortunately and understandably, the group closed its doors, as it was a massive undertaking for Jordan’s team.

While I don’t expect to build a 12,000-strong community of freelancers, I do think there’s value in an open discussion about the struggles of building a business. That’s why I launched a new newsletter on LinkedIn: Pain-Free Freelancing.

And I’ve also rebranded this publication, in case you haven’t noticed. “The Freelancer’s Diary” sort of made it about me, when it should be about you.

I want to help other freelancers navigate the many pain points of self-employment. Because, let’s face it, freelancing can be painful. The sting of rejection. The heartache of a lost client. The mind-jumbling confusion of rates, cash flow, and taxes. The insecurity of income volatility. The debilitating nature of imposter syndrome.

Each week, I’ll share hard-learned lessons, resources, and guides to surviving the obstacle-riddled occupation that is freelancing.

Running a business alone is hard (and, at times, painful).

I hope to help alleviate the hardships and pain.

Until next week, happy freelancing!

Carter

P.S. What do you want me to write about? Any freelancing problems gnawing at your time recently? Reply in the comments below! I’m all ears.

*This newsletter was initially published on LinkedIn.*