The 6-Figure Freelancer Podcast | Freelancing | Entrepreneurship | Clients | Finances | Motivation | Personal Development | Mindset

After 243 episodes, The 6-Figure Freelancer podcast is coming to an end. Manifesting your future is something that I talk about regularly, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t follow that advice myself, as I move from being a six-figure freelancer to a seven-figure CEO. In this final episode, I want to say thank you to all of you who have listened and supported this podcast, as well as talk a little bit about why I’m ending the show and what’s next for me and my team. “I'm sure one day I might go back and listen to all my podcast episodes, see how I've changed as a public speaker, as a podcaster, as a teacher, as someone who shares things with people. You know, it's going to be so cool to see how I've changed and how I've grown. And I'm glad that this little place on the internet can be that archive, that little memento from the time where I ran a multiple-six-figure agency.” ~ @AvaniMiriyala Main Takeaways When something is out of alignment, recognize it, and take the steps needed to fix it. I’m no longer a six-figure freelancer which is why I’ve decided to end this chapter of my life. Sharing is a huge part of learning. I’ve learned so much from the process of making and sharing this podcast. Every time we share something or teach something to someone else, we learn it even more, and that is a magical process.As you move into different patterns of your life, it’s important to protect your energy, set boundaries, and invest in yourself so that you can show up for your team. Links Podcast Royale Stay in Touch Follow Avani on TwitterFollow Avani on InstagramFollow Avani on LinkedIn

Selling a business is something many entrepreneurs dream about. While some are content to own and operate their own business for the long-term, others set out with the goal to eventually sell or exit the business to pursue other interests. But just because you’re ready to sell your business doesn’t mean it’s the right move or that the process will be easy. Josh Hall, the founder of Josh Hall Design, joins me today to talk about how he built and sold a design business, and the journey he took to get to this point in his career. As with many web designers, Josh’s path was a seemingly unlikely one. He started out as a cabinet maker for custom tour busses while he was also pursuing a career as a musician. But when the financial crisis in 2008 hit, he was laid off from his job and started diving into design as a way to create his band’s merch. Through word of mouth, Josh was getting freelance design gigs, which turned on a lightbulb for him: he could actually make money doing the design work he enjoyed so much. He started researching business concepts and marketing and his business took off. Now that Josh has sold his design business, his focus is on creating courses and a community to help coach other web designers on how to create and run a profitable business. In this episode, Josh and I talk about his perspective on selling a business, how to put the right barriers in place while building a business, and what to look for when you are thinking about changing paths. “For anyone who's interested in selling a business, I heard this analogy a while back and I love it. They call it income vines. It's like you're swinging from vine to vine. And if you're going to leave this vine and jump over to this one, you want to make sure it's strong and you're not going to go plummeting to the ground.” ~ Josh Hall Main Takeaways There’s no right path. Everyone does their job differently and everyone can create their own futures and carve out their own niche.Look for red flags that are telling you to change direction. There’s no rule that says you have to stay married to your business forever. When you sell something, it has to be able to work without you. If you’re building a business and it’s all about you, it will be hard to sell. Be cautious when you quit your 9-5 job for your personal business. If you don’t put barriers in place and schedule appropriately, you might end up working 24/7 instead.If you plan on selling your business or otherwise exiting, make sure the new “vine” you’re planning on swinging to is strong enough to meet your financial needs. Links and Important Mentions Josh HallJosh Hall Web Design Courses Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You by Josh Warrillow Josh on FacebookJosh on YouTube Stay in Touch Follow Avani on TwitterFollow Avani on InstagramFollow Avani on LinkedIn

Even though this year has been full of challenges, there’s still much to be learned that we can apply to how we move into next year. There’s a lot to be thankful for, especially the growth and resilience that have emerged from the obstacles we’ve all faced in the past year, and I want to spend some time talking about how you can take that growth and build on it moving into the next year. "I challenge you to ask yourself what version of you emerged from the ashes in 2020? What version of you are you moving into this new year with? There's a lot of stuff that we all need to learn. A lot of challenges do lie ahead of us, but we are much better equipped now than we were 365 days ago.” ~ @AvaniMiriyala Main Takeaways Think about the person you are going to be one year from now and start working backward from there. To realize a reality where you are a new person, you need to start acting, thinking, and believing like it now. If you are focused on where you want to be, you don’t need to worry because if you surrender to life, it will take you there. Links and Important Mentions Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear The Surrender Experiment: My Journey into Life's Perfection by Michael Singer Stay in Touch Follow Avani on TwitterFollow Avani on InstagramFollow Avani on LinkedIn

The concept of overflow is similar in some ways to the concept of abundance. It’s the idea that the natural state of your life can be an overflow in all areas. To truly embody the concept of overflow, you have to decide to sit in that space and expect that overflow. Overflow of money, of health, of relationships, of love, of support, or whatever it is that you’re desiring. In this episode, I talk through how to experience overflow. This is a good place to start as you begin planning your goals and growth areas for next year. "That means tapping into and embodying [overflow]. When I say embodying, I mean, feeling the feelings I will feel in my body, actually feeling it in my gut, that abundance, that overflow, that excitement, that peace, that knowledge.” ~ @AvaniMiriyala Main Takeaways Abundance is putting yourself in a mental state where you physically feel your desires and you are always adding to the mental state that your desires will manifest.It’s called overflow because you are constantly adding with each action you take to your end desires and eventually everything overflows. Your goals become reality because of everything you’ve put into this mental state of abundance. Show up, dress, act, talk like your goals have already come to life and you will see your mental state overflow. Links and Important Mentions Amanda Frances Stay in Touch Follow Avani on TwitterFollow Avani on InstagramFollow Avani on LinkedIn

Getting started as a freelancer or with self-employment of any kind can feel like a big risk. There are many unknowns that often become roadblocks. Fear of taking a risk and failing can be debilitating without the right mindset. Chris Misterek, the founder of Self-Made Web Designer, joins me today to talk about how you can give yourself permission to take risks, and how you can reframe your mindset to help you feel empowered rather than fearful. When Chris got started in web design, it was out of necessity — he wanted to bring in more income for his family. But within his first 18 months as a freelancer, Chris more than doubled his full-time salary. He knew he had made the right decision, and never looked back. Chris credits much of his success to taking the leap — jumping in and consuming as much information as he could to both build his portfolio and knowledge base. A couple of years ago, Chris decided to go back to full-time employment as a designer. And he noticed that the biggest thing holding most people back from starting a side hustle wasn’t a lack of talent, but fear — fear of failure, risk, the unknown, etc. Knowing he’d been through all of that before and that his experiences could be helpful, Chris launched his coaching business, Self-Made Web Designer. In this episode, Chris and I talk about how he got started, the pivotal moment that led him to make the jump into web design, and how you can overcome imposter syndrome and get started! "Winners lose a lot more often than losers. Give yourself permission to fail, and do it a lot. Because you're going to learn a lot of things from those mistakes. And one day you're going to be able to look back, and it might be really slow, progress might be a lot slower than you would hope, but you're going to look back and you're going to realize, you just scaled this mountain.” ~ @ChrisMisterek Main Takeaways Some people are more risk-averse than others, and that’s ok. But don’t look at nudges toward self-employment as bad. It’s empowering!For those just starting out with self-employment, know what you want to accomplish and let those goals drive your decisions. But don’t let it hold you up for too long; jump in and figure out the details later.Have the mindset of being able to pivot and shift to attain your goals, even if it means dropping clients. Do something for another designer or freelancer that you wish someone would have done for you. Links and Important Mentions Self-Made Web Designer Late Bloomers: The Power of Patience in a World Obsessed with Early Achievement by Rich KarlgaardChris on TwitterChris on Instagram Stay in Touch Follow Avani on TwitterFollow Avani on InstagramFollow Avani on LinkedIn

Proposals drive freelance and contract businesses. But how do you know if your proposals are any good? By the time you present a proposal to a potential client, you should know enough about their pain points and goals that you can create something your prospect can’t say no to. I’ll share my proposal builder with you, but we’ll also discuss how you should organize your proposal and what you should include that will help your prospective clients see the vision of where you want to take them, and trust that you can get them there. “The moment they can see [your proposal] laid out, a clear plan in front of them, they will say ‘wow, this person knows exactly what they’re doing, I need to work with them ASAP.’” ~ @avanimiriyala Main Takeaways A good proposal does one thing really well: it shows how you think. If you can communicate what your thought process is, you’re going to land more clients. When someone hires you, they want to know you can problem-solve to get the solutions they might need. Help potential clients visualize the completed project with a plan laid out in your proposal. A proposal is a critical component of gaining the trust of your prospective client. Show them you know exactly how to execute on their goals and the path you plan to take to get there. Links and Important Mentions Proposal Builder Stay in Touch Follow Avani on TwitterFollow Avani on InstagramFollow Avani on LinkedIn

Going through tough times, whether in your business or personal life, can be stressful and feel like a setback, especially if things were rolling along. But these times of being tested are what we need to grow and improve. Today’s episode is intended to help you move through challenging times in order to grow and level up to the next version of yourself. I am also here to say that it’s ok and necessary to prioritize yourself and take a break sometimes. “You are doing a great job, you are exactly where you need to be right now. There is a reason you are in this moment, there is a reason you are feeling what you’re feeling, it’s all happening for you.” ~ @avanimiriyala Main Takeaways Take a true, deep look at yourself and ask if you need a break. Are you run down because you need some time to yourself? If the answer is yes, then make sure you allow yourself space to take that break and prioritize yourself. Investing in yourself and your energy is the exact thing that allows you to bounce back and take on the world. If you are someone who runs a business, has a side hustle, or just juggles a lot of things, then you need to be able to prioritize your own energy so you can be ready and recharged to lead and serve others. Focus inward when you need to. It’s OK to step away in order to be your best self. Links and Important Mentions Anna Nassery Stay in Touch Follow Avani on TwitterFollow Avani on InstagramFollow Avani on LinkedIn

If you’ve ever launched a business or started a project, you know that the litany of things you need to accomplish can be overwhelming. Sometimes, it’s overwhelming to the point of causing you not to start at all or to stop prematurely. Today’s episode is about getting you to start even if the list seems like it’s never-ending. It doesn’t have to be perfect, you just need to get what you want to say or create out into the world for people to enjoy. Done is better than perfect. "I firmly believe done is better than perfect. Start before you're ready. Start before you're ready because the world needs to hear what you say. And I promise you it's going to be messy at first. That's okay. Get the messy versions out of the way. Do it again and again and again. And you're going to start to get really great feedback.” ~ @avanimiriyala Main Takeaways Perfect is just a story. It doesn’t exist, so stop trying to achieve it. That doesn’t mean you should do low-quality work, just stop aiming for perfection.If you strive for perfection, you’re just going to get in your own way. People want what you have to say and they want it now. It’s going to be messy at first, but feedback on those messy things is what you will need to make better versions of your content. Keep pushing. Even when it feels uncomfortable or challenging, just know that the feedback and the friction will make the result even better. Stay in Touch Follow Avani on TwitterFollow Avani on InstagramFollow Avani on LinkedIn

Affirmations can change your life. I truly believe that. Throughout this episode, I talk about why they work and why you should use them as well as the changes they make to your brain chemistry. While affirmations can be a powerful tool in your toolbox, it’s important to be consistent and intentional with them in order to leverage their full power. The strategies and discussion in this episode will help you get started with using affirmations in your own life. “As I'm saying [affirmations], my brain is listening. My brain is strengthening that neural pathway every single time and my brain is trying to see how can I make sure that being confident is in [your] reality and my brain is going to start noticing things. It's going to start picking up opportunities, picking up little pieces of evidence, and strengthening and building a case for that statement.” ~ @avanimiriyala Main Takeaways Strong neural pathways are a result of doing something often or believing something to be true. This myelin is what makes something second nature (like driving a car). When you tell yourself that something is going to be true (i.e. “It’s going to be a great day!”) your brain automatically thinks that will be the reality and strengthens the myelin that reaffirms that. You can use this default setting of your brain to do and affirm positive things, which strengthen the neural pathways, make it the reality, and can change your life. Self-affirmations (i.e. “I’m confident.”) will make your brain believe this is reality and you will have more strength in the characteristic you are affirming. Links Myelin Stay in Touch Follow Avani on TwitterFollow Avani on InstagramFollow Avani on LinkedIn

Today I’m launching the first of my new mini-episodes series. These short episodes are a way to bring you consistent episodes that touch on whatever was on my mind at the time. Let’s kick it off by talking about something I’ve been struggling with lately: feeling worthy of my desires. For context, I’ve been shopping for a house with my husband and when the price tag of a few of these houses landed in front of us, I was really reluctant to pull the trigger on buying it. After some introspection, I realized it was because I didn’t feel worthy of my desires. These quick tips will help you figure out how to feel worthy of what you deserve and desire. “Imagine how powerful that affirmation is. I am worthy of my desires, no matter how big they are. I'm worthy of even my biggest desire, worthy of my smallest, all of the desires that come to me because they were put there and they're mine.” ~ @avanimiriyala Main Takeaways Practice your affirmations. You are worthy of everything that you desire. You’re worthy of your smallest and largest desires because they were put there for you.Even when you’re doing the right things to cultivate a mindset that allows you to accept your desires, sometimes you’ll find that you hit a wall. Keep going and expand your mindset even more.When we start working on our mind, amazing changes happen in our business.If you're feeling pause or stickiness and not sure if you are worth a desire, do some journaling exercises, rewrite that code in your brain, and rewrite those affirmations to help reframe how you feel. Stay in Touch Follow Avani on TwitterFollow Avani on InstagramFollow Avani on LinkedIn

We’ve spent some time talking about taking your quantum leap in your life and business. But how do you get yourself ready to do that? To set the stage for success, let’s talk about how to prepare for your quantum leap in life and in business. If you’re unfamiliar with the quantum leap, it’s essentially a shift in mindset that allows you to operate as a desired version of your future self, today. I’ve had some interesting things align lately and much of that was possible because I spent time preparing for that shift. There have been a lot of behind the scenes changes, internal growth, and a lot of new habits that I've been cultivating. These tips and tricks will help you start your quantum leap today. “Feelings can turn around an entire day. They can turn around an entire week, a month, a year. They can turn around an entire life, and that's why holding the vision and trusting the process, knowing that all you need to do is feel the feelings you want to feel is important.” ~ @avanimiriyala Main Takeaways Look inward and have affirmation rampages. Journal, reflect, and spend some time with yourself to know what kind of person you want to be after your quantum leap. Things won’t change unless you change them and you won’t be able to do the same things that got you to where you are today to take you to the next level. Create an action plan. Sit down and write out your steps for going through this process. Hold the vision. Trust the process, know that it's working out, and know that everything's happening in your favor. Links Amanda Frances Stay in Touch Follow Avani on TwitterFollow Avani on InstagramFollow Avani on LinkedIn

Today, I talk with the amazing Amanda Rabideau. Amanda runs Arch Collective out of San Francisco and is a fractional CMO. She has an amazing team of freelancers that she works with at Arch Collective and brings the best talent to her marketing clients. We talk about how she runs her business and how she brings massive value to the clients and the startups that she serves. In her first job out of college, Amanda worked in sales for a startup and had to quickly learn how to do cold outreach as well as how to nurture long-term relationships. She first started thinking about freelancing after interviewing for several companies that all had the same pain points. She thought more about how she could work for all of them and landed on freelance consulting. Amanda has thoughtfully put together the best people to bring the best results to her clients. And in today’s episode, she shares tips and guidelines for how you can do the same in your own business. “We want to take a $5 million company and make it look like a $50 million company without the price tag of full-time people to do that. And so you can bring in an amazing illustrator, you can bring in an amazing copywriter on one set project. And yeah, you pay for them and you pay for that talent, but you don't need to keep them on full-time for the rest of the year and not have as much work for them. So I think it's a really effective way to deploy capital, which is so sacred. ” ~ @ArchCollective_ Main Takeaways Understanding the metrics that determine success for your clients is the best way to deliver a great final product. The fewer items you’re waiting on from your client and the more you follow up with them, the more value you can add to your business and client. If you have a deadline, it’s on you to get the materials you need to accomplish that task by the deadline.Freelancers will have to put in more effort and work harder than full-time team members. Know your worth and demonstrate it. Whether you are a creative or otherwise, this is your business. You are a professional and you should conduct business in that manner. You need contracts, documentation, and follow-up. Links Arch CollectiveArch Collective on InstagramArch Collective on Twitter Arch Collective on LinkedIn Stay in Touch Follow Avani on TwitterFollow Avani on InstagramFollow Avani on LinkedIn

Carley Zuercher is the owner of Two Can Co. and CZ Invitations and today she joins us for part one of our conversation on business strategy, mindset, and gratitude. Be sure to check out part two of our discussion on her podcast, Tipsy Business. Carley’s business and mindset have shifted a bit since she was last on the show, so I wanted to bring her back to talk about taking leaps in your business while still allowing life to be easy. Carley is currently running several businesses, doing business coaching, and writing ebooks. We talk about how her businesses have shifted over the last year, being authentic in your work, and how gratitude is the most powerful mindset you can have. “I think that a lot of times people try to copy and paste everything that somebody is doing, but they don't believe in themselves or they don't think they're worthy of it or they don't believe it's actually going to work for them. And therefore it doesn't.” ~ @Carly Zuercher Main Takeaways The energy of being authentic and real with your audience will always outweigh fake, high-vibe energy of salesmanship. You can’t simply copy a successful person’s strategy and hope for the same results. You need to tweak the fundamentals they're giving you and make it work for your audience. Most importantly, you need to believe that the strategy will actually work for you.Gratitude is one of the most powerful mindsets that you can experience, and visualizing it is a great strategy for your long-term business goals. Links Carley Zuercher on InstagramTipsy Business PodcastTwocan CoCZ Invitations Stay in Touch Follow Avani on TwitterFollow Avani on InstagramFollow Avani on LinkedIn

Promoting yourself as a freelancer can be a little intimidating. The last thing you want is for people to think that you’re pushy or you're obsessed with money. In this episode, we’re talking about how I got into the right mindset to promote myself, and tips that you can use to promote yourself, too. You’ll get the results you’re looking for without sounding pushy and you’ll actually feel good doing it. “People want to know that you're a real person because they want that authenticity. They want to buy into that authenticity and know who you really are behind the curtain. So show the process, show what you do behind the scenes, on the ups and downs of your life and your business. Show all of it!” ~ @avanimiriyala Four Ways To Get Over Promoting Yourself Online 1. Find conviction You need to sell yourself on what you’re selling. The best way to do this is to find the evidence from past clients that proves you’re providing value to everyone you work with. 2. Document, don’t create People want to know that you're human. Show the process, show what you do behind the scenes, on the ups and downs of your life, and your business. Show all of it. People want to see it and it can lead to great business opportunities. 3. Engage and interact Use your social media to be social. Get out there and actually interact with your followers or friends. This reminds them that you exist and that you have expertise, which keeps you top of mind. 4. Be consistent You need to do this every single day. As you interact, people are watching and keeping you top of mind, especially if you’re talking about industry topics. This can definitely lead to revenue. Consistency is where the magic happens. Links Get The Proposal Builder Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion by Gary Vaynerchuk Episode 221 | 6 Tips for Getting Clients on LinkedInThe Founder (Netflix) Stay in Touch Follow Avani on TwitterFollow Avani on InstagramFollow Avani on LinkedIn

Sometimes getting new clients or getting rid of existing ones can be a hassle. Over the years, I’ve worked on perfecting the best way to onboard and offboard clients. I'm excited to share a few of my tips and tricks on how I do this in a way that feels easy and effortless and gives the client a feeling like they're being taken care of. Here are some tips for both onboarding and offboarding, and why it's important to do these in a specific way in order to maximize your ability to use referrals for new business. "Referrals are how I get clients. It’s the number one way I get the dream clients that I want. They're always high quality. They're always high paying because they're happy customers that told other people so that they could be happy customers, too. It's just an amazing ripple effect. And that's why offboarding and tying everything up nicely is so crucial.” ~ @avanimiriyala Five Steps for Effective Onboarding 1. Everyone needs to sign the contract As soon as the contract is signed, it’s go time for you and your team. This is your chance to roll out the red carpet and get everything in place to make sure your client knows working with you will be smooth. 2. Create your client profile in Clickup Once the contract is signed, you can get to work on creating the client profile. Their needs, wants, how much attention they require, the scope of the project, all of it. This will help you move through their project quickly and efficiently while nailing the deliverables. 3. Create the necessary components to get the project moving Whatever systems you're using to track and organize the project, now is the time to get them all set up. Slack channels, task management, time tracking, etc.. These are the nuts and bolts that you will need to make things run smoothly after the kickoff meeting. 4. Have a kickoff meeting Make sure you have an agenda to help show your client what they can expect and on what timeframes. Set up your recurring meetings, get your processes and assets in line, set a timeline, get on the same page, and then dive into the first milestone of the project. After the meeting, make sure you follow up on your action items. 5. Complete action items from the kickoff meeting Once you’ve actually held the kickoff meeting, you need to make sure you follow up with your action items right away. Whether they are internal or for the client, following up on these items is critical in making the onboarding process smooth and ensuring that all resources are accounted for. Five Steps for Effective Offboarding 1. Prepare assets for delivery This can be anything from image files to vectors to video tutorials. Just make sure that you have everything ready to go in a way that the client can understand and take control of. 2. Turn over the main files For me, this is usually a Figma file, but for you it might be turning over the working files of the design or website that you’re working on. 3. Turn over additional files This is when you gather up any other resources that might be floating around for your project, organize them, and hand those off to the client. This can include internal docs, links, or anything you think might be of value to the client as they move forward. 4. Handoff communication and send an invoice You can do your handoff communication however you want (Slack, Email, etc…), but just make sure that you are clear and give them a list of what you handed off to them and what they will need to do with it. This way they can refer back if they have any questions or are looking for anything. 5. Schedule additional emails About a week later, you should send a follow-up email looking for feedback and a testimonial if they are willing. Then about two weeks later, ask for a referral if they had a positive experience. Make sure to follow up on these because social proof means more clients. 6. Send a handwritten thank you Sending them something personal shows that you enjoyed working with...

Non-negotiables are the basics and foundation of your business. These items are the must-do items that are recurring on a daily basis. Of course, these items vary and differ from person to person, depending on their priorities, and goals - but they should be the cornerstone of how you operate your business and life. Today, I’m sharing my list of non-negotiables, some critical components of my routine, and the reason they’re my priority. I also talk about how these non-negotiables help me get focus and stay grounded. “Life happens and if you aren’t feeling it for some reason, take care of your non-negotiables and then rest up and you can come back feeling better the next day ready to work even more effectively. Non-negotiables are created to give us freedom.” ~ @avanimiriyala Main Takeaways Set the non-negotiables that will work for you and your business. These are going to be the basics and the must-do items for you on a recurring basis to help you reach your goals.The three main non-negotiable types are learning, business growth, and mindset. My five non-negotiables for my business are reading, podcasts, reaching out to clients, posting to Instagram, and coming up with my 10 ideas of the day.My personal non-negotiables include drinking three, 24oz bottles of water each day, working out, cryotherapy, and getting my nails done.Work on getting your mindset to the level you imagine your future self has. Step into that version of yourself today. Links Proposals That Sell Themselves Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James ClearKwik Brain with Jim KwikJames Wedmore’s Mind Your Business PodcastChakra Girl RadioThe Lively ShowCall Your GirlfriendThe Tim Ferriss ShowLinkedInInstagramClickUp Stay in Touch Follow Avani on TwitterFollow Avani on InstagramFollow Avani on LinkedIn

Amira Alvarez is the CEO and Founder of The Unstoppable Woman, a global coaching company helping thousands of driven individuals achieve their financial breakthrough, live their best lives, and become the unstoppable individuals they know themselves to be. Amira grew up believing that if she worked hard she would reach her goals. However, she soon realized that she was caught in the cycle of “never enough.” Once she had that realization, she committed herself to do everything she could to make things work and reset her mindset. In this episode, Amira talks with Avani about her coaching expertise, the reason why hard work isn’t enough to help you reach your goals, and the laws of success that will universally help you become the person you imagine yourself to be. “It’s hard in the beginning because of our upbringing and how we’re conditioned to actually think that the world is ‘happening’ to us, not for us. It doesn’t make us bad human beings, but it is how we’ve been conditioned. And so you have to recondition your thinking and reprogram yourself for success.” ~ @AmiraAlvarez Main Takeaways Sometimes the advice to just “work hard” can trap you in a cycle of never enough. And the only way to grow in that cycle is to work harder, which is ultimately unsustainable.Stepping up your game is 20 percent tactical and 80 percent mindset. Being able to charge more and hold value in a sales conversation is where your mindset makes a difference. Make a commitment to yourself that whatever path you choose, you will do everything you can to make it work.Define your self-image. Imagine yourself as the one who has reached your goal and then close the gap between that image and your present self. Answer this question: What would you have to do to get it done this year? Links Amira AlvarezThe Unstoppable Woman 3-Day Virtual Summit to Help You Create Consistent Cash FlowAmira Alvarez on Twitter Stay in Touch Follow Avani on TwitterFollow Avani on InstagramFollow Avani on LinkedIn

Zach Fragapane is the founder and head of product at Jolly, an online network for professional workers and freelancers. His 13-year freelancing career has been both a side hustle and his main career, so he has wide-ranging experiences we can learn from. For Zach (who has worked as a freelancer for most of his life) it was easy to pinpoint where help and support were needed in the freelance industry, which is how Jolly was born. Though now it’s much more than a freelance management system, Zach was able to refine and update his product based on his many years of first-hand freelance experience. This year, the freelance industry, like most industries, took a hard hit from the Covid-19 pandemic. But when you get knocked down, the only thing to do is get back up — so we talk about the rise of freelancers in this era of technology and what you can do to get back on track. “If your customer is able to see your price and the results you’re going to drive and just a little about the deliverables, which is usually upfront anyway, then maybe more time can be spent actually focusing on driving those results.” ~ @ZachFragapane Main Takeaways The most valuable feedback you can get is the feedback that comes from the actual users of your product or service.Even though there are a lot of people who lost their jobs and livelihood during the pandemic, there are more companies that are starting to consider hiring freelance workersbecauseof the current situation. Make use of the time you have now to create something of value that you can offer either for free or for a fee.The biggest struggle for freelancers right now is getting their first clients and/or retainers during these times of struggle. The key is to still go above and beyond and get every last bit out of each project. Links Zach FragapaneJollyRetailMeNotUpworkUber Stay in Touch Follow Avani on TwitterFollow Avani on InstagramFollow Avani on LinkedIn

We don’t know what the future holds, but you can be more than just a passenger in your life. What if you could be the person you see yourself as in the future? Becoming that person means closing the gap between the present you and the future you. But how do we do that? In this episode, we’ll discuss a few simple steps to help you close the gap and become the best version of yourself. “Start becoming who you want to be now. That is the fastest way to get from where you are to where you want to be. In order to get to where you want to be, you need to start acting like you’re there already. That is the secret you need to figure out how you want to create the reality you want in your life.” ~ @avanimiriyala Main Takeaways 1. See and define the future you The first thing to do is to see yourself where you want to be and what you want to do with your life (and business). Define your future self because the only way to close the gap is to know what gap there is from the present you to the future you. 2. Inspect and upgrade Inspect and upgrade things that are happening in your life (and business). Are the things you’re doing right now the same things you think you will be doing in the future? If not, upgrade your routine. 3. Prioritize taking care of yourself Self-care is the most common thing people miss out on, especially when things get busy. Treat yourself the way you deserve and you’ll feel like the best version of yourself. 4. Learn to delegate It’s time to become the leader you’re supposed to be and delegating responsibilities to your team will help you focus on your goals. 5. Start becoming your version 2.0 Update your look and wardrobe to what you think the next version of yourself will look like. Set aside a budget for this because looking at yourself as version 2.0 makes you feel like you’re getting there. Embody the person you see in the future. 6. It’s all about how you want to feel Ask yourself how you want to feel running your business. Feel and embody those feelings and believe it will become your reality. The best way to attract abundance is to sit with those feelings. Links Proposals That Sell ThemselvesBrandUpAnna NasseryJames Wedmore Training (Business by Design) Stay in Touch Follow Avani on TwitterFollow Avani on InstagramFollow Avani on LinkedIn

Overwhelm is easy to experience when you’re a freelancer—especially if you have a lot of work coming in. We all get overwhelmed and that’s ok. It’s up to you to move out of that feeling and into a positive feeling of abundance. Today, I want to talk about some steps I use to get out of feeling overwhelmed and get back on track. It’s not always easy, but these steps will help mitigate those feelings and help you see the light at the end of the tunnel. “When you're in a place of scarcity, you're unable to see the solutions. You're unable to see the big available expansion that's out there. You're unable to see the opportunities, the resources that are already at your fingertips. That is what feeling overwhelmed is. It's like you're closing off and you're going into a place of scarcity. And when we are able to break from that, when we're able to take a break, move out or shake that energy up, we can move from a place of scarcity into abundance.” ~ @avanimiriyala Main Takeaways 1. Step away from your desk Getting away from your desk can quickly change your attitude. Your desk is where the overwhelm lives and if you step away from it, you won’t be confronted by it every minute. Try relaxing somewhere else or getting out of your normal zone of occupancy. 2. Go outside Going outside and experiencing nature can significantly reduce stress and rejuvenate your mind. If you’re in a city, look for pockets of green space and do some nature bathing. 3. Workout Getting in some movement and working up a sweat is a great way to alleviate some of the stress you’ve been feeling. For me, it’s worked countless times to put me back on track. 4. Get out of your head Read a book, talk to a friend, listen to a podcast, whatever it takes to stop that overwhelming dialogue in your head. If you feel like the dialogue won’t stop, then you need to push it out. 5. Journal it out If you’re unable to work through some of the things that are in your head, journaling is a great way to get some of these thoughts out and on to paper. This can help identify the problem and the root cause. 6. Make a plan Get out your project management tool and start creating tasks and timelines to deal with all the stuff on your plate. This gives you the ability to systematically cross it off in real life and in your head. Links The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael Singer Liz White: Transformational JournalingLiz White on Instagram Stay in Touch Follow Avani on TwitterFollow Avani on InstagramFollow Avani on LinkedIn