Coaching Series: Can Zach take this entry-level freelancer (Brad) to a 6-figure income ($8,333/month) in 6 months?
Follow their journey through the ups and downs and watch them grow!
Milestones from today’s episode:
- Fight against professional burnout and the importance of remedying it for sustainable independent work
- Valuable lessons learned from self-employment, including travel setbacks and disappointments
- Being part of a freelance community is a crucial support system for staying engaged and getting through the ups and downs.
Coaching highlights from today’s episode:
- The importance of taking time off to regain energy and prevent burnout
- Manage customer expectations by communicating proactively, especially when you feel overwhelmed or need a break.
- Focus on actions within our control, such as preparation and effort, rather than on results, which are often beyond our direct control.
Original coaching call recording date: 06/10/2023
The DYF Accelerator Community includes weekly live 20-minute one-on-one Zoom coaching with Zach that follows the same format you saw here.
You’ll also have access to our huge library of all past coaching calls, as well as a text-based community and weekly accountability check-ins.
Click here to find out more “
- 12:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. — Zach hosts the podcast series aimed at coaching freelancers, like Brad, to a six-figure income in six months.
- 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. — Brad shares his tough week and his feelings of burnout, fearing the loss of clients due to inactivity.
- 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. — Zach recounts Brad’s experience with burnout, discussing the impact of stress on perception and the fear of losing clients.
- 6:00 – 8:00 — Brad mentions making progress by posting in a professional group and generating interest, but is hesitant to follow through out of fear.
- 8:00 – 10:00 – Zach encourages facing potential losses as opportunities for future gains, emphasizing resilience and the ability to recover from setbacks.
- 10:00 – 12:00 — Zach advises Brad to prioritize tasks and consider taking a break to manage burnout, suggesting a minimal approach to commitments.
- 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. — Zach recommends that Brad send a simple response to new requests and eliminate non-essential tasks, emphasizing the importance of rest.
- 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. — Zach discusses the strategy of communicating with clients about burnout and setting realistic work expectations to avoid additional stress.
- 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. – Brad plans to take immediate time off to recover and considers how to approach his work commitments with a new perspective.
- 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. — Brad shares recent job progress and client interactions, expressing concerns about meeting expectations and the importance of showing quick wins to retain the client.
- 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. — Zach suggests sending a quick update to maintain communication with the client, while Brad reflects on the normality of challenges and disappointments in freelancing.
- 10:00 p.m. – 24:00 p.m. — Brad appreciates the change in perspective Zach brings, recognizing the learning curve and normalizing the setbacks of the independent journey.
- 24:00 – 26:00 — Zach emphasizes the importance of communication rather than perfecting work results, using an analogy to explain focusing on what is within one’s control.
- 26:00 – 28:00 — Discussion on setting realistic expectations for professional results and the importance of not ghosting clients to maintain integrity and reputation.
- 28:00 – 30:00 — Zach advises Brad to take time off to restore his mind, suggesting activities that might help him recharge and emphasizing the importance of self-care.
- 30:00 – 32:00 — Brad talks about his love for working in coffee shops for fun, not under pressure, and Zach suggests planning a restorative weekend with activities Brad enjoys.
- 32:00 – 34:00 — Brad shares his idea of a perfect day of eating, including taking walks, visiting cafes and possibly going to the beach, while Zach encourages planning a day without obligations.
- 34:00 – 36:00 — Zach gives Brad some “homework” for a restorative weekend and briefly discusses proactive communication to manage customer expectations.
- 36:00 – 38:00 — Brad sees responding to pending emails as a way to not let clients down, and Zach emphasizes the importance of taking time off without feeling guilty.
- 38:00 – 40:00 — Zach reflects on his own experience with burnout and the importance of not rushing projects, suggesting that a more relaxed pace might be beneficial in the long run.
- 40:00 – 42:00 — Brad appreciates the community’s support in his independent journey, emphasizing his role in staying engaged and grounded in the face of challenges.
- 42:00 – 44:17 — Zach and Brad discuss strategies for coping with burnout and the importance of communication, self-care, and setting realistic expectations for recovery.