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Freelance Friday: The #1 Mindset Shift You Need to Succeed in Freelancing

Author

Michael Fleischner
April 04, 2025

Hey Freelancers,

I’m beyond excited to continue this journey with you in a more personal, focused way.

For the last two years, this newsletter lived on LinkedIn—and while it was great, the move to email means more freedom, deeper insights, and zero algorithm interference. You’re now part of a growing global community of freelancers committed to starting, growing, and scaling their businesses.

Let’s kick things off with a powerful mindset shift that every successful freelancer makes sooner or later…

The #1 Mindset Shift You Need to Succeed in Freelancing

When most people start freelancing, they’re focused on getting clients, setting prices, and figuring it all out. That’s important—but there’s a deeper truth:

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The most successful freelancers don’t just think like freelancers… they think like founders.

Here’s what that means and how to make the shift:

1. You’re Not “Just” a Freelancer. You’re a Business.

When you shift from “I do freelance work” to “I run a freelance business,” everything changes.

  • You stop saying yes to low-paying, high-stress clients.

  • You set systems in place that support growth, not just survival.

  • You start seeing your time as a resource—not an endless supply.

👉 You are the CEO. Act like it.

2. Founders Build Systems. Freelancers Trade Time.

As a founder, your job isn’t just to deliver the work—it’s to build a machine that can grow.

  • Automate or template repeatable tasks (proposals, onboarding, follow-ups).

  • Schedule time weekly to work on your business, not just in it.

  • Build assets—your website, portfolio, newsletter, product, reputation.

👉 Stop thinking in projects. Start thinking in processes.

3. Founders Focus on Leverage

Freelancers earn income by working. Founders grow income by creating leverage—things that continue working even when you’re offline.

  • Create recurring revenue (retainers, productized services).

  • Launch digital products that generate income long-term.

  • Collaborate with others to extend your reach.

👉 More leverage = more freedom.

Quote of the Week

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"Don’t work harder. Build better systems." — Dan Martell

Take Action This Week

Pick one area of your freelance business and ask: “Am I treating this like a business—or like a gig?”

Then choose one small upgrade you can make:

  • Raise a rate

  • Automate a task

  • Decline a poor-fit client

  • Update your onboarding

  • Start an email list (😉)

Small changes = big impact over time.

Don’t Miss a Week

Feel free to forward this to a friend who freelances or is thinking about it. They can sign up here: 👉 FreelanceFridayNewsletter.com/subscribe

Here’s to the new era—and to building not just a freelance hustle, but a freelance empire.

Talk to you next Friday,

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