Are you winging it?
Working for yourself can feel like driving without a map. Let's uncover how we can move from winging it to winning it.
Ever feel like you're just winging it with freelancing? You're not alone. School didn't teach us how to work for ourselves. It feels like everything around us is designed to make us employees or push us to build the next big startup.
But what if you want to keep things small, independent, and purposeful? What if it’s not all about achieving 6, 7, 8 figures but actually having enough and the flexibility to make time for the things that matter most?
Nobody is a born freelancer or entrepreneur
I spent a long time doubting myself, thinking I didn't have what it takes to work for myself. I was afraid of promoting and selling my work. But, guess what? It’s not about me as a person but about gifting myself the tools and support to develop these skills.
Yes, because freelancing isn't only about how good you are at your job. Half of it is about finding work, building your network, and getting your name out there. And the first step to nailing that? Realising that it's something you can learn and that you can do on your own terms. No need to become a sleazy salesperson.
Instead, you need to think of yourself as a trusted advisor, someone offering a solution to a need rather than reactively responding to someone's requests. I’ve written more about the mindset shifts required as you transition to working for yourself here.
Moving forward with(out) direction
Next to transitioning how you see yourself, there's another trap we can fall into. We get all caught up in trying to sell and promote without really getting clear on what we stand for and what we're actually offering. Without that clarity, our efforts scatter in all directions, and we don't see the results we're hoping for.
So, if this is resonating with you and you're wondering how to get better at this whole freelancing gig, I've got a couple of things that might help:
A Free Actionable Quiz: I put together this free quiz that only takes a couple of minutes. It'll give you some tailored advice on where to focus your efforts to get ready for freelancing.
Join Our Seed Cohort: Starting on the 15th, we're kicking off another Seed Cohort for just 10 people. It's for those who want more personalised support and guidance as they navigate their entrepreneurial path.
Working for ourselves is a journey, and it's okay to feel like you're figuring it out as you go. That's part of the adventure. If you want a roadmap and some companions for the ride, we're here for you.
The spotlight
Let’s shine a light on a couple of amazing things our community members have been up to:
Cecilia Scolaro launched an online course on the Foundations of Responsible Innovation to explore and practice ancestral, old and new mindsets that support a responsible, inclusive, respectful and regenerative future. You can delve into decolonization, ecocentrism and regeneration, intersectional equity, emergent strategy, system thinking and more with a group of like-minded professionals. Learn more.
Cristina Clark, CEO and founder of Workculturati, a coaching and work culture advisory, shows us an example of how we can reframe self-promotion. Talking passionately about what we believe in can help us be seen as thought leaders. The Luxembourg Times definitely agrees and interviewed her for a recent article.
Interesting opportunities for you
We comb through numerous job boards to find freelance opportunities, saving our members hours of time. Here is a selection of 10 opportunities for this week.
Software Developer - Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF)
📍Remote
💰$70/hour
🤝Part-time
⏰ April 22, 2024
UI/Web & Digital Designer - Flying Saucer Studio
📍Remote
🤝Contract
Operations Manager - Na’amal
📍Remote
💰USD 100 - 200/d
🤝Part-time
Social Media and Global Community Support - MiCT
📍Remote
🤝Contract
⏰ March 31, 2024
Quantitative Researcher - YLabs
📍Remote
💰USD 20k
🤝Contract
⏰ April 1, 2024
Senior Global Campaigns Manager - Our Kids' Climate
📍Remote
💰500 USD per day
🤝RFP/Tender
⏰ April 15, 2024
My Barnsbury: Past, Present, Future - St. Andrew’s
📍London,UK
🤝Contract
Communications Advisor - The UN Futures Lab
📍Remote
🤝Contract
⏰ April 1, 2024
Research & Evaluation - Samaritans
💰£15,000
🤝RFP/Tender
⏰ April 7, 2024
Social Innovation Strategist - Rising Solutions
📍Remote and/or onsite in Washington, DC
💰$5000 a month
🤝 Contract
⏰ April 15, 2024
This month, we've shared over 85 opportunities within our community, and it's been inspiring to see members collaborate and respond to briefs together.
Behind the Scenes at IMMA:
It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks! Highlights include a collaborative design session with IMMA members, refreshing our website to showcase the latest updates, and both online and in-person networking events that brought us closer together
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Upcoming Events: Don't miss our Berlin meet-up, hosted by Joshua, along with our monthly networking event. Plus, for those curious about what we do, our regular Explore IMMA sessions offer a perfect taste and sneak peek into our community.
Thank you for being here and reading, I appreciate you.
Lilli
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Whenever you crave more support, join a free Explore IMMA session to get to know our community a little better.
Made me think about how we aren’t taught to work in this way as a freelancer. We have to learn on or in the job. But I also think we never quite get the same validation of our value in a job (other than getting the job) s we do when we freelance, because the client can say always no. The fact they don’t tells you you’re useful and valuable.
On others!