Guide To Freelancing w/ Jonathan Stark

A freelancer is a hired gun-a mercenary who values money more than ethics. Is it time to stop calling yourself a freelancer? How do you transition from a freelancer competing on price and become one who is sought after for their ideas?
You probably honed your skills initially as a full-time employee and then eventually started freelancing because you got fired or downsized or let go or laid off or just got fed up and quit.
Jonathan Stark
jonathanstark.com/
/ @thejonathanstarkshow
The Pricing Seminar
thepricingseminar.com
Freelancer's Roadmap
jonathanstark.com/tfr
#Freelance #TheFutur #JonathanStark #DitchingHourly #ChrisDo #MatthewEncina #ValueBasedPricing #Freelancer
07:43 - You don't know how to sell
08:53 - How do you generate new leads
10:20 - Figure out who to market to
13:00 - Should I sell in what I don't specialize in?
22:00 - Be fine with saying no
28:46 - Fiverr
33:00 - SHARE SHARE SHARE
39:45 - Broad or specialize down
43:00 - How to become a specialist
47:00 - How to charge value pricing
50:00 - Begin with the end in mind
52:00 - Provide 3 options
1:02:00 - International Situation
1:04:00 - Find people with more money than time
1:11:00 - Recap
Photo:
Rucksack Magazine #Unsplash
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[@dickyjr.3620]

1:10:00 looks like Jonathans hand grabs Chris' hat. Great vid as always.

[@AviDayal]

Lol I just saw :D

[@Ash-ww8xg]

lol brilliant observation

[@leivurjoensen190]

I live about 5 minutes away from the place on the picture in the start of the video. It's in the Faroe Islands

[@thefutur]

Oh that’s cool.

[@Joshwake1]

@@thefutur the photo is on the cover of rucksack magazine volume 2 the island issue

[@artbonita]

39:40. YES! As an artist, I really struggle with the fear of being pigeon-holed into a fixed position and shackled by boredom. This was very helpful. Thank you

[@UniquedesignzNetHMKGroup]

Always love these videos that talk about positioning and value based pricing! So many great points!!

[@zpatrik]

Amazing conversation. Great seeing Jonathan back. Loads of value. Thanks for all your hard work.

[@phamduy1906]

Extremely helpful. I have applied some advice from you guys into my business and the client really love it (even though, they're not into it at first). Thank you

[@ChritsianBucic]

Once again, magnificent moment in a deep reflexion Chris! Very learny with your guest Jonathan Stark! Super thank you!

[@eviii4987]

OMG, I am doing freelance for a year, and all his content is soooo related to my experience! It's so true! The hardest part of a fresh freelancer is after 12month, the fresh magic gone! And also since I start it, I already realize how much my ex-boss 'take care' of us... Thanks for the amazing valuable feed, really a lot to learn!

[@thefutur]

it's why we make this content.

[@NicoleGraphix]

Re-watching this a second time, trying to extract all these awesome advises! #quality #priceless!!!

[@Kripaww]

Just wanted to say Thank You for another great live stream! I can't even put into words how helpful this info is. Can't wait until the next one.

[@thefutur]

You're very welcome!

[@urssounds]

Thanks guys for your work. Again, this is so incredibly informative and inspiring!

[@ThisDesignLife]

This Niche conversation is coming up time and time again. I love the explanations here. I’m going to put together some case studies and ideas for how to niche and when it works really well.

[@nasergivechi]

Again and again, exactly the lessons that I needed now. Thanks

[@IlyaZub]

Thank you!

[@Gersheyz]

I missed the livestream. Looking forward to this!

[@Martine0509]

Looooove Jonathan Stark...his newsletters are next level!

[@thefutur]

agreed

[@madalinaiuliana711]

First, this was amazing, i wrote so many things down my hand hurts. thank u guys for all the useful info!! and for helping me to see things from another perspective. I've always been in the shallow water, now i want to find a niche and dive in!!

[@danielhedu]

The best episode for me in a very long time (all are great btw) but this one really pushed me up to think about marketing and both sides value (client-developer)

[@jonathanstark6921]

Glad to hear it! Thanks for taking the time to let us know DHD 🙂👍

[@acharyamanish20]

loveeeeeeed it Chris and Jonathan. Thanks a lot!!!

[@thefutur]

value packed episode.

[@Jonesrful]

Soooooooo good. Definitely relevant To some things I am thinking through currently. Awesome piece of gold.

[@jonathanstark6921]

Thanks for the encouragement, Riley!

[@jesussandreas]

Super helpful this interview. Thanks! ❤️

[@jonathanstark6921]

You're very welcome! I'm glad to know that you found it useful 🙂

[@redbunnyclassic]

I've found ironMan's brother, and he's a genius! Thanks guys for the bags of knowledge. Shout out from West Africa.

[@Cubannerd]

I subscribed to Stark's email list and his insights are gold. Highly recommended.

[@thefutur]

Yes they are.

[@devinrenaud2563]

It only takes 18 months?! Im thinking Decades lets goooooo

[@gridhop]

Thanks!

[@godwin_njoroge]

This was such an amazing deep dive... As in... My God! My mind's so heavy with epiphanies right now and it's almost 2am here haha. I'll probably go dream about creating value for our clients but before I go, just had to say thank you again futurfam, and thank you Jonathan for blowing my mind today. Good night wonderful people!

[@CMgraffix]

nice one Chris and Jonathan, thank you

[@CMgraffix]

I was thinking Chris, the point of view looked at by Jonathan would be suited to a very experienced and possibly not a "worker" more a middle man?

[@happysloth91]

This is pure gold ! So so so important ! We're privileged to have this conversation ! Jonathan is amazing and so all of you!

[@thefutur]

Thank you

[@jonathanstark6921]

Thanks so much, Chelbi!

[@tGxChief1]

This is soo Valuable 🏆 Love this guy, i didnt know him before, definitly checking out your previous episods with him. Also thinking about buying in on your courses.

[@jonathanstark6921]

Excellent! Thanks so much for taking the time to let us know you enjoyed it 🙂

[@computron5824]

The 18-month timeline is really interesting. When you're off to a good start, it's hard to comprehend that the situation might take a complete nosedive a few months from that very moment. Seen way too many people ignore the fact that the marketing decisions they make today will affect them months down the road. The "survive" mindset is definitely a lot more common than the "thrive" mindset, and by the time someone realizes this it's usually a year too late.

[@jonathanstark6921]

Very well said. Thanks 😎👍

[@eftihisbotonakis7204]

I great episode once more !

[@benedictnzeh7814]

Good talk

[@TheArchimedesEffect]

#getwellknown Wzup guys. Can't believe I missed this one live. Great stuff

[@jonathandilin5301]

Love Jonathan & the Futur Team.

[@jonathanstark6921]

Thanks! P.S. Happy to see another "Jonathan" spelled correctly 😉

[@jonathandilin5301]

@@jonathanstark6921 Yes!!! Cheers

[@selimkaizoku3578]

Awsome work

[@thefutur]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@artsvanberg]

Wow, I love this so much! So much value and a fun time to listen 😁👏

[@thefutur]

Thank you. Value packed.

[@jonathanstark6921]

Thanks Art! I'm glad you found it useful 🙂

[@artsvanberg]

@@jonathanstark6921 it super useful knowledge and I have downloaded both your talks on the show now, it's on repeat and always before I meeting in going through it 😁 I'll buy your books when the next paycheck arrives 😊 thanks for sharing your amazing knowledge and experience 🙏😊

[@jonathanstark6921]

That's awesome! Cheers Art 🍻

[@manosalexakis]

36 min ---> ''exactly! thats crazy'' (my thoughts)

[@jamilgotcher5456]

I LOL'd at 25:17 ha haha you guys are entertaining. Sometimes comic relief is good not just value.

[@vigilantezack]

What is the educational and experience needed to get into strategy? In other words, a lot of people want to move "up" from hands-on project work to strategy. But what bonafides do you need to offer that? What is the training? I know how to "do stuff" but not exactly how to grow any business at the high level, I've never been a big CEO for example.

[@oluwatosinolanrewaju4383]

Gooolllld! This video is ammmaaazzzing! I have a question...I want to be a post production expert.. offering just production services: video editing, motion graphics, coloring, vfx and audio treatment.. would you call this broad or specific? Secondly, what would you call one who's offering this service at an expert level?

[@marcposch]

Some good points here. But mostly it's "..you need to bring 20 years of experience before you can talk about consulting". That's what I've been missing a lot in the strategy/execution discussion

[@thefutur]

marc, that's the general answer. you are right. but I actually think I can train someone to learn how to ask the right questions. consultants aren't required to have the answers per se, they are required to ask the right questions to help the team though.

[@marcposch]

@@thefutur Learning what questions to ask is important. But it takes years of experience to be in a credible position to ask business related questions. And to understand what the answers mean. To me, it's always that most coaches in our industry are being too much "one size fits all". Designers come with various levels of experience - and talents. A young person getting into the business faces different circumstances and problems than a seasoned guy with 20+ years on his/her back. Just giving everybody the same advice is not the solution. Maybe you can diversify here?

[@TRAdamTM]

​@@marcposch This. A lot of the advice from The Futur is highly specific to a single persona, geographic location, business culture and market. That persona can quickly be defined as "Chris Do at the midpoint of his career". For all the talk about empathy, there isn't much nuance, and I recently started to feel a complete disconnect between what Chris says and how reality works. It's selling a highly aspirational vision that isn't achievable for 90% of anyone.

[@marcposch]

@@TRAdamTM High five, brother! You said what I was thinking for a long time. It's a common theme: Designer at midpoint in career gets tired of all the shit and starts coaching. Still, TheFutur offers some of the best advice I've seen in the "Find-6-Figure-Clients-Fast-Industry". Don't be too harsh on them

[@kirstenlangmuur529]

Blows my mind this is a free video. Such valuable content. #fangirl #wavingfromacrossthepond

[@GBlunted]

Selling to your own wallet is the biggest obstacle I've had because it felt like highway robbery at first! I had a boss send me side work that was too small and a little left of what he(or the company) would take on but was what I did for the company full time... And when I was able to charge what I charged I it changed a lot of things for me. My job paid me $16 an hour. They billed my time out at $92 an hour. The side job client passed to me, asked if $650 was a good price for the two small projects he had for me. That came out to about $162.5 an hour after the job was done and the client was happy as a clam?! Meaning I likely under valued this job. Didn't know what to do after this really... Changed my POV on a lot of things...

[@itajac80]

Where can I find more info on the why questions that should be asked before kicking of a project? The diagnostic phase. Is this covered in the Core Strat kit? Elsewhere?

[@jonathanstark6921]

Hi Mariela! The best place to go is this episode of Ditching Hourly: www.ditchinghourly.com/6d93936e

[@ThisDesignLife]

I think he mentioned a resource of video on “Strategy Vs Tactics”, could you link to that when you get time? Thanks.

[@thefutur]

can you provide timestamp?

[@mauzzamkhan4369]

43:28 summary

[@manojad7074]

3:40

[@itajac80]

Can't find the link to buy Jonathan's book The Freelancer's Roadmap?

[@computron5824]

jonathanstark.com/tfr

[@thefutur]

added to show notes.

[@enioluwaodunjo]

If you're looking into the comment section to be sure if the stream is a good one. HERE'S YOUR SIGN. "LISTENT TO IT'" So much value on here. Jonathan is such a professional This stream got so intense the moment Jonathan spoke. Thank you Futur Team and Jonathan

[@thefutur]

We read all of our comments.

[@jonathanstark6921]

Good to know! Thanks for helping spread the word 👍

[@imrankhansamir4901]

Improve the Business stuffs

[@ScottWebb27]

I'm such a fanboy! hahaha

[@thefutur]

Hello Scott.

[@jonathanstark6921]

Hey Scott! Good to see you 👍

[@ThisDesignLife]

Me too

[@alessiogiorgianni_official]

But the real important question about you guys is, do you really need sunglasses to read questions? And most importantly is the fact that when you read questions while you wearing sunglasses you miss every time focus of the mic and people do not understand a word what you are reading about. But i can totally understand why you guys are still wearing sunglasses..

[@DanielPuch]

I am a mercenary really :-P

[@thefutur]

Yes. I guess according to Jonathan

[@DanielPuch]

@@thefutur Yeah hehehehe... but I am really a cheap mercenary so I don't know if I qualify really. :-P

[@Paooul13]

I think this guy is radically overstating the concept of specializing. It's not my reading of humanity that people say, "oh thank god, a designer who specializes in Karate schools". As the Futur guy himself has said, design is about solving problems. People understand that far more than this dude is implying. Decision makers hiring designers for major grocery store chains are not looking through this aperture of "Design firms specializing in branding for grocery stores". They're just not.

[@brunolopesmello1986]

These young guys are killing Chris vibes. They are messing this up...

[@motionmarketer4762]

I can't spend so much time. Make brief videos

[@thefutur]

You can’t invest in your own success? Do you watch Netflix? Jonathan and I both charge thousands in consultation fees. You get it for free and yet you don’t want it.

[@redbunnyclassic]

@@thefutur He/She can watch 10 mins and stop. Gold is not found on the surface.

[@motionmarketer4762]

The Futur I don't watch Netflix. Yes, I value my time thus I asked for briefer content.

[@redbunnyclassic]

@@motionmarketer4762 try this maybe, the video has time stamps... Pick a topic/question and watch it when you can. Continue when you are free.

[@motionmarketer4762]

redbunnyclassic Thank you.