Coaching series: Can Zach get this beginner freelancer (Brad) to a 6-figure income ($8,333/mo) within 6 months?
Follow their journey through the ups and downs and watch them grow!
Milestones from today’s episode:
- Brad receives a full-time job offer from a company he freelanced for
- The importance of managing finances for stability and making better business decisions
- A new approach to time management recognizing finite weekly work hours
Coaching highlights from today’s episode:
- Calculate the true effective hourly rate by considering taxes, prospecting time, and other unpaid tasks to compare freelancing income to salary offers
- Invest time in activities that offer both immediate returns and potential exponential long-term benefits
- Negotiating with employers about working on side projects to support personal and long-term growth
Original coaching call recording date: 11/03/2023
Want to get one-on-one coaching from Zach?
The DYF Accelerator community includes weekly live 20-minute one-on-one Zoom coaching with Zach that follows the same format as you saw here.
You’ll also get access to our huge library of all past coaching calls, along with a text-based community and weekly accountability check-ins.
AI-Generated Summary:
- 0:00 – 2:00 — Zach introduces the podcast series, featuring the journey of a freelancer, Brad, aiming for a six-figure income within six months.
- 2:00 – 4:00 — Brad shares his intense focus on a client’s project, leading to significant job satisfaction and the unexpected offer of a permanent position.
- 4:00 – 6:00 — Brad is considering the job offer, balancing his long-term entrepreneurial goals with the immediate benefits of working with an experienced entrepreneur.
- 6:00 – 8:00 — Zach congratulates Brad, discussing the freelancing challenges and the potential benefits of accepting a stable job to alleviate financial desperation.
- 8:00 – 10:00 — Zach shares his personal journey from struggling freelancer to gaining stability through a day job, highlighting the importance of financial security in improving work quality and business decisions.
- 10:00 – 12:00 — Zach discusses the positive impact of taking a day job on his freelance career, emphasizing skill improvement and selectivity in client work.
- 12:00 – 14:00 — Insights on the benefits of day jobs, including skill development and exposure to experienced colleagues, contrasted with limitations on business transformation roles.
- 14:00 – 16:00 — The importance of a job allowing for side hustles and freelance work, sharing Zach’s personal negotiation for flexibility in his job to pursue entrepreneurial interests.
- 16:00 – 18:00 — Zach highlights the potential for jobs to serve as a platform for experimenting with and improving marketing skills, suggesting the strategic use of employment to build assets and skills beneficial to freelancing.
- 18:00 – 20:00 — The conversation shifts to leveraging employment for content creation and marketing, with Zach proposing ideas for integrating work achievements into personal branding and content strategy.
- 20:00 – 22:00 — Zach emphasizes the value of job offers aligned with freelancing ambitions, contrasting with unrelated job opportunities.
- 22:00 – 24:00 — Discussion on poor spending habits in America and the importance of financial runway and living within one’s means for stability.
- 24:00 – 26:00 — Zach breaks down the financial logic of working a job versus freelancing, focusing on the effective hourly rate after taxes and prospecting efforts.
- 26:00 – 28:00 — The importance of evaluating job offers based on actual income rather than hourly rates, and the benefits of financial stability from a steady job.
- 28:00 – 30:00 — Zach advises setting clear goals for both job income and freelance lead generation as a strategy for transitioning from employment to full-time freelancing.
- 30:00 – 32:00 — Discussion on the importance of recognizing the finite nature of time and how freelancers realistically have about 40 hours per week to dedicate to work.
- 32:00 – 34:00 — Brad shares his new perspective on time management and productivity, appreciating the structured approach within the community.
- 34:00 – 36:00 — Zach introduces a metaphor involving slot machines to illustrate the balance between immediate and long-term benefits from work and knowledge acquisition.
- 36:00 – 38:00 — The conversation shifts to the strategic balance between earning immediate income and investing time in activities with potential exponential returns.
- 38:00 – 40:00 — Discussion on moonlighting policies and the importance of open communication with employers about side projects and long-term goals.
- 40:00 – 42:00 — Strategies for negotiating moonlighting and side projects with an employer, emphasizing the benefit to both the employee and the company.
- 42:00 – 44:42 — Final thoughts on ensuring any side projects or moonlighting activities align with long-term goals and the importance of clear communication with employers.