Podcast

Episode 150: How Calista Solved The “Waiting For Referrals” Problem (As a New Freelancer!)

By Zach Swinehart

In this episode, Zach talks to Calista from nimblecrafted.com about how she went from relying on low-paying referrals to building a confident, repeatable system for landing freelance clients.

Over the past five months, Calista has transformed from a burned-out developer stuck in commoditized pricing to someone with real control over her business—without sacrificing her desire for a chill, creative lifestyle.

You’ll hear how she overcame the unique challenges of freelancing from Indonesia, figured out a niche that actually excites her (gaming), and landed qualified leads through her very first outreach campaign.

Zach and Calista also dig into:

  • Why starting with the problem, not your skills, is key to crafting a high-value offer
  • How to stay motivated through the messy, uncomfortable phases of business building
  • The mindset shift that helped Calista stop underinvesting in herself
  • A sneak peek at her early client wins—and how she’s validating a brand-new service
  • What to expect (and avoid) if you’re a new freelancer just starting out

If you’re early in your freelancing journey or struggling to land clients without slashing your rates, this episode will give you both inspiration and a practical roadmap to move forward.

You can learn more about Calista and her freelance business at https://nimblecrafted.com/

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AI-Generated Summary:

  • 0:00 – 2:00 — Zach introduces Calista and her transformation from struggling freelancer to confident client-getter using her design/dev skills for game studios.
  • 2:00 – 4:00 — Zach shares background on how he knows Calista and praises her progress and grit through the 200KF program.
  • 4:00 – 6:00 — Calista explains her background as a web developer and designer, her short stint in a fintech startup, and why she chose to go all-in on freelancing.
  • 6:00 – 8:00 — Calista shares how long commute times and burnout from her corporate job pushed her toward the freelance lifestyle.
  • 8:00 – 10:00 — Zach reflects on the lifestyle freelancer path; Calista shares her ideal week of traveling and crafting.
  • 10:00 – 12:00 — Calista talks about her early wins in 200KF: the joy of building something for herself and getting a positive reply within hours of launching her first campaign.
  • 12:00 – 14:00 — They discuss how Calista landed on game studios as her niche and how validating her hypothesis gave her confidence.
  • 14:00 – 16:00 — Calista says she now feels much more in control of her ability to get clients, even without lots of experience.
  • 16:00 – 18:00 — Zach and Calista talk about the unexpected serendipity that comes from taking action and speaking with leads.
  • 18:00 – 20:00 — Calista shares that understanding the need to focus on solving a problem before building an offer was her biggest aha moment.
  • 20:00 – 22:00 — Calista reflects on how getting stuck on a niche (crafters) slowed her down, and how shifting to game studios was a breakthrough.
  • 22:00 – 24:00 — They discuss who the 200KF course is a good fit for and why it’s not ideal for people without a financial or motivational foundation.
  • 24:00 – 26:00 — Calista shares how she was unsure if the course would work for her as a new freelancer but was reassured by Zach’s guidance.
  • 26:00 – 28:00 — She describes the alternate reality of not joining 200KF as one filled with uncertainty and low-paying clients.
  • 28:00 – 30:00 — Calista shares her top 3 favorite features of the course: SOPs, the examples/templates database, and automation help.
  • 30:00 – 32:00 — Zach and Calista reflect on how spending time brainstorming early on paid off, and whether AI should replace that process.
  • 32:00 – 34:00 — They agree that having a strong “why” is critical for pushing through the hard parts of the course.
  • 34:00 – 36:00 — Calista says the 10-hour-per-week estimate is conservative; early course phases took longer due to brainstorming challenges.
  • 36:00 – 38:00 — Final reflections: Calista shares tips for freelancers focusing on solving client problems, and Zach closes with a course plug and praise for her growth.