We’re continuing to share a different story every few weeks of how a past student has been able to significantly grow their freelance business by applying the concepts they learned from Double Your Freelancing (check out the last one we did with Stephen Godfrey).
If you feel your story would be a good fit, share why.
Lance Miller is a filmmaker and the founder of Level Set Films. Thanks for being here Lance and sharing your transition from Corporate America to small business owner!
Hi Lance! Tell us about yourself – who are you and what do you for fun?
My wife and I left our home to travel throughout Europe and Southeast Asia for six months.
Before we left, I landed a new client and have been working remote ever since! I can’t complain.
What got you into freelancing? Was it what you expected?
It took a few years. I had to learn the craft and build the business “on the side” while working a corporate sales gig.
Once I took the leap, I realized it was very difficult to get clients. I figured my sales skills would help me ramp up, but it took much longer than expected.
Tell us about your hardest moment as an entrepreneur to date.
I had to fire a client mid-project. It was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do and caused many sleepless nights.
I had to re-think my pre-qualification process and my business as a whole. But I came out of the situation stronger and I’m thankful I had folks at Double Your Freelance Clients (now the Academy) to help me through it.
On the flip side, what’s been your biggest success so far?
I landed a client that’s allowed me to work remote. I’m now traveling the world and working about 16 hours per week for this client.
Best of all, I have steady income!
What were you struggling the most with when you ran into Brennan’s course?
I didn’t know what the hell I was doing! Ha ha.
But seriously, getting new clients was the hardest part.
What are some specific strategies, tactics or pieces of advice that helped you grow?
I think the best advice was the boring stuff, not any new, slick marketing tactics.
Like the topics about networking, positioning and cold outreach. Those were the things that took a lot of work, but helped me hone my marketing message.
What are you most excited about for your business in 2017?
Building off of this success and growing my business by 3x!
Lance Miller is a filmmaker, rapper, and small business owner.
In 2013, he made a music video about his home town called “Walnut Creek Gangster.” That video opened his eyes to the wonderful capabilities of a DSLR camera. With a small amount of gear, someone can produce beautiful video.
His mind was set, he was gonna start a video production company. For the next two years he focused on learning the craft of film-making. Some of that was learned at the San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking, but most was learned from hitting the streets with cam in hand.
Finally, after 7 years in a sales role with various corporations, it was time to take the leap and start a business. Level Set Films was born.