Category: Blog

If have never had quiet times when it comes to paid work, then you’re an exception, not the rule. I just want to get that out there straight away. It’s not how it often get’s hyped on social, but it’s the reality of self-employment.

I know how s**t it can feel to be sat at home and being ghosted, ignored, told projects aren’t going ahead, chasing payments etc. etc. It’s a flipping rollercoaster!

It’s not just you. I promise you that.

However, it’s at times like these when getting creative with different ways can make a huge difference. Maybe you’re doing a lot of these already and my apologies if so! But I wanted to pop this quick blog together to give you x5 simple (ish) ways you can boost your client base.

I have added “ish” because I know in reality they are easier said than done sometimes, not to mention the time that can be involved.

#1 Talk to non-work contacts

I was at football training for my son some time ago and chatting with a fellow mum and friend called Kristie about work. I mentioned I was hoping to get some speaker opportunities soon. Turned out she knew the owner of a local networking group. She kindly put me in touch. I did a talk… and that led to some work.

I would encourage you to think about everyone you know. This could include your wider family, friends, previous work colleagues, people you exercise with, connections from hobbies, local communities, your neighbours, parents at the school gates, etc. Being referred or connected to is a very powerful way of bringing work in, and it may be a network you haven’t yet approached.

Incidentally Kristie is an accountant and when one of my clients asked me for a recommendation, you can guess who I recommended…

#2 Connect with other freelancers

A client of mine called Belinda worked with me last year and connecting with other freelancers slightly outside of her own offering was something we looked at as part of her strategy.

This works extremely well for freelancers, because we can’t usually offer such a diverse range of services as e.g a full-service agency but when a client does want other work we can recommend or buddy up.

She wrote this post which I think beautifully sums up the power of having a network.

Here’s an example: say you’re a freelance content strategist but don’t offer freelance writing services: you could connect with several other writers who don’t offer strategy work and then refer each other according when a client needs these services.

Being recommended takes the heavy-lifting out of it all and the more you do this, the bigger the impact. But remember to give as much as you take! That’s really important.

#3 Start a little something

When things went quiet for me in Covid I started a small community which made me feel great and actually won a lot of work (which I hadn’t predicted at all!).

If things are quiet for you it can be worth thinking about other areas you could diversify into, or small projects outside of your current workload.

Here are a few examples:

• A small paid or free community
• Running a small networking group or free talks
• Volunteer work relating to your business
• Offering free talks or workshops
• Creating a digital product or membership

These don’t have to be income-generators as such, but will all help increase your exposure and often indirectly lead to more work

#4 The pitch sprint

I encourage my clients to go through pitch sprints when things get a little quiet. This involves digging up all contacts, LinkedIn connections, previous projects, people you met at networking months ago etc.etc and going through all of them. Drop them a hello and ask if there’s anything you can do right now.

I worked with one client recently who went through his entire inbox, found 32 names of people he hadn’t contacted in over 2 years and got 2 new projects off the back of it.

An actual sprint (as in a run) is exhausting and a pitch sprint will feel exhausting both mentally and from a time perspective. But if you’ve got a rainy afternoon coming up soon then it can make a difference.

#5 Make a ton of new pals

Your network is your net worth. I think that is the phrase. If times are quiet I’d recommend joining some networking groups, communities, memberships etc. to build up and put some tlc into your network.

This is a really valuable use of time and can also make you feel less s**t than sitting in front of Linkedin and doom scrolling. I appreciate this can feel daunting and if you’re an introvert it’s a massive energy drainer, so please consider what you would feel comfortable with as well.

I know it’s tough out there for so many right now and my thoughts are with you.

Introductory sales calls, in-person visits, writing proposals, creating sales funnels, responding to emails, etc. All these sales activities take time (and therefore money). We therefore want our conversion rates to be as high as possible. I wanted to run through 3 fairly common sales mistakes I see in businesses — and most importantly — how you can fix them.

Common sales mistake #1: Selling too early

If you have ever had a bad experience of being sold to, take a minute to think about the situation and why it felt negative to you. Oftentimes it is because we’re sold to too early in the process, which can feel sleasy or leave a bad taste.

It’s natural to sometimes jump in too quickly through good intentions: we want to help and we’re keen to show how our business can do that. However, it is one of the most common sales mistakes I see.

But to make a recommendation we need to understand the problem or challenge. And without listening first it is very hard to do. It’s super important that you do not rush this part of the sales process. Allow a client plenty of time to talk through their pain points and challenges. This way your customer will feel understood. You will also also build up a strong rapport and understanding of your potential client. This is also a really important time for you to understand if they are a good fit for you!

How you can fix this: Listen first, recommend later. On a call this means letting a client talk before you jump in with your packages and services. On social this could look like asking questions or inviting engagement on a topic.

Common sales mistake #2: Not following up

If you have sent through a proposal or quote it’s perfectly fine to follow up if you don’t hear anything back after a few days.

I have been at the receiving end of a sales call many times and am always surprised how little people follow up with me.

Try to find ways of following up that feel natural to you so that you feel OK about doing it.

Here’s a quick list to get you thinking:

1. Send a LinkedIn connection request a couple of days after the call with a quick note saying you enjoyed the call and would like to connect
2. Drop a quick email just asking if your previous email was received OK
3. Email again a couple of days later. Thank them for their time and that you’re looking forward to hearing back

I was on a podcast with Ask Zoe recently: here’s the link if you’d like to delve into this topic a little more.

Common sales mistake #3: Overwhelm in choice

I took my 7-year-old to a supermarket a couple of months back. He wanted to choose some breakfast cereal. so we went to the aisle and he was faced with shelves that were twice his height and a full aisle long in options.

He turned to me and said “I don’t know.”

It’s natural as a business owner to want to make sure we have the right thing for everyone. But it can actually prohibit sales, simply because the choice is overwhelming.

Personally, I’m quite a big fan of the rule of 3. Having 3 options feels digestible but as though there’s choice.

Examples of how this may work:

“Based on our call my 3 recommended options would be A, B or C”

“My 3 main services are A, B and C”

“Depending on your budget I’d like to recommend A, B or C”

“I have 3 packages which are A, B or C”

How you can fix this: During a sales call or meeting note down on some paper as the client is talking about which 3 options/ prices/ packages you’re going to recommend.

If you’ve got a niggling sales issue in your business why not book in a quick call with me to see if I can help.

Whether you’re a business owner selling in your services to a potential client, or a member of a sales team spending all day with potential customers, body language in sales is everything.

The first thing to remember is that not all communication is verbal. Body language plays a critical role in how you are perceived, how well you can build trust, and ultimately, how successful you will be in closing a deal.

Studies suggest that up to 93% of communication is nonverbal, making body language a powerful, and often underutilized, tool.

Body language includes posture, gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, and even the tone and rhythm of voice. When used effectively, it can reinforce your message, demonstrate confidence, and help establish rapport with potential clients. On the other hand, poor body language—like fidgeting, lack of eye contact, or closed-off posture—can create doubt, mistrust, and discomfort, no matter how polished your pitch may be.

Making eye contact

One of the most important elements of body language in sales is eye contact. Maintaining steady, natural eye contact shows attentiveness, confidence, and sincerity. It helps build a connection with the buyer and shows that you are actively listening. However, overdoing it can be perceived as intimidating, so it’s essential to strike a comfortable balance.

Posture is another key component. Standing or sitting upright with shoulders relaxed and open conveys confidence and openness. Leaning in slightly while the customer is speaking indicates interest and engagement, while crossing your arms or slouching can appear defensive or disinterested.

Mirroring a client’s body language

Mirroring the client’s body language subtly and naturally can also be highly effective. This technique creates subconscious rapport by making the client feel understood and aligned with you. For instance, if a client leans forward or nods, doing the same (in moderation) helps establish harmony in the interaction.

Facial expressions can either reinforce or contradict what you’re saying. A genuine smile conveys warmth, friendliness, and approachability. It puts the client at ease and helps foster a positive emotional connection. Being aware of your expressions and ensuring they align with your words can significantly enhance trust.

Gestures are a great way to add emphasis and clarity to your points. Open-handed gestures, in particular, are perceived as honest and non-threatening. Avoid pointing or overly animated movements, which can be distracting or aggressive.

Quick Tips for Better Sales Body Language:

1. Smile genuinely – It makes you appear friendly and approachable.
2. Use open posture – Avoid crossed arms and face the client directly.
3. Maintain eye contact – About 60-70% of the time is ideal.
4. Use gestures purposefully – Emphasize key points, but don’t overdo it.
5. Mirror your client subtly – Helps create subconscious connection.
6. Nod to show understanding – Encourages the client to keep talking.
7. Practice active listening – Use your body to show you’re engaged (e.g., leaning slightly forward, nodding, keeping your phone away).

Need some help? Check out my B2B Sales training if so.

No matter how experienced you are in business, being ghosted still feels rubbish.  You put the work in, have a great call, send a proposal, and then… nothing. Or you send through a contract, only to be received by complete silence. So, why do clients ghost you? Let’s look at a few things that might be going on behind the scenes, and what you can do to avoid it happening as much.

When I host sales training days for clients it’s an area that comes up a lot – so the first thing to say is that it is not just you!

Why do clients ghost you: possible reasons

A loss of interest

I’ve had lots of calls with potential clients over the years who appear interested, excited or keen to get started during the call. Then they go quiet afterwards and don’t reply back. It’s never easy and it can be very mentally draining.

But one of the main reasons behind ghosting is a loss of interest in what you are offering. If a client came across your services, they may have booked a call or requested information on a whim rather than with serious intent to buy.

On the flip side, I have been in calls in which I don’t think someone is particularly serious and then they do decide to work with me!  

One thing that can help is to try and find out a little more about the client’s situation either before or during the correspondence. Asking questions about their timings, sign-off process, budgets and plans can help you uncover whether someone is a window shopper or more serious.

Poor communication skills

A client may be presenting your services internally, awaiting sign off on a budget, or they may have simply forgotten to follow up with you. This doesn’t mean it’s fair, but being ghosted can be down to poor communication skills on their part.

One technique I go through in sales coaching is around setting the next action with a client. For example, if you’re on a call and the client says they’ll get back to you, you can use questioning techniques to establish when they will get back to you and say that you will follow up on a certain date. Establishing a promise like this can feel harder to ignore.

Avoiding confrontation

If you know a client fairly well, have already build up a strong relationship, or they are a personal connection, being ghosted is still surprisingly common. The reason is often that the client wants to avoid confrontation with someone they know.

Letting people know that you’d rather have a definite answer either way can really help clients feel reassured that if they don’t wish to work with you, then that is perfectly OK.

If you’re feeling brave, you can always pick up the phone and try to get hold of them: this can then lead to a far more honest conversation about what is going on.

Personal issues

Being ghosted naturally makes most people feel annoyed, unappreciated or angry. But it’s also important to remember that people often have personal issues that you may not be aware of, whether that is around their family, finances, relationships, etc. We’re only human after all!

I’d also add that people have different views on how long it should take to reply or get back to you.

Why do clients ghost you: final tips

I doubt anyone can ever eliminate being ghosted entirely but here are a few top tips to leave you with:

• Connect with the client via other channels (e.g. social media) so you have alternative means of contact
• Follow up if you don’t hear back and remember it’s OK to be persistent, particularly when you have invested time in e.g. a proposal
• Establish more about the situation: when is the client looking to make a decision, what is their budget sign-off process, etc. so you have as much background information as you can
• Try to avoid feeling personally attacked and focus on professional and polite communication

I specialise in helping my clients build a steady stream of clients and how to get more clients is the number one challenge that many business owners face. I have a long background in new business development and sales before I became a sales and business trainer and coach.

In this article I’m going to work through a few key points I think any business owner needs to address.

How to get more clients: who do you want as a client?

This might seem like a really obvious question, but when I ask people to answer this question their response is often quite vague.

People sometimes say “a marketing manager in a tech firm” or “a business owner”. The problem with this is that there are millions of business owners in the UK, and thousands of tech firms!

I’d try to dig much deeper than this and ask yourself more about what their responsibilities are, what topics they’re interested in, and how your business could help them. Knowing exactly who your clients are makes winning their business much easier!

What are you doing at the moment?

A common belief among new business owners and freelancers is that posting a few times on social media will suddenly land them a mountain of new business. Unfortunately, social media sites have become very busy and it’s increasingly hard to stand out from the crowd.

While I’m not dismissing the role of social at all – in fact I think it’s vital for most of us – I do think a more proactive approach is required.

This could take the form of networking, cold contacting, hosting masterclasses, or other outbound approaches. It goes back to who your clients are and what they would find the most valuable.

Where will they be?

If you know your target audience attends a certain event or meet-up I would recommend you go! Or, If you know your audience tends to search online for your service, it’s probably worth investing in a decent website. I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to research your target audience, rather than just make assumptions

What do you know so far?

If you’re asking the question how to get more clients, I’m guessing you’ve already had some. If so, it’s well worth tracking where past and present clients came from and doing more of what works.

For example, if a client found you through LinkedIn, you know that what you are doing there works to at least some extend, and you should probably continue to invest your time in the platform. If all your clients have found you through Google, then continue to build your website SEO performance.

Sales skills

Having clients requires the ability to sell. Most people hate the idea of selling, but if you want clients you will have to be able to sell yourself. As an online sales coach, I help small business owners learn how to sell and the results have an enormous impact on their bottom line.

If you feel uncomfortable about selling I’d recommend investing in some sales coaching or guidance in how you can do this. This isn’t a skillset you’re born with – It really is possible to learn and win more clients as a result!

Confidence in yourself to present your business will have a dramatic impact on how to get more clients.

Why it’s happening to you, and how to break free

Do you find yourself alternating between periods of working really hard (and invoicing a lot), followed by stretches of little to no work (and revenue)? Welcome to the world of the feast or famine cycle

It’s a stressful and frustrating cycle, commonly found among freelancers and small business owners.

But it does not need to be a permanent reality.

If you take some time to understand its root causes and then implement proactive strategies, you can build a more stable and sustainable business.

Feast or famine cycle – what are the causes?

The feast or famine cycle is often a result of inconsistent marketing and client management. During busy periods, freelancers or business owners will focus solely on fulfilling current client work, neglecting the need to market or network for future opportunities. Once the workload dries up, they find themselves scrambling to secure new clients, which takes time and leaves gaps in revenue. Worse still, a feeling of desperation sinks in. This can lead you to take on unsuitable or badly paid work, which then leaves no time to find more appropriate work, and so the cycle continues.

Other contributors to the feast or famine cycle include poor cash flow management, a lack of recurring revenue, over-reliance on a few key clients, and unpredictable industries or markets.

The effects of the cycle

The feast or famine cycle is not just financially draining – it also takes a mental and emotional toll.

During famine periods, it’s common to feel very stressed, which leads to hasty decision-making or underpricing services just to secure work. During feast times, the overload can result in burnout, reduced quality of work, and damaged client relationships.

Left unchecked, this cycle can hinder long-term growth and stability.

How to avoid the feast or famine cycle

Breaking out of the feast or famine cycle requires a combination of planning, discipline, and strategic action. This is an area I help my clients with, and here are some practical steps to help stabilize your business:

1. Consistent Marketing Efforts

I would advise you to never stop marketing, even when business is booming. Dedicate time each week to maintaining your online presence, networking, sending proposals, or reaching out to potential clients. Automating parts of your marketing, such as scheduling social media posts or using email marketing tools, can help you stay consistent without sacrificing productivity.

Marketing when you are already very busy can feel counterintuitive, but it is really important to keep it up.

2. Diversify Your Client Base

Relying on just one or two major clients is risky to any small business. To help avoid this cycle I would suggest working with multiple clients and possible across different industries or sectors. Diversifying your portfolio not only reduces dependency but also makes your business more resilient to market fluctuations.

3. Build Recurring Revenue Streams

To avoid major fluctuations in income you can look for opportunities to create steady income. This could be through retainer agreements, subscription-based services, or creating and selling products like online courses or digital templates. Recurring revenue smooths out cash flow and lessens the impact of quiet periods.

4. Master Time and Resource Management

During busy times, carve out time for strategic business planning and marketing. Outsourcing or delegating tasks like bookkeeping, admin work, or even parts of your core service can free up capacity for essential growth activities.

5. Create a Financial Buffer

Establish a business emergency fund to cushion the blow during lean months. Having three to six months’ worth of expenses saved can give you peace of mind and allow you to make more calculated decisions.

6. Leverage Technology and Analytics

Use tools to track your business metrics, predict seasonal trends, and monitor cash flow. This data can help you plan ahead, identify slow periods, and proactively address potential revenue gaps.

The feast or famine cycle : conclusion

The feast or famine cycle can be avoided, as long as there is a consistent approach to sales and marketing, even during busy times.

Building a client base. Selling. Finding people to work with. Negotiating terms. This is NOT what most business owners/freelancers/self-employed folk dream about doing when they start out. In fact, it’s the bit that really puts people off.

I’m a bit of an oddball when it comes to this. I spent fifteen years in sales, marketing and business development roles before running a business and then becoming a consultant. I’m odd because I actually quite like it! I have spent a lot of time studying the psychology of sales, I train teams in sales skills, and I like discussing processes with people in my 1:2:1 business coaching service.

What I don’t like, however, is sleazy sales tactics, pushy people or “pitch slapping” on social channels. I don’t think it works very well, I don’t train people to do this and I would never encourage a client to behave in this way.

But if you’re building a client base, you do need to sell! You need to sell your services, your way of working, and your prices.

Here’s a few things to think about:

1. It requires work

If you think posting a few times on Instagram or pushing out content on LinkedIn will give you a full client base, you’re probably going to be disappointed. I say probably, because if you have a large network and avid followers then maybe it will work out; but the vast majority of us do need to work at building a client base.

This might take the form of networking, emailing, speaking, podcasting, content creation, email marketing, or so, so many other methods. But it does require work.

2. You’ll need a bucket of resilience

No one likes being ghosted. We never want to hear “that’s not for me”. We hate the thought of rejection. We’re people! We’re social animals and it can make us feel like a failure when these things happen. But it does and will happen to you.

My years of experience have somewhat hardened me to this (but to be honest, I still feel it at times).

Please, take it from me – it’s not just you. And you’ll need to build resilience. Lots of it.

3. Think like an investor

I know. Why would you want to spend money on a project when you’re not sure of the outcome? Or why would you want to spend time (which also has a value) on something that may or may not work? But budget is a need. It could be anything from a few quid on a networking event, through to thousands for a website. The important thing is to have a budget and figure out which purchases will help you the most.

4. Practice makes perfect

I can tell you for certain that no one doing a sales pitch the first time is any good. Sales is a professional skill and an art that needs to be perfected.

If you hate talking about money, practice it. If you can’t talk about your services without stuttering and losing your train of thought, then practice. If you’re not sure what a sales funnel is, then find out more. The more you learn and practice, the easier sales will become.

5. Know your audience

This is a huge topic that would require a huge essay on! But knowing your audience is fundamental to building a client base. If you know exactly who you can help and exactly what their needs are, then building a client base will start to feel much, much easier.

In fact many clients I work with often have this as the number one reason why they are struggling to build a client base.

But a clear target audience in mind, coupled with the right communication and the right service offering will make your client base much easier to build.

My final thought on building a client base is not to worry too much when you fail at something, or when something doesn’t work as you’d hoped it would. Mistakes are part of the process, and the more you get out there and speak, listen, engage and pitch, the more clients you will get.

I specialise in sales coaching for small business owners and teams. I also do a lot of team sales training. If you’re looking at some support and direction why not book in a quick call with me.

If you find yourself dreading those first minutes of a sales meeting, you’re absolutely not alone. Whether you’re a sales professional, running a small business, or freelancing, hosting sales meetings comes with the turf. It’s a high-pressure environment and often, with multiple people in the room, the first minutes can feel overwhelming – here’s a bit more on ice breakers for sales meetings.

So what does it actually mean? Well, quite simply an ice breaker is a game or activity used to introduce people to each other, so they feel more relaxed. But it doesn’t even need to go that far: it can just be as simple as asking a few comfortable questions to get the conversation flowing.

Here’s a few pointers to think about:

Don’t force it

I’ve read and seen lots of ice breakers in action and its an area I cover sometimes in sales training courses. One of the things I don’t recommend is making them feel quite forceful.

People experience a wide range of emotions in meetings, from nervous and shy through to excited and interested. As such, icebreakers for sales meetings need to be well considered beforehand, and in the context of who will be attending.

You’ll also find there are people who are willing to talk (non-stop!) while others give barely one-word answers, which can make icebreakers fall flat or hard to control.

Get to know each other

In sales you’re always selling to a person. People make decisions about what to buy all the time, based on the simple fact of whether they like the person who is selling to them or not. A sales meeting is an excellent opportunity to deepen the relationship and get to know one another more personally.

Icebreakers built around this can be highly effective, but it’s important not to get too personal, too quickly!

If you prefer your ice breakers to be based on conversation and getting to know one another personally, you can ask open questions that will allow the others to talk on their own terms. If you prefer to go down the game or activity route you could do something like:

• Everyone in the room gives a fun fact about themselves
• Everyone in the room says what pet(s) they have
• Everyone in the room says the last book they read
• Everyone shares a recent photo they took and why its important to them

Business background

If you prefer your icebreakers for sales meetings to be more business-focused you can use the opportunity to explore each others’ professional backgrounds.  People often enjoy discussing their professional achievements or how they came into the role that they are in, and this can be an excellent way to kick off a meeting.

Some simple icebreakers could be:

• Everyone in the room says how they got into the industry
• Everyone in the room says what their very first job was
• Everyone in the room says what they most enjoy about their job

Icebreakers for sales meetings

Remember that icebreakers can not only play a role in warming up the room, but they can also provide a fabulous opportunity to deepen relationships and get to know your client more personally.

I’d recommend you consider which kind of icebreakers suit your personality and will complement the tone of the meeting you are about to have. For example, a game of charades followed by 3 hours of charts and graphs might feel a little jarring!

I’d recommend testing out ideas to see how well they work and looking at how people respond so you can refine them for future use.

Go you! Starting a business is not for the faint-hearted. In fact, I’d be prepared – it’s a rollercoaster!

When I started a business back in 2019 I felt pretty ready, but there was still so much to learn. Here’s what you need to know.

Confidence in selling yourself

No sales = no clients! Sorry to say it, but it’s 100% the case. You might have deep experience in a sector, or have a brilliant idea for a new product, but the reality is that you need to be able to sell yourself. To do this you need a strong sales plan and a really proactive approach to winning your first customers.

Feeling nervous? Check out my sales coaching if so – I’ll help you learn the ropes and practice selling.

You don’t need loads of stuff

By that I mean an expensive logo, branding, a website, or actually very much at all. You might need certain software, a laptop, products or legal services, but I’d take time to research what you actually need. Make a list and cost these up. Then make a list of the nice-to-haves. This should help you avoid burning through loads of cash.

Time management

Most business owners I come across are really bad at estimating how long it takes to do things, so if you’re not sure how to quote for your time and projects, don’t worry!

That said, I would try to be really aware how long it takes you to do stuff and then adapt your prices. For example, if you’re offering website building services and you estimate that it will take one week to build a site, but it takes two, then your day rate has effectively been cut in half!

Networking

It’s not what you know, but who you know: in business-owner-land this is actually very true! If you’re starting a business it’ll take a while for people to build up trust in you. In the early days it can feel like a very slow process (believe me, I know!). But taking the time to build a network (either online or in real life) will pay dividends in the future.

People need to trust you

Business relationships (like personal ones) are based on trust. Your clients will need to feel reassured they can trust you to do a really good job for them. Or if you are selling products, people will want to know how others found them. Trust is essential and can’t be rushed. But you can use plenty of testimonials from previous clients to help establish this.

An income plan

Starting a business almost never equates to money rolling in from Day 1 (whatever the “gurus” might tell you!). In fact, many businesses run at a loss for months or years before becoming profitable. I would strongly advise anyone starting a business to have an income plan. This could look like working part-time, saving money ahead of the launch, or having support from friends or family.

Free isn’t always best

Most small business owners focus entirely on the free ways to promote their business, and I really understand that. However, free isn’t always good! For example, if your clients aren’t on LinkedIn, there’s no point dedicating hours to the platform, even if it’s free. It’s best to allocate a little marketing budget to the channels and approaches that will serve you best.

Learn from others

Starting a business is likely to be one of the steepest learning curves you’ll ever encounter. Burnout, exhaustion and loneliness are, sadly, very common. Many of my clients find themselves feeling this way and hugely benefit from the structure of having a coach to guide and support them. There are many ways to connect with other business owners and I’d recommend you join some groups, forums or networks to get some support.

Whether you’re looking to start a business and earn more money, be your own boss, or work less hours, being self employed offers a wealth of advantages.

Becoming self-employed is a huge step to take and doesn’t come without risks. But those who manage it generally find the no-boss lifestyle highly rewarding. Let’s take a look at some of the main reasons why self-employment can be so fulfilling.

5  advantages of being self employed

Ditch the 9-5

Unless you agree to work on a daily basis for a client during business hours, there is absolutely no need to build a routine based on the working day.

Many clients I work with have young children and prefer to set their hours around their family. Some creatives I know prefer to work in the evenings because that is when they are at their creative peak. I chat with freelancers who work early mornings and finish mid-afternoon before heading out to meet friends and family. Undoubtedly the ability to work within self-selected hours is one of the key advantages of being self employed.

Financial freedom

If you’re employed right now, you’ll probably have been told your salary when you got the job. You might have received incremental increases (usually based on inflation), and you may have received pay rises.

Self employed life is very different. For a start, there is no guarantee of what you’ll earn and you may find peaks and dips in income. Your income will rely on you finding work, then doing the work, and then invoicing for the work. This is often the bit that puts people off becoming a business owner. But if you have a niche, can build a roster of paying clients or have a natural ability to sell yourself, you should find that you’ll be earning far more.

If you’re stuck on how to build up a client base, check out my online sales coaching page to see if it might help you.

Enjoyable work

Work takes up a huge proportion of most people’s lives. In fact, if you were to work from aged 20 – 60, with 5 weeks of annual leave per year, you’d work a total of 8,000 days of your life. That is a LOT of time spent working! Self employed folk have somewhat of an advantage as they get to decide what work they will take on – ideally, something interesting and fulfilling.

I’d recommend anyone just starting out to think deeply about the kind of work they want to do and will feel passionate about, as the can make a real difference to the enjoyment factor of self employed life.

Kiss goodbye to office politics

If you find yourself irritated in boring meetings, complaining about your co-workers, or generally fed up with office life, then self employment might be for you!

In fact, pretty much every freelancer and business owner I have spoken to has said that this was one of their number one reasons for going self-employed. If your workplace is toxic, you have a useless manager, or your day looks like a black hole of meetings, you’ll know what I mean.

I have been self-employed for five years and the person I share my office with is my dog. It’s bliss.

Meeting new people

The ability to meet new people and make friends in one of the big advantages to being self employed. People are a little surprised when I say this because they usually associate self employment with working alone from home. But the reality is that there are massive networks, memberships and communities for self employed people and wherever you are, you’ll be able to find something that suits you.

You can show up and get to know others like you and make friends, connections and clients. Or if you can’t travel, you can try online groups.

Most self employed people I know have far better social lives as a result of working for themselves.

Or, of course, you can work your business around your leisure activities and hobbies.

Self-employed life

Working for yourself is not always easy, and many struggle with the responsibilities of being a business owner. But if it suits your personality you can most certainly reap the advantages!