Overestimating your bandwidth, treating marketing as a seasonal task, and pitching yourself like an employee are top mistakes new consultants often make as they first dive into self-employment. My latest for @inc.com on getting ahead of these missteps. www.inc.com/brian-honigm...

Enjoyment at work isn’t something that just happens. It’s a facet that you have to identify, prioritize, and measure so it’s an ever-present in your day-to-day. Here's how to make joy a constant in your solo business. www.linkedin.com/pulse/joy-le...

Relying on one source of income is a risky career move. In the latest edition of Career Freelancer, I break down why a portfolio career is actually the safer bet and how real people are using it to protect their income, sanity, and future. www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-po...

These are the most popular editions of my newsletter on navigating freelancing as a career-long pursuit. 🧡 1. How to invest wisely in the right career development opportunities www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-in...

After 12 years of freelancing, my biggest realization is that a sustainable solo career is built on a series of choices, not a single breakthrough. Here are the best and worst business moves I've made in a decade of self-employment.

Want potential clients to trust you? Earn "reputational currency" in the form of writing, speaking, or teaching. It signals: I'm the expert. I've done this, and here's proof. My latest in @inc.com on how solopreneurs can win the trust of potential clients: www.inc.com/brian-honigm...

The conditions today are more ideal than ever for diving into self-employment. 29.8 million solopreneurs are already doing it, and you can too. In my piece for @inc.com, I discuss why this shift is happening today and how it's easier (not easy) to begin freelancing. www.inc.com/brian-honigm...

Seasoned freelancers are pros at turning skepticism into trust. Reframe assumptions and create strong relationships by showing vs. telling others how you show up as a partner. If you’re looking for more reframes on common myths about freelancers, check out my newsletter. #freelance #selfemployed

Freelancers get hit with snap judgments: Like that we're cheap labor, order-takers, “unemployable.” It's up to you to position yourself differently and get ahead of it. In last week's newsletter, I covered the common myths and how to challenge them intentionally. 🧡 www.linkedin.com/pulse/overco...

The age old advice but for freelancers: don’t forget to work ON your business and not just IN your business.

A recent study by Bayes Business School shows daily stress levels rise noticeably when you are self-employed, largely due to long working hours. Left unchecked, this kind of pressure quickly leads to burnout. Here's how to fix this, based on my twelve years of experiencing freelancing.

You'll inevitably have moments where clients aren't coming in like they used to. A normal problem that arises for almost all freelancers. Here's how to navigate these slow seasons and turn them around in your favor. 🧡 www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-bo...

Freelancing often starts with work that isn’t scalable. That intense effort is often required to break through and establish a practice with staying power.

I've freelanced for 12 years now. Clients don't hire me because I say I'm an expert. They hire me because they can see how I think. That's often through my writing, as it is one type of reputational currency.

Undercharging is easy. Charging what you’re worth takes strategy. Consider the tangible results you deliver, the market rates for your type of work, and your previous salary to set rates that match your expertise as a freelancer. #freelance #solopreneur

Here's a quick script for turning scope creep into a paid opportunity, while protecting your time and keeping the project on track. #freelance #solopreneur #selfemployed #freelancerlife

Want potential clients to notice you? Putting in the extra effort is required today as you’re navigating sales, biz dev, and marketing as a freelancer. The goal is standing out for the right reasons, showcasing your expertise, reliability, and impact. #freelance #solopreneur #selfemployed

Want more freelance work? Earn the trust of existing clients. Communicate these wins to signal your trustworthiness to others. And invest time in earning reputational currency from known institutions like earning industry awards, writing for trade publications, teaching at universities etc.

Hello consulting!! Here’s how to get going, land your first clients, and set up your business from the start. All based on my new article in @inc.com go give it a read. www.inc.com/brian-honigm... 🔗 #consulting #selfemployed

Becoming an independent consultant is popular these days given the tough job market, plus it's one way to gain more control over your career. It's competitive though! Here's my guide to starting your own consulting practice in 2026. My first article for @inc.com ☺️ www.inc.com/brian-honigm...

Five shifts smart freelancers are making to secure year-round work in today’s market. www.tiktok.com/t/ZTh67GTk1/

Most advice on identifying a niche as a freelancer is vague. The goal is to land on a positioning statement like one of these: -- Marketing Consultant with 12 years driving content marketing, social media, and digital strategy for tech companies, media brands, and nonprofits

Every freelancer starts somewhere; clarity on what work you enjoy and what’s in demand comes with time. Be kinder to yourself in the beginning as you figure things out and set your foundations. Discernment will come later. #freelance #selfemployed #solopreneur #consulting #careerpivot

In this week's newsletter, I dive into reasonable shifts you can make in your freelance practice that have helped me and other self-employed folks in my network stay booked. Like: 1. Blending more execution work into your advising. More immersion is expected in many cases.

Three steps to becoming an independent consultant after your career in corporate. #freelance #selfemployed #solopreneur #consulting #careerpivot

Be a jack/jill of all trades AND a master of some for lasting relevance as a freelancer. #freelance #selfemployed #solopreneur #freelancetips #freelancelife

How to avoid spreading yourself too thinly as you diversify into multiple streams of income. #freelance #selfemployed #solopreneur #freelancertips #freelancerlife

Getting back into work after the holiday season without stress or burnout. It’s a little different as a freelancer, not harder. #freelance #selfemployed #solopreneur #freelancertips #careeradvice

Add interesting, fun, and challenging projects to your mix to stay motivated as a freelancer. Even if it doesn’t pay substantially, the goal is bringing some joy to your work. #freelance #selfemployed #solopreneur #freelancertips #careeradvice

Starting a freelance practice is hard. Keeping it going for the long term is even harder. But it’s not impossible. You don’t need genius-level insights. what matters is showing up intentionally and being strategic about your day-to-day work.

You don't need the perfect plan when diving into freelancing. Just take the next step and you'll adjust your strategy later. #freelance #selfemployed #solopreneur #freelancertips #freelancerlife

Social media is one way to promote yourself as a freelancer, but it is not a requirement either. It’s more like a nice to have if you’re investing in marketing elsewhere in other ways. #freelance #freelancertips #solopreneur

Say yes to more gigs when first starting out with freelancing, clarity comes later. #freelance #selfemployed #solopreneur #freelancertips #careeradvice

How to show up as a partner not as an employee, so you’re taken more seriously as a freelancer. #freelance #selfemployed #solopreneur #freelancertips

I take off most of December every year. Usually three weeks, sometimes the entire month. As a freelancer, I'm afforded more flexibility with my schedule and the holiday season is a slow time for everyone, but mainly I plan ahead for winter break.

Freelancing can easily become nonstop work. Multiple clients, shifting deadlines, and new opportunities make it tempting to always stay “on.” Time off is not a luxury. It is a strategic part of sustaining your business.

Less sting, more strategy. How to reduce the hurt when getting rejected as a freelancer. #freelance #selfemployed #solopreneur #freelancertips #careeradvice

Rejection is part of freelancing. No matter how skilled or experienced you are, not every pitch or proposal will land. The key is frequency. The more you put yourself out there, the less each “no” will sting. It sounds counterintuitive, but it's the truth, in my humble opinion.

Many freelancers burn out, struggle with cash flow, or lose love for what they do. These pitfalls are often why folks can’t continue freelancing for the long haul. Here’s how to recognize and avoid them. #freelance #selfemployed #solopreneur #freelancertips #freelancerlife

Proactive networking is the best insurance policy as a freelancer.

Less sting, more strategy. How to reduce the hurt when getting rejected as a freelancer. #freelance #selfemployed #solopreneur #freelancertips #careeradvice

Freelancing is finally being seen as an equal career path. It comes with its own unique pros and cons of course. Here's why now is as good a time as ever to dive into self-employment. 👇

Slow periods happen for every freelancer. It’s what you do with them that defines if this is a viable career path for the future. #freelance #selfemployed #solopreneur #freelancertips #careeradvice

The rise of freelancing isn’t replacing traditional jobs, it's an equal alternative. 29.8M solopreneurs now represent 81% of all U.S. small businesses. The shift is real! Here's why self-employment is as viable as ever. www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-se...

Ever felt like a client’s just tossing tasks at you? You’re not alone, but that’s not your only option. Leading a project, not just reacting to it, is how you protect your boundaries AND deliver better results. Learn how in this week's newsletter: www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-fr...

How freelancers act as leaders, not order takers.

Proactive networking is the best insurance policy as a freelancer.

Want more clients? Spend five minutes every work day pitching, applying, or networking. Freelancing for the long haul requires you make business development a routine, one incremental step at a time. #freelance #selfemployed #solopreneur #freelancertips #careeradvice

How to build trust in what you offer as a freelancer by earning reputational currency. #freelance

Your next move as a freelancer isn’t likely on your to-do list. Make the time today to start planning for the continued sustainable growth of your practice. One step at a time. #freelance #selfemployed #solopreneur #freelancertips #freelancer