Published inIndex·PinnedMember-onlyTreat Your Career Like a Portfolio, Not a ResumeLinear career paths are a thing of the past. — For generations, careers have been a ladder to climb. You start at the bottom, grab each rung, and pull yourself up until you reach the top. You might slip and fall back a bit (like a layoff) or skip a few rungs with a promotion. Or maybe you get stuck…Work5 min readWork5 min read
Published inILLUMINATION·Sep 4Member-onlyHow to Quit Your Job as a High-Performing EmployeeBe prepared for a tough conversation. — Quitting a job is rarely the satisfying experience one would hope. In fact, sometimes it’s downright unpleasant. If you’re the “get stuff done” person, a team lead, or even higher up the food chain, your absence is going to leave a hole in the company. …Business5 min readBusiness5 min read
Sep 1Member-onlyIs There a “Right Time” to Start Freelancing? Here Are Some SignalsKnow when it’s time to leave your 9–5 job. — “When is the right time to begin freelancing?” is a lot like asking “When is the right time to buy a house?” or “When is the right time to have a baby?” There’s never a perfect time. Or if you wait for the perfect time, when you think you’ll have…Freelancing5 min readFreelancing5 min read
Published inThe Startup·Aug 1Member-onlyOne Freelancer’s Journey: From Cheap Projects to Niche ExpertA peek behind the scenes of a thriving freelance writing business. — When I first began freelancing, almost three years ago, I was paid $27 for 1,000 words. I didn’t know any better and thought that writing was simply a low-paid career path, a misconception I’d graduated from college with an English degree. …Freelance Writing6 min readFreelance Writing6 min read
Published inCurious·Jul 20Member-onlyCreate a System to Maintain Your RelationshipsA contact management tool can help. — If you’re like me, you have hundreds if not thousands of connections. If you look across the vast expanse of people, you’ll have friends, your kids’ teachers and coaches, your colleagues, and more. …CRM4 min readCRM4 min read
Jul 15Member-onlyYou Cannot Exist Without UsWe have a problem and that problem is greed. — This week, the Screen Actors Guild went on strike after negotiations with Hollywood studio executives broke down. SAG-AFTRA president Fran Descher delivered a fiery speech, which ended with: “We are labor, and we stand tall, and we demand respect and to be honored for our contribution. …Sag Aftra6 min readSag Aftra6 min read
Published inILLUMINATION·Jul 10Member-onlyThe Downfall of Twitter, the Rise of ThreadsHas a viable Twitter alternative finally arrived? — My phone vibrated in the early evening of July 5th. A notification: Threads were now available for download. I’d heard that Meta was building a Twitter alternative a few months ago. At the time, the release date was unknown. Then I tripped across the news that Threads would be released…Threads5 min readThreads5 min read
Published inThe Writing Cooperative·Jul 9Member-onlyProtect Your Writing Business in a World of AIWriters can’t ignore generative AI — Among my writer friends, I’ve seen the reactions to AI writing tools range from disdain to “AI is going to replace us.” Some freelance writers have claimed that they’ve lost clients to AI and that job boards are drying up. Undoubtedly some clients will turn to AI as a cheaper…Ai Writing5 min readAi Writing5 min read
Published inThe Startup·Jun 21Member-onlyHow to Create and Maintain a Client Email ListNeed to contact all of your clients at once? Make it easy to reach out. — We think of email lists as something companies use to reach out to their customers. Or something e-commerce brands use to entice us to buy products. Or something creators use to send newsletters. If you’re a solopreneur working with clients, you probably think you have no need for an email…Freelancers4 min readFreelancers4 min read
Published inILLUMINATION·Jun 20Member-onlyHow to Hire a Niche Freelance Writer for Your BusinessSome industries require expert knowledge. — The pressure is everywhere: produce more content. Businesses have to show up in multiple channels and individuals increasingly develop a personal brand to advance their careers. In any form, content relies heavily on quality writing to stand out amidst the noise. For some industries, written content is hard. The audience…Business5 min readBusiness5 min read