Category: Work

Are you having a crap time right now? Gas prices are depressing, what’s happening in the Ukraine is horrifying, and getting through the day sometimes feels harder than ever. Acting like these things don’t have an impact on running a business would be bananas. And also, what we do (or don’t do) in our business IS inside of our control when so much of the world is just not. Last month I got pretty vulnerable about the ups and downs of 2021 and how I’ve recently gone through a bit of an identity shift leading me back to the thing that got me started in this online world in the first place – FREEDOM. You sent a bunch of replies that you’re feeling the exact same way. You’re sick of business owners who aren’t transparent online. #toxicpositivity You’re tired of pushing yourself to the verge of burnout. You’re fed up with doing #allthethings and the pressure of constantly showing up. It doesn’t have to be that way. I know from experience. I’ve gotten it wrong, no doubt, but I’ve also gotten it very, very right. So I decided to go all in and hold nothing back. Starting tomorrow I’ve got an exclusive podcast series called: Put the FREE Back in Free Mama Starting Monday, March 14 I’m rolling out 3 special episodes titled…   I almost burned it to the ground   My $50k lesson and $15 decision   5 Steps to a Freedom-based business I’m going to give you a super vulnerable look under the rug at the last year+ here at The Free Mama: the good, the bad, and the incredibly painful  There are so many business owners who only want you to see their success, and that does not serve you. I know what it’s like to chase a goal that isn’t even real. I hope that hearing my hardships will help you get to your totally awesome, guilt-free life a little faster, or help you feel less lonely on your journey. Click here to make sure you’re signed up! Episode 1 is a doozy and it drops tomorrow morning.

When McCall analyzed me, it helped me understand things that I knew about myself deep down… It’s not that I think I’m bad on video… I actually like connecting with you all with Livestreams and Instagram stories… But now that I know my Charisma Styles AND my “Too Faces” that she talked about in the workshop, I feel powerful about my ability for you all to see the best version of myself, every single time I turn on the camera. I want you all to be able to have that too, so you should do two things: 1. Rewatch the recording of our workshop with McCall in the Facebook Group 2. If you feel called to commit yourself to being your best self on video like me, join Charisma Styles Academy here and get the exact same 1-ON-1 training that I got. Can’t wait to see the amazing things you do by being your best self!

Oh my Charisma, Mama. Did you see this?!

We just finished “The Non-Pushy Way To Get Freelancing Clients w/ Video” with McCall Jones. If you missed it, go watch the recording in the Facebook Group now! If you want to make it easier to get clients, you have to watch it, that’s non-negotiable. Also, you have to go check it out because of the 2 extra bonuses McCall dropped for the group! Go watch, go watch, go watch!

“How do you get your kids to do chores?” “How do you get your friends to take your advice?” This was NOT a question I was expecting when McCall was coaching me on improving FreeMamaTV. But that’s why I love when she coaches, and why I’m excited for her custom free workshop “The Non-Pushy Way To Get Freelancing Clients with Video” she is hosting for us on Thursday at 1pm CST. RSVP here to let us know you’re coming. She has LITERALLY customized this workshop specifically to freelancing mamas, the same way she coaches me with training specific to my experience as a mom. If you want more clients, and you want to present yourself in a way that is totally  100%, authentically you, you need to come to the workshop. You’ll walk away seeing why sometimes your video outreach and zoom calls work, and why sometimes they don’t. AND If you are worried about missing the workshop, submit your phone number here and we’ll send you one text message 30 minutes before we start as a reminder!

McCall Jones (my personal video coach and amazing friend) says this all the time in her coaching. She HATES when she hears people give the advice to “not say um” or “slow down your words” when it comes to video. She shows how the secret to being great on video isn’t removing “ums”, it’s making sure that the authentic, likable person you are in real life comes across in video as well. She even coached me on this for FreeMamaTV! McCall will be talking about this and a dozen other important tactics in the free workshop “The Non-Pushy Way To Get Freelancing Clients with Video” she is hosting for us on Thursday at 1pm CT. It will be in The Free Mama Movement Facebook Group. You don’t want to miss it!

So many mamas stress about selling to clients. So many mamas stress about using video. And so many mamas stress about having to do both at the same time! McCall Jones is doing her workshop “The Non-Pushy Way To Get Freelancing Clients with Video” for FREE and it’s game-changing for all my Freelancing Mamas. Video doesn’t have to be stressful… it can be a secret weapon. And best of all, McCall has a system for bringing out your authentic self on video!

McCall is going to teach us “The Non-Pushy Way Freelancing Mamas Can Get More Clients w/ Video”. It’s this Thursday at 1PM CST (2PM EST, 12PM MST, 11AM PST) in our Free Mama Movement Facebook Group. Are you going to be there?

My friend McCall Jones just put together a custom workshop that she is ONLY giving to members of the Free Mama Movement Facebook Group.

(this is us with Kathryn Jones, working on our Charlie’s Angels pose, obvi)

McCall is going to teach us “The Non-Pushy Way Freelancing Mamas Can Get More Clients w/ Video”.

More details on Monday, but for now set aside time on your calendar for Thursday at 1pm CST (2pm EST, 12pm MST, 11am PST).

When was the last time you were truly inspired? Driven? Fulfilled? These were the questions I started asking myself when COVID hit. I’m sure you’ve asked yourself these questions, too. I used to LOVE working outside the home. I loved my job. I loved learning for my job. And to be quite honest, I think I am pretty darn good at it. (I’m a high school tech teacher). I never thought I would want to be a work-at-home mama, until I was forced to do it. Did I mention I also had my 3rd baby in March of 2020? Just when I thought I was going to get to enjoy a “normal” maternity leave, the whole world went on leave with me. I was forced to figure out the juggling act of working from home and keep my family thriving. It was hard. Like really hard. But then we figured it out. And it was awesome. Like really awesome. For the past two years, I have had this silent urge to rearrange my priorities. Why was my job getting the best of me and my family what was left of me? This past Fall I took a group of students to visit my alma mater and got to sit in on a college class with them. I looked around the room and emotion just took over me. I nearly started crying (and I am not a cryer). These kids had a passion for learning. They were eager for their futures. They were PASSIONATE about something. That used to be me and I realized I couldn’t remember the last time I was passionate about my job. I have been completely complacent, which has never been a term to describe me. I am only 30. I have been stuck in a half-in/half-out mindset (aka. The Fence). And that scared the heck out of me. I left that college classroom with a new promise to myself. I was going to pick a side of the fence to fall on. Either I am going to do the work and figure out how to find passion in working my 9-5 again, which could possibly come at the expense of my family, or I was going to find another path and COMMIT to it. That’s when I found Lauren and The Free Mama Movement. So right now, I’m still in the classroom. But I’ve already committed to leaving in May of 2022. Yep. In just a few short months, I’m taking the jump to become a Free Mama. It’s a bold statement to write out, trust me. But I’m tired of being stuck on the fence. I’m tired of making excuses for myself as to why I can’t do something. I’m not naive enough to think that the path ahead will be easy.   But if becoming a Free Mama means I get my priorities back in line, it will be worth it. And because of the Free Mama program and this amazing community of women, I know I don’t have to do it alone. Are you with me? Samantha Free Mama Intern

Do you remember in school when you had to introduce yourself to the rest of class and your heart rate increased, your hands started sweating and you just wanted to run and hide?

I know that sometimes talking about your virtual business can feel a lot like that. Trust me, I’ve been there. And it wasn’t just about strangers, it was about feeling awkward or salesy sharing with family and friends, too. But here’s the thing, you have to talk to people in order for your service-based business to grow. But there’s a right way to go about it and on this week’s episode of FreeMamaTV I tell you 3 steps that will make talking about your business easy peasy.

I’ve said it many times before but if no one knows what you’re doing, how can they connect you with the people you’re meant to serve? This week’s episode of FMTV will make finding these people that much easier.

P.S. Want to know when the right time to start an email list is? Watch last week’s episode to find out my take on it.

And don’t forget to subscribe to Free Mama TV so you’re alerted each and every time a new episode drops!

Take a look at these recent #freemamawins from our community…  -Ashley booked 3 clients THIS WEEK  -Brandi is fully booked for the month of March  -Whitney had her last day at her 9-5  -Brittany made it to $100K in her business  -Bianca just booked with her DREAM client  -Terrika had a former client come back   -Meagan added a new member to her team  -Casey is earning the equivalent to 4 MONTHS’ salary at her old job for one project And that’s just to name a FEW. We’re really just scratching the surface here!

Now think, what are your goals?

How much money do you want to make this year in your freelance business?
$5,000? $15,000? $50,000?

Whatever your goal is, break that down. How many clients do you need, per month, to reach your goal?

Let’s say your goal is $5,000/month. How can you get there?

 You could do 50 $100 projects – I’m exhausted thinking about it!
 5 $1000 projects – This is more reasonable!
 3 retainer clients at $1500-$2000/month

However you’ve decided to break it down, the first thing you need to reach your goal is to GET A CLIENT.

I’ll bet you’re asking, “How on earth do you do that?”

The simple answer is, by reaching out to people and asking them about their business, and providing a solution they can’t refuse.

If you need help figuring out who you want to work for, how to connect, and how to get their business, join my friend Abbi for the LAND YOUR BEST CLIENT challenge, beginning on Monday, February 28th.

During this challenge, you’ll work through 5 PROVEN steps that lead to your very best freelance client.  

And trust me, It’s a challenge that’s designed for busy people — Abbi has FIVE kids, so she knows what she’s doing.

By the end of the 5-day challenge you’ll know:

-Who your best client is
-Where to connect with her
-How to reach out and pitch your services

The challenge starts on February 28th. Click here to sign up.