Passion is temperamental, ethereal, and a weak material to build a business on. It should be your guiding star, not the foundation for your business.

--

Episode Summary

In this episode, Bryce discusses:

• The challenge of finding your passion
• How working on your passion can snuff it out
• How outside influences affect your passion
• How freelancing allows the flexibility to pursue your passion -- but that passion can't be the only thing fueling your freelance business
• How work shaped Bryce's passions
• The importance of "not losing the magic"
• What, exactly, is the creative "spark"
• How passion and the creative spark can be snuffed out by real life
• Bill Murray's advice for being a competent human being (and baseball player)

Extra resources:

> Don't Lose the Magic via Austin Kleon

> George Saunders Writing Education Timeline via The New Yorker 

> Bill Murray's speech

Notes:

• Bryce refers to fantasy author alumni  "Tom Erikson." He is, of course, referring to Steven Erikson. 

--

This episode is sponsored by MightyDeals!

MightyDeals offers fantastic (and exclusive!) deals for web professionals. Use coupon code CFHPodcast to save 15% on your next purchase!

Here are a few deals we recommend:

> 500,000+ vectors, illustrations, and icons -- $39 (save $628!)

> Freelance Starter Kit with contract templates, identity sets, ebooks and more -- $29  

--

Questions? Episode ideas?

Talk to Clients From Hell or Bryce Bladon on Twitter. Or shoot us an email! 

Clients From Hell on iTunes | Soundcloud
Subscribe on iTunes | Android | RSS

Bryce takes a look at the state of the freelancing economy, offering hard figures and explaining what it means for the future of freelancing. 

--

Episode Summary

Key points for this episode include:

• 15.5 million people in the US are self-employed -- though that number is closer to 53.7 million people if you include moonlighters and temp workers
• By 2020, more than 40% of the American workforce (60 million people) are expected to be independent workers
• More than 80% of large companies plan to increase their use of a flexible workforce
• Corporate downsizing, shifting economic conditions, employee dissatisfaction, platforms for pairing talent with businesses and co-working spaces are all reasons for the growth of independent workers
• Simply put, freelancing allows businesses to find targeted and qualified talent to address their needs at a lower cost. 
• 50% of freelancers wouldn't stop freelancing for any amount of money
• Over 60% of freelancers earn more than they did via traditional employment, with 78% of them earning this in their first year
• 83% of freelancers believe their brightest days are ahead
• Bryce also covered the statistics that showcase why freelancing is worth it
• He also addresses the principled benefits for freelancing

Extra resources:

> Rise of the Supertemp (Harvard Business Review)

> Intuit 2020 report

> Freelancing in America: 2015 report (led by Emergent Research and commissioned by The Freelancers Union and UpWork)

--

This episode is sponsored by MightyDeals!

MightyDeals offers fantastic (and exclusive!) deals for web professionals. Use coupon code CFHPodcast to save 15% on your next purchase!

Here are a few deals we recommend:

> 500,000+ vectors, illustrations, and icons -- $39 (save $628!)

> Freelance Starter Kit with contract templates, identity sets, ebooks and more -- $29  

--

Questions? Episode ideas?

Talk to Clients From Hell or Bryce Bladon on Twitter. Or shoot us an email! 

Clients From Hell on iTunes | Soundcloud
Subscribe on iTunes | Android | RSS

Celina Wong once again joins host Bryce Bladon to discuss premium pricing -- why it works, why clients and customers actually like it, and the funny psychology behind pricing. 

Click here to read how Celina got started as an artist (without a website and WITH premium pricing).

--

Episode Summary

This episode addresses:

• Why selling yourself short may be costing you clients. 
• How raising her price lead to a flourishing freelancing career for Celina
• Why 'more expensive' is equated with 'higher quality'
• How comparative pricing works
• Why selling "time" and experiences results in better money
• How price anchoring works
• Our weird fascination with charm pricing and the number nine. 
• How context informs how much someone is willing to pay. 

Extra resources:

> How premium pricing kickstarted Celina's art commission career

> KissMetrics on Pricing Psychology

> Effects of $9 Price Endings (study via MIT and The University of Chicago)

> Nick Kolenda's 46 Pricing Strategies (it's shocking Nick isn't charging for this)

--

This episode is sponsored by MightyDeals!

MightyDeals offers fantastic (and exclusive!) deals for web professionals. Use coupon code CFHPodcast to save 15% on your next purchase!

Here are a few deals we recommend:

> 500,000+ vectors, illustrations, and icons -- $39 (save $628!)

> Freelance Starter Kit with contract templates, identity sets, ebooks and more -- $29  

--

Questions? Episode ideas?

Talk to Clients From Hell or Bryce Bladon on Twitter. Or shoot us an email! 

Clients From Hell on iTunes | Soundcloud
Subscribe on iTunes | Android | RSS

Host Bryce Bladon suggests that most work-life balance solutions are part of the problem -- before offering real advice for dealing with the real issue. 

--

Episode Summary

Bryce addresses:

• The problems with most work-life balance self-help articles
• The real issue at hand
• The hilarity of freelancing as a solution to the problem 
• Signs that you're struggling with work-life balance
• How to actually establish work-life balance WITHOUT the bull

He also says sorry, like, 40 goddamn times this episode, not the "one or two times" he thinks he does. 

Sorry about that. He's working on it.

--

This episode is sponsored by MightyDeals!

MightyDeals offers fantastic (and exclusive!) deals for web professionals. Use coupon code CFHPodcast to save 15% on your next purchase!

Here are a few deals we recommend:

> 500,000+ vectors, illustrations, and icons -- $39 (save $628!)

> Freelance Starter Kit with contract templates, identity sets, ebooks and more -- $29  

--

Questions? Episode ideas?

Talk to Clients From Hell or Bryce Bladon on Twitter. Or shoot us an email! 

Clients From Hell on iTunes | Soundcloud
Subscribe on iTunes | Android | RSS