Every superhero has an arch-nemesis (or two). Batman’s got the Joker. Spidey’s got the Green Goblin. Superman? Lex Luthor. But you? You’ve got five freelancing villains quietly sabotaging your business. There’s no maniacal laughter or evil stare. They’re not wearing capes or threatening to destroy the world with a giant-ass laser. These villains are more subtle: “Just one more YouTube video…” “I’ll do those reachouts tomorrow…” “I need to fix my portfolio first…” And before you know it? They’ve stolen another week of progress. If there’s one thing I’ve learned working 1 on 1 with hundreds of creative freelancers, it’s this: You don’t rise to the level of your strategy…You fall to the level of your patterns. I've seen clients with a flawless strategy that they're trying to execute… And yet they can't get out of their own damn way to execute it. Because when things get hard, or new, or uncomfortable… We default down to whatever survival pattern we’ve always used to cope. In this week’s episode, I’m joined by one of the Clients by Design coaches, Josh Love, to call out all 5 of those freelancing villains (and how to finally defeat them). We’ll dive into: how these patterns form how they masquerade as productivity what to do when you catch yourself spiraling. The first step to defeating your particular villain is knowing which one you’re dealing with. For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/376

Back in 2011, I made a list called “My Future Wife.” A bullet-point breakdown of everything I wanted in…you guessed it…my future wife. The whole dream package. But after reading through it, I had a sinking realization: I wasn't the type of guy who would be attractive to that type of woman. So I spent the next few years becoming that man. That list changed my life, and eventually led me to my actual wife who IS the perfect-fit person for me. I came across that document recently and it made me realize: Most freelancers never do the same exercise with their business. They dream about high-paying, low-drama, “perfect-fit” clients… But never ask the hard question: Am I the kind of freelancer my dream client is looking for? In this week’s episode of the podcast, I share the 4 traits that make you magnetic to your dream clients (the things many freelancers completely overlook). It’s not just about being good at what you do. It’s about being the kind of person your dream client is drawn to. Let’s make you irresistible (in business, anyway). For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/375

“I don’t want to bother people.” That one thought has killed more freelancers than bad pricing ever has. “I don’t want to bother people with emails.” “I don’t want to follow up too soon.” “I don’t want to come off pushy.” Translation? You’re broke because you’re assuming you’re bothering people… When in reality? They’re probably happy to be bothered. I would rather be annoying than irrelevant. That’s why for this episode I brought in Danielle Weil (our in-house email marketing strategist) to break down 3 simple emails that stop leads from slipping through your fingers without being pushy or annoying. These aren’t newsletters. They’re not long, complicated sequences. They’re short, strategic, and designed to put money back in your pocket. If you’re not doing email marketing (or doing it badly), this is your wake-up call. For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/374

"How much do you charge?" Six simple words. But if you're like most freelancers, that question makes your stomach drop. You freeze. You ramble. You undercharge. You regret it. Why? Because it’s a trap. And if you’re not paying attention, you’ll walk right into it. This week’s episode breaks down exactly how to answer this question without sounding desperate, unsure, or cheap (no matter whether it comes via DM, email, or awkward in-person moment.) The 4 scenarios where you never give a number My actual templates you can use to stay in control How to filter out bad-fit clients without scaring off the good ones If you’ve ever fumbled this question (or avoided it completely), this is the episode that will fix it. For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/373

Hard to explain. Not specific enough. Too wide an audience. Freelancers kinda suck at crafting offers. Even the good ones. Especially the good ones. If your best-fit clients cannot easily repeat back who you help, the results you promise, and how you deliver it… You're probably doing this wrong. We’ve worked with hundreds of freelancers at this point, and if WE have no idea what the heck it is you do… How are your clients gonna know? Congratulations, you just killed the sale with confusion. In this week’s episode, I bring on our Clients by Design coach Stephen Hutson to break down the five pieces every great offer needs. We show you: Why your Franken-service is repelling clients How to instantly raise your rates without changing your service The one litmus test to see if your offer actually makes sense Crafting a great offer is both an art and a science, and it’s one of the first steps to building a Client Acquisition Machine. Get this right, and great clients will instantly know what you do, why you’re worth the price, and how to say “hell yes.” Get this wrong, and you’ll keep selling the what… while they walk away confused about the why. For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/372

If you’re great at what you do… If people look up to you, hire you, refer you… And you’re still struggling with client acquisition… You know what you SHOULD be doing. So what’s holding you back? Sometimes, after being so good at what you do for so long, the idea of starting something you might not be great at right away can feel uncomfortable. We forget what it’s like to be a newbie, making mistakes. And now? That fear of sucking again is keeping you stuck. I get it… “marketing” can feel like a wild west with zero rhyme or reason. Paid ads? I could end up donating money to Zuck for nothing. Building funnels and automations? Seems complicated. So it’s easier to stick with what you know. Even if it’s not working like it used to. How much is that inaction costing you? How much longer can you afford to NOT fix this? But guess what… The people who grow the fastest are the ones willing to look dumb for a while. Willing to dare to suck. This week’s episode is all about that feeling (and why being okay with sucking again is often the first step toward real growth.) For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/371

You know that meme… Charlie Day, crazed look, wall of string, pointing at chaos? That’s the typical freelancer trying to make a decision. A simple pricing change? You’re mapping out lifetime value, market benchmarks, “CFO-level cost abstractions” (whatever the hell that means). Meanwhile, someone else just ran a quick test, got a client, and moved on. While one person’s “trying to decide on a niche”… Another one has tested 5 different offers and actually figured out what will sell. If you’ve been stuck in “procrasturbation”… Tweaking your logo. Updating your website. Getting ready to get ready… Instead of launching offers, testing, having conversations, and figuring it out by failing fast… Listen to THIS EPISODE now. And then DO SOMETHING. Move fast. Speed is king. And indecision is the tax you’re paying. There’s a specific reason I’m bringing this up now… Because I get so mad when I see freelancers getting stuck on this stuff when there is a simple path that leads directly to the 3% of clients who are ready to hire you right now. Later this week, we’re offering something special to a handful of freelancers And it might have something to do with us handing you our entire client acquisition system. That includes funnels, follow-up, CRM. And we're covering the software cost too. More about that later this week. In the meantime check out the episode. For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/370

Just one nightmare client can ruin your business. One soul-sucking, scope-creeping, micromanaging clown who drains your time, sanity, and confidence. And the frustrating thing is, you probably felt the red flags on that first call (and ignored them)… Thinking, “it’ll be fine”… “I’m probably overreacting…” “I can manage them, they really do need my help”… And my favorite: “It’s good money.” So you said yes (even though your gut said no). And now they’re making your life miserable. The solution? Stop relying on “gut feelings” and use my simple scorecard that filters out the clowns and makes it easy to say “thanks, but no thanks.” In this week’s episode, I break down the C.L.O.W.N.S. Framework 🤡: 6 red flags you must spot on your next sales call if you want to avoid the clients from hell. You’ll learn how to sniff out the “red flag” clients that are more trouble than they’re worth. For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/369

Ever hop on a discovery call… Only to find out they "might" be ready in 6 months, have no budget, and just want free advice? Not only did you get your hopes up, you ALSO just wasted your time. Yeah, it sucks - and today we’re going to fix it. Way back in the 1960’s, IBM developed a pretty cool framework called BANT to weed out bad leads… And in this episode, I’ve adapted it for freelance businesses. This 4-question system will help you spot bad leads before you ever get on a call: You’ll save hours each week by not chasing dead-end leads. You’ll feel more confident on sales calls because you’re leading the conversation. You’ll close more high-quality projects because you’ll be talking to the right people For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/368

You know those big dumb idiots in high school that pull the fire alarm? Yeah, that was me. Turns out I was just practicing for my freelance career. Because most freelancers treat marketing exactly like that fire alarm - you only pull it when everything's already on fire. When the clients have dried up, the leads have dried up, and you're in full-blown panic mode. Then things get busy again, the money starts flowing again, and something in your brain says, “We’re good, we don’t need to do this terrible ‘marketing’ thing anymore.” So you stop. Throw yourself into the work. Deliver for clients. Ghost your social media and your leads… 3 months later? Things are on fire again. Cue the alarm bells and the frantic panic-posting. This is the feast-and-famine cycle that is SO common - and that you yourself are fueling. You know it’s dumb. Let’s fix it. This week’s podcast episode is the third and final part in the “Big Dumb Stupid Idiot” Series, where I break down the 5 things that most creative freelancers are doing that keeps them stuck in the agonizing feast-or-famine cycle. We’ll talk about: Why most creative freelancers are SO allergic to marketing (and yet so very susceptible to it) The truth about lead magnets (and other ridiculous marketing myths) The "1-2-3" marketing routine that’s doable every day (even when you're swamped with client work) For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/367

”Oh look — Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Because what this $5,000 problem really needed was a damn menu.” When you offer three-tiered pricing because “that’s how pricing psychology works, right?”… All you’re doing is giving your best clients more questions, more confusion, and a way to spend less money. You’re not a SaaS. You’re not a wedding cake. And tiered pricing? That's just ONE of six "big, dumb stupid idiot" pricing mistakes in this week's podcast episode. Step into the “Pricing Confessional” with me to talk about the mistakes we’re all kinda ashamed of: “I’m in a place where I say yes to anything I can get my hands on.” “I’ve generally undercharged throughout my career.” “I’ve allowed clients to negotiate lower rates.” “I would love to raise that rate but this is what I’m comfortable with right now.” “I have not had a very consistent pricing structure — everything has been too custom.” Sound familiar? You know it’s dumb. Let’s fix it. It’s time to STOP pricing like a big dumb stupid idiot and START being smarter about your pricing so you can actually attract and close those high-end clients you want. For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/366

You ever say things like… "Let me know if there's anything I can do" Or "Just keep me in mind"? Then you might be selling your services like a big, dumb, stupid idiot. (Yes, those were my exact words.) This episode kicks off a savage new series where I break down 8 ways freelancers ruin sales without realizing it.  You'll learn: Why your “nice guy” language is killing deals The simple question that filters time-wasters from real buyers How to stop being ghosted forever (seriously) If you’ve ever felt weird about sales or struggled to land high-paying clients, this episode will sting… in a good way. For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/365

Hey quick gut check: Is your portfolio a "highlight reel" or a "dumping ground"? If it’s the latter, you’re making the same mistake most freelancers make. You’re trying to be the Cheesecake Factory, with its 21-page menu with 250+ items on it. Your thought process is "there's something for everyone". And yet… no one knows what you’re actually great at. In this episode of the 6 Figure Creative Podcast, I call this out for what it is: The Portfolio Paradox: the more work you show, the fewer clients you actually land. In this episode, I’ll show you: Why your “impressive” portfolio isn’t converting The silent signals a cluttered portfolio sends to clients And how to fix it with a Greatest Hits-style approach that builds trust fast If you want clients saying “hell yes” instead of “next!"... listen to this episode. For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/364

Ever been to a spa?   You get a menu with 12 fancy options… and no idea which one you actually need.   Do you need the Ocean Quartz Detox Wrap for $149 or the Rejuvenating Himalayan Sound Bath Experience for $399?   You have no idea.   Now imagine you're about to spend $5K to $10K (or more), and you’re handed the same kind of “pick-your-own-adventure” PDF.   This is exactly what I've seen freelancers do in their sales process, and it's losing you clients you should’ve closed.   In this week’s episode of the 6 Figure Creative Podcast, I break down the “spa menu pricing” trap, and show you how to sell like a doctor instead.   Doctors don’t give you options. They listen, diagnose, and prescribe.   That’s what your clients want too (bc you're the expert of your domain).   If you want to... Close more gigs Speed up your sales cycle (i.e. how long it takes to close a client) Charge what you’re truly worth ...then don’t miss this one. For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/363

Most freelancers aren’t selling to strangers. They’re stuck relying on referrals and word-of-mouth… So they never realize how fragile their business actually is. Because when that word-of-mouth dries up and you finally try to reach outside your cozy little network? Suddenly the “no’s” and ghosting start piling up. And it’s not because your work isn’t good. It’s not because your prices are too high. It’s because you’re asking people to take a leap… With no parachute. This week’s episode is about fixing that with Risk Reversal and Guarantees. And it’s one of the most powerful ways to get more “hell yes” responses—even from people you just met. This episode breaks down: The types of risk clients are actually worried about How to flip that fear into your biggest sales asset Real examples from other freelancers using these tactics to close faster and stand out How to NOT screw yourself over with a bad guarantee If you want more clients, faster closes, and fewer “let me think about it” replies… This episode will change how you pitch, forever. For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/362

One of my clients has the dream setup: A solid YouTube following Tens of thousands of people visiting his site every month A clean, self-checkout flow for his freelance services Sounds awesome, right? But when we looked under the hood… He was making just $0.23 per visitor. Twenty. Three. Cents. Let that sink in. That’s LESS than $5k/month from 20,000 website visitors. I nearly threw my laptop. That same traffic, with a real sales process? Could be worth $20k… even $50k. This is the myth of passive sales. It feels efficient. It looks scalable. But for service businesses? It’s an income-killer. Passive sales feel great… until you realize you’re leaving tens of thousands of dollars on the table. Every. Single. Month. Your income per website visitor is way more important than your total traffic. That single metric—earnings per visitor—exposes how effective (or broken) your sales process really is. Most freelancers think more eyeballs = more money. In this episode, I break down why you don’t need more traffic. You need more $$$ per visitor. I’m talking: The full sales strategy spectrum (passive → async → real convos) How to balance your time and make more per visitor And how a small tweak to your sales flow can 10x your earnings per visitor If you’re serious about hitting $100k, $250k, or beyond, this is the lever to pull. For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/361

As you scale past $100k as a creative freelancer, something starts to break: YOU become the bottleneck. You’re managing every email. Sending every invoice. Doing every project from scratch. Waking up at 3am remembering something you forgot to send. No wonder things feel chaotic. But here’s the good news: You can fix this without hiring a team.In this episode of the 6FC Podcast, I walk you through the 3 systems that multiply your output (and your income) — without adding a single person to your payroll. ✅ Client onboarding systems ✅ Project delivery systems ✅ Communication systems Set these up once, and you’ll never look back. For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/360

At first, every new lead feels like a win. (Finally, people want to work with me!)   But if you actually want to break into multi-six figures? You need to say "no" more than ever.   Because every bad-fit client you say yes to drains your creativity, clogs your calendar, and burns you out before you even realize it’s happening.   In this week’s episode, I'm breaking down The 5-Step Client Filter Every High-Earning Freelancer Needs — so you can stop wasting time on the wrong projects and start building the freelance business you actually want.   Because getting clients isn’t the finish line. It’s where we really need to start protecting our time, our creativity, and our sanity. For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/359

Every freelancer knows the feeling…   One week, you’re slammed with work.   The next? Crickets.   And in those quiet weeks, you’re either putting out fires or you panic and slash your rates to get anything booked.   But here’s the truth:   Those “lulls” are the reason you’re stuck under $200k.   Not your talent. Not your pricing. Not the economy.   If you want to consistently hit multi-six figures, you need what I call a Demand Engine — a 4-part system that keeps your inbox full and your calendar booked before the slow weeks hit.   In this episode, I’ll walk you through exactly how to build it — using tools, automations, and strategies we’ve battle-tested across dozens of six-figure+ freelancers.   Let’s fix your “calendar problem” once and for all. For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/358

If you're trying to break into multi-six figures as a freelancer, this might sound familiar: You're good at what you do. You’ve got clients. You’ve raised your rates. But somehow… you’re still stuck around $100k–$150k. The problem? It’s not your pricing. It’s not your marketing. It’s that your service isn’t built to scale. In this episode, I’ll walk you through how to package what you already do into a clear, repeatable service that sells easier, delivers faster, and actually scales. No more reinventing the wheel every project No more delivery chaos No more guessing at what to charge This is the path to breaking through the $200k, $300k, even $500k+ ceiling - without burning out. For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/357