133: Where Have I been + an update

Where have I been? As you may have noticed, I have not been creating any new content or been writing any emails to you for a bit.

I have been MFCCA (missing from the content creation action)!

This happened after hitting my highest rev month
Earlier this year, I hit my highest revenue month at $22K which was a celebratory milestone only until it led to a burn-out. After delivering on all the big and small web design projects, I decided I needed to slow things down before my body breaks down making it a necessity and not a choice.

So, I took a couple weeks off, did an at-home 10-day online meditation retreat and filled my calendar only with a select few projects that I enjoy working on and the clients with whom I enjoy working with.

I also decided I will go on a 10 day in-person retreat near St. Louis this Fall and spend more of my weekends relaxing, hiking (haven't gotten to this one yet! #loftygoals), reading fiction (haven't done in years: now reading ​"Hell of A Book" by Jason Mott from my home state of North Carolina​, not an affiliate link) and net-flixing (I really enjoy Saturday matinees).

That sweet spot between growing my business and figuring out what's "enough" is something I am still tweaking and figuring out, while also mixing-in spaciousness and ease into my calendar—one of my high values!

Content creation had to take a back seat.

If you joined my email newsletter during this lull, and haven't gotten to know me yet, let me introduce myself:

Hi, I am Sophia, an Indian American (first generation - lived in Mumbai till I was 14!) web designer and coach to web designers, based in the Blue Ridge Mountains, NC. I design websites on Squarespace and help other designers/freelancers build a thriving freelance business. It’s lovely to meet you. :)

And if you've been with me for a while and till here, a heartfelt thanks - thank you for coming along this journey as I figure out how to serve you better and how I can contribute meaningfully to help you reach your goals.

Now I've taken a few slower months — less clients, more reflecting and resting. I am not jumping back on the content creation wheel in full force, just yet, but you will begin to see some more action here in my newsletter and on my YouTube channel, starting with this update:

The 14 year journey
I started my freelance journey in Germany back in 2009 with a small business creating photo books for individuals and families (Quinceaneras, Nature photo collection, Father’s/Mother's Day, South Africa trip photos, photo memoirs and so on).

Now it’s 2023 where I build websites for a living. I have time freedom and make a living with my creative (plus some left-brain) talents. It’s taken 14 years to get here — at times very hard emotionally and financially. I have tons to learn still of course and have a fire for much more to create and contribute and experience. At the same time, I am feeling content with my journey so far.

Something keeps me up at night
Not literally! I can easily fall asleep anywhere, haha. But figuratively, that's true. Seeing freelancers going through the struggles that I went through settles not very well with me.

I have had this burning desire to help other designers/freelancers, be seen, get clients and grow their freelance business. That’s why in the last few years, I created the Millionaire Web Designer Coaching Program and the Empowered Communications for Web Designers Course (both programs are retired now). With these efforts, I've wanted to help freelancers solve the question of getting traction and building something for themselves on their own terms, as I myself struggled in getting a footing as a self-employed web designer in the early days.

Plus, as I learn more about building our family's net worth, I also want to share what we know about building a nest egg which is actually an expertise of Cristof, my husband who is a registered Investment Adviser and a genius in personal and business finance while being a compassionate communicator, especially when it comes to money-talks. We don't have all the answers, but we do have some solutions and can bring together others who can solve the other questions.

This is what's new
Cristof and I are working behind-the-scenes to launch a brand new video podcast which will be focused about helping freelancers both grow their business AND keep and grow what they earn for a rich nest egg for retirement.

We will share tips and strategies on become a person who brings value, finding clients, giving a red carpet experience to clients, how to manage our business finance, how to pay ourselves, how to start investing, getting out of debt and many more such topics around financial freedom.

Update: Cristof will create content on PineRidgeWealth.com and instead of doing a joint podcast, we will appear on each other’s YouTube channels whenever our topics align. So yeah, no joint podcast for now! This feels best to both of us and we are still very closely working on some collaborative articles and presentations for freelancers.

As for me, I will continue to design websites for clients and keep creating how-to videos while building this video podcast in the coming months/years. More full-fledged detail on this is coming up in the next few weeks.

Keep an eye out for...
I want to interview freelancers/designers/ anyone who has a tool or an idea to help freelancers on their journey to build a thriving business (btw, you don’t have to be a mega expert or have hit any specific revenue numbers — if you have 2 or 3 useful ideas from your own journey, let’s share it with the world, someone or the other is surely to benefit).

I will have more details on the name and the project soon but if you want to add value and share meaningfully, write me a note and let me know you are interested. We will be starting to record interviews in the last part of October so know that this won't be anything immediate like next week!

And now I want to hear from you
What “problem" or "situation” are you trying to currently solve in your freelance business? Drop me a line or comment below and let me know what resource/solution you would love me to share with you?

Kind regards,

Sophia

PS: We consider freelancers to be anyone who is working for themselves, wanting to add value to clients/audience with their skills (from web design, graphic design, marketing, virtual assistant, photographer, copywriting, consultant/coach in any niche, content creator, to an artist in any medium and so on).