#336: Let’s Talk Profit | When $130k Per Year Isn’t Enough

Imagine pulling in $130,000 a year as a freelancer… And still struggling to make ends meet. Sounds crazy, right? But it’s happening. And I’ll tell you why. The truth? Income is just one piece of the puzzle. If you’re not focused on profit, that big income number means nothing. In the latest episode of 6 Figure Creative, we dive deep into why chasing revenue alone can actually sink your business—and how to flip the focus so that what you keep is actually worth your time. Don’t let your income be just a “vanity metric.” Get the details on how to make sure you're actually keeping what you make. In this episode you’ll discover: Why $130k/yr wasn't enough for one freelancer The "old way" vs the "new way" of being profitable Why opportunity cost means you may need to kill some services Making $300+ per hour as a freelancer For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/336

How much is one client worth to you? Not just per project—but over the next 12 months? What about the next 12 YEARS? Most freelancers leave a ton of money on the table because they don’t know how to boost client value. In this week's episode of the 6 Figure Creative Podcast, I'm breaking down seven ways to make each client worth more—without overhauling your whole business. And here’s the best part... Just ONE of these tactics could be worth $10,000-$25,000+ to you over the next 12 months. Imagine if you implemented all seven. Whether it’s adding more services, nailing a sales process, or simply raising your rates, there’s a goldmine of potential in your current clients. In this episode you’ll discover: How to give yourself a $25,000 per year raise The essential terms for client value Re-selling your service to past clients Revamping your offering to close more sales Expanding your offering to benefit your clients Finding the right clients for your service Offering broader services for a narrower client base When to charge an onboarding fee Why you need to use a great sales process How to make more money when you don't have enough leads For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/335

Level with me for a second... Are you actually moving forward in your business, or just dabbling? My freelancers fall into the trap of trying to do everything. The result? Ten half-built bridges leading absolutely nowhere. It can be tempting to jump on every new, fun, shiny object you hear about. Ohhh that CRM looks awesome That direct offer funnel strategy Brian talked about was 🤌🏻 It's time I start productizing my services so I'm not reinventing the wheel with every project I should probably start taking social media seriously Oh... what's this "Boost Post" button do on IG?? (i.e. the "donate your money to Zuck" button) In our latest podcast episode, I’m breaking down the dangers of dabbling and how this approach is costing you time, energy, and income. It's time to stop chasing shiny objects and start building a plan you actually stick to. It’s nearing the end of the year and you’ve got two months left to finish the year strong. Let’s make it count. In this episode you’ll discover: Why podcasts can be a distraction for freelancers Creating a plan and following it until it's done Why you shouldn't work for free out of pity The theory of constraints The four main constraints on your business Options you're facing right now How we can help you For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/334

Are you stuck on the world's worst rollercoaster? You know, the one that goes from feast to famine every few months? If your freelance business is 100% relying on referrals and word of mouth, you might have unknowingly fallen into what I call the "Word of Mouth Death Trap"—where your income swings wildly, and you’ve got zero control. In this week's episode of 6 Figure Creative, I break down why this happens and, more importantly, how you can escape it. The solution? It’s all about controlling your inputs to create predictable outputs... Sounds boring, but the results are not. Learn the six strategies to take control of your client acquisition and build a business that doesn’t leave your financial future up to chance. In this episode you’ll discover: Avoiding the feast or famine income flow that leads to lifestyle creep Putting your business in your control rather than using "hope marketing" Using processes to gain more clients Finding marketing methods that work at scale What to track to understand your email marketing and sales numbers Using follow-up routines to stay top of mind with clients Nurturing leads long-term to warm them up for a sale How to get help for your business For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/333

If you’re not tracking these seven key metrics in your business, you’re leaving money on the table. Seriously—most freelancers don’t bother, and it’s why they never hit the income goals they SAY they want. I just dropped a new episode breaking down the 7 metrics you need to track. If you focus on these, you’ll make more money AND do it consistently—plain and simple. It's not hard to do, but you DO need to know which 7 numbers actually matter. In this episode you’ll discover: Understanding lagging vs. leading indicators What kind of leads to seek Key benchmarks for your business Eliminating low-paying aspects of your work Getting recurring revenue rather than new clients Why raising your rates is ok, even if you lose clients How to progress in your business with a personalized roadmap For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/332

Ever feel like you're drowning in things you can't control? I get it. It's frustrating when life throws curveballs like that potentially AMAZING lead ghosting you... Or that toxic client failing to pay you what they owe. But here's the reality: You have way more power than you think. This week’s podcast is all about "Controlling the Controllables". It’s simple—stop wasting energy on what you can't change, and laser-focus on what you can. Funny enough this is something I learned from my 3-year-old niece, and now it's your turn to apply this to your life. In this episode you’ll discover: How great parenting relates to you and your business How to adjust your attitude and actions when.... Why you need more leads Toxic attitudes to avoid Setting aside time to work on your business Taking ownership of everything in your business How to set up your notifications to focus on productivity Setting goals for your business and personal life For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/331

Tired of chasing clients like it’s a never-ending treadmill? Here’s the truth: Only ~3% of your potential clients are ready to hire you right now. The other 97%? They’re not even thinking about you. Think about it like car shopping. You're either part of the ~3% who are in the market for a new car and noticing cars EVERYWHERE, or you're part of the 97% where cars aren't even remotely on your mind. In today's episode, we dive into a no-BS strategy to target that golden 3%—the clients who want what you offer NOW. No cold outreach, no content grind, no relying on inconsistent word-of-mouth. Just a simple, repeatable way to land clients ready to pay today. Let’s turn that 3% into a full calendar of paying clients. In this episode you’ll discover: Why various types of marketing don't work anymore How to get the 3% of leads that are ready to buy right now How to turn on the "lead" faucet that you control Reducing risk to increase sales How to determine if your leads are a good fit Using a sales process to increase your close rate How to escape a red ocean market For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/330

NOTE: Sorry about the audio quality here. The mic cable had a short in it 😭 If you're working non-stop but still struggling to make ends meet, you're probably making one of these five major pricing mistakes. I just dropped an episode that breaks down 5 pricing traps freelancers fall into—and how to fix them before they burn you out. Here's the hard truth: you could be the great at what you do, great at keeping yourself booked solid, BUT still broke because of any ONE of these mistakes. Fix your pricing, and you'll be amazed how much more enjoyable your life gets (and your savings account will thank you). In this episode you’ll discover: How to match clients to your skillset Getting stuck with hourly rates and bespoke services Delivering the same service to clients on a repeatable basis Separating your pricing from your time Using "up to" language to protect yourself How and when to raise your rates For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/329

Imagine getting your business ripped apart by a guy who runs a $250M empire. That’s exactly what happened to me when I spent an entire day locked in a room with Alex Hormozi and 9 other entrepreneurs. Alex didn’t hold back—he showed us exactly why we were stuck, why we were plateauing, and how to fix it. The biggest takeaways? I break them all down in this 38 min episode If you’re constantly juggling 10 different projects and can’t seem to break through your income ceiling, this episode is for you. For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/328

Raise your hand if you suck at self-promotion... 🙋🏻‍♂️ 🙋🏼 🙋🏿‍♂️ 🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏽‍♀️ (←that's probably you.) Sadly, self-promotion is where most freelancers hit a wall. It's one thing to create an amazing service or irresistible lead magnet, but it's entirely another to promote it effectively. If your calendar isn't booked solid with projects from ideal clients, then you likely suck at self-promotion. (just being real with you 🤷🏻‍♂️) For those naysayers who think, "self-promotion!? You shouldn't have to self-promote if you're good at what you do!", I urge you to kill that thought with the fire of a thousand suns. That's a self-imposed limitation. If promotion is a "normal thing" across every other industry, why should freelancers be the exception? At its core, lead generation isn't about making lead magnets or revamping your freelance services. It's about mastering the art of self-promotion. So, whether you're a seasoned freelancer or a newbie, we're about to dive into the nitty-gritty of self-promotion. We need to make sure your service (or lead magnets) doesn't go to waste. By the end of it, you'll be armed with the tools to make your freelance business self-sustaining. In this episode you’ll discover: Why your lead magnets aren't working The six types of traffic The "core four" types of marketing Brian uses Using earned media to grow relationships Why only 3% of your audience is ready to purchase from you right now How hackers make money with stolen ad accounts Demand creation vs. demand harvesting Harnessing referrals and word-of-mouth marketing Using a referral circle to help fellow freelancers How to get a plan for your lead generation efforts For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/327