The Hustler’s Manifesto Podcast

Natalie Serkin is the President & Co-Founder of Collective IQ and brings over 20 years of experience in art direction, production, and studio management to her role leading creative product and process design. Throughout her career, she has led studio and design departments at several major agencies, including restructuring 13 different agencies, before founding her own company built on the principles of honesty and integrity in client relationships. In this episode, Natalie shares how her reputation for being "too honest" with clients - once considered a liability in the agency world - became the foundation for building Collective IQ. Her journey from creative director to agency founder challenges traditional agency models that prioritize service over results, offering a fresh perspective on how transparency and authentic relationships lead to better creative work. We discuss the power of strategic "nos," building an agency that never compromises the work or the people, and how the marketing industry has evolved to demand more honesty and authentic partnerships. Natalie's approach to scaling a creative services business while maintaining high standards of integrity offers valuable insights for freelancers considering growth and independent professionals navigating client relationships. Whether you're a solo creative considering scaling your business, or an independent professional looking to build stronger client partnerships, Natalie's practical wisdom about building success through honesty and expertise offers valuable insights for anyone in the creative services industry. Learn more about Natalie at https://www.coiq.com/ For more content and live events go to https://www.fruitioninitiatives.com

We're bringing back Anna Burgess Yang to help us think about how to plan for the new year as a freelancer! Anna is a former product manager who left an executive role in 2021 to pursue an entirely different life. After bouncing around a few different jobs for two years, Anna is now a freelance technology writer and journalist. She is also obsessed with workflow automation and removing boring/tedious work from life. She helps freelancers and other solopreneurs do the same through written how-to guides and 1:1 workflow consulting. She lives in a suburb of Chicago with her husband, three kids, and three cats. In addition to client work, she writes on Medium, Substack, and has a newsletter. To learn more about Anna, visit both of her websites https://www.annabyang.com/ and https://www.tinkeringwithideas.io/ and check out her writing at https://annabyang.substack.com/. To learn more about Sarah, go to https://www.fruitioninitiatives.com.

Amy Choi is the co-founder of WorkFree, the first freelance platform powered by communities. As a former freelancer and global professional with 15+ years of experience across tech sales, recruitment, and digital marketing, Amy understands firsthand the challenges and opportunities in the freelance ecosystem. In this episode, Amy shares how her transition to freelancing after becoming a mother led to creating WorkFree, a unique three-sided marketplace connecting freelance communities, talent, and clients. Our conversation explores the innovative approach of putting communities at the center of freelance work, recognizing and formalizing the organic networks that freelancers have always used to find work and support each other. We discuss the intentional design decisions behind WorkFree's platform, the importance of creating win-win-win scenarios for all participants, and how understanding the freelance experience firsthand leads to more thoughtful, effective solutions for the independent workforce. Whether you're a freelancer, community leader, or company looking to build stronger relationships with independent talent, Amy's practical wisdom and innovative approach offer valuable insights into the future of freelance work. Learn more about Amy on her website or LinkedIn For more content and live events go to www.fruitioninitiatives.com

Melisa Liberman is a business coach for independent consultants and author of "Grow Your Consulting Business: The 14-Step Roadmap to Make Your Independent Consulting Goals a Reality." In this episode, she shares her journey from corporate executive to accidental entrepreneur, offering deep insights into the mindset shifts required when transitioning from corporate to independent work. Her story is particularly compelling because it highlights a common experience among consultants: the unexpected challenge of rebuilding identity and confidence outside the corporate structure. Our conversation explores the nuanced differences between freelancers, consultants, and other independent workers, but more importantly, dives into the psychological aspects of this career transition. Even professionals with impressive credentials and extensive experience face imposter syndrome and self-doubt when striking out on their own. Melisa's candid discussion about her own journey from being labeled "sales repellent" in her corporate role to successfully running her own business provides valuable insights for anyone considering or currently navigating the independent path. We also discuss the critical mindset shifts required for success - from embracing failure as a learning opportunity to developing a business owner's perspective. The conversation reveals how the transition from corporate to independent work isn't just about changing how you work, but fundamentally transforming how you think about yourself and your value in the marketplace. Whether you're considering the leap to independent consulting or already running your own practice, Melisa's practical wisdom and honest insights about the realities of building a consulting business offer valuable guidance for creating a sustainable independent career. Learn more about Melisa: Grow Your Consulting Business: The 14-Step Roadmap to Make Your Independent Consulting Goals a Reality Grow Your Independent Consulting Business Podcast  LinkedIn   For more content and live events go to www.fruitioninitiatives.com.

Rachel Renock has been an incredible innovator in the freelance space, and this conversation barely scratches the surface of her expertise in helping independents build more profitable and collaborative businesses. In this episode, we dive deep into the future of freelance work, exploring what Rachel calls "virtual studios" - a model where freelancers team up fluidly to tackle bigger projects and scale their businesses without the traditional overhead of agencies. Drawing from her experience as both a former advertising creative and now the CEO of Wethos, Rachel shares invaluable insights on: The power of collaborative freelancing and building "elastic" businesses Why transparency in pricing is crucial for the entire freelance ecosystem How to think about scaling a service-based business without falling into common traps The importance of focusing on profitability over productivity How crowdsourced data can help freelancers command better rates  Whether you're a solo freelancer looking to grow your business or someone interested in the future of work, Rachel's perspective on building more sustainable and profitable independent businesses is a must-listen. Learn more about Rachel. For more content and live events go to https://www.fruitioninitiatives.com

It was a pleasure having Steve King, a founding partner of Emergent Research, on the podcast. With over 25 years of experience, his work focuses on the future of work, particularly how it impacts small businesses, independent workers, and the gig economy. Our conversation covers a range of topics, including the post-pandemic rise in full-time freelancing, the impact of AI on independent work, and the changing perceptions of freelancing in academia and business. Steve offers unique insights as both a researcher and a practitioner, running Emergent Research as a two-person operation that leverages freelance talent. We discuss the importance of understanding risk profiles for freelancers, the need for better systems to connect independent workers with clients, and the exciting opportunities that new technologies bring to the freelance world. Whether you're an independent professional or a company leader, this episode provides valuable insights into the trends shaping the future of work. To learn more about Steve go to www.emergentresearch.com or his LinkedIn. For more content and live events go to www.fruitioninitiatives.com.

Matthew has been an invaluable thought leader in the freelance ecosystem, and this conversation barely scratches the surface of his deep expertise in the future of work and the freelance economy. We dive into some fascinating topics that are crucial for both freelancers and the companies that hire them like:  The "Expert's Curse" in consulting and how it affects freelancers transitioning from corporate roles - Whether the freelance economy is truly a revolution or more of an evolution The challenges companies face in scaling freelance programs and how we can address them The power (and pitfalls) of terminology in our industry - from "gig work" to "consulting" to "fractional" How the future of work is shaping up and what it means for both independent professionals and traditional businesses Whether you're a solo consultant aiming to build a sustainable business or a company leader interested in leveraging freelance talent more effectively, this episode offers valuable insights that will help you navigate the changing landscape of work. To learn more about Matthew:  Follow Human CloudFollow on LinkedInFollow Human Cloud on LinkedInListen to the Human Cloud PodcastBuy the Human Cloud Book For more content and live events go to www.fruitioninitiatives.com.

Laura has been an amazing thought partner and this conversation is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of her deep expertise helping independent consultants build sustainable businesses. In this episode we talk about her consultant blueprint, becoming an accidental entrepreneur, and the future of work. To learn more about Laura, go to her website, LinkedIn, Youtube, or Medium. To learn more about Sarah, go to www.fruitioninitiatives.com. For early access and transcriptions, subscribe at www.thehustlersmanifesto.com

Kristin and I are kindred spirits! I’ve been taking on more fractional COO engagements, and I’m not alone.  The rise of the Fractional C-suite freelancer has been prominent over the last few years. That’s one of the many reasons why I wanted to talk to Kristin and compare Fractional COO experiences.  In 2021, Kristin took a leap of faith by leaving her secure job to pursue a goal she'd been dreaming about for years—to travel the world full-time (with her husband and toddler) and to start a new business that she could operate on the road. And that's when Virtual COO was born. Her passion for helping small business owners started when she was young in an entrepreneurial home. She studied business and has spent her career in leadership, operations, strategy and events, running a successful event P&L for four years and growing it from $8M to $16M in top line revenue. She has now helped numerous small businesses with their operations and strategy needs. Her mission is to help small business owners narrow their priorities and deliver results—her team is excited to do that for you! Learn more about Kristin on her website or on LinkedIn. To learn more about Sarah, go to www.fruitioninitiatives.com. For early access and transcriptions, subscribe at www.thehustlersmanifesto.com

Yurii is on a mission to build connections among freelancers and bring greater visibility to the joys and sorrows that we all deal with. We had a great conversation about the power of community, defining work for ourselves, and holding space for each other. Learn more about Yurri on LinkedIn and Substack. To learn more about Sarah, go to www.fruitioninitiatives.com. For early access and transcriptions, subscribe at www.thehustlersmanifesto.com