James Clear’s runaway bestseller, Atomic Habits, has struck a chord with millions of people. To date, the book’s spent more than a year on The New York Times Best Seller list, sold over 15 million copies, and been translated into 50+ languages.
And no wonder.
His book is an excellent reminder that it’s our habits that help us achieve our goals… not sweeping declarations.
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Your goal is your desired outcome. Your system is the collection of daily habits that will get you there.” — James Clear
In other words, focus your energies on things you can control and make them habits. Those habits will help you achieve your goals.
Take the New Year’s favorite, weight loss. Millions of people sign up for gym memberships in January and tell themselves they’re going to eat healthy, and finally lose that weight.
Their intentions are good. The first week or two of January are often the busiest times at the gym all year. Yet, statistics show that 67% of people abandon those good intentions by mid-January, and you can finally find a parking spot at the gym again.
It’s not their fault.
It’s hard to instill a new habit. Some people can muscle their way through changes with sheer willpower, but most of us need a better system.
In the case of the people who fell off the gym bandwagon by mid-January, most didn’t create the systems needed to support their new gym habit.
Maybe the goal was unrealistic: “I’m going to hit the gym five days a week after work.” Despite the fact they haven’t belonged to the gym in years, and they have no one to watch the children, and someone has to get dinner ready… you get the idea.
To succeed, they need to enlist support for those other responsibilities. Maybe another family member can help with the children and dinner two days a week so they can get to the gym. Or, the gym has childcare, and they do meal prep on the weekends.
There are ways to make it work. But it’s a matter of creating a support system for your new habit.
It’s the same with starting a freelance writing business. People make proclamations like, “I’m going to replace my full-time income within six months.” Yet, they have limited experience writing professionally or managing the business side of freelancing.
Have people achieved this?
Yes. Grit and determination make anything possible. But if you’re like many people, you’re better off creating habits that you replicate over and over. Stick to it, and you WILL achieve your goals.
As Clear says, “This year, spend less time focusing on outcomes and more time focusing on the habits that precede the results.”
That means, instead of creating outcome-based goals such as, “I want to lose 10 pounds,” or “I want to land three new clients,” choose habits that help you achieve those goals. Opt for veggies and exercise over dessert and TV. Reach out to five companies a day offering your freelance services.
Then, execute your new habits consistently.
Small Habits Lead to Big Results
You don’t need another planner or project management software. You don’t even need an entire afternoon to make headway — you just need a simple system.
Just 20 minutes a day can help you start and grow your freelance writing business. Make it a focus block where you’re dedicated to a specific project or task for that time period.
How you use that 20 minutes depends on your needs at the moment. Got a goal to land your first client? Spend 20 minutes a day sending outreach messages or applying to jobs on job boards.
Want to create your writer’s website? Spend 20 minutes a day writing your web copy and following a step-by-step approach to building your website.
Where can you find 20 minutes a day to make progress on your freelance business? Cut back on phone scrolling? Skip your program binge-watching? Get up a half hour earlier?
Create a daily habit of working on your business, and you’ll soon find yourself landing clients and building your portfolio.
One way to do that is to give yourself 90 days to develop your new habit. You can accomplish a lot in three months. The key is to break your goals into daily or weekly habits.
Create Your 90-Day Freelance Writing Business Building Sprint
Here are six habits to incorporate in your 90-day sprint for building your freelance writing business.
1. Define your starting point.
What type of content will you focus on writing for the next three months? It’s easiest to find the types of clients who use blogging, emails, or case studies and let them know you can help. By choosing an area of focus, you narrow your options, and that’s one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself. Then ask, who uses that type of content?
2. Develop or update your portfolio.
You can create a simple writer’s website, start writing on Medium, or find guest posting opportunities. Once you have a sample or two, start reaching out to relevant companies.
3. Reach out to the types of companies that use such content.
A quick, “Do you work with outside writers?” can open the door to conversation.
- Review job boards a few times a week.
And apply to things that fit your current samples and skill set.
5. Reach out to family and friends to let them know you’re offering freelance writing services.
Several freelancers I know have gotten their start this way, including me. I spread the word among my network that I was now a full-time freelance copywriter and a fellow member of a pet industry forum reached out and asked me to create a website for her dog training company. That was the break I needed to be on my way in my new career.
6. Attend a networking event (online or off).
The best networking is really relationship marketing — making connections and building relationships. It doesn’t have to be scary — but to succeed over the long-term, you do need to connect with people who can hire you. You want to stay top of mind, so they think of you when they need someone with your skills. With good strategies, networking can be fun and easier than you think.
If you implement a 90-day sprint, you create the habits that lead to a new system that supports your goals. You may be amazed at what you’ve accomplished by the end of the three months.
