I remember my first week as an independent consultant. After years as a senior leader with teams to execute the work and other departments to bring in business, I found myself back at square one — just me, my laptop, and that familiar entrepreneurial flutter in my stomach. The same one I had as a young dancer hustling for gigs.
The irony wasn't lost on me. I’d spent 12+ years as a professional dancer and choreographer, mastering the art of the hustle, then another 6-7 years climbing the corporate ladder to VP, overseeing million-dollar operations and building high-performing teams. Yet here I was, recalibrating to life as a solo act again.
The transition from having departments handling sales, execution, and operations to becoming a one-person show is humbling. But those years of dancing taught me something invaluable about persistence, while my corporate experience gave me a behind-the-scenes masterclass in how both small and billion-dollar organizations actually run. Fast forward through some hard-learned lessons in bringing these worlds together, and I've not only built a thriving independent career, but I’m helping other creatives do the same.
As I shared in my recent recap of MBO Partners' 2024 State of Independence Report, the independent workforce has grown to 72.7 million Americans, with more creatives than ever earning six-figure incomes. But here's what that report doesn't say: success isn't about just having talent or business acumen — it's about bringing them both together.
Here are the four non-negotiables you need to build thriving creative freelance or consulting work in the new year.
1. A Reliable Way to Find Work (Your Money Map)
After overseeing career programs teams at major EdTech companies, I learned that finding work as an independent consultant doesn’t require a completely different playbook. And while my dance years had taught me about diversifying income streams, my corporate experience showed me how to systematize the process. You need what I call a Money Map, a strategic combination of job boards, industry networks, and direct outreach channels. I've compiled over 40 sources of independent work, pulling together everything from creative marketplaces to high-end consulting opportunities. Because in today's economy, the most successful creatives aren't just talented — they're strategic and connected.
2. A Simple Pricing Framework (That Won't Make You Want to Hide)
One of the biggest challenges independent professionals often face is relearning how to price their work. If you had a corporate job, gone are the days of corporate pricing matrices and procurement teams. As independents, we have to create a framework that values both our creative and corporate expertise. Because the right pricing system doesn't just cover your costs, it reflects your unique value proposition. Whether you're pricing a creative project or a consulting engagement, you need a framework that gives you the confidence to charge what you're truly worth.
3. A Professional Pitch System (Because "I'll Send You a Quote" Isn't Always Enough)
Here's something both my dance and corporate careers taught me: the difference between a $500 project and a $5,000 project often isn't the work itself — it's how you present it. I've seen multi-million dollar deals won and lost based on the quality of the proposal, and the same principles apply to independent creative work. You need a proven template that helps you articulate value, set clear expectations, and establish professional boundaries from day one. It's about bringing corporate polish to your creative work.
4. An Efficiency Engine (Your Tech Stack)
If there's one thing running corporate teams taught me, it's the value of good systems. As an independent creative, you don't have departments handling different aspects of your business, but you can build a tech stack that feels like you do. From content creation to project management to payment processing, having the right tools can automate the administrative work that used to require entire teams.
Remember what I shared in that independent workforce post I mentioned before: the number of independents earning over $100,000 annually has risen to 4.7 million. These are professionals who've learned to combine creative excellence with business acumen.
Ready to Be One Of Those 4.7 Million Professionals?
Get your free Creative's LaunchKit – packed with 40+ work sources, pricing guide, and proposal template to help you land high-value contracts and build your $100K creative business.
Don't let another year go by wondering "what if?" Join us, and let's make the new year the one where you finally build the creative career you've been dreaming of. Grab the launchkit below now. 👇🏾
