Why smart freelancers LOVE market chaos

Everyone's losing their minds about the economy.

Freelancers are posting dramatic LinkedIn updates about "tough times ahead."

Others are slashing their rates because "budgets are tight."

But here's what they're missing...

The problem: 

You're treating economic uncertainty like a threat to your freelance business.

The benefit of solving it: 

Seeing opportunities and positioning yourself as the most useful person in the room while everyone else is ducking for cover.

Why what you’ve tried has failed: 

You’re following the herd, pulling back on visibility, discounting services, and waiting for things to "get back to normal."

Here’s how to solve it: 

Recessions don't kill freelance businesses – 

They redirect them toward where the money actually is.

Think about it logically → 

Business = exchanging money for solutions.

When crisis hits, are there MORE problems or fewer problems?

The answer's obvious.

Panic is permission to develop solutions.

I learned this during COVID.

Our video business was tied to in-person events. Everything shut down overnight.

Instead of panicking, I took a walk and had an epiphany → 

If we were solving for this problem, our clients were too.

That day I emailed our biggest clients and pitched remote event production…

This was before remote events were even a thing.

Within days we were shipping production kits ourselves and booking more work than ever.

Crisis didn't kill our business…

It showed us where the profit was hiding.

Here are the 3 types of chaos you should be scanning for right now →

1. Category Shifts

When something disrupts business as usual in your niche. 

EX: AI, platform changes, new tech…

Suddenly the scrappy startups have advantages over the big guys.

And both need help…

The little companies want to capitalize.

The big ones are scrambling not to lose ground.

2. Cash Flow Constrictions

Companies downsize but the work still needs doing.

They can't afford full-time employees with benefits... 

But they can afford a freelancer who delivers 10X results in half the time.

3. Cultural Movements

Big brands struggle to speak the language of the moment.

EX: Social justice, sustainability, legal shifts…

Freelancers who understand tone and timing own this space.

- - - - - -

Where you point the finger is where you point the power 👆

Don't blame the market or politics or "tough times."

Point the finger at yourself. 

That's what leadership looks like.

When everyone else is panicking, that's your signal that new problems need solving.

A recession means your clients' businesses are about to be riddled with problems.

You can build solutions for them.

As long as those solutions are perceived as more valuable than what you charge, you'll do just fine.

Actually, you'll do better than fine...

Because uncertainty in business IS opportunity – 

And while everyone else is ducking for cover, you'll be the most useful person in the room.

Best,
Jamie

Upcoming Event → How to Turn Your Creativity into Scaleable Revenue

In-Person in Hollywood, California & Streaming Online for The Freelancing Program Members

Myself along with my friends and fellow creatives Chris Do, James Barnard, and Adrian Per and doing a 90-minute panel on Converting Creativity into Scalable Revenue, plus time for networking afterwards (in-person attendees only).

Attendees that met at our last event in LA are still working together months later thanks to good ol’ fashioned in-person networking.

Plus getting in the room with these creative geniuses is like if the Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Michael Jordan of making creativity profitable were all in one room...

You'll leave with a better shot at success than everyone who wasn't there to soak up the wisdom.

Only way to get in the room is in-person (Hollywood, CA) → get your ticket here

OR if you join us in The Freelancing Program, you get access to the livestream.

Note the livestream is only for the panel portion, not the networking portion — but you will undoubtably meet lots of amazing freelancers once you join The Freelancing Program!