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Survival Skills for Freelancers: Tried and Tested Tips to Help You Ace Self-Employment Without Burnout

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Survival Skills for Freelancers: Tried and Tested Tips to Help You Ace Self-Employment Without Burnout

By: Sarah Townsend
Narrated by: Sarah Townsend
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About this listen

The number one best-selling guide to self-employment, as seen in Forbes.

"Absolute gold", "a must-have book", "a pocket business mentor", "an instant gem", "shines with empathy and warmth", “outstanding”

Whether you’re new to freelance life, thinking of taking the leap, or more experienced, the messiness and challenges of self-employment can trip you up if you’re not prepared. Survival Skills for Freelancers is your secret weapon to help you do what you love and love what you do.

You’ll learn to:

  • Trust your instinct and discover the empowering magic of saying no
  • Build a community, find new clients, and make the most of your network
  • Set better boundaries and create a work-life balance that works for you
  • Take control and remember you’re the boss - not your clients
  • Deal with the isolation that comes with self-employment
  • Value your worth and know how and what to charge
  • Deal with comparisonitis and put a stop to negative self-talk
  • Prioritize your own mental health and well-being - you’re nothing without them
  • Tackle the fear of failure and grasp opportunities that’ll build your confidence
  • Ditch self-doubt and imposter syndrome for good

Crammed with personal anecdotes, practical advice, and tales from the freelance community, Survival Skills for Freelancers busts the myths about being your own boss to help you ace self-employment without burnout.

Get more than 20 years of freelance experience - plus quotes and case studies from over 100 freelancers - in this audiobook.

Reviews of Survival Skills for Freelancers:

“Before you set up your website, think about your product and audience and offering, spend your first few pounds on this book. It'll make every subsequent pound and hour better spent.” (Matthew Knight, founder, Leapers)

“I’ve been freelancing for 15+ years and I wish I’d read this book on day one. Every page is packed with practical advice and hard-won wisdom. Get it!” (Tom Albrighton, author, The Freelance Introvert)

“A warm, practical and empathetic guide to the challenges of being your own boss. I could have done with this before embarking on a decade as a self-employed reporter and presenter!” (Ed Draper, Sky Sports broadcaster)

”It’s so nice to read a book written by a proper copywriter who knows how to get words from the page to the mind with the least resistance. It's just so goddamn intuitive to read.” (Matt Phil Carver, copywriter)

“A brilliantly relatable and comprehensive guide that holds your hand with compassion and humor through the rocky yet undeniably exciting world of self-employment.” (Louise Goss, founder, The Homeworker)

©2020 Sarah Townsend Editorial Limited (P)2021 Sarah Townsend Editorial Limited
Career Success Employment Entrepreneurship Small Business Women in Business Words, Language & Grammar Writing & Publishing Career Business Boss
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What listeners say about Survival Skills for Freelancers: Tried and Tested Tips to Help You Ace Self-Employment Without Burnout

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A great resource for all freelancers!

I've been a freelancer for over 16 years now and wish this book had been around when I started. There are so many great little tips and words of wisdom to learn from. I completely agree about the "payment on account" tax bill being a nasty surprise for new freelancers - it caught me out during my first year in business too. It is nice and easy to digest and the narration is excellent. I highly recommend listening if you're looking to start working for yourself or even if you've already started!

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Standing ovation! – Freelance reading Masterpiece!

Thank you Sarah for writing this most wonderful book! You are a treasure to the freelance, self-employment community.

I found this book a warm, sturdy and thrilling ride in parts.

Being also of a similar age in freelance trade years, established originally in 1998, I could relate strongly to every aspect of this book, including working in Bristol for a period in my early career.

It's the most wonderful accompliment to the life and journey and indeed the existence of being a freelancer.

Top tips throughout in this book, although some did spill over into each other by way of seemingly duplicated advice – it was however very real that quotes were given by industry professionals each from their own experience.

My emotions are soaring, feelings of positivity regenerating, blue-sky thinking re-emerging as the clouds of negative doubt now dispersing.

I endeavour to re-read/listen to this book and make written notes and create action points as to what to personally focus on.

This book I feel should be listed within government job-seekers start-ups as to the reality and motivation required to take and consider and to expect before venturing out as a full-time freelancer, as well as ongoing support to those who've already started out – this book is a vital pillar of support and strength for mental and emotional strength.

Having ventured out as a full-time freelancer at various points in my career, I know only too well in the areas I stumbled, fell and retreated. Reading this book has restored my inner peace and confirmed many thoughts about my experience.

Truly, this book is in alignment with many great writers and philosophers as to how to achieve success, think positively, having & providing self-care; but also is written in a sweet, soft, soothing but sturdy and focussed tone – one that inspires and nurtures the soul and mind!

Having engaged with Sarah as she conducted a master-class online session, I was convinced at the outset as to her professional and personably character, but also sensed a special quality which through listening through this book confirmed my opinion and respect for her.

I've already personally recommended this book to a couple of co-working colleagues, and relish the opportunity to further spread the good word here!

This book has unlocked a part of my soul that has released energy and positive thinking about aspects of my own being, including copy writing, music composing, and also to jump back on to where I left off with respect to my own visual design persona – needing to update & resonate with today's world design trends and to establish myself as a master & leader, which I feel & believe I once was, but perhaps got complacent – but now poised, focussed and ready to charge!

Go, Sarah!
– Can't wait to be a continued part of your success and listen in and read your further content.

Thank you, sincerely, and joyfully!

Louis Edoo
Creative Designer
Strobia

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Useful and insightful for Freelance life

This book is a vital tool for both new and old freelancers alike.
It has some very useful insight for those just starting out on their journey and who do not know exactly what to expect.
Sarah provides her wealth of experience and hindsight to highlight the highs and lows of freelancing and the things we really need to think about before and during our ventures.
I have been freelancing for 15 years and even I have found useful pointers and faced some self reflections during the book, as to where I can improve to avoid burnout and to improve my confidence as a freelancer.
Read this before starting or when you are already in the game, if you are looking to improve your freelance life and work life balance and to address issues of burnout, imposter syndrome and just generally seeing yourself as a real "business".

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A Must Read for Freelancers

This book is packed full of useful info for freelancers. It includes all the things you would expect such as setting up, tax and networking. But it also includes the less obvious (but by no means less important) subjects such as self care. I have been freelance for 6 months and wish I had read this sooner. I feel better prepared for situations that may arise in the future and I know I will keep referring back to this book time and time again.

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A great and very relatable guide for new and established freelancers

I’m into my third year of freelancing and still found this book full of useful tips and advice. I wish I had read this before I started my freelance journey!
Although I’ve already experienced (and learnt from) some of the early advice in this book, I stuck with it and have gained some really valuable insights into work/life balance, imposter syndrome and mental health etc.
I definitely recommend!

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Great all round

I found the content very helpful, practical to implement where appropriate and the narrating kept me engaged. Thanks Sarah

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Brilliant, uplifting and practical guide.

I LOVED Sarah's book! I combined listening to it on audible with also referring to the paperbook too. I found mixing the two up worked really well for me.

I started freelancing in 2016 and I so wish I'd had Sarah's book back then! I found the leap to self employoment so overwhelming. There's so much you have to learn about setting up a business: eg setting up a website, marketing, pricing, accounts (amongst other things!). And protecting your mental health is really important too. If I'd have had Sarah's words of wisdom by my side then, it would have been a smoother ride for sure!

Sarah writes in a friendly, honest and informative way. This is such a valuable book for anyone at any stage of their self employment journey!

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I had already read this helpful book in paperback.

So pleased to have it on Audible too now.

It's a great reference book for times when you just need that reassurance.

Highly recommended.

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Sound practical suport, advice heavy. Honest.

A useful book, especially if you need to win work and manage workloads from home but are struggling and need guidance. It was helpful to listen right through (on long journeys) and re-listen to sections I needed input on, which was positive.

The author offers lots of advice and then lists advice quotes from other freelancers, which offered variety and reinforced her points well but meant it came across as a bit dense in places in the audio format. I'm not the best to judge as I don't like being told what to do (why I freelance!) but the tone, for me, felt very well meaning but inadvertently commanding. "Do this and don't do that..." The book version may have not felt like that as you could dip in more and skip bits that were less relevant or when you understood the point.

It is weighed heavily towards copywriters and those working intensively from home (highly relevant these days to employees, too) but did not quite match my work. I imagine it will help a lot of people in a similar situation to the author.

The honesty, self disclosure and admitting weakness were, for me, what I enjoyed the most and helped me to compare, reflect on my own style, strength and weaknesses and come to my own conclusions.

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Witty, warm and wise - a Hitchhiker’s Guide to freelance life

A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the wonderful world of freelancing, shared with wit, warmth and wisdom.

Don’t be fooled into thinking you’re too far along your freelancing journey to need this brilliant audiobook. This is an indispensable resource you’ll be dipping in and out of for years.

I’m 7 years in, and I still found it to be packed to its virtual spine with valuable nuggets, practical guidance, unflinching insights and “aha!” moments.

Based on Sarah’s own sometimes-painful experiences (and those of others in the freelance community) the book covers challenges, debunks myths and explores the pitfalls you can fall foul of when you’re working for yourself.

Then, like the very best kind of wingwoman, Sarah takes you by the hand (ear?) and guides you honestly and gently so you don’t make the same mistakes yourself.

A must-listen, must-read, must-keep-close-at-hand-forever for any freelancer.

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