Brain Dump – The Freelance Blueprint

The Freelance Blueprint

What to do when Shit hits the Fan in your Freelance Business
I wrote these blog posts with the aim to prepare you for your freelance career.

But no matter how well you plan ahead, there will be things that you can’t control which might take you off the path.

Photo by Tim Gouw on Pexels.com

Maybe your client has issues with investors? Maybe they don’t pay their invoice on time? And after 2020 we probably all learned that there are things outside our control.

That doesn’t mean you won’t be a successful freelancer. It just means that we have to prepare for things.

Build a shit happens fund

I used to call it a “back up” pillow, but one of my friends calls it the “Shit happens” fund and I prefer that name. Whatever you want to call it, it’s basically a stack of savings that you can fall back on in case shit hits the fan.

If you already have one in place: Amazing!

If you still need to build a shit happens fund: follow the steps below ⬇️

Figure out how much you need to put aside

First of all, you need to figure out what you need right now. And this can be different for everyone. How much are you spending every month to cover your bare minimum? This includes
1. Your rent
2. Your electricity/water/heating bills
3. Wifi bills and anything to keep your business afloat
4. Food (this means groceries, eating out isn’t an essential)
Figure out how much you’re currently spending on your essentials each month. If worse comes to worst: Is there anything you can cut back on? Like your Netflix subscription?

Then multiply this by at least 3. But even better: 6.

This is how I’d calculate my worst case scenario

I’m a digital nomad. How much I need in a month varies. And my options for when shit hits the fan also vary massively.

Scenario 1

So for example, I’m currently in Chiang Mai. If for whatever reason I don’t have any money coming in, I can drive to my grandma’s place in Lampang where I could live rent free. But I’d have to cover my drive there, any food we consume, and wifi costs. Thailand is pretty cheap, so all of this will not total more than £200/month. So that means my shit happens fund should have at least £600 in it.

Scenario 2

In a few months I’ll be in Japan. Japan is an expensive place! I don’t know anyone there, so I’d have to continue paying the airbnb. Food is also more expensive than in Thailand. So per month, I’m likely going to have to pay around £1,800. That’d mean my shit happens fund should be at least £5,400 or even better £10,800 💸

So depending on your personal cirumstances, how much you need to survive will look different for everyone. Figure out what the minimum is you need and multiply it by at least 3 to cover your costs for 3 months.

It’s unlikely going to take you more than 3 months to find some sort of income. But if you want to stick to freelancing, I recommend you prepare for the worst case scenario and save up 6 months of your essential spending.

Why do I need a shit happens fund?

There will be things out of our control and I want to make sure that you make the decisions for your freelance career from a healthy perspective, not from panic mode.

You shouldn’t take on low paying gigs with horrible clients because you need the money. I’d rather you say no to gigs that don’t fit your life-balance and make space for a gig that suits you and pays you fairly.

If you’re in a situation where you try to make money fast, it’ll burn you out. Knowing that you have a pillow to fall on will allow you to make better business decisions.

How to build a shit happens fund

The best way to build a shit happens fund is to automate it. You just set it up once and then won’t have to think about it. If you’re based in the UK, I highly recommend Monzo, they do this quite well. You can create “pots” and automate weekly or monthly payments into one of the pots. You just set your savings goal, how much to transfer and how regularly and wait for your pot to fill up.

Here’s a little affiliate link which will give both of us £5 if you sign up with Monzo. Wohoo, free money! 🙌

Of course, you don’t have to use Monzo, they’re not the only ones who offer automated transfers into a pot. Find a bank that fits your needs. Maybe you already have a bank account that you’re happy with.

☝️ NOTE

Make sure the money is easily accessible at all times. You don’t want to have to wait 3+ months to be able to access your funds.

I highly recommend that you learn more about money as a freelancer. Scroll down to see how educating yourself on finances can help you ⏬

Financial Freedom for Freelancers

Want to learn more about freelance finances?

Making the most of your money doesn’t just mean to earn more. It’s also about making the best out of the money you already have.

Maybe you could save some money? Maybe you can pay yourself in a more tax-efficient way?

If you want to learn how to make the most of your money, join the waitlist of the next cohort of my programme Financial Freedom for Freelancers

Here’s what some of the previous cohort have said ⬇️

Money doesn’t have to be complicated

Learn everything I know about money as a freelancer in the next cohort.

Join the waitlist

That’s all for today 🙌

👩🏻‍💻 Free Guide

The exercise described in this blog article is one of the steps of my free guide for people who want to create a work life that works for them.

Get the guide for free.

If you found this useful, follow for more content on instagram @elisabethmayr or buy me a coffee.
January 26, 2026
Why are Freelancers so scared to talk about their achievements?

This might be hard for you. Or very easy. Depending on your confidence level. But when it comes to freelancing, you have to let other people know about your achievements.

It can come across like boasting, but in reality, you’re letting people know what you’re capable of, so that more people can benefit from your services.

Photo by Yan Krukau on Pexels.com

As a freelancer, it’s important to reflect on one’s achievements. It feels like we’re always working and not getting anywhere. But by doing something everyday you’ll eventually get somewhere. And it’s only through reflecting on where we started and our achievements, that’s when we realise that the hard work pays off 💪

Just look at yourself

Think of where you are now compared to when you started your freelance journey?

What are your achievements? What are the results you’ve created for your clients? This can be something like: “I’ve increased my client’s sales by 20% just by changing this one thing on their website” or “I’ve learned how to design in Framer within a week”

Share something you’re proud of

No matter how big or small your achievement might have been, it’s time to let other people know what you’re capable of.

How to toot your own horn

It’s a good time to reflect on the things you’ve done in the past quarter. Post and boast about it on social media. You can end the post with “In the next 3 months, I’m aiming to… “ and write down your goals. Ask your network if they can help you make those things become reality.

Here’s the post I’ve done on Linkedin in case you need a little inspiration.

I know it feels awkward and posting about my achievements feels very much out of my comfort zone. But if I can do it, you can do it too 🙌

Not feeling ready?

If you haven’t been active on Linkedin, writing a post can feel very out of your comfort zone. But maybe I can get you to comment on my post with your goals? Maybe my network can help you for your 2026 goals.

No matter if you decide to create your own post, comment on mine or skip this task completely, write down one achievement you’re proud of this year.

I know there’ll be something. And take a moment to genuinely be proud of it ☝️ It’s been a long year, and for many, it’s been a tough one. And you’re still here, which in itself is great 😌

👩🏻‍💻 Free Guide

The exercise described in this blog article is one of the steps of my free guide for people who want to create a work life that works for them.

Get the guide for free.

If you found this useful, follow for more content on instagram @elisabethmayr or buy me a coffee.

January 21, 2026
How your lack of confidence will stop you to progress and how to fix it

Confidence has most likely been the one thing that held me back from making the right decisions. I’d make decisions based on fear that it’s not going to work out. I wish I would’ve felt more confident in myself, including my UX skills. More confident in finding clients, confident that things will work out.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Gaining confidence takes time, so this won’t be a quick fix to the problem. But there’s a quick exercise you can do to increase your confidence a little 👇

How to become confident

It’s easier said than done. But check out this podcast snippet with my friend Kai. He explains how to become confident in 4 simple steps. You can also listen to the full podcast episode on Apple or Spotify. It’s probably still my favourite episode of the Freelance Blueprint to date 🤫 – but don’t tell the other podcast guests I said that.

Work on your confidence

There’s no magic trick to suddenly becoming confident. But there are some exercises you can do to improve your confidence over time.

Write down what you’ve achieved

Maybe you’re confident in your skill set but not confident that you’ll find a client. But guess what, once you start freelancing, you’ll get your first client. And then another and another. I didn’t believe that someone would hire me when I started my freelance career in 2019. But I’ve been booked 80% of my first year and now I feel confident that whenever I’m looking for a gig, I’ll find one.

So today, find proof of why your goal of becoming a freelancer is going to work out. There will have been things in the past that you thought were not possible. But somehow you found a way 🙌

Write down everything that felt unachievable but you’ve achieved it ✍️

What felt difficult when you started but you still achieved it?

🚗

Maybe it was getting a driver’s licence. And now you don’t think twice when you drive a car.

✈️

Maybe it was your first solo-trip. You might have worried that you’ll feel lonely and struggle to get around. But it all turned out ok, hasn’t it? It might even have been one of your best experiences? And now booking a solo-trip won’t feel as daunting – you might even look forward to it!

Write down everything that comes to mind. And you’ll see: Things might feel hard when you’ve not done them before, but it’ll get easier over time and you’ll feel confident in doing it.

Brownie Points

If you found this exercise helpful, you can also just jot down all the things you’re good at. We often take for granted the things that come naturally to us. But it took us time to learn those skills. And being aware of those will also make you more confident.

For example, maybe you’re good at communicating. Maybe you’re attentive, a good listener. Maybe you’re good at listening to feedback or resolve conflicts.

All these skills are valuable. And being aware of them will make you more confident 💪

Little reminder

Things will work out. There’s been so many things in the past where you might not have thought that it’ll work out. Sometimes things might have taken longer than you would’ve liked them to. But in the end, it’ll work out. And if it didn’t work out yet, it’s not the end.

Hopefully this little exercise helped. But if it’s not confidence but something else that is holding you back, mail me and let me know what’s standing in your way. Maybe I can help you resolve this blocker.

👩🏻‍💻 Free Guide

The exercise described in this blog article is one of the steps of my free guide for people who want to create a work life that works for them.

Get the guide for free.

If you found this useful, follow for more content on instagram @elisabethmayr or buy me a coffee.

January 19, 2026
How to create a work life that works for you
When people first start their freelance career, they often worry about how to get their first client, how to figure out their finances and if they should get an accountant (yes, you should).

But what they often forget is to design their ideal work life. Why are you thinking of freelancing? Is it because you don’t want to commute to an office? Or do you want to work whenever you want instead of a defined 9-5? Maybe you want to travel and work remotely?

Whatever your reasons are, keep those in mind when you start your freelance career.

Define your ideal work life

The ideal work day will look different for everyone. Maybe you’re one of the people who would rather not work at all. And who knows, maybe you’ll get there one day if you set up the right systems. But we all have to start somewhere. And the best way to start is by defining a foundation. What are your must haves and what are the things you are flexible on?

For me personally, the must haves are that I can work from anywhere. The things I’m flexible on is the time zone I’m working on.

Below are some prompts you can ask yourself to help you create a work life that works for you:

✍️ Quick exercise

Grab a journal or copy paste these prompts into a notion page. And then answer the questions below. At the end of this exercise, you’ll get a goal to work towards. You might be close to achieving it, or maybe you’re further away than you think. But either way, to achieve your goals, you need to define them first.

1️⃣ Answer these prompts

Get your pen and paper ready, imagine your perfect work day and answer these questions for yourself. Note: Answer these questions in the present, as if this day is already happening.
1. Where am I working from? (Home office, coffee shop, coworking space, office)
2. How much money am I making per year?
3. What am I doing around my workday (Are you going for a surf in the morning? Will you walk your dog during your lunch break?)
4. Am I working in a team or by myself?
5. How many interactions do I have with colleagues?
6. What type of project(s) am I working on?
7. How many hours do I work per day?
Example

For me, this would look something like this:

Where am I working from?
I’m working from a quiet coffeeshop where the barista knows my order. There’s a big window which reveals a nice view.

How much money am I making per year?
I’m making several 6-figures a year.

What am I doing around my workday?
I was doing a Yoga class in the morning and will be going for a surf during sunset.

Am I going to work in a team or by myself?
I’m working by myself but I’m surrounded by my friends who also work remotely.

How many interactions do I have with colleagues?
I’m sending a few emails here and there and a few messages on Slack, but they’re not urgent.

What type of project am I working on?
I’m working on a project that challenges me but not too much. The product will help many people in their day-to-day or has a positive impact on the environment.

How many hours do I work per day?
I’m working a maximum of 4hours a day.

2️⃣ Compare your current day with your ideal day

Now, this might be a bit of a daunting exercise, but add a scale from 1-10 to each of the statements from task 1 to see how close you are from achieving that goal.

Example 2

For me, this would look something like this:

Where am I working from? > I’m working from a quiet coffeeshop
10 of 10 – I’m already working from coffeeshop most of my work days

How much money am I making per year? > several 6-figures a year
3 of 10 – I’ve made £120k revenue last year with my business.

What am I doing around my workday? > Yoga in the morning and surfing in the evening
5 of 10 – This depends strongly on where I’m currently based. As a digital nomad, I don’t always have access to a surf spot. But there are days when I do.

Am I going to work in a team or by myself? > I’m working by myself but I’m surrounded by my friends who also work remotely
10 of 10 – This is already my reality ☺️

How many interactions do I have with colleagues? > a few emails here and there
7 of 10 – I still have a lot of zoom calls with my client which makes it tricky to work from coffeeshops

What type of project am I working on? > challenging projects that help people or are good for the environment
7 of 10 – One of my current freelance gigs is for a company that helps people track renewable energy.

How many hours do I work per day? > maximum of 4hours a day
6 of 10 – I’m working full days for my clients plus on personal projects (like working on this blog article)

3️⃣ What needs to happen to get you there

Think of everything that needs to happen for you to be able to have your ideal work day. Don’t worry if you’re far from your goal. Allow yourself to dream big.

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars” - Norman Vincent Peale

Now think of all the things that have to happen for you to achieve your ideal work life. You can start with those where the scale is the lowest. Then list all of those to do’s in your journal/notion document.

Example 3

For me, this will look something like this:
- Find new income streams
- Set better boundaries with clients
- Spend more time in places where I can surf
- Find projects with good values
- Find ways to make my day more efficient
Conclusion

Now you have a to do list that you can break down into “SMART” goals.

Keep your ideal work day in mind for each step you take for your freelance career. What can you do to improve it, even if it’s just one step on the scale?

👩🏻‍💻 Free Guide

The exercise described in this blog article is the first step of my free guide for people who want to create a work life that works for them.

Get the guide for free.
October 21, 2025
Should I get a new job?

No matter if you’re a freelancer or work as an employee. There will be phases where you love your job and phases where you won’t. And once you feel unhappy at work, it’s “easy” to make the change.

Don’t get me wrong, depending on the industry and the current economy there will be times where it’s a bit harder to find a new role. But if you look at your life and all the problems you could have overall : If your current job is your main worry, it’s the easiest thing to change unlike your income or relationship status. Although your income can change drastically when you start a new job, but more about this below.

Having worked as both an employee and freelancer, there are 6 areas that I review to see if it’s time for me to move on or worthwhile staying.

The 6 areas you need to review

• Work tasks
• Colleagues
• Commute
• Salary
• Reputation
• Flexibility

If you tick at least 4 of those, you’re at a good place. But of course, you have to decide for yourself which of those areas are the most important to you at your current stage in life.

So let’s dig deeper into each of those areas and why they are important:

Work tasks

This area covers the actual tasks you do at work. If you’re a UX Designer like me, this would entail creating user flows, wire framing, user research but also replying to emails, joining stand ups etc.

If the tasks themselves satisfy you, if you feel like there’s a learning curve and you don’t get bored of doing those things, then you can tick off this area. But if you’re getting bored quickly, the work doesn’t challenge you and you’d rather be doing something else, then maybe it’s time to move on.

Colleagues

This is an important area for me. Being a freelancer, I have new colleagues on a regular basis. On average, I work on a project for 3–6 months, so the people I work with aren’t always the same.

I also work fully remote, so I barely meet my colleagues in real life, and if I do, it’s often just for a lunch or quick coffee.
Some colleagues might be a bit more difficult to work with whereas with others, you could even develop a friendship.

Overall, if you’re going into a meeting looking forward to seeing that person again or if you’re dreading even sending an email to someone, this will affect your overall happiness at work.

There’ll be people you won’t like, just like there’ll be people that won’t get along with you - I know, what’s wrong with those people? - but that’s okay. You don’t have to make everyone at work a bestie, but as long as you can stand seeing their faces on a regular basis and might have the one or the other joke, that’s great. Bonus if you have a work wife/husband that makes your life in the office/on zoom meetings that much easier. Having someone to look forward to when going to the office/entering that zoom call can make a massive difference.

Commute

Are you still commuting? Most companies have adapted to the remote lifestyle and even if they didn’t go fully remote, there might be a hybrid where you’re spending 2–3 days a week in an office and the other days you’re working from home.

Maybe you’re one of those people that moved outside of the city during the pandemic and then got annoyed that you have to commute into the office 1–2 days a week and spend 1.5hours a day as a sardine next to other people’s armpits.
Maybe you’re working fully remote but never leave the house anymore and actually miss showering and leaving the house before the weekend.

Either way, if the commute is too time consuming or tiring, it might be worth considering a move, either for your home or to another company.

But also, just to put things in perspective: some of my previous colleagues had a 3+ hour commute one way! 🤯 So maybe the commute isn’t too bad after all.

Salary or Day rate

This one is a big one. You could tick off all the other boxes but if you’re not getting paid enough to make ends meets, chances are you need to move your job.

A good salary can be the reason why people stay at companies they don’t like. I’ve met several people that would get a yearly bonus, but they only get it after having spend several months with a company and only get it paid a few months later. That way, they never leave because they don’t want to lose out on the bonus.

But if the salary is the only thing that keeps you at the company let me tell you this: You can always make more money if you manage it well. But that’s a different story.

I always tell people that they should find a job that fits their life style, rather than adapting their life style to their income. So if you’re someone who wants to eat out several times a week and have a nice flat that you don’t have to share with 10 other people, then your income needs to cover that. But of course, if you got the perfect role with an amazing team but the salary isn’t quite what you expect, it’s still worth spending some time there and renegotiate your salary in the future.

But if you struggle to pay your rent or other essentials, moving job can often mean a massive pay rise. The best time to negotiate your salary is when you start a new job. This will give you a base line. From there, you unlikely receive more than 10% pay rise per year, so the higher you start, the higher your salary can get.

Reputation

What’s the reputation of the company you work for? Are you proud to work for them or would you rather not tell people who’s paying you?

For example, if you’re a designer, being able to tell people you work for Apple will likely make you proud. It’ll also be a great company to have on your CV and will have recruiters queue for you whenever you’re looking for your next role.

It doesn’t have to be a known brand though, it could also be that you work for a charity whose values you align with. If that’s the case, you’ll automatically have a better work satisfaction.

However, if you’re working for a tabacco or oil company, then maybe you’re a little less proud.

Those companies tend to be very aware that people would rather not work for them, and they compensate for that with a very high salary compared to other companies. In the end, everyone has a price.

But at the end of the day, it’s about what you’re comfortable with. If you can be satisfied with your choices and what the company is doing, it could be okay to take on a job at a company whose values you disagree with, if you get paid well and learn a lot.

Flexibility

This one is a big one for me. As I mentioned above: Your work shouldn’t define your life style, it should fit around it.

Your work shouldn’t define your life style, it should fit around it.

For me, it’s important to be location independent and ideally work my own hours. I know there’ll be meetings that I can’t move around but as long as I can go suringf in the middle of the day or take as long of a lunch break as I want, I’m happy.

I also don’t mind working until late at night if I had a whole day before to myself. I dislike when the client forces me to work late at night though, but it’s different when I choose to do it.

Does your work give you the flexibility you want? Can you choose for yourself when you want to go on holiday? Do they define the days that you have to be in the office?

Conclusion

It’s for you to decide which of those six areas are non-negotiables for you and which ones you’re happy to not be ticked ✅

I doubt there’ll be many job opportunities that tick every single one of those boxes.

Hopefully this article gave you a little bit of guidance to help you decide if you still want to stay with your current role or not.

If you’re considering freelancing but are unsure where to start, you can download my free Freelance Blueprint Checklist by signing up to my newsletter. It’s a very simple checklist with all the steps you need in place to get started in your freelance career.

If you find this article useful you could buy me a coffee. And if you want to see more content, feel free give me a follow on instagram.

October 17, 2025