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Welcome to the 28th edition of Expert•ish Freelancer, a newsletter that helps you grow your freelance business. Every other Friday, get tips, tools, and insights to help you save time, make money, gain confidence, and work smarter—based on my 35⁺ years as a freelance writer.

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Hi, Friend!

It’s officially May and I’m celebrating!

Yes, it’s spring 🌸—my favorite season of the year. But more importantly, I’m celebrating a very personal milestone.

Last year, I shared that my husband is battling cancer. He had surgery—on Election Day 😳—which was super stressful. At the time, we thought the surgery was 100% successful. But we discovered he also needed radiation to kill the few remaining cancer cells.

So, for the past seven weeks, I’ve been going with him to daily radiation treatments. Yesterday was his final treatment, and we enjoyed a celebration dinner with our family at one of our favorite local restaurants, Colorado Fondue. (Nothing heals better than cheese 🧀 fondue for dinner and chocolate 🍫 fondue for dessert!)

I'm so incredibly amazed at my husband’s positive attitude, his strength, and his desire to "make treatment fun" by playing get-to-know-you games (like Two Truths and a Lie) with the team of technicians that treated him. Because that's just the kind of guy he is.

Please know that I share this not for sympathy, but to be authentic. It gives me the opportunity share a bit of myself with you, acknowledging that personal problems can waylay the best of plans and make it challenging to keep on keepin’ on in my freelance business.

I’m so very grateful 🙏 that, as a freelance business owner, I've been able to take time off whenever I needed so I could be there with my husband.

Family ❤️ is always my number one priority.

Today’s newsletter highlights how to expand your freelance offerings in a changing market.

🔍 Key Takeaways: 

✅ Balance growth and income.
✅ Track time and boost productivity.
✅ Prioritize high-impact activities.

Today’s issue is brought to you by Authory. Sponsors help keep the newsletter free, so please click on their link to check out their offer! ⬇️ 

Looking for the last newsletter? Find it here: EF #27: 🎯3 Ways to Cultivate a Consistent Marketing Habit.

Juggling New Services with Confidence—Even as the Market Shifts

Let’s be honest—if you’re a freelancer right now, you’ve probably thought about pivoting, adding new services/deliverables, or maybe even launching a whole new business. (You might even be wondering 🤔 if you’re cut out to be a freelancer anymore.)

Between AI shaking up the creative world, economic curveballs, and media layoffs, the only thing that feels certain is change. That’s why I love our Expert•ish Freelancer Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions: the questions you send in are real, raw, and always timely.

Recently, freelancer Chiara V. wrote in with a challenge that’s hitting home for many of us: How do you balance building a new freelance business while keeping your current one running smoothly?

She’s aiming for a 50/50 income split between her established business and a brand-new venture within a year. But with January in the rearview and client work ramping up, she’s asked, “What should I let go of? How do I know if I’m turning down too many jobs? Should I slow down my progress?”

If you’re thinking about pivoting or adding a new income stream, grab your coffee and settle in for a topic that resonates with many freelancers right now.

Why So Many Freelancers Are Pivoting

First, let’s acknowledge the big picture: diversifying your freelance business isn’t just trendy, it’s a survival skill these days. Chiara is wise to branch out into something new. Having multiple income streams helps smooth out the feast-or-famine cycle gives you more financial security, and lets you flex different creative muscles. 

With AI automating many tasks and clients’ expectations shifting, freelancers are doubling down on what humans do best—namely, strategy, creativity, personal storytelling, and relationships.

But the plot twist? Launching something new takes time. And time, as we know, is the one thing you can’t clone (unless you have a secret AI prompt for that—if so, please share). 😜

Prioritizing When Everything Feels Important

When you’re building a new business, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement. Suddenly, you’re spending hours tweaking website copy, reaching out to prospects, and doing a deep-dive into research and tools. That’s me this past year, as I throw myself into building a newsletter.

Meanwhile, your existing clients are pinging you with “quick questions” that are never actually quick ⏳. What’s a stretched-thin freelancer to do?

I shared some advice with Chiara, but I’m expanding on it here so all Expert•ish Freelancer subscribers can benefit. Here’s how to keep your sanity and your income intact:

• Identify High-Impact Activities: Not all tasks are created equal. Focus on the actions that will actually move the needle for your new business—think client outreach, portfolio building, and networking. Use tools like the Eisenhower Matrix to sort what’s urgent from what’s truly important. I read about this years ago in Stephen Covey’s classic book 📚, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

• Time Block Like a Boss: Set aside specific hours each week for new business development, and protect that time like it’s a beloved coffee date (or happy hour 🍹) with your best friend. It’s way too easy to let client work creep into every available minute. Treat your new business like your most important client.

• Track Your Time: Use time-tracking apps (listed in Friday Fuel above) or even a good old-fashioned spreadsheet to see where your hours are going. This helps you gradually shift your focus toward your 50/50 income goal without letting either business or service drop off a cliff.

Don’t Be Afraid to Say “No”

It’s tempting to say “yes” to every project—especially when you’re worried about income. But taking on too much can lead to burnout, missed deadlines, and (full transparency) a lot of stress eating 🍟. 

It all starts with setting boundaries and learning how to say “no”—or at least “not right now”—when circumstances dictate.

Protect your time with these strategies for setting boundaries:

• Raise Your Rates: If you can, increase your fees 💵 for your established business. This lets you earn the same (or more) with fewer clients, freeing up time for your new venture.

• Outsource Admin Tasks: If your inbox, accounting, or social media is eating up precious hours, consider hiring a virtual assistant or using automation tools. Delegate the busywork so you can focus on growth.

• Only Turn Down Work If It Conflicts With Your Goals: Don’t feel pressured to reject profitable work from your main business unless it directly conflicts with a new, equally profitable opportunity. Your goal is a gradual shift, not an overnight transformation.

How to Know If You’re Turning Down Too Much

Here’s the million-dollar question: How do you know if you’re saying “no” too often? Check in with these criteria:

• Are you meeting your income targets? If your bank account 💰 is happy and you’re still making progress on your new business, you’re probably in the sweet spot.

• Are you feeling constantly overwhelmed? If you’re burning out, it’s a sign to slow down or delegate more.

• Are you turning down work that aligns with your long-term goals? If so, pause and reassess. Sometimes, a “yes” now can fund your future pivot.

Give Yourself Grace

Building something new takes time. You won’t get to 50/50 overnight—and that’s okay. Take a deep breath, do what you can today, and remember: you’re good enough, right where you are.

And if you need a little extra confidence boost, here’s your reminder: Every successful freelancer you admire started with a messy, imperfect pivot. 🙋‍♀️ The only difference is, they kept going.

• Share Your Success Story. I would LOVE to hear how you’ve implemented any of the ideas in Expert•ish Freelancer and found success. I might even include your win in a future newsletter. You can always reach me at [email protected]. 

• Turn to Expert•ish Freelancer’s Tools & Resources page, highlighting valuable resources to help you successfully run your freelance business. You’ll find recommendations for apps, tools, training, services, websites, blogs, podcasts, books, videos, and more! If you’ve got a resource you love, let me know about it.

• Follow me on LinkedIn. I share more freelance tips/insights most weekdays.

Thanks for allowing me into your inbox!

I look forward to sharing my freelance journey with you, and I look forward to hearing about yours. I’m just here as your guide. Take what works for you, and tweak it to your needs. Rinse. Repeat.

I’ll be back in two Fridays with another edition of Expert•ish Freelancer.

In the meantime….

Be kind. Do good. Give thanks. 😊

With gratitude,
Lisa Beach

FYI: In yoga, the instructor often closes the session by saying “namaste” as a way of acknowledging and honoring the light, spirit, or goodness within each person in the class. 🧘‍♀️ It’s often used as a closing to convey unity (we’re all interconnected), gratitude (thank you for this shared experience), respect (I respect you and your journey), and peace (may you find peace within yourself). Essentially, it's a way to acknowledge the shared experience and to leave with a sense of peace and connection. 😊