In partnership with

Welcome to the 43rd edition of Expert•ish Freelancer, a newsletter that helps you grow your freelance business with confidence. Get tips, tools, and insights every other Friday to help you save time, make money, and work smarter based on my 35⁺ years as a freelance writer.

New here? Welcome! 😊 Subscribe for free.

Happy Holidays, Friend!

I hope you’re tapping into that flexible freelance lifestyle and taking time off to enjoy the 🎅 holidays! As I mentioned in the last newsletter, I’m slowing down without guilt.

Next week, I’m wrapping up some final deadlines and taking care of some overdue admin tasks. If I’m feeling inspired, I’ll probably spend half a day reflecting on 2025 and planning for 2026. But overall, it will be a semi-productive, slow-paced week.

My last official day of work is December 19, and then I’m taking off the last two weeks to spend time with family and friends celebrating Christmas and New Year’s Eve. 🥂

NOTE: Since the next scheduled issue of Expert•ish Freelancer falls on December 26, 2025, I won’t be publishing the newsletter that week. The next issue will be published on 1/9/26.

As always, I’m grateful for your trust and continued support. Wishing you a Merry Christmas 🎄, Happy Hanukkah 🕎, and joyous holiday season 🎉—however you celebrate.

Today’s newsletter highlights what to keep (and what to ditch) in your 2026 freelance business.

🔍 Key Takeaways: 

✅ Identify what's worth doubling down on.
✅ Let go of what drains you.
✅ Test drive one new approach.

Today’s issue is brought to you by Kajabi. 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 #42: ⏰ Why Smart Freelancers Are Emailing Clients Right Now (And You Should Too)

Know of a good resource? Tell me!

What's Really Worth Keeping From Your 2025 Freelance Business?

I found my January 2025 goals list the other day. You know, that optimistic little document 📋 where I swore I'd finally master how to best leverage AI, launch two new revenue streams, and lean more into new service offerings?

Yeah. About that.

Here's what actually happened: 

• I landed several new branded content clients.

• I said no to an editor for the first time in 35 years.

• I landed multiple $5-10K projects.

• I also wrote quite a few $300-$500 projects.

• I didn’t travel much the first six months of the year, but then I traveled at least once or twice a month in the last six months of the year.

• I survived a summer slump and the autumn hustle.

• I spent a lot of time and effort pursuing a client that, as of today, yielded nothing.

• I launched zero new revenue streams.

• And I’m still figuring out how to best leverage AI and pivot my business.

Some weeks I felt like a rainmaker. Other weeks? More like I was just trying to keep the rain ☔ off my head.

But you know what? December isn't about judging any of that. It's about getting curious. What's actually worth carrying into 2026?

The “Carry Forward” Question

When it’s time for reflection, keep this in mind: it's not about cataloging every win and loss like you're preparing for an audit. It's about noticing patterns—the stuff that actually moved the needle or made you feel like this is why I went freelance in the first place.

So ask yourself: What worked this year that you want MORE of in 2026?

Maybe it was a client relationship that energized you instead of drained you. Or a project that played to your strengths so perfectly you barely broke a sweat. Maybe it was finally setting a boundary that stuck, or a marketing approach that actually paid off without feeling like you were shouting into the void.

For me? It was being willing to step out of my comfort zone more, from tackling new-to-me-projects and seeking testimonials to quoting higher rates and asking for referrals.

👉 What 2-3 things from 2025 deserve front-row seats in your 2026?

Write them down. Put a star 🌟 next to them. These are your keepers—the practices, relationships, or approaches worth doubling down on.

Now, let's talk about what's been hogging space in the backseat.…

The “Leave Behind” Question

This isn't about beating yourself up for what didn't work. It's about being honest: What drained your energy without delivering results?

Maybe it was clients who nickel-and-dimed every invoice or projects that weren't the right fit (but you said yes anyway because, well, 💵). Maybe it was the habit of overworking to prove your worth, or undercharging because you didn't want to seem greedy. Maybe it was spending too much time comparing yourself to other freelancers who seem to have it all figured out.

Here's a truth I learned this year: Not everything deserves a seat in your 2026 car. Some things need to be left at the curb.

For me? It was saying yes to projects that didn't feel like a great fit. Maybe the money was good or the timing was right, so I said yes. But then, for various reasons, I started resenting these projects—I hated the stress of a quick turnaround or the technical topic require way too much focused thinking or the “easy” project turned into a time-suck for reasons out of my control.

👉 What's one thing you're giving yourself permission to release?

It could be a limiting belief, a poor-fitting project, a draining client, a tool that complicates instead of simplifies, or just the expectation that you need to do everything perfectly.

Tap your Inner Elsa, and …

Now for the fun part...

The “Experiment Zone”

What if 2026 didn't have to be about massive reinvention? That’s exactly where I’m at. At 61, I don’t want a massive pivot in my business. I’m winding down my career, not ramping up. Instead, I want to tweak what’s working, slightly pivot to adapt to the new AI reality, and keep on keepin’ on.

What if you just picked ONE thing to experiment with—no pressure, no commitment, just curiosity?

Maybe it's testing out an AI tool that could save you hours each week. Or trying a different service offering. Or pitching a publication you've been intimidated by. Or finally launching that podcast you've been thinking about since 2020.

The key word here is experiment. You're not signing a blood🩸oath. You're just test-driving something new to see if it fits.

I'm planning to experiment with at least one new service offering in 2026—not overhaul my entire business model, just see if it works for one or two clients. Low stakes, high possibility.

👉 If you could test drive ONE new approach next year, what would it be?

Pick something that makes you genuinely curious, not something you think you “should” do. Write it down. That's your 2026 experiment.

But before you start planning, let's simplify things even more….

The Simplicity Question

Get ready to really cut through all the noise with this question:

👉 What's the ONE thing you can do in 2026 that will make everything else easier or unnecessary?

Not five things. Not a 12-step master plan. One thing. (Why do we always overcomplicate everything? Or is that just me? 😉)

Maybe it's raising your rates across the board so you can work less and earn more. Or streamlining your pitch process so marketing doesn't eat your whole Tuesday. Or protecting your deep work time so you're not constantly context-switching. Or finally automating your invoicing so you stop chasing payments.

Whatever it is, it should simplify your life, not complicate it.

This becomes your North Star ⭐—the thing you come back to when you're deciding what deserves your time, your energy, and your “Hell, yes!”

So here's your permission slip for December: You don't need a perfect plan. You don't need to have it all figured out. You just need clarity about what matters.

You survived another year of freelancing—the feast weeks and the famine weeks, the dream clients and the difficult ones, the moments of confidence and the moments of doubt. That counts for something.

Reflection isn't about judgment. It's about choosing what you want to carry forward and trusting yourself to build the year ahead.

So take fifteen minutes this week. Answer those questions. Get curious about what 2026 could look like if you only said yes to what actually serves you.

You've got this.

👉 What's one thing you're carrying forward into 2026? Hit reply and let me know—I'd love to hear.

• 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]. 

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

• 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.

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. 😊