Hey! 

One of my favorite quotes in business is one I live by as a freelancer. 

"You don't rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems." -James Clear

Systems-forward thinking can be a bit uncomfortable for people new to freelancing, especially if you come out of employment where goals get a lot of emphasis and are often passed down to you from other parts of an organization. 

As freelancers, a systems-forward perspective is a critical mindset shift. It not only gives us a strong foundation, but also keeps us on the simplest and most effective path to growth and adaptation. 

This month, we’re going to be talking about developing and keeping a systems-forward mindset, especially early in our freelance journey. 

Start thinking about systems today

So the big question is how do you start shifting your thinking on systems?

When you’re looking at freelancer materials and podcasts, prioritize anyone who talks systems, SOPs, etc. (Ed Gandia has some good info on managing overwhelm for writers, but it applies to most skillsets.) 

But most importantly, make it a part of your exploration as a freelancer. I always like asking other freelancers what they’re automating and how they think about systems in their businesses. You can get a ton of inspiration there. 

A great place to start? Is this community. Join the BF Discord to share what you’re seeing and learn from the rest of the BF community. Hope to see you soon!

Megan

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