I once heard a story about two creative professionals sitting across from one another in a lobby of an extraordinary company. The lobby was so large and so vast that the slightest of movements, like the click of a pen or the closing of a briefcase, would send echoes ricocheting across its fifty-foot ceiling.
While the two creatives were not business partners and certainly not friends, they were more similar than not.
They both practiced the same craft and they were both of master level at their work. They both attended the same university and received the same a degree.
And, up to this moment in their lives, they had held similar jobs at similar companies and upon leaving these jobs, they both entered into freelancing around the same time.
However, at the end of the day, once both of the freelancers made their pitches to the extraordinary company, only one of them walked out with a signed contract in hand for $10,000.
Can you guess what made the difference? Yes, you guessed right.
One of the freelance creatives was well versed in the business side of freelancing and the other was not. Or, in other words, one of the creatives thought creativity was enough, while the other knew it was about something more –– a creative possessing a business mind.
Which, leads us to a very big question …
If a business mind can be the difference between a $10,000 contract and no contract at all, where can one develop the business mindedness necessary to turn their creative skill set into a lucrative entrepreneurial career?
As someone who has built a variety of thriving creative businesses and who has been fortunate to build close friendships with some of the wealthiest creatives alive today, I can think of one way a creative person can develop the business mindedness necessary to make serious money in exchange for the value of their craft.
This one way? Learn from those who have already done it. And, by done it, I mean have created highly lucrative freelance businesses.
I can think of no better way to do this than by learning from Paul Jarvis –– a college dropout that has gone from making $35/ hour as a freelancer to making $10,000+ a project working with massive entrepreneurs and companies like Danielle Laporte, Microsoft, Mercedez-Benz, Marie Forleo, and Warner Music.
His Creative Class (an Unemployable marketing partner) has been taken by over 2,300 students, many of whom have gone on to create six-figure freelance businesses.
That’s right, skyrocketing to the top 1% of American earners –– all while working for themselves selling the creative craft they are passionate about.
Skeptical? Let me tell you about Kaleigh Moore
Back in 2014, Paul had a young freelancer that was still a bit inexperienced but bursting at the seams with potential. Like yourself, she probably felt a little skeptical about enrolling in an online course like Creative Class.
I imagine she had similar thoughts racing through her mind…
- Who is this Paul Jarvis guy anyways?
- I feel like I already know the business side of freelancing?
- Will I see a return on the money I am investing in this course?
When she finally decided she was going to give it a try, it ended up being one of the best decisions she had ever made.
Creative Class totally changed her freelance business and since completing the course she has increased her annual revenue by 50% year over year (while only working with clients she loves).
That’s right, she was and still is turning down potential clients. Even better, she now teaches the course along with Paul!
There are plenty of other success stories. Below you’ll find a few testimonials from past students who have completely transformed their creative freelancing businesses. Click on the links to read deeper into their experiences and stories –– their testimonials are located towards the middle of the page.
“Your Creative Class is still, by far, the best educational investment I’ve made in my business. Ever, said Jamie Leigh, a web designer and developer who was able to cut her working hours in half while earning an additional 40% more in revenue last year.
“Through the Creative Class I’ve increased my income by 250% in eight months, said Michael Suen, an interactive designer turned freelancer that has not only seen dramatic revenue growth but has also been able to book his clients months in advance.
“This is the most structured and useful content that you’re going to get for the price, and you’re going to get that investment back right away, said Melani Dizon, a tremendously successful Colorado-based writer that had been freelancing for years but wanted to take her game to the next level, and did exactly that by increasing her client conversion rate from 30% to 75%.
Fantastic creative careers thanks to 15 vital online lessons
These individuals and thousands more have transformed their creativity into a highly lucrative creative freelancing business by learning and applying the lessons in Creative Class.
And, you can too. In Creative Class you’ll learn…
- How to define your niche to help command higher pay.
- How to develop clear processes with your clients so that everything runs silky smooth.
- How to collect helpful feedback so you don’t get stuck in the neverending cycle of revisions and edits.
- How to price by value versus hour so you don’t lose money for being a superstar at your job.
- How to deeply connect with prospects so you go from being on their radar to being on their payroll.
- How to build a beautiful and fulfilling long lasting freelance career.
When will you be sitting in that lobby (whether real or virtual)?
You have the creative skillset to get your work noticed — to get invited to the lobby we mentioned at the beginning of this piece. But do you have the business mindedness to walk out with the $10,000 contract?
Only you can truthfully answer that. But, if any part of you hesitated upon reading that question, you should consider signing up for the next Creative Class starting on April 8, 2018. If you hit this pretty blue link you can sign up to be alerted when enrollment opens, and also receive a nice discount.