In this episode, Nik Sumeiko and Marius Bauer explain why a successful freelance business is a system. They break it into three simple parts: client acquisition, sales conversation, and delivery routine. Short, honest lessons from 15+ years of real experience doing freelancing.⁣

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What you'll learn:

✓ How to build a simple flow for finding clients.

✓ Why communication is a key (for freelancers).

✓ How to turn clients into long-term partners.

✓ How to nurture routines to deliver great work.

✓ Growing small initial projects into big opportunities.⁣⁣

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Timestamps:

(00:00) — Episode intro

(01:10) — Freelance business is a system

(04:00) — Lead generation without ads or funnels

(09:35) — Turning projects into long-term relationships

(18:32) — Saying “no” to the wrong projects

(26:14) — Communication skills = successful freelancing

(29:20) — Risks, and learning from failure

(32:17) — Building your delivery routines

(37:22) — Craft and overdeliver⁣

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Resources and people mentioned in the episode:

- (book) Designed by Apple in California: https://amzn.to/4pE23ci

- (work reference) Microsoft Windows 8 official wallpaper design by Marius Bauer, 2013: https://www.konvergenz.studio/work/software. Also featured in The Verge: https://www.theverge.com/2013/1/4/3835160/windows-8-designer-reveals-early-startscreen-and-lockscreen-concepts

- (TV series) The Bear: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bear_(TV_series)

- Paula Monteiro: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-monteiro/

- Andreas Fötschl: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreas-foetschl/

- Stratos Giouldasis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gousta/⁣

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Find Nik Sumeiko online

- https://linkedin.com/in/niksumeiko

- https://withnik.com

- https://youtube.com/@niksumeiko⁣⁣

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Find Marius Bauer online

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariusbauer

- https://konvergenz.studio⁣⁣

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Hosts: Nik Sumeiko, Marius Bauer

Joe Gustilo (https://fiverr.com/producerelite)⁣

Podcast art & background music: Marius Bauer (https://konvergenz.studio)

B-rolls: Arthur Cauty https://artlist.io/stock-footage/artist/arthur-cauty/520, Raven production https://artlist.io/stock-footage/artist/raven-production/1153, Yuki Film https://artlist.io/stock-footage/artist/yuki-film/1177.⁣

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