Hi There! I’m Austin,

a brand consultant, writer, and freelance coach who helps freelancers get the best clients, make more money, and enjoy their freedom.

I’m glad you’re here.

Hi There! I’M AUSTIN.

a brand consultant, writer, and freelance coach who helps freelancers get the best clients, make more money, and enjoy their freedom.

I’m glad you’re here.

Goal: To Help 1,000,000 Freelancers Make $100,000

Back in 2009, I started freelancing by accident. My boss laid me off on a Friday, and thus began my forays into funemployment. Six months later, I landed a $2,900 per month marketing retainer. That experience transformed my life.

Fast forward many trips around the sun, and what fires me up is teaching freelancers and consultants how to avoid falling into tiger traps like undervaluing themselves. People out there with one-third of your talent are charging three times as much as you. Look around and you’ll notice crappy creative everywhere.

Can you do better than that blog post or that design or that photograph? I thought so. You’ve got the talent to make freelancing profitable, sustainable, and satisfying.

My absurd goal is to help 1,000,000 freelancers make $100,000. That’s what I blurted out at Tribe Conference in 2017, surprising myself in the process. “Where did that come from?” I wondered. It turns out, the best way I can scale up my own positive impact is to help you make yours.

Goal: To Help 1,000,000 Freelancers Make $100,000

Back in 2009, I started freelancing by accident. My boss laid me off on a Friday, and thus began my forays into funemployment. Six months later, I landed a $2,900 per month marketing retainer. That experience transformed my life.

Fast forward many trips around the sun, and what fires me up is teaching freelancers and consultants how to avoid falling into tiger traps like undervaluing themselves. People out there with one-third of your talent are charging three times as much as you. Look around and you’ll notice crappy creative everywhere.

Can you do better than that blog post or that design or that photograph? I thought so. You’ve got the talent to make freelancing profitable, sustainable, and satisfying.

My absurd goal is to help 1,000,000 freelancers make $100,000. That’s what I blurted out at Tribe Conference in 2017, surprising myself in the process. “Where did that come from?” I wondered. It turns out, the best way I can scale up my own positive impact is to help you make yours.

Making Money Doing Work That Doesn’t Feel like Work

My vision for the next 10-20 years is helping my people—freelancers, creatives, artists, writers, online creators, and craftspeople—learn how to make money doing the work that doesn’t feel like work. There’s never been a better time in history to be a creator with derring-do, do more meaningful work, and get more out of life than a 9-to-5 with two weeks vacay.

What I love about freedom and entrepreneurship is the freedom, flexibility, travel, running in the afternoon, fly fishing on a Tuesday morning, going on field trips with my kids, collaborating with nice people on interesting projects, and generally avoiding soul-sucking labor and relationships.

Making Money Doing Work That Doesn’t Feel like Work

My vision for the next 10-20 years is helping my people—freelancers, creatives, artists, writers, online creators, and craftspeople—learn how to make money doing the work that doesn’t feel like work. There’s never been a better time in history to be a creator with derring-do, do more meaningful work, and get more out of life than a 9-to-5 with two weeks vacay.

What I love about freedom and entrepreneurship is the freedom, flexibility, travel, running in the afternoon, fly fishing on a Tuesday morning, going on field trips with my kids, collaborating with nice people on interesting projects, and generally avoiding soul-sucking labor and relationships.

Mixtape of My Big Mistakes

Here is the mixtape of my past decade of missteps:

  • INTERNALIZING MY FAILURES

  • BEING SLOW TO ASK FOR HELP

  • NOT DELEGATING LOW-LEVERAGE TASKS TO SOMEONE WHO DOESN’T MIND THEM

  • MISMANAGING CASH FLOW AND LOSING WALKAWAY POWER

  • PERFECTIONISM

  • THINKING MY ANXIETY WAS STRATEGIC AND THEREFORE NECESSARY

Mixtape of My Big Mistakes

Here is the mixtape of my past decade of missteps:

  • INTERNALIZING MY FAILURES

  • BEING SLOW TO ASK FOR HELP

  • NOT DELEGATING LOW-LEVERAGE TASKS TO SOMEONE WHO DOESN’T MIND THEM

  • MISMANAGING CASH FLOW AND LOSING WALKAWAY POWER

  • PERFECTIONISM

  • THINKING MY ANXIETY WAS STRATEGIC AND THEREFORE NECESSARY

“If nothing else, remember this: Transformation is possible, and I would like to participate in yours. The best is yet to come.”

BALERNUM

is my branding and marketing studio. Balernum means “hope.”

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FREELANCE CAKE

is the growth course for freelancers and consultants.

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GRABBLING IS MY CHILDREN’S BOOK.

The message? Always be three times brave.

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20 Tidbits of Juicy Gossip

I usually feel awkward when I dance. It helps to close my eyes and pretend no one else is there.
I made all As in college and grad school, and I’ve been unlearning that whole paradigm ever since. In business, you have to ask your own questions and find your own answers.
My favorite foods are sushi, pizza, buffalo chicken, smoked brisket, and anything umami-laced.
I published a children’s book called Grabbling. The story is about my grandmother. The best part was the book signing when she turned to me and said, “I just feel so honored by you.”
I got made fun of a lot in middle school. Then, I learned to use sarcasm on my tormentors. Then, I learned from A Separate Peace that sarcasm is the protest of people who are weak. Then, I started unlearning sarcasm-as-weapon.
My best friend Hunter and I met when we were four. At the time, we were both riding on the bottom of our mothers’ shopping carts.
I can’t do scary movies.
I cry in every Pixar movie.
I’m a Certified Bourbon Steward. Don’t be impressed though. The test was open book and untimed.
I love Jesus.
My three kids and my wife Megan make my heart go pitter-pat.
I am the best croquet player you will ever meet.
I’ve won several awards for my poetry, and one for teaching.
I ran a full marathon in Nashville in 3:58.
I think ranch dressing and celery are the worst in their respective categories. The. worst.
I once told a cop he was being rude, and he let me out of the ticket. It worked once, but I don’t think I’ll try that again.
I went skydiving over the Swiss Alps.
The only TV I really watch is cooking shows.
My unfair advantage is genuinely caring about other people, including you. If you ever think that I’ve mistreated you, please let me know, with kindness.

Building a profitable freelance business you love is going to be hard work.

But you know, that’s life. You’ll always have problems, so the wiser choice is to pick the path where you can love the struggle. Pick a struggle you can love.

If you’d like to learn more of what I’ve learned, go here. If you’d like to work with me, go here. If you want me to guest on your podcast or speak at your event, go here.

Building a profitable freelance business you love is going to be hard work.

But you know, that’s life. You’ll always have problems, so the wiser choice is to pick the path where you can love the struggle. Pick a struggle you can love.

If you’d like to learn more of what I’ve learned, go here. If you’d like to work with me, go here. If you want me to guest on your podcast or speak at your event, go here.

Looking to get to the next level?

Freelance Business Blueprint
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