Ryan Battles, Co-Founder of Harpoon (A Freelancer's Financial Tool)
"A comprehensive guide to achieving freelance success"
"With the right balance of personal experience and solid business advice, Jason has written a comprehensive guide to achieving freelance success. Infused with memorable analogies and infographics, The Path of the Freelancer appeals to a variety of learning types, and remains engaging throughout an impressive amount of content. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is either getting into freelancing, or ready to take their current business to the next level."
Keith Taylor, Professional Freelance Photographer
"Extremely perceptive and filled with valuable insight"
I've read "Path Of The Freelancer" in its entirety and recommend it to anybody that's looking to start freelancing - in any field - and also to those who already are freelancers. Jason is extremely perceptive and is filled with valuable insight that he regularly pours into others in an effort to help them. This book is his attempt to do that for those that he'd otherwise not be able to help.
Toby Bloomberg, Social Media Specialist
"An invaluable resource for both novice [& experienced] freelancers"
"Jason Montoya offers freelancers an in-depth roadmap on how to succeed in what is rapidly becoming the career of choice for many people. The book is structured in eight 'achievements' that logically takes the reader from understanding the lifestyle of a freelancer to marketing, sales, client relationships and finances - from both a business and personal basis. It is a working guide and invaluable resource for both novice freelancers and those who have been involved in this way of making a living for many years."
Allison Miller, Speaker and Author of Desperate for Love
"It's a brilliant piece of work...my go-to-guide for years to come!"
As a freelancer, Path of the Freelancer is a must read. It's a brilliant piece of work I glean from and recommend to all my colleagues. It will be my go-to-guide for years to come!
Jason Long, Founder Of BrainLeaf
"I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone wanting to become a freelancer!"
"I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone wanting to become a freelancer! Jason became a successful freelancer in his own right, and walks you through his process and path in this book. In this book. He teaches lessons that make the path to freedom through freelancing so clear. Thanks so much for putting this together for everyone wanting to become a freelancer Jason!!"
Michael Stewart
"His insightful and wise commentary is always refreshing and his perspectives, unique and thoughtful."
"Jason offers tremendous insight to not only the freelancer but to any professional wanting to hone their skills in the communications/marketing space. His insightful and wise commentary is always refreshing and his perspectives, unique and thoughtful. A great read."
For many independent creatives, freelancing can quickly turn into a hellish landscape, the opposite of what lured you into the vocational path.
When you look back at the last several years, you realize you've been living paycheck to paycheck as a freelancer. You're afraid to look at your bank account out of fear of seeing no money at all.
Some of your clients are horrible in how they treat you and how slow they are to pay you; if they pay you at all.
You work every day and all the time and rarely have time off. And when you do have time off, it's because you've lost your paying work and are scrambling to find the next gig so you have enough money to pay rent; another reminder that you don't own the home you always wanted.
And speaking of money, you also chronically stress about your future knowing that your survival trumps any savings for your retirement; an idea that seems impossible to ever reach.
There is Hope.
Now that you're ready to leave this disappointing reality, and achieve the freelancing life you always imagined when you started the journey, you're in the right place to move from freelancing survivalism to freelancing flourishing.
What If...
Over the last decade, you generated $1.5 million as a freelancer; six figures each year?
What if this year, you only worked 4 hours a day for only 19 days each month?
How would that much time and money have changed your life?
I've read "Path Of The Freelancer" in its entirety and recommend it to anybody who's looking to start freelancing - in any field - and also to those who already are freelancers. Jason is extremely perceptive and is filled with valuable insight that he regularly pours into others in an effort to help them. This book is his attempt to do that for those that he'd otherwise not be able to help.
Your Way Forward
If you're a freelancer who wants to focus on the creative and technical work you do best, and not on running the business that enables it, then Path of the Freelancer is your way forward.
In a simple framework, I've laid out the business steps required to flourish as a freelancer so that you can earn the annual income you'd get from having a traditional job, all while working part-time.
Or, work full-time and earn twice as much instead!
From Freelance Hell To Flourishing as a Freelancer
In 2007, I started and ran a marketing company, only to end up in the hellish landscape I described above. The transition from shutting this company down to becoming a full-time freelancer was the transformative experience that codified the blueprint to succeed as a freelancer.
After I shut down my marketing firm, Iunexpectedly had numerous business owners and non-profit leaders requesting my help to solve their organization's marketing problems.
Facing numerous challenges as a new freelancer, I quickly integrated my business insights to move through the many familiar obstacles I faced in that hellish landscape.
I then began sharing with other freelancers a framework ofeight vital achievements,that took me to a state of personal and vocational flourishing as a freelancer.
In Path of the Freelancer, I dive into these mile markers, unveil a blueprint, and share personal stories to help guide and equip you on this rewarding freelance journey.
Freelancing Can Be Overwhelmingly Difficult. But It Does Not Have To Be!
Stop trying to tread water in the ocean. Choose to voyage the seas in a powerful boat instead!
Here's what readers have said about Path of the Freelancer...
"As a freelancer, Path of the Freelancer is a must-read. It's a brilliant piece of work I glean from and recommend to all my colleagues. It will be my go-to guide for years to come!"
"With the right balance of personal experience and solid business advice, Jason has written a comprehensive guide to achieving freelance success. Infused with memorable analogies and infographics, The Path of the Freelancer appeals to a variety of learning types, and remains engaging throughout an impressive amount of content. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is either getting into freelancing or ready to take their current business to the next level."
"Jason Montoya offers freelancers an in-depth roadmap on how to succeed in what is rapidly becoming the career of choice for many people. The book is structured in eight 'achievements' that logically take the reader from understanding the lifestyle of a freelancer to marketing, sales, client relationships, and finances - from both a business and personal basis. It is a working guide and invaluable resource for both novice freelancers and those who have been involved in this way of making a living for many years."
"Jason offers tremendous insight to not only the freelancer but to any professional wanting to hone their skills in the communications and marketing space. His insightful and wise commentary is always refreshing and his perspectives, unique and thoughtful. A great read."
"I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone wanting to become a freelancer! Jason became a successful freelancer in his own right and walks you through his process and path in this book. In this book. He teaches lessons that make the path to freedom through freelancing so clear. Thanks so much for putting this together for everyone wanting to become a freelancer Jason!!"
"Jason Montoya offers his readers a practical decision framework and roadmap that they can use to launch a thriving freelancing practice. The wealth of actionable pieces of advice that Mr. Montoya gives is also useful to freelancers with an established practice.
To his credit, the author is very honest about what he has done both right and wrong during his professional, personal, and spiritual journey. The experience that Mr. Montoya gained at Noodlehead Marketing, which he founded and then shut down, clearly helped him in successfully transitioning into freelancing. His expertise in marketing communication was clear to me when I had the opportunity to listen to a presentation that he gave recently in Atlanta, GA.
Importantly, the book under review is also useful to the clients who pay for the expertise of freelancers. Freelancers and clients have a significantly higher probability of building a win-win relationship if they have a better appreciation for their respective needs.
In summary, the Path of the Freelancer stands out as a practical guide that freelancers and their clients would be wise to consult regularly."
"Outstanding talk by Jason Montoya! I absolutely LOVED your personal style AND your organizational structure." - Allen Helms
Are you interested in Jason speaking at your event on the topic of freelancing? If so, there are three approaches we offer. The first approach is where Jason speaks at a high level about the eight achievements from the book. The second approach is where Jason takes one of the eight achievements and goes for a deep dive teaching all four checkpoints within the selected achievement. We break it down further below. The third approach is a custom event, panel or request for Jason to moderate a panel or event.
Approach 1: Summarize All Eight Achievements
For those not aware of the book or its eight achievements, the summary agenda provides a helpful survey of all eight achievements and what they entail. Each of the achievements receives around five minutes and the entire talk can be done in as short as forty-five minutes or as long as seventy-five minutes. In either case, fifteen to thirty minutes can be provided for questions and answers after the talk is concluded.
Approach 2: Explore One Specific Achievement
Within each achievement, except the first, there are four checkpoints where Jason takes the audience through one of the achievements listed below. As part of the deeper dive approach, Jason will spend about ten minutes with each checkpoint diving into the achievement and will equip the audience to digest and apply the content in their work lives. This deeper dive talk can be extended from forty-five to seventy-five minutes and can also conclude with fifteen to thirty minutes of questions and answers.
The following eight vital achievements are the topics you can select to take a deeper dive on.
Do you have a custom event, a need for a freelancing panel, or a request for Jason to moderate your event or panel? If so, we can help. Share the details of what you're looking for and we're happy to discuss if and how we can work together on your next event.
Examples
How Companies & Freelancers Can Work Well Together
Lessons From A Freelancer: Three Ways to Boost Your Sales Effectiveness
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We invite freelancers and topical experts to write guest posts for our freelancing blog in exchange for the exposure to our community (No Compensation). Your guest blog could be an insight, your freelancing story or an answer to a common freelancing question. Read below to see what each entails.
Insights - Share what you've learned that's helped you flourish as a freelancer as a way to help others do the same. These insights will fall under one or many of the book's eight achievements listed below. Click here for examples of shared insights.
In his journey, he has personally experienced and seen others experience the life of surviving in isolation. In his times of need, others helped and inspired him when he needed it. As a result, his personal aim is to inspire others to a place of thriving and togetherness.
What does Thriving Together mean for Jason? It means living in healthy community with others. One where his relationship with God, family, work, community and country are lived out as a positive example. An example others would aspire to.
Jason is a follower of the WAY the TRUTH and The LIFE, and he lives in Atlanta with his wife and four children, Madison, David, Judah, and Elihu.
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We want to help other freelancers with the concepts in the book by creating a freelance community that runs with the ideas in this book. You and others will bring them to life, and the mastermind group is one of those ways.
The Vision: Each Participant Is Moved Closer To Flourishing In Freelancing By Exploring All Eight Vital Achievements With Others
It does not take much to host and lead a freelance mastermind group. Here's what you'll need.
As the leader of the group, and so you're aware enough to facilitate the discussions for each session, you'll need to read the book.
You'll need a group of freelancers. Invite freelancers to join your group. You'll want to ten to twelve committed before you began as three to five will likely leave the group at some point. While each participant does not need a book, they'll get more out of it if they have and read one.
Ryan Battles, Co-Founder of Harpoon (A Freelancer's Financial Tool)
Keith Taylor, Professional Freelance Photographer
Toby Bloomberg, Social Media Specialist
Allison Miller, Speaker and Author of Desperate for Love
Jason Long, Founder Of BrainLeaf
Michael Stewart
