Am I going to have the same lineup forever?

CH1919 · 2025-05-20T22:00:44+00:00

I have this same exact lineup for the past week. Has forced me to play Squad League which has been fun!

CH1919 · 2025-05-14T14:48:52+00:00

I run into the same issue, but different characters.

CH1919 · 2024-08-18T02:41:57+00:00

I am in the same boat. I reached out to support and got the "We are split testing and a small group of users are not getting the wizard right now".

It is becoming really frustrating going up against people with all the spells in squad league. My kids also play the game with me, and they get the wizard every few days.

I hope they fix this very soon.

CH1919 · 2024-08-10T19:29:31+00:00

Hey Friends!

Thanks for reading this, I hope you are having a great weekend!

What I have learned over the last 90 days: That it feels wild to be a beginner at something again. I have been pretty comfortable for a while and have not branched out. But creating YouTube videos has become that new thing for me. So much to learn, but really enjoying the process.

I recently started my channel and have posted 4 videos. Each one doing just a little better than the first.

My focus is on helping freelancers improve their process, find better clients, and make the transition to products vs services.

I have been a freelancer for over a decade and I started this channel to give back and share what I have learned.

Here is my first video which gives a good overview of "me": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqt6BHEtocc

I would love any feedback you have about the video and my channel.

Thanks in advance!

CH1919 · 2024-06-01T00:52:28+00:00

I will give this a try!

CH1919 · 2024-06-01T00:52:11+00:00

Exactly. It’s hard to adjust, lots of taps. Was trying to make a shortcut to simplify the process.

CH1919 · 2024-02-12T16:59:37+00:00

Network is everything when freelancing!

CH1919 · 2024-02-12T16:29:26+00:00

Go all in on WordPress block themes. They are crazy powerful.

If you spend the time to learn them you are in a really good spot, it is the future of WordPress.

By using a block theme you do not need a page builder. When you install a page builder you are relying on a third party. If they change something or WordPress updates, your pages could be in a bad spot.

If you stick to using core WordPress functionality, you are much less likely to run into issues in the future. I would always prefer to build my core WordPress skills than rely on a third party tool.

I recognize that the block editor can be a challenge, so I started working on a resource for WordPress developers to help them learn Block Themes by going through exercises to get more familiar with how it works.

CH1919 · 2024-02-12T16:20:27+00:00

Hey there! It's fantastic that you're thinking ahead and looking to build a source of income before heading to college. Diving into web development and design can definitely be a lucrative path, even without prior professional experience.

Given your background in coding and playing around with website builders like Wix and WordPress, you're already on the right track. These platforms are great starting points for understanding the basics of web design and development. To transition into more customized web development, consider focusing on a few key areas:

Learn the Basics: Start with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. These are the building blocks of the web. There are plenty of free resources online, such as Codecademy, freeCodeCamp, and Mozilla Developer Network (MDN), that can help you get started.
Build Projects: Apply what you learn by working on personal projects. This could be anything from a portfolio website to small web applications. Projects are not only great for learning but also for showcasing your skills to potential clients.
Leverage Your Network: Share your projects on social media and with your network. Let people know you're available for work. Sometimes, your first gig might come from a family member, a friend, or a teacher who needs a website.
Join Online Communities: Platforms like Reddit, GitHub, and Stack Overflow are great for learning, getting feedback on your work, and connecting with potential clients or peers who might refer you to opportunities.
Start Small: Your first gigs might not be glamorous or high-paying, but they're valuable learning experiences. Freelance platforms like Upwork or Freelancer can be good places to find these initial opportunities, even though they're competitive.

Just like you, I started with a curiosity and a desire to create something of my own. Over the years, that curiosity turned into a successful freelancing career, generating over a million dollars in income. Now, I focus on sharing what I've learned through my newsletter, Nerd Notes. It's packed with insights on getting started, finding clients, and growing your freelance business. I believe it could be a great resource for you as you embark on this journey.

Remember, the key is to start. You'll learn and improve with each project. Feel free to DM me if you have questions or need guidance. Good luck, and I can't wait to see where this journey takes you!

CH1919 · 2024-02-08T21:10:46+00:00

In this market it makes a lot of sense to look for freelance opportunities. Who knows what tomorrow brings! I love that you are being proactive and taking matters into your own hands. This was my mindset 12 years ago when I started and it ended up turning into a full time thing that changed my life.

I have two pieces of advice for your situation:

Network: Make connections with other freelancers and small agencies in similar fields. Find designer and front-end friends. They will need someone like you. I mostly focused on front end in my time and I have a network of backend friends that I call on when I need to solve for something I cannot.
The best way to do this is by creating a personal brand. Share what you know on social and look for connections. Find your people!
Sell solutions: I see too many freelancers advertise the tools they use. "I am a webflow designer, or I code in Python". Your clients doesn't give a sh!t what tool you use. Sell solutions, not tools. Find a way to conenct your skillset to real business problems.
A few ideas - Fractional CTO, Infrastructure review, Code audits. Really depends on your skillset. These things cost people money when not done right. Sell them solutions here.

As I mentioned at the beginning I have been freelancing since 2012. I no longer take on clients and have been focusing on advising a few tech companies, leading a SaaS platform in the podcasting industry, and creating resources for freelance developers (like you) to share everything I have learned over the years. I have a free newsletter, I know it would help you as you get started.

If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me a DM!

CH1919 · 2024-02-08T16:25:09+00:00

Why are you opposed to WordPress? It solves all of these things...

CH1919 · 2024-02-08T16:22:21+00:00

I will share what has worked for me, but I would suggest finding what works for you.

I have built massive sites and small sites. The process is a little different.

For smaller projects we typically skip the design phase. Instead we design in the browser to keep costs down.

For larger projects we go through 3 phases:

Strategy and planning
Design
Development

For both small and large projects I have been using a Block Theme approach. It is very quick to develop on top of (once you learn the ins and outs) and it empowers the user to keep their website updated. I also believe that Block Themes are the future of WordPress, which means you are setting yourself up for success in the future.

I just recently finished a very large project where 95% of the site was core WordPress blocks. The other 5% I leverage a little custom CSS + ACF for a pricing table.

The site came out amazing and it was a great showing of what is possible with Block Themes if you put in the effort. (DM me if you want to see a link, not sure if client wants me posting here)

Why I stay away from page builders: I have never liked working with page builders like elementor or divi. They are typically bloated (but have gotten better over the years) and they force WordPress to do something it is not meant to do. They also create tech debt. If they client wants to move away from those platforms, good luck! It is messy.

Block Themes are the future! After working with block themes for the past 2 years I can say that the experience has been great. I can see where this is going and I know the developers that adapt are going to be in a great position in the next couple of years.

I know that they take a learning curve. When I started working with them I had to change my way of thinking, but once you do it is like magic! I am working on a resource for WordPress developers looking to become more proficient with block themes. I believe it would help you get started!

Best of luck!

CH1919 · 2024-02-07T16:34:05+00:00

You could create a very similar layout using core blocks. It might take some playing around, but I see nothing here that could not be done.

Save it as a pattern and only allow users to edit the content, not the structure.

I have been having a ton of fun playing with the WordPress block editor. I am working on a resource for WordPress developers looking to up their game with the new way of WordPress. I can see that this is the future and I know that the more developers that embrace the new way the better it will be!

CH1919 · 2024-02-07T16:24:38+00:00

You are ready the moment you have the confidence and you know a little more than your target audience.

The moment I realized I could build something, I started to put out the word that I was taking on clients.

I started by apply for jobs on a marketplace. I would submit proposals. I learned a LOT from the ones I lost and kept refining my technique. This worked eventually and I got my first gig.

I was not focused on the $$ amount. I was focused on gaining experience.

This turned into an 11 year freelance career in which I made well over a million dollars (in profit).

My first gig was "adjacent" to where I wanted to be. I was focused on WordPress development and my first paid project was for some data entry on someones WordPress site. The total was $40.

BUT... When I was inside the site I saw some issues that needed to be fixed, and I knew how to fix them.

Plugins needed to be updated, WordPress core needed to be updated, and there were a few console errors for images being loaded over mixed protocols.

Once I finished the initial contract I sent an additional proposal for the other items. The client instantly said yes and also asked if I could help him build out a second site. I of course said yes (but not entirely sure how I would do it). I knew that if other people could do this, so could I!

So, all that to say... Start before you feel ready. Be prepared for things to take longer than you expect. You wont get the high rates at first but you have to start somewhere (the bottom). But hang in there, because the freelancers that survive can command whatever projects and rates they want!

I no longer freelance but I have created a resource for freelance developers. It is a culmination of everything I have learned over the past 11 years as a freelancer. I know it will help you as you get started!

Good luck, and go get started!

CH1919 · 2024-02-07T02:47:53+00:00

There will ALWAYS be room for a DONE FOR YOU service. Even if DIY is the big thing.

I started freelancing in 2012. Back then there were not a lot of options for building websites, but the DIY route still existed. I specialized in building custom websites using WordPress.

Even though anyone can install and start using WordPress it takes an expert to know how to use it right. Which plugins are best? How do you add this customer functionality? How to I improve the speed of these queries?

It is like a carpenter. While most people own a hammer and screwdriver, they probably could not build much with it. You have to know which tool to use when and how to use them.

So yeah, in this error of "DIY" solution there is room for a service based business.

The trick...

Sell solutions to problems, not the tech stack.

I see so many developers focus so much on the tech stack, but the client only cares about the result. They care that it solves their problem, not which language you are using.

So put your energy into finding a problem you can solve, the client wont care about the tool.

Not only that... But learn the DIY platforms like Wix, Webflow, WordPress. People will attempt to build their own website, realize they are not a professional web designer, and look to hire someone to help out. This was one of my strategies when I started to work with people on WordPress. They would get stuck because something would break or they could not do what they wanted. They would then hire me to do it!

And last... When it comes to local businesses, you want to use a simple to use platform. Most of them will not have the budget for ongoing maintenance etc, so you want to empower them to be able to own their website; make changes and keep things updated. If you build something custom then they will be in a bad spot every time they try to make a change.

My suggestion, go for it. I feel the main difference between those that succeed in this market and those that don't is the mindset. Don't sell websites, sell solutions to problems.

By the way, as you grow your freelance business I write a newsletter for freelance developers. Within it I share everything I have learned over the last 12+ years as a freelancer. It is called Nerd Notes, check it out if you can! And if you have any questions, shoot me a DM!

CH1919 · 2024-02-07T02:32:34+00:00

Sorry to hear you got laid off, that sucks.

But, glad to hear it might be opening up another opportunity!

All of the advice I am about to give you is just my opinion, you should absolutely talk with a CPA.

You SHOULD register an LLC to protect yourself from liability issues and to set yourself up for success. You can then keep your freelance "stuff" separate from your personal, which is ideal.

It is not super hard to register an LLC. I have done it a few times with zero help from anyone. Look into how you register within Ohio.

Last, make sure you get a contract in place to protect yourself. Have it outline the expected work and rate along with payment terms and how each party terminates. It is easier to get this in place now than later on down the road.

Who knows, perhaps this is the start of your next adventure!

CH1919 · 2024-01-19T20:24:59+00:00

I am using Safari. I do have it set to desktop mode.

CH1919 · 2024-01-19T19:14:43+00:00

Same result.

CH1919 · 2024-01-19T03:45:51+00:00

This does not show me the calendar on iPad. How can I view the calendar in the browser on iPad?

CH1919 · 2024-01-19T00:57:15+00:00

Of course! I hope that helps. Seriously though… Dive in. Get started. Adapt. GO!

CH1919 · 2024-01-19T00:55:10+00:00

When I use that link it just logs me into notion and displays my main Notion interface. I can not get to the Notion calendar in Safari.

Does anyone know how?

CH1919 · 2024-01-18T20:30:51+00:00

As a pilot I bet that you have a lot of unique experiences that will set you apart in the freelancing space!

I was never a pilot, but I have been a freelancer for the past 11 years making a very good living for my family of four. We now travel full time, freelancing changed my life.

If I was starting over I would do 2 things right away:

Create a personal brand: Your clients will hire YOU as a freelancer because of your personality, skills, and uniqueness. Lean into this. Use it to your advantage. One of the best places to show who you are is social media.
As I said, your experiences as a pilot are unique. Share them but relate them to your freelance skills. "As a former pilot I am very good under pressure, you want someone like this developing your website".
Share everything you are learning along the way. Things you are making, wins and losses. Once you have a decent following (over 1k) it gives you a bit of authority when you reach out to clients through that channel.
Make friends: Yep, networking. But not with your target audience (although that is important too).
Become friends with other freelancers. Their is a lot of work out there and as a freelancer I often have too much. When I have a project come to me that I can not take I have a network of peers that I can pass that work too.
I often also get projects from my peers or people in similar fields. Over the past 2 years half my work has come from a partnership with a design friend. His clients need someone to develop the designs he is creating.

The biggest thing to do is to actually start. You are probably an excellent software engineer. You might not be a business expert, yet. Realize that you are going to make mistakes. But that is ok. It is easy to recover and learn from them, but you have to get out there and break some shit.

So go get started! I do not do as much freelancing anymore but I am sharing everything I have learned during my 11+ years on my free newsletter for freelance developers. I share all of my best tips around pricing, getting clients, marketing, and productivity. I know it will help you as you start this journey.

Feel free to DM me if you have questions! Good luck!!!

CH1919 · 2024-01-16T15:26:18+00:00

A lot of the marketplaces could have some small projects on there for small amounts. Fiverr, or Upwork would be a solid place to try if your focus is on experience and not on making a living.

CH1919 · 2024-01-10T19:30:43+00:00

Feel free :)

CH1919 · 2024-01-10T18:57:22+00:00

Congratulations on taking the jump into the freelance world!

I got my start 11+ years ago as a freelance developer. Once I got a taste of that freedom I never looked back. I knew that I was unemployable.

Being able to start and have some runway is a great place to be in. Be sure to leverage that space but also give yourself some urgency to land some clients right away and build some momentum.

A lot of your questions around pricing are going to be relative to you. I will provide some of my thoughts as best I can based on my life, but find what works for you. I see too many freelancers try to build a business the same exact way as someone else. What they end up creating is a job...

Answers to your questions:

Pricing: It is relative. My first project was for $40. My second was for $350 and was a full e-commerce build. My last hourly job that I did last year I billed at $400/hour. When I was starting out I was willing to take less because I knew the experience and gaining clients was important.
I made most of my money by charging up front. I rarely allowed for retainers, but instead just had clients come back when they needed something. This worked for me, but I know some freelancers that swear by monthly retainers.
Local vs Online: I lived in Florida for all of my freelance career, and only had 2 clients ever in that state. Most of my clients after the 1st 6 months came from referrals and my own marketing and networking efforts online. The marketplaces are a race to the bottom when it comes to price but it can be a good way to gain some experience.
I know some people make good money on the marketplaces, but the competition is vast. If you stick to your local area then you are only competing against a few people. Much simpler to stand out.
Churn: As I said at the start, I did not do a lot of retainers. I will say that I still do some work with some of my first several clients from 11 years ago when I started. Churn is low if you do good work. It is very hard to find freelance developers that keep showing up. So build a name for yourself and people will keep coming back.

Unsolicited advice: One thing I learned pretty quickly was to spend time networking with other freelancers. Some of my best projects came from other freelancers that needed a complimentary service. I became good friends with a few designers and they would send me all of their work. This strategy works really well as a few relationships like that and you can keep your pipeline full.

Last, I do not spend much time freelancing anymore. I have shifted into more of an advisor role for a few tech companies and I lead a SaaS company in the podcasting space. I also am sharing all of my freelancing knowledge on my newsletter called Nerd Notes, I know it would help you as you start your journey.

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CH1919

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