Gig Economy Growth

I’ve had 4 legal battles since starting my business. Could I have avoided them? Probably. But to be honest, I didn't have the funds to pay a proper lawyer, or the network of founders to ask the right questions to. I don't want that to happen to you. Here are 5 clauses I put in my contracts that might help you protect your work, your business and most importantly.. your sanity ↓ #1 Non-cancellable, non-refundable contracts. This shouldn’t even be an issue if you qualify your clients properly. BUT if someone signs, onboards, and then ghosts? We still get paid. And so should you 🤗 #2 Immediate or short payment terms Most businesses accept 30-to 90-day payment terms. I don’t. You wouldn’t work for 3 months without pay—so why should your business? Cash flow is your business’s lifeline. Protect it. #3 While we’re on payment terms… Your contract should include: → Interest on late invoices. → A clause that stops work if invoices aren’t cleared. → A guarantee that if a client delays the project, you still get paid. Your time isn’t free! #4 Your IP stays YOURS. Anything we bring into the agreement at Klowt stays ours. Anything we create for you is yours. Simple. I once ran a training session, and the client recorded it—then tried to sell it behind a paywall. Now, our contract states a £10,000 fine per breach. (And for that particular case, per breach = per view. 😅) #5 Don't work with d*ckheads. This isn't a legal clause, more legal... advice? 🤣 If someone is giving you red flags in any way at the beginning of your relationship, do not work with them. This could include but not limited to: - Focusing on immediate ROI. - Cost or discounts being a primary concern. - Pushing for work to kick off before contracts or payments. - Reaching out at inappropriate times - or in inappropriate ways. - Delaying initial payments. Legally binding contracts are a good insurance policy, but they're lengthy and expensive to implement if you actually have to go to court. So the best LEGAL advice I can give you as a 2x founder is, don't work with d*ckheads. And learn from my mistakes. It's a lot cheaper than learning from your own... trust me 😂. Was this helpful? 💜 I write a 2x weekly newsletter for founders and freelancers on topics like this. Join us here: https://lnkd.in/ejDbD94R

40% of Japan's towns could disappear by 2040. Japan's population crisis is reaching a breaking point. With one of the world's lowest birth rates and a rapidly aging society, the country lost over 800,000 people in 2022 alone - equivalent to erasing a major city from the map. But there's hope on the horizon. Japan's Tourism Agency just announced a groundbreaking initiative: Starting 2025, they'll subsidize the creation of digital nomad hubs across the country. The plan includes creating 24/7 workspaces, vibrant community venues, and modern accommodations to welcome global remote workers. Having worked with digital nomad communities worldwide, I've seen this strategy transform economies. Portugal's Madeira is the perfect example - what started as a digital nomad village experiment has evolved into a thriving international community, attracting not just temporary visitors but permanent residents and foreign investment. The key to success? Two crucial elements: - Local community leadership that genuinely integrates newcomers - Strong global marketing that attracts the right talent Japan has all the ingredients to make this work: cutting-edge tech, rich culture, legendary hospitality. Now it's about execution. While attracting digital nomads won't solve Japan's low birth rate directly, it's a rapid injection of talent and energy that gives the country breathing room to implement longer-term demographic solutions. What do you think about Japan's strategy to combat depopulation through digital nomads? Ps: Picture from a beautiful coworking space in Fukuoka region I visited last October. #Japan #DigitalNomads #Innovation #RemoteWork #FutureOfWork

Dear freelancers, This year, I need you to run your strictest programme yet. No more “let’s just see how it goes” energy. We’re moving like strict businesses. okurrr. Start here: 1/ Have contracts in place. Every time. 2/ Set communication hours. You’re not a 24/7 helpline. 3/ Stick to your T&Cs. Boundaries are part of the service. 4/ Take deposits. Your calendar is not a free holding space. 5/ If a potential client is giving you the runaround, run away. 6/ Get clear on the scope before you start. “Can you just…” will finish you. 7/ Don’t undercharge yourself just to “secure the bag.” Cheap clients are rarely low stress. BUT. By doing all this, you also need to make sure your service is matching the standards you’re setting. Professionalism isn’t one-sided. So also: ✨ Deliver on time. Or communicate early. ✨ Make the process smooth, not stressful. ✨ Overcommunicate progress so clients feel secure. ✨ Take pride in the details; quality is your reputation. ✨ Leave clients feeling like they made the right investment. This isn’t just about helping yourself. It helps the whole freelance community. When you undercharge, overdeliver for free, ignore contracts, or move messy, it lowers the standard for everyone else trying to run a serious business. We can be kind. We can be flexible. But we cannot be unserious. Yours sincerely, A seasoned freelancer

Many friends have asked me to help candidates improve their LinkedIn profiles and CVs Let’s do this in two posts. First: your LinkedIn profile. Everything matters in this market. My core LinkedIn profile drives 50% of the impressions on my page. 25% is the activity section. 25% is featured posts (start making content!). Here is what I recommend: • Use a custom profile photo and custom banner. Choose something clear, personal, and relevant that reinforces your professional identity. • Make your portfolio or website impossible to miss. Add it to Featured, Contact Info, and the beginning of your About section. Recruiters should reach your work in one click. • Write a specific, searchable headline. State your discipline, level, specialization, and strongest relevant skills. “Passionate game developer” or “seeking opportunities” says very little. Make it human, but clear. • Write a meaningful About section. Explain what you do, what you are strongest at, what you have built or shipped, and the impact you create. Show a human side. Use short paragraphs. • Structure Experience around contribution and impact. Keep relevant roles, but give the most space to recent work. Show scope, accomplishments, tools, shipped projects, leadership, and measurable results. Compress older work rather than deleting useful history. • Avoid empty entries. Every role should include at least one line explaining what you did and why it mattered. Contract and freelance roles still need context. • Use the language recruiters search for. Include accurate role titles, seniority, engines, tools, platforms, and specializations naturally across your headline, About, Experience, and Skills. • Set your location and Open to Work preferences precisely. Include target roles, employment types, locations, remote preferences, and relocation flexibility. • Add relevant skills and connect them to the roles where you used them. Put your strongest skills first. • Request recommendations. Ask managers, peers, reports, clients, or collaborators to describe specific work, impact, and strengths. • Feature only your strongest work. Lead with the item you most want a recruiter to open. Remove anything outdated, weak, or distracting. • Add education, awards, certifications, and volunteer work where relevant. These details complete your story. • Create a clean custom LinkedIn URL, check your public visibility, and add contact information. • Keep LinkedIn, your CV, and your portfolio consistent. Dates, titles, seniority, and shipped projects should match everywhere. Finally, open your profile on your phone. Give 30 seconds and ask: What does this person do? At what level? What proves they are good at it? What makes me want to learn more? If the answers are not obvious, keep editing. People are reviewing thousands of profiles. Make yours easy to understand, easy to trust, and hard to forget.

If your LinkedIn profile isn’t working for you, it’s working against you. A strong profile isn’t about luck, it’s about intention. And when you get it right, it transforms far more than your job search. A well-built LinkedIn presence boosts your: ↳ Visibility in your industry ↳ Credibility as a professional ↳ Access to new opportunities If you want your profile to actually open doors, start with these essentials: ✓ Choose a clear, professional profile photo ✓ Write a headline that tells people what you do, not just your title ✓ Craft an “About” section that speaks to your strengths and outcomes ✓ Highlight the wins that matter — not just your responsibilities ✓ Add certifications, skills, and endorsements that match your goals ✓ Use the Featured section to show your best work ✓ Share insights, not noise ✓ Engage consistently with your network ✓ Join communities relevant to your field ✓ Give and request recommendations ✓ Use industry keywords to stay searchable ✓ Keep everything updated and aligned ✓ Customize your URL for easy sharing Show up as the professional who stands out Not the one people scroll past. Know someone whose profile is worth celebrating? Tag them below. ⬇️

Let's talk about the contract clauses that will either save your ass or completely screw you. I've signed contracts I shouldn't have and learned the hard way which terms are worth fighting for. Here's what you need to know: Work-for-hire vs. licensing: this is everything... Work-for-hire means you're signing away all rights. The client owns it forever, can use it however they want, can even feed it to AI. You have zero control. Licensing means you retain copyright and grant specific usage rights for a specific time and territory. This is what you want. If a contract says "work-for-hire," do everything you can to negotiate it out. Kill fees: protect yourself when projects die... If a project gets canceled after you've started work, you need to get paid. A kill fee should be 50-100% of your fee depending on how far in you are. If it's not in the contract, you're working for free the second they cancel. Payment terms: when you get paid matters... Net 30 is standard but not great. Negotiate for a 50% deposit upfront, payment on delivery, or Net 15. The faster you get paid, the less you're financing their project. Revision limits: because "one more tweak" never stops... If your contract doesn't specify revision rounds, clients will ask for changes forever. Include a limit (2-3 rounds) and specify that additional revisions are billed separately. Usage rights: be specific... Where can they use the work? For how long? In what territory? If it's not spelled out, they'll assume they can use it everywhere forever. Define it clearly. I'm not a lawyer, so make sure you're doing your own research, but understanding these clauses has saved me from getting screwed. An educated freelance workforce is a powerful freelance workforce. 🤍

I Audited 100 Freelancer Profiles. Here’s What’s Keeping You Stuck. Freelancers, let’s be real, your profile is your first impression. It’s the first thing potential clients see. And after reviewing 100+ freelancer profiles, I noticed the same mistakes over and over. If you’re not landing clients, you might be making these mistakes too: 🚨 Mistake #1: Your Profile Looks Like a Resume, Not a Sales Page Clients don’t care about your ‘experience.’  They care about how you can solve their problem. Instead of listing "I’m a content writer with 3 years of experience", say: ✅ "I help brands generate traffic with engaging, SEO-optimized content that ranks." Fix: Write your headline and about section in a way that makes clients say, “I NEED this person.” 🚨 Mistake #2: No Clear Niche = No Clients “I do graphic design, web development, social media, and copywriting.” ❌ Sounds like you’re desperate for any project. “I help SaaS startups get 3X more conversions with landing page design.” ✅ Sounds like an expert. Fix: Pick a niche. Own it. The more specific you are, the easier it is for clients to find you. 🚨 Mistake #3: No Social Proof or Case Studies If a client lands on your profile and sees zero proof, why would they trust you? Testimonials, case studies, and portfolio links make you instantly more credible. Fix: Add at least 3 client results, testimonials, or portfolio samples to your profile. 🚨 Mistake #4: No Call-to-Action (CTA) Most profiles don’t tell clients what to do next. A simple “DM me if you need help with X” can turn a visitor into a lead. Fix: End your profile summary with a strong CTA like: “Need help with [your service]? Let’s chat—DM me.” Your profile shouldn’t be a boring bio. It should sell your expertise, attract the right clients, and make them WANT to reach out. If your profile isn’t bringing in leads, fix these 4 things today. P.S. If you want to make your Linkedin a lead magnet for high ticket clients DM me "coaching"

5 things if you want premium clients as a freelancer- Your LinkedIn profile needs to do more than just look good, it needs to work like a funnel. Most freelancers optimize surface-level things (like a nice profile picture and catchy headline). But serious inbound leads come when your profile builds trust, authority, and clarity in seconds. Here’s how to go a level deeper: 🔹 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫: Don’t just say what you do. Say who you do it for, why it matters, and what specific transformation you bring. Generic = invisible. 🔹 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬: Add 2–3 results-focused case studies in your Featured section. Go beyond screenshots — show before-after, process, and client outcomes. This builds silent trust. 🔹 𝐀𝐝𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝: Client logos, media features, collaborations — anything that shows others trust you. 🔹 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 ‘𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭’ 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞: Hook with a pain point, build relevance, show authority, and end with a CTA. Treat it like a mini sales page — not an autobiography. 🔹 𝐏𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭-𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐩: Your top 3 posts should reflect your positioning, voice, and value. First impressions aren’t just profile-based — they’re content-based too. Clients don’t just want skills — they want certainty. 👉 Your profile should quietly answer: Can this person solve my problem better than anyone else? Audit your profile today. Because opportunities won’t wait for you to 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲. #LinkedInGrowth #ProfileOptimization #LinkedInMarketing

As someone who works 7 days a week, I have had to create weekends and strict rest periods inside my days of active work. Saturday and Sundays are more led with personal tasks but I can't fully disconnect from the mission on weekends and so day naps, strict working days of 10am-3am and working after 8pm (the kids bedtime) become a method of achieving all of my goals and commitments. My consideration for you is: Clarify your values: Reflect on what truly matters to you. Identify your core values and aspirations in both your professional and personal spheres. Understanding what is most important will help you make more aligned choices. Set boundaries: Establish clear boundaries between work and personal life. Determine specific times and spaces dedicated to work, and make a conscious effort to disconnect and engage in activities that bring you joy and fulfillment outside of work. Communicate your boundaries to colleagues, clients, and loved ones to foster respect and understanding. Prioritise self-care: Taking care of yourself is crucial for maintaining overall well-being. Prioritise self-care activities that recharge and rejuvenate you, such as exercise, quality sleep, hobbies, and spending time with loved ones. Remember that self-care is not selfish; it enables you to show up as your best self in all areas of life. Assess your workload: Evaluate your workload and responsibilities realistically. Be mindful of taking on too much and learn to delegate or say no when necessary. Recognise that you have limitations, and it is essential to avoid burnout by finding a sustainable balance between productivity and rest. Foster open communication: Engage in open and honest communication with your employer, colleagues, and loved ones about your work-life balance priorities. Clearly express your needs and concerns, and seek solutions that accommodate both personal and professional commitments. Collaborative dialogue can lead to mutually beneficial arrangements. Embrace flexibility: Explore opportunities for flexible work arrangements, such as remote work, flexible hours, or compressed workweeks. Flexibility can help create more space for personal pursuits and enable a better integration of work and life responsibilities. Practice mindfulness and presence: Cultivate mindfulness by being fully present in the present moment, whether you are at work or engaged in personal activities. By focusing on the task at hand, you can enhance productivity, reduce stress, and derive greater enjoyment from your experiences. Regularly reassess and adjust: Recognise that work-life balance is a dynamic process. Regularly assess your approach, considering your changing circumstances and priorities. Adjust your choices and commitments accordingly to maintain a harmonious equilibrium over time.

I suffer from depression. While in sales, it was a huge challenge. But 7 years ago, I started doing things differently: I adopted this principle… “Human first. Seller second.” It completely changed how I operated. To better serve others, I needed to be the best version of myself. But that’s easier said than done. So I developed a simple framework to help me stay on track. I call it “OKAY.” Here’s how it works: (O): OWN it According to Sales Health Alliance, 63% of sellers struggle with their mental health. That’s not a good number. But if there is a silver lining, you know you’re not alone. Simply acknowledge that it’s ok to not be ok. (K): Let others KNOW about it Come up with a phrase you can use with others that lets them know when you need a little extra time to get your work done (I use “I’m in a down cycle”). It’s helpful for your manager or important people in your life, like your spouse, partner, friends, family, or roommate. Let them know ahead of time what this means, why you need the extra time, how they can best support you, and what to expect during this time. (A): ACT on it Instead of trying to do too much at once, just focus on one tiny healthy habit. For instance, instead of going back to work after lunch, try going for a walk outside without your phone. Tip: Add a prompt and make it super easy and tiny. Example: “After I put my lunch plate in the dishwasher, I will put on my sneakers and open the door.” That’s all you have to do, whether you go walk for 1 minute or 30 minutes, the key is making the setup easy and repeatable. (Y): YIELD better to it Yield means to be “flexible under stress or physical force.” When we’re facing tough times or feel in a funk, it’s not the time to hit the accelerator, we need to slow down to avoid a bigger crash down the road. According to Mayo Clinic, “Too much clutter may increase stress and your risk of depression.” Instead of jumping right into sending an important email, take a little more time to organize files, run the vacuum in your home office, or clean up your desk. There’s something to be said about the energetic feeling you get after tidying up, so you can use this as leverage to improve the quality of your work. Listen, I know it can feel tough out there. But you’re not alone. With a little intention and a simple system in place, you can carve out small moments of peace each day. These moments stack up and compound in your favor to combat the negative effects of depression, self-doubt, and anxiety. And always remember, you’re a human first, professional second. Not the other way around. 🐝 P.S. May is Mental Health Awareness month. Let's use this platform to reduce the stigma around mental health. #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness