Let's Celebrate The Progress You've Made in 2023!

Hey Friend,

As this year draws to an end, we naturally begin to reflect on our successes and misses throughout 2023. Whether all your goals were met or not, remember – each step in your journey is progress.

Here is what we have coming up in this week’s FF Newsletter:

• Essi is our first Freelance Friends Showcase 🌟

• Join our End-of-Year Reflection Session 🪞

• Be a part of our Manage Your Time & Achieve More Event ⏳

• Our New Facebook Community 🆕

Freelance Friends Spotlight with Essi Auguste Virtanen

Gain insights from Essi, an inspiring member of our community, as she shares her journey and advice for fellow freelancers.

Q. Hey Essi! Could you tell us a bit about yourself? Who are ya, where do you come from, and what do you do?

I’m Essi, originally from Finland. I lived for 4 years in the US, where I completed my journalism degree. Almost five years ago, I moved to London to pursue my master's in Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology.

I am an intuitive life coach and multimedia content creator. I've just released my first book, "HEARTFUL: Embracing the Courageous Journey to Live a Fulfilling Heart-Led Life," which encapsulates my life and coaching philosophy to guide people in creating their version of a heartful, meaningful life.

I also run a community called Connected You, where I help people connect within, with others, and with something higher to find that heartful life for them. We do online and in-person meetups and workshops.

Q. Can you recall a moment when you suddenly realised, ‘Yes, this is exactly what I should be doing’?

I remember back in 2018, I was in my apartment in LA, California, and I randomly learned about Positive Psychology online. Initially, I thought, "Well, I am pretty positive, so it sounds like this is the science I should be studying!"

Little did I know then that the whole trajectory of my life would change, moving from journalism to positive psychology and coaching.

Q. What do you think your younger self would say about you now? How would they feel meeting you?

Honestly, I think my younger self would say, "I am so freaking proud of you!!" She would be in awe. She always dreamed about making it out into the world from the little village in Finland where I am from. She wanted to move to London one day.

Now, we have been here for almost five years. She also dreamed about learning English so well that people would think we were native speakers, and we tell stories for a living. We did that too, first as a journalist and now as a published author and public speaker. YIKES. That is insane to think about!

Q. In five years, what’s your dream scenario for yourself and your work? What are you most excited about?

I hope my HEARTFUL method and philosophy have become a global movement, and our Connected You tribe has thousands of members connecting both in person and online every month from all over the world.

My dream scenario is to speak about this on stages globally and make a difference by connecting people to heal the epidemic of loneliness and depression in this world.

I love doing group work because something magical happens when we come together. And as I like to say, "Together is better." And finally, I am most excited to be interviewed by Oprah in the next five years - I am waiting for the call. ;)

Q. If you could sit down with someone just starting on their own freelance or entrepreneurial path, what one piece of advice would you love to give them?

“Perfection kills more dreams than anything else." Just do it. Do not get stuck on perfecting an idea, because you can get stuck there forever. When an idea comes that resonates with your soul, chase it. Just do it. Start, and you can improve it as you go.

If fear is present for you even to start, the idea is big enough to get you outside your comfort zone. Leap, my friend. That is your heart's calling, and man, it is incredible on the other side!

That is how to make a difference in any path - start with one action. Then another tomorrow. Any dream can be broken down into small steps. You gotta do it. Sorry, I think there was more than one piece of advice, haha!

Q. Picture this... You’re stranded on a desert island, and can only listen to one song forever. What song would you choose and why?

It would have to be "This Is Me" by Keala Settle from The Greatest Showman. It reminds me of resilience, empowerment, and authenticity, and I would love to listen to it forever. It uplifts my soul every time.

Q: And how can we find you on the internet!?

You can follow me on Instagram here, check out my community here and buy my book here!

Events

We have two incredible events lined up for you!

2023 Unwrapped: Setting Intentions for 2024

Monday, December 18th 2023 - 7:00pm

Hosted by: Lauren, Co-Founder of Freelance Friends

Reflect on your achievements from 2023, set goals for 2024, and connect with like-minded individuals in our thriving Freelance Friends community.

Led by Lauren, this workshop offers practical tips on work-life balance, motivation, and leveraging our community for support.

Whether you're a seasoned freelancer or just starting out, this free event is the perfect platform to turn your dreams into actionable plans.

Don't miss out on this exciting journey of growth and goal-setting.

Reserve your free spot now.

Manage Your Time & Achieve More This 2024

Monday, January 22nd 2024 - 7:00pm

Hosted by: Essi, Author of Heartful

Join us for an exciting online event where you'll learn valuable tips and proven strategies to manage your time effectively and achieve more in the upcoming year.

Led by experienced speaker Essi Auguste Virtanen, this workshop is perfect for students, professionals, and anyone looking to enhance productivity. Gain practical techniques to optimise time management skills and reach your goals.

Don't miss this incredible opportunity to boost productivity and well-being.

Register now to join Essi and Freelance Friends in mastering the art of time management for success in 2024.

Join Our New Facebook Community

Sharing Resources and Support

In times like these, sharing knowledge and resources is crucial. We encourage you to share strategies that work with our community. To facilitate this, we've created a Facebook Page for sharing useful tips and resources.

Collaboration and Skill Sharing

Now more than ever, expanding your business through collaboration and skill-sharing can be a game-changer. Can you team up with another Freelance Friend to expand your network? Combining skills can open new doors and create mutual growth opportunities.

🗞️ News Worthy

Things you might find helpful.

• How to Finish Your Tasks 50% Faster - Understanding how we perform best is the key to getting more done in less time. paywalled

• Creativity for Sale - How to start and grow a life-changing creative career and business by Radim Malinic 📖  new book

Refer a Freelance Friend

If you know someone who would find our community helpful, you can share FF with them by directing them to our website - www.freelancefriends.fun.

Want to advertise with us? Email Alex.

Have an idea or news to share with the community? Email Lauren.