Halu !

This old Dilbert comic hit me right in my freelancer feels. 

You know why? Because let’s face it, we're that guy with the pointy hair saying "You could never do my job!" while actually accomplishing... not much.

We probably thought the same thing at some point.

Ouch, right?

And here's the thing - in today's world, just "doing the job" isn't enough anymore. Not with AI breathing down our necks and definitely not if we want to stay relevant (and well-paid) as freelancers.

Let me share some skills I learned from Scott Adams (yes, Dilbert's creator) that'll help you actually create impact - not just fill time. 

See, I've had his book 'How to Fail At Almost Everything and Still Win Big' in my library for years now. I remembered it because I was doing spring cleaning on my audible library ( read: you have chances to swap titles pa if they’re not too old. IFKYK ^_^) 

Here’s what he said are useful skills (just part of the list) that make you invaluable in the workforce, and I’ll fill you in on how it’s important for us, too.

1. Public Speaking (Even When Working Solo)

Ever notice how some freelancers seem to land clients just from Zoom calls, while others with similar skills struggle? Here's why this matters: 

In remote work, your ability to articulate value doesn't just matter during presentations - it's crucial in every client interaction. From quick Discord updates to Loom videos explaining your work, you're constantly "speaking publicly."

Example: I know two freelancers with identical video editing skills. One sends basic updates like "Project is 50% done." The other records quick 2-minute Loom videos walking through their progress, explaining their choices, and connecting them to business goals.

Guess who gets more referrals and repeat work? (Hint: I know that last freelancer really really well hehe)

2. Psychology (Understanding People You've Never Met in Person)

Working remotely means you're often dealing with people whose full context you can't see. Understanding human psychology becomes your secret weapon.

I'll share something real: 

Last year, I had a prospect who kept haggling over every line item in my proposal. "Can you lower this? What if we remove that?" A less savvy freelancer might have just kept reducing their price until there was nothing left to give.

But understanding human behavior helped me realize they weren't actually concerned about the price - they were worried about risk. They'd been burned by freelancers before who charged premium rates but delivered mediocre results.

Instead of playing the pricing game, I restructured my proposal to focus on reducing their risk: offering a smaller pilot project first, adding specific performance guarantees, and showing exactly how each component would generate ROI.

Guess what? They signed at my original rate. Sometimes, what looks like a pricing objection is really about something deeper.

3. Overcoming Shyness (Yes, Even Through a Screen)

"But Shoden, I work from home specifically to avoid people!" I hear you. I do too. Lol

But here's the truth: Remote work actually gives us introverts a superpower - we can build confidence at our own pace.

Start small:

- Turn your camera on in client calls (even if you're terrified)

- Speak up in Slack channels (even if your heart races)

- Share your opinions in email (even if you second-guess yourself)

One of my mentees was so shy she used to communicate only through chat. I wasn’t actually kung totoong tao sya. Hehe joke 

Today? She is now able to turn on her video during her client Zooms because she built her confidence gradually.

The key? She realized shyness wasn't about personality - it was about practice. Key point: People choose people, they need to associate a face to the contractor they’re paying. 

4. Conversation Skills (Building Rapport kahit wala na tayo sa office pantry)

Think conversation skills don't matter when working solo? Think again. Remote freelancers who can create genuine connections through digital channels are worth their weight in gold.

Real scenario: 12 developers bid on the same project. Most of them had similar technical skills. They went through the tech specs, but one took the extra time to ask thoughtful questions about the client's business challenges and vision.

Guess who got the contract? (Hint: It wasn't the ones who just talked about coding)

5. Persuasion (Without Being in the Same Room)

Remote persuasion isn't about being pushy - it's about helping clients make better decisions even when you can't read their body language or take them out for coffee.

I know a freelance writer who never competes on price because she's mastered the art of showing value through case studies and clear communication. While others send proposals listing deliverables, she sends "success roadmaps" showing exactly how her work will impact their business.

What others don’t realize is that their clients are also looking for the confidence to pull everything together and get them the results they need. 

Your ability to persuade during the initial meetings and the pitch is a huge tell (yes, even if you’re not doing the service delivery)

There were other skills that Scott Adams mentioned in the book, like Golf, Business Writing, basic design skills, and even to study hobby level accounting and technology. 

Understandably, we can’t do anything about the golf part yet. But well for the others, AI is now there to supplement that. This book came out in 2013, so di nya pa alam yung mga tools na alam mo now, .

Why These Skills Matter More Than Ever

In a world where AI can handle more and more tasks, our real value comes from:

- Speaking truthfully about results

- Understanding deeper business needs

- Having courage to suggest real solutions

- Leading meaningful strategic conversations

- Persuading clients to take effective action

But here's what ties everything together - business is built on relationships. 

Always has been, always will be. 

Even in our digital world, people still prefer working with those they know, like, and trust. An old mentor of mine likes to call it the KiLiTi principle. Know. Like. Trust.

Think about it: When a client needs additional work done, who do they contact first? 

The freelancer who delivers good work but remains distant, or the one who's built a genuine connection while delivering results?

I've seen this play out countless times. The most successful freelancers we know in our network aren't just technically skilled - they're the ones who stay top of mind because they've mastered these human skills. 

They're the first ones clients think of when new opportunities arise.

That's what separates us from both AI and the "I'm just doing my job" crowd.

Maging impakto ka, este stay impactful,

Shoden "AI-proof" San

P.S. If you want more specific strategies on how to create impact in your clients’ business, reply with “impakto ka Shoden!”

🎉 Pst. Don't Keep Me A Secret. refer this newsletter to your freelancer friends. This REALLY REALLY helps me a lot, thanks!