Yo !

For the longest time, I struggled to prospect consistently, even though we all know it’s crucial for our freelancing success. 

Let me know if Ikaw din to. 

Some weeks I'd be on fire, messaging 20 or even 30 potential clients on LinkedIn or Facebook. Then I'd hit a wall and not prospect at all for a month, or three.

I knew I wanted to build a thriving business, but couldn't get momentum. At the time I was even blaming myself.

This was actually my honest-to-goodness na pattern even back then as a photographer and videographer.

Yung saving grace ko lang was to mostly go for huge premium clients, same pagod din naman. I'd hunt for whale-type orgs (eg. big international NGOs and companies) and attempt to close them. 

And when I’d book these premium gigs.. hayahay buhay agad. hibernation mode muna uli.

German guy in black (Patrick Schwab) became my first 7-figure video client (also became a good friend)

Kaso after landing these clients, I’d go dormant na naman sa prospecting. 

Solar construction timelapse for a client in the north

The problem was I focused too much on the end goal of getting clients and income. 

Prospecting itself was a chore. (if I'm being honest, it sometimes feels like it is)

The reality of pushing through boring messages didn't match the fantasy of running a booming business. Am I right?

Here's what changed my approach:

Abundance Mindset (from Stephen Covey, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People)

When you think "I need to prospect to get clients," that's a scarcity mindset - you lack something and have to work hard to get it. This makes prospecting feel unnatural.

Instead, adopt an abundance mindset - believe you already are the type of person who prospects consistently. Tell yourself "I'm a freelancer who loves reaching out and building relationships." 

I also use this to drive my weekly emails. I reframe it lang from "I need to email, or I have to email" to "I'm simply an email guy, and I GET to do this. It's what I do."

When prospecting (and writing emails) is part of your identity, it's much easier to do consistently. 

For example, I started saying to myself "I am an outgoing person who thrives on meeting new people." This made reaching out feel like second nature instead of a chore.

Although sidenote: it's not that easy ha. As we age, nagiging mas grouchy yata ako haha. I'm becoming more anti-social kasi wala naman ako kausap here sa office, mag-isa lang me. It means it's time to organize or go to a meetup na naman.

Habit-Chaining (from James Clear, Atomic Habits)

Pair prospecting with an existing habit you enjoy - like drinking morning coffee. Put your laptop right next to the coffee maker. This links positive feelings about coffee to prospecting. 

For instance, I'll use it in the context of writing emails again.

I can't start sipping my delicious coffee until I was also writing my daily email to you, .

Soon, I associated my daily coffee routine with the satisfaction of engaging with you guys. Kala mo naman sobrang laki ng list, e palagi nga ako nagtatanggal ng mga inactive e.

People actually send these types of messages to me:

Good day, Coach Shoden! I noticed na parang

wala na akong emails a narereceive from you

and kinakabahan ako, did i do something

wrong? Haha! Huhu: I miss your emails na

coach, last email I got from you was from

Nov 28 pa

Yes guys, I prune this list regularly. If you're able to read this still, please reply ng 'K' paminsan-minsan para di ka ma-detect ng system as inactive.

Pero seriously though, over time I genuinely began to appreciate writing these weekly emails, not just for the coffee, or the rewards.

Now it's starting to be a consistent part of my day, yung parang kulang ang araw if I haven’t been able to email my list. Parang hinahanap na ng katawan ko. Nuks.

And to think na I used to say I wasn't an email guy. Like my brain literally warred with my videographer identity.

The same tactics work for any difficult freelancing task. Adopt an abundance mindset, and use habit chaining.

Consistency compounds, and later on you'll have even more confidence to take on more ambitious goals (and achieve them)!

That’s all I have for today,

Shoden “nag-rereply din paminsan-minsan” San

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