Each month Impact Hub HNL hosts a meeting of the Hawaii Freelancer Network, a group of entrepreneurs and freelancers gathering to share best practices for working as a freelancer – however you define it.
The group was started by two Impact Hub HNL members that had been working in freelance careers for many years, one as a graphic designer and one as a technical writer. It started as a casual lunchtime meetup, and quickly grew into a larger meeting of the minds.
But what is it all about? The Hawaii Freelancer Network is meant to be a free space for connection and collaboration between those working full or part-time freelance, or working as some type of solo working, like ‘digital nomads,’ remote workers, or entrepreneurs just getting started.
At the December event we hosted Member and spreadsheet expert Dean of Dean’s Solutions to discuss spreadsheet tricks and hacks. At the coming January Hawaii Freelancer’s event we will feature Milton Drageset, a tax expert who will discuss how the 2019 tax laws affect entrepreneurs and freelancers.
Some of the meetings feature a speaker or expert in their respective field, but other groups are more or an open discussion between the members. In the various meetings, we’ve brainstormed multiple topics for future group discussions, including the following:
- Getting Started as a small business or sole proprietor
- Self branding
- Collective bargaining
- How to break up with Bad Clients and Communication with tough clients.
- How to Charge for ‘Creative- Thinking’ Time
- When contract relationships feel like employee relationships
- Freelance vs Full Time: which work works best.
- Breaking into new markets: B2B marketing vs. B2C marketing.
- How to build a business plan
- How to connect business + creatively: creative entrepreneurs & how to monetize creativity
- Creative brainstorming session: ideation.
- Productivity hacks.
- Managing time zones
- Documentation: invoices, proposals, contracts, etc.
- How to decrease admin costs?
- Hiring and firing
- Learning to say no/tough love
- How to have hard conversations.
- Managing workstream with customer: what DONE looks like.
If you work remotely or are just looking to connect with other members, please join our Facebook group or check out our Events calendar to stay tuned to all upcoming events.
