Author: Christopher Palma

Personal branding expert Claire Bahn, founder and CEO of Los Angeles-based boutique strategic communications and marketing outfit Claire Bahn Group, says she got into the field professionally after learning to market herself as an actor and model. “I found that the people who marketed themselves the best were able to

Getting sued might be every freelancer’s worst nightmare. A decade ago, Reyna Gobel, MBA, MPH, a freelance journalist and speaker, was asked to edit and fact-check an article about 10 celebrities who had declared bankruptcy. The online publication paid her $125, well below Gobel’s normal rate, but she took it

Welcome! I hope this letter finds you thriving in your pursuit of success (excuse the pun!). As the editor-in-chief of SUCCESS+, it’s my absolute pleasure to present our Freelancer’s Handbook issue. I’ve had the incredible privilege of working in the media industry for over three decades and have been fortunate

Have you ever paired a task you enjoy with one you dread just to get it done faster? Maybe you put on your favorite ‘80s playlist while washing dishes or played a rerun of a classic sitcom while folding laundry. Without knowing it, you might have been utilizing the behavioral

Kendrick Lamar’s Big Steppers Tour was a visual spectacle, a groundbreaking hip-hop opera hailed for its intricacies and ambitiousness. For two hours each night, Lamar and a swarm of dancers interacted in finely tuned movements; one critic said it was like “watching the engine of a fine-tuned Mercedes.” Few rappers

I started working with a new editing client in 2022 as a freelance journalist. He didn’t bat an eye when I told him my rate to copy edit his legal blog. And, he eventually went on retainer with me. I wanted to be able to attract more clients like him:

We all have that bad habit we just can’t shake, from sneaking a cigarette even though you quit smoking 20 years ago, to eating your feelings in a bowl of ice cream at 11 p.m. But what if you don’t know how to break bad habits? Some experts point to

Unlike employees, freelancers don’t have their rights and work responsibilities automatically outlined when they agree to work for a company. Whether initiated by the contracting company or the freelancer, contractual work agreements define important items, such as the project’s scope, payment, deadlines and ownership. Although contracts may initially seem like

In Bonaire, the word “dushi” has a few different meanings. It can be a term of endearment like “baby,” or it can describe a sweet, delicious food. In the local Papiamentu language, “dushi bida” means “the good life” and describes a feeling of deep contentment.  I learned this on a

One of the most challenging aspects of freelance life can be finding clients, especially when starting out. Luckily, there are as many creative ways to showcase your talents as there are gig workers hoping to catch a break. Hiring professionals is always an option. So is bartering services, such as