Palak Taneja

Save this post and start closing deals with your potential clients! 💯

Are you wondering - "Why I do What I do"? 🤔


Sounds like a tongue twister, right? 😅


Well, this tongue twister is the driving force that gets me out of my bed every single day.


I've always been passionate about helping others, using my time and experience for the greater good. 😇


As a digital agency owner, I was extremely happy to be able to help businesses make an impact with their web presence.

But, I always felt there was something missing.

A part of me wanted to be more, do more. 🤩

I wanted to work more closely with people.

I wanted to help people explore the abundance of opportunities in the online world.


So, that's what I did! 😎

I started helping a few freelancers I met through Facebook groups.

I felt that I was able to help them explore their full potential.

This was the eureka moment where I realized that my freelancing experience can help others live their dream life. 🎉


Seeing them making progress and hitting their goals one after another made my heart full.

I can't describe that feeling in words. 🤯

Around the same time last year, I had a vision of working more closely with freelancers and helping them build a successful business.

I slowly started bringing this vision to life.

It gave me goosebumps every single time I was able to help someone move towards their goal. 🤯


Today, it's been 10 months that I've been working as a coach and a mentor.

I've launched group programs and worked 1:1 with 100+ freelancers so far.

This has made me the happiest I've ever been! 😁


Success is different for everyone.

For me, it's giving your best every single day.

When I see people getting better even by 1%, it makes my day.

There is no greater joy for me than to see you make progress. 😍


This is why I do, what I do.

Let me know in the comments, why you do, what you do?

Don't miss slide 8 to know my opinion. 🚫


Comment below, what is happiness for you? 😇

Add this powerful word to your freelance vocabulary now! 🤩


This word is going to come in handy if you're on this journey for the long run. 😇


When was the last time you said "NO" to something that didn't resonate with you? Comment below! 👇

I have a confession to make, check on slide 8! 🤥


A lot of you voted on my stories and asked to know all details of my daily routine.

So here it is for you! 😇


Comment below and tell me, which is the one thing you'd pick from my routine and add it to your routine? 😃

[Save This Post] 💯 Read the caption and thank me later.


Is your comfort zone your happy place?

I know it feels safe there, right?

That's because you know what to expect as everything is very familiar.💁‍♀️


It's easy to keep doing the same tasks every day with minimum risk. 🙃

But have you heard of the quote ' No Risk, No Reward'? 😳

If you're okay with the "No Reward" part, you can stop reading and keep scrolling.


But if there is something that you want to achieve in your life, then you have to get uncomfortable.

There is no other way to go about it. 💯

If someone is telling you otherwise, they're lying to you.


✅ If you want to be fit, you have to move your body.

✅ If you want to start a business, you have to learn new skills.

✅ If you want to improve a relationship, you have to do that difficult conversation.


👉 There is no shortcut!


I agree, leaving your comfort zone isn't easy.

It's scary.

But let me tell you this, it's normal to be scared when you do something new for the first time.


Just don't let that fear stop you. 😇

Keep moving in the face of fear.

There is a probability that you won't get things right in the first go, you'll make mistakes, but don't let it stop you. 😇

Learn from your mistakes and just keep moving forward.

In time, you'll be amazed by the things you're capable of doing. 🤩


Your success,

Your growth,

Your fit body,

Your perfect relationship,

And everything good that you desire,

lies on the other side of your comfort zone! 😍


Drop a ❤️ if you're ready to step out of your comfort zone and change your life for the better.

Are your limiting beliefs stopping you from achieving your goals? 🤨


I had been hearing the term 'Limiting beliefs' a lot but never really knew what it actually meant.

I thought it was just a fancy word that people kept throwing here and there. 😓


Over time, I came to realize that I too had a few limiting beliefs.

These were the biggest hindrance to my growth! 😟


After becoming aware and acknowledging my limiting beliefs, I've put in conscious and consistent efforts to overcome them.

Today, I'm much better than yesterday. 😇

I truly believe that this is a journey and I'm so happy to be making progress every single day!


I'm pretty sure that just like me, you too would have heard this term at least a thousand times by now.

Limiting beliefs are false notions that we make for ourselves and our capabilities.

It can be something as simple as "Writing doesn't come naturally to me". 💁‍♀️

Or as big as "I don't have the skills for a high ticket client".


The major problem with "Limiting Beliefs" is that oftentimes we don't know we have them until it gets real bad! 😞

Limiting Beliefs can kick in every time you want to do something out of your comfort zone!

That's exactly when your mind would start playing games with you.

But you need to remember to take charge of your life and know that you've got this! 💯


If you're with me on this, drop a 💓 in the comments below!

[Save This] ✅

Let me know in the comments, do you have a work from home schedule or prefer to go with the flow? 😊

Have you experienced Magic with Affirmations? ✨

I have! 🤩


I am not sure about you, but I was very inspired by the Bollywood movie "3 Idiots".

Its famous dialogue "All is Well" had actually become my mantra! 😁

After watching the movie, I unconsciously used to start chanting "All is Well, All is Well" anytime I felt a little nervous or worried.

Without even realizing that this is an affirmation or this is how affirmations work, I got to experience the magic.😇

This is exactly how affirmations work if you truly believe in them!


I've curated a list of 5 great affirmations that will definitely help you in your freelance journey.😇


Comment below and tell me, do you use affirmations? Which is your favorite one?

Is it too late to start? 🤔

I would like to know your opinion. Comment below, let's talk! 😇

Struggling to pickup a new skill? I've got you covered.


Let me know in the comment below which skill are you going to learn this month.

P.S. DM me to join the waitlist of SFA

I've made a zillion mistakes when I started. 😭

Yes, a zillion!

And trust me, I'm not exaggerating here. ......

In the beginning, I was nervous and overwhelmed.

Everything was new to me, be it skills, reaching out to clients, managing finances and whatnot!

I was overworked and underpaid.

I'm sharing some of my mistakes with you so that you can learn from my mistakes and don't go through what I did. 😇
........

5 biggest mistakes that I made when I started.

❌ Working with friends and family

I started working at very low prices and without contracts, this got me exploited.

There is no harm in working with acquaintances but always keep it formal.

❌ Eager to get more work

Initially, to learn, get experience, and start earning money, I said a yes to every project that came my way.

No wasn't in my dictionary back then.

I worked without stating a clear scope of work which either led to me doing extra work or ended up in a conflict between me and my client.

❌ Self-doubting myself

This was the biggest roadblock for me. I felt I wasn't good enough, had low self-worth and had little to no confidence.

Always remember your worth and never undervalue your skills.

❌ Not setting goals or having a clear vision

I was aimlessly moving forward without any goal. I knew I wanted to make it big but there was no clarity no action plan backing it.

Set small realistic and achievable goals for yourself even when you're just starting your journey. Also, keep track of your progress to stay on track.

❌ Feeling shy in asking for money

I felt awkward asking for money that I deserved for my hard work.

I hesitated to ask for advance and sent invoices late on purpose so as to not come across as a person who is just interested in money.
...........

But as they say, whatever happens, happens for a reason.

Each of these mistakes taught me a lesson that has stayed with me till date.

All of this made me the strong independent woman that I'm today.

I still make mistakes but I don't sit and crib for days.

I take the learning and move forward.
........

Was this post helpful? Comment below and let me know 😇

Have you made any of these mistakes?

The future is freelancing. 🤩


Freelancing is the only career that doesn't have an age bar, doesn't need a degree, doesn't need you to invest your money. 😍

All it needs is your zeal to learn, your commitment, your passion. 💯


✅ You're a student, you can be a freelancer.

✅ You're a working professional, you can be a freelancer.

✅ You're a homemaker, you can be a freelancer.

No matter at what stage of life you're in, YOU CAN BE A FREELANCER.

Freelancing embraces anyone and everyone provided you put in the work.


Now, the question is do you have the skills?

Well, can you speak English?

Can you do a google search?

Can you watch a YouTube video to learn something new?

If you said yes, then those are the primary skills you need to get started.

Once you start you'll slowly understand what you like and what you're good at and accordingly you can upskill on the way.


But you got to start! 💯

It's the first day of the last quarter, you have 3 complete months to make 2021 your year.

Take the first step today. 🤩

Make every day count.

Reach your income goals, personal goals, get everything you ever wanted.


There is no upper limit to the amount of money you can make as a freelancer provided you work towards it every single day. ✍

I'll be honest the journey isn't going to be a cakewalk on the initial day but trust me it's going to be worth it. 💜

Let me know in the comment below, what are your plans for this quarter.

Are you the rabbit 🐰 or the tortoise🐢?


In this fast-moving world, I often feel that I am not doing enough for my career and life.

There are times when I end up comparing myself to others and think that I am losing this race! 😩

This has lead me to burnout, not once but many times! ☹️


Does that happen with you too? 🧐


Now, I am very conscious of my thoughts and actions.

I've realized that this isn't about anyone else but just me! 🤓

I am not in a race with others, I am only competing with myself.

And the only way to win is by being consistent 💯


Have a clear vision and keep making progress in the right direction.

A little progress is still progress, way better than no progress!

Find your own consistency and move at your own pace. 🤩


Would love to know your thoughts on this, lets talk in the comments.

Perfection is an illusion. 🤯

No matter what you do, there is always going to be scope for improvement. 🙂

I've been a victim of perfectionism for a very long time. 🙁

And to be honest, I still struggle with it sometimes. 😔

But I'm working on it slowly. 🙂

And that's what matters. 🤩

Right?

Over the years I've realized, focusing on getting things perfect leads to procrastination. 😟

Sometimes I waste so much time making one thing perfect that other things around me start suffering. ☹️

And this is not a healthy way to go about life or business. 😫

So, this post is a reminder for me and a message to you that,' Done is always better than perfect'. 😇

If you'll wait to become perfect at something and then start, you might miss out on a lot of opportunities. 😏

And you don't want that. Right? 🤷‍♀️

So, get behind the wheel of your life, take charge, and let perfectionism take a back seat.

🤩 Publish that reel.

🤩 Send that mail.

🤩 Pitch your services to your ideal client.

Always remember, every step that you take forward counts no matter how small it is. 😍

Good luck. 😁

Happy freelancing. 😁

P.S. This picture is from my first live on Instagram, I was nervous but I did it anyway. I've only gotten better from then! 😎

[Comment Below] How many of these are you doing everyday?


Being your own boss not only comes with freedom but also responsibilities. 🙆‍♀️

As a freelancer, you wear different hats in your business- you're the C.E.O, the manager, the employee, and what not! 😇

You're everything your business demands you to be! 🤓

To do all these tasks smoothly, you need to have a proper routine. 🧐

I've shared a few things that you should definitely include in your everyday to do :

⭐️Get Inspired - Being self-motivated every day can sometimes be difficult. But I have a few tips : follow people you admire, make vision boards, revisit your goals, and remember you reason for starting.

⭐️Upskill Yourself - In this dynamic world, there is always something new in the market. To be at the top of your game, you must keep an hour aside everyday to learn new things.

⭐️Sell your Services - Find strategic ways to talk about your services every day, be it offline or online. People won't ever know about it, if you don't talk about it.

⭐️Move your Body - As freelancers, we work from the desk and are mostly sitting, which is not a very active lifestyle. Exercise not only helps you be fit but also improves your mood. Start with something simple and build upon it!


⭐️Take a Break - Set an hour aside for you to unwind and do what you like. Watch Netflix, go out, cook, just do anything that disconnects you from work. This'll make a huge difference in your productivity.

Life is to live ✨

Set income goals, personal goals but don't wait to live your best life once you reach there, that's not how it is done. 🙅‍♀️

Enjoy the journey, celebrate small wins, be proud of yourself for how far you've come. 🤩

P.S. - Don't forget to share this with whosoever needs to hear this today! 🥰

Have you watched this movie? 😀

[Save This] "Am I ready to quit my 9to5 job and become a full-time freelancer?" 🧐

"Is it the right time for me to go all-in, in my freelance business?" 🤔


How many times do these questions pop in your head throughout the day? 😬

If this post caught your attention, I'm sure a dozen times at least! 🤓


If you've been freelancing for a while and are contemplating quitting your day job, I know how this feels! 🙂

You've been a caged bird all your life and simply want to fly high now! 🦅

Sometimes, this thought fills you with joy and at other times, it scares the hell out of you. 😇


Don't worry, feeling like this is pretty normal! 😊

Transitioning from a day job to full-time freelancing is a huge decision, you shouldn't rush it. 🙂

Consider the checklist above to see if you tick at least two of these six-pointers.
Before taking this important decision, ensure to measure all consequences of your action. 💯


Consider the checklist above to see if you tick at least two of these six pointers.

If you do, you're already halfway there the other half is your willingness to take risks. 💕


I'm sure whatever you decide, it'll be the best decision for you. ❤️

All the very best! 👍

Caption - Have you been encountering these problems in your freelance career?

Trust me when I say this - you're not alone.

Most beginners go through this phase but don't let any of this stop you!

Instead, come out stronger and make those dreams come true.

Let me know in the comments, what problems are you facing? I'm here to help you make progress.

How many times have you been ghosted on a discovery call? 😟

How many times have you got on a discovery call and felt that it was a total waste of your time? 😬
..

One of the biggest lead qualification mistakes that you can make as a freelancer is to jump on a discovery call as soon as you get a new lead. ❌

I've been there and done that! 🤦‍♀️

In my experience, this is not a fruitful way to go about a discovery call. 🙅‍♀️

It is not only time-consuming but also disheartening when things don't work out as planned! 😔
..

When you get a new lead for your freelance business, you must follow this 2 step process to convert them into a paying client :..

⭐️ Step 1

✅ Lead Qualification

At this step, you try to find out if you and your prospect are a good fit for each other.

The best way to qualify your leads is to use Google Forms. 📑

Ask all the right questions and check their answers to know if they are an exact replica of your ideal client avatar.
..

⭐️ Step 2

✅ Lead Nurturing

Once you qualify your lead, it's time for you to get on a call and know more about their requirements.

This discovery call is also your chance to let them know that you're an industry expert and the best person to help them grow their business. 🤩
...

Let me know in the comments, were you making this mistake of using discovery calls to qualify your leads? 🤓

How was your experience? 🧐

💯 You simply can’t miss this one!

Try this and thank me later ✨


P.S. - Don't forget to share this with your friends 🤩

Caption.

Let's talk in the comments, which freelancing terms are/were confusing to you as a beginner?

🎉 Spilling the tea about my client acquisition strategies.


👉🏻 In the 10+ years of work experience, I have literally tried everything under the sun to get new leads for my freelance business.

I’ve gotten new clients from numerous different sources which I never even thought of in the first place. 🤩


✅ Today, I'm here to share everything that has worked for me to help you fast-track your growth as a freelancer.


👉🏻 Let's first talk about some of the obvious sources that you might have tried :


⭐ Cold Emailing to Digital Agencies

This requires consistency and patience but it worked beautifully for me.


⭐ Facebook Groups

I made it a priority to engage meaningfully for 10-15 mins every single day.


⭐ International Clients from Digital Products

We got numerous international clients for template customization and retainer projects


⭐ My Agency Website ranked in Local Search Results

This got us a significant number of new leads that weren't as difficult to close deals with.


👉🏻 Now let's jump straight into some of the not-so-obvious sources of new clients.

✅ Internet is a great place for you to get clients but not the only place.

Never ignore the power of your offline community 💯


In the beginning, I started reaching out to small businesses like Boutiques, MUA, and Eateries in my local area 🤩

I also reached out to my friends, college professors, and neighbors 🥳

I did get some clients by doing this.

I have also got clients from Shopping Malls, Hotels where we stayed during travel, my father's business network, and offline networking events 🙈


🥳 I've always been a very camera shy person but now that I understand the importance of having an online presence on social media, I've also started to build my personal brand.


⭐ As the last thing, I just want to tell you that if look closely, there are ample opportunities around you.

You just have to be persistent enough to make it happen.

Never shy away from talking about your business, if you won’t then who will 💯


💬 Let me know in the comments below, what is your biggest takeaway from this post?