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Reflecting on the Year and Planning Ahead: A Guide for Freelancers

freelance planning strategy Dec 05, 2024

As the year draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the past twelve months and set intentions for the year ahead. For freelancers, this process isn't just a nice-to-have; it’s essential for maintaining alignment between personal growth, business goals, and professional sustainability.

I use a structured process for myself and the freelancers I coach each year to guide end-of-year reflection and New Year planning. Here’s an overview of that process condensed into a handy guide.

Personal Reflection: Who Are You Becoming?

Before diving into your business review, reflect on yourself—the foundation of your freelance journey.

You may be tempted to skip this step and get straight to the business—don’t. As a solopreneur, you are the foundation of your business. If you don’t take the time to reflect on yourself as a human, you will create the wrong goals and pursue the wrong things. You also won’t be as motivated to achieve your goals because you aren’t clear on what you want.

Here’s a simple framework for reflection:

  • WhoReflect on your core beliefs, mindsets, and values over the past year. How have they shaped your decisions?
  • Why: Consider your purpose—what motivated you this year? What gave you energy and drive?
  • What: What were your priorities? What challenges felt insurmountable, and how did you overcome them?

Take it further by revisiting previous versions of yourself—perhaps your pre-entrepreneurial self or the version of you fresh out of school. Ask:

  • What has changed?
  • What has remained constant?
  • How do these shifts guide your core purpose and values moving forward?

This reflection offers insight into your past and clarity about what you want to manifest in the future.

Business Review: Worth, Work, and Wisdom

With personal insights in hand, it’s time to turn your attention to your business. Use the worth-work-wisdom framework to evaluate and plan for the upcoming year.

Worth: Financial Health

To understand your worth, you have to evaluate your financial performance:

  • Review your income and expenses for the year.
  • Assess client rates—where can you adjust to reflect your growth?
  • Identify unnecessary costs and plan strategic investments for the coming year.
  • Create or update a budget tracker to guide you through the next twelve months.

Work: Systems and Time

Work is the structure of what you do. Take stock of the systems that support your business:

  • Conduct a systems audit. Which tools and processes need improvement?
  • Evaluate your time management rituals. Are you using your time effectively to meet your goals?
  • Plan updates to your systems and restructure your schedule, ensuring your tools and habits align with your vision for the new year.

Wisdom: Client and Services

Your wisdom is the core of what you do and the unique expertise your business is built on. Reflect on your clients, services, and skills: 

  • What did you learn about your clients this year?
    • Where are you seeing the most significant impact?
    • Where are you seeing the greatest joy? 
  • Are there services you should retire or expand?
  • Are your strategies for connecting with potential clients effective?
  • What new skills do you need to acquire to thrive?

Fresh Strategy

Once you’ve reflected and evaluated, it’s time to turn intentions into action. 

Before you plan out next year’s projects, you need to refresh your strategy. Check out my complete guide: What Is Business Strategy? A Guide for Freelancers and Independent Consultants. 

Plan Your Sprints

Once you’ve set your goals, adopt a sprint planning approach:

  • Break your goals into achievable projects spanning three to six months.
  • Prioritize based on urgency and impact.
  • Revisit and adjust as necessary throughout the year.

Bring it to Fruition

Reflection and planning are not just exercises—they’re acts of self-alignment and empowerment. As solopreneurs, we rarely take the time to work ON our businesses because we are so busy working IN them. 

Give yourself the gift of dedicated time to embrace this process with intention and curiosity. By rooting your goals in a deep understanding of your past and present self, you’ll position your freelance business for sustainable growth and fulfillment.

Here’s to making the next year your best yet!

Ready for better strategy and implementation in your business? Learn more about my agile, community-based coaching methodology. 

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