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Whether you’re pitching consistently, tracking your budget like a boss, or carving out real CEO time, habitual behavior keeps your business healthy and growing.
Rachel Meltzer
Building freelance momentum takes more than landing consistent paid work — it requires habits. Whether you’re pitching consistently, tracking your budget like a boss, or carving out real CEO time, habitual behavior keeps your business healthy and growing.
If you’ve struggled to keep up with these “boring” but vital tasks, you’re not alone. Every freelancer falls behind at some point (it’s almost like a right of passage). The trick is forgiving yourself, picking back up, and planning for success – not shame.
Your Freelance CEO Habit Blueprint
I like to group the habits I want to strive for into how often they need to be done. Then, break them down into what exactly needs to be done. Once I decide all that, I prioritize them.
Weekly Tasks
Start your week with these essentials:
- Spend 2+ hours getting clients. This could look like any one of these options:
- Send 5+ Letters of Introduction (LOIs)
- Email out 3+ targeted pitches
- Email out 5+ cold pitches
- Triage your inbox and networking/pitching follow-up
- Schedule review and adjustments
- 2+ hours of CEO time – set aside a morning block or split into mini–sessions (I do this stuff on Mondays)
- Invoicing and sending contracts
These tasks keep your business running.
Monthly Check-In
Once a month, dive deeper:
- Review finances: track your expenses, subscriptions, earnings
- Forecast the next 30 days – ask yourself:
- Do I need more clients?
- Do I still like my current roster?
- Do I need to tweak my schedule or add more downtime?
- What meaningful goals am I working toward?
Monthly check-ins give you clarity and control.
Quarterly Strategy
Once every three months, take a high-level overview:
- Prepare documents and categorize expenses for tax time
- Assess whether you’re on track with financial goals and adjust if needed
- Set (or reset) goals in these categories:
- Financial: Income targets and profitability
- Life balance: Fun plans, self-care, relationships
- Scheduling: Is your weekly rhythm working?
- Career substance: New skills, services, or collaborations you want to explore
Quarterly alignment keeps your efforts intentional.
Try This: Build Your CEO Habit Routine
Choose a structure that fits your rhythm:
- CEO Day: Dedicate one day each week to business-building tasks
- CEO Power Hour: Break work into 2–3 weekly habit sessions
Struggling to stay consistent? You’ll go farther with accountability. Find a freelancer buddy or consider joining Pop Club for community and support!
FAQ: Freelance Habit Building
How many hours of CEO time should I aim for each week as a freelancer?
2+ focused hours is a great benchmark – enough to move the needle without burning out.
What if I miss my weekly habits?
No worries. Be gentle, forgive yourself, and restart. Skip the shame – choose rhythm and resilience.
Should I block CEO time on my calendar?
Yes, treat it like a meeting with yourself. Time blocking ensures it actually happens.
Can I combine monthly and quarterly tasks?
Sure! Some freelancers do a monthly “mini-quarter” by combining these blocks once a month. The structure is flexible. Just show up.
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