Mike Glen Roy

Upwork unveiled its new report featuring the most highly sought-after freelance skills. Upwork says that in the past year, 60 million Americans did some type of freelance work, an all-time high.

https://www.upwork.com/press/releases/upwork-unveils-most-in-demand-skills-for-independent-professionals-in-2023

Here are the top freelance jobs in the “Design & Creative” category:

DESIGN & CREATIVE
Graphic Design
Video Editing
Illustration
3D Animation
Presentation Design
Image Editing
Cartoons & Comics
Product & Industrial Design
2D Animation
Video Production

I wasn't surprised by the ones in the top, graphic design is always the bread & butter of freelancing, and video has come on strong in recent years, as well as 3D and 2D animation. A bit surprised at the Cartoons & Comics field being on there!

What are your reactions to this list?

Upwork Unveils Most In-Demand Skills for Independent Professionals in 2023 | Upwork View the latest news, announcements, media coverage, and media resources from Upwork.

I've just reached 100 followers! Thank you for continuing support. I could never have made it without each one of you. 🙏🤗🎉

Ever wonder what "Creative Freelancing" is... and what it isn't?

What Creative Freelancing Is (And What It Isn't) What exactly is "creative freelancing", anyway? Is it part of the "gig economy"? Is it the same as being an influencer or indie artist? Let's clarify what it is... and also what it isn't.

Join us at www.creativefreelancerevolution.com and get free resources to help you get more clients and grow your creative freelance business... including my free guide, "How To Win Creative Clients With LinkedIn."

This super-simple pdf outlines what I call the "flood method" that I actually used in my own freelance business. This technique helped me earn over six figures in my first year of freelancing... and I share it with my audience for free.

Once upon a time, there were two business owners.

They were in the exact same business. While they were in different towns, those towns were very close in population, and had similar economies and similar markets.

They both were in business ten years, they each had a handful of employees, and had pretty much the same revenue month to month.

In fact, on paper they looked like twin companies, each virtually indistinguishable from the other.

And then... a pandemic happened.

From then on, these two businesses began to look very different.

One business owner, seeing a dangerous, fearsome virus that threatened the existence of his business, decided to close up and wait it out. He furloughed his employees, anticipating a lack of funds to pay them. He stuck by the TV, anxious to see rising numbers of infections, even in his own town. Secretly, he hoped for a cure to materialize quickly so everything could go back to normal soon.

The other business owner also saw the virus as dangerous to his employees, his family, and his business. He promptly met with his people and they talked about how to best serve their customers while also staying safe. He looked to established virus experts for guidelines on how to minimize the risk of infection. He searched for solutions to keep his business operating in a new "Post-COVID economy".

Fast forward to a year later, only one of these businesses was still alive.

Guess which one?

Now, I have a more personal question for you:

Which business owner best describes where you're at?

When a once-in a lifetime global crisis happens, everyone is affected. Some businesses will fail, and others will thrive. The biggest difference between the two is:

What decisions... and subsequent actions... are the survivors willing to take that the victims aren't?

If you're a business owner feeling overwhelmed by these crazy times, you aren't alone. There are business owners just like you who are going through the same thing you are... and they're taking decisive action designed to give their business the best chance of success.

One of the BEST decisions you can make right now to give your own business the best chance to succeed is who to listen to and associate with.

That's why I'm standing by to serve you. I'm acutely aware of the challenges you face every day, challenges unique to people just like you who are trying to get their business - and the people they care most about - through this safely.

Here's how I can help: I'd like to offer you a complimentary business breakthrough session where we'll talk about the realities of what's going on in your business, the challenges that are holding you back, and then begin to help develop a strategy for how to overcome them to achieve your goals.

I promise it'll be some of the best time you've spent on your business. And, the best part is, it's completely FREE.

Go here to book your session now: mikeglenroy.com/call.

Talk to you soon!

– Mike

P.S. – If you don't think that talking to someone who understands what you're going through will help... or if you feel like you've lost hope, and that there isn't any solution out there for the survival of your business... schedule a call with me and let's talk about what's going on. Even if those things are true, at least you can say you took ONE decisive action today to seek a solution for your business.

Sometimes appearances matter in your service business.

One of the best lessons I ever learned about this came from an unlikely source: a small town fire department.

When I was a kid, my dad managed a tannery in a small town in Buford, Georgia. Unfortunately, it burned down. The fire was so hot that it melted brick. The brave firefighters had their hands full just trying to contain it.

As my dad looked on helplessly, a giant of a man walked up to him. It was the fire chief. He was as large as a mountain, and he had the aura of a man used to handling emergencies. He placed a meat hook of a hand on my dad's shoulder and rumbled,

"Son, you can see here that our guys are trying to put this fire out. But I'll tell you one thing: this fire ain't gonna be put out. It's too hot. The best we can do is just let it run its course. Now you see all these people here?"

He gestured to the crowd of bystanders who had gathered early in the morning to watch the blaze. They were mostly on foot, people who lived near the tannery. The orange glow in their faces showed a mix of fascination, concern and fear.

"There's only one reason me and my guys are still here. And that's so these people know that when there's a fire, we're gonna show up and do our best to take care of it."

I love that story. And I know that my dad took it to heart, and he still loves to tell it all these years later, because it rings true with how he's run his own businesses.

Now, I know I talk a lot about results. And results are indeed important.

But sometimes the results that are most important are fuzzy around the edges because they have more to do with perception. (And don't we all see a little bit differently?)

It's important to let your customers and clients know that you have their back.

That when they need you, you'll be there with the solution they're looking for.

It's also important for them to SEE you living out your stated mission with integrity.

Because when they see you helping other people like them,

it's the best marketing you can possibly do.

– Mike Glen Roy

Free 7 Step Plan - The Power of a Positi Free 7 Step Plan from bestselling author Jon Gordon

Jon Gordon on The power Of positive leadership:

If you lead one person, you’re a leader

Be a lifelong learner ... he observed Zig Ziglar at 82 on the front row of a conference taking notes

1. Positive leadership Starts with vision

Clemson coach (?): I don’t want to build a team that wants to be like Ohio st or Alabama... I want to build a team so that they want to be like us.

After winning the championship: “don’t let this be the best moment of your life. Go be great fathers, brothers, sons, businessmen, etc.”

“I didn’t know what the future held, but I knew who held my future. “

You’re only a blessing if you bless others.

God has a vision for you. He calls us to greatness; we’re not meant to be average.

2. Positive leaders lead with optimism and belief.

Optimism is a competitive advantage.

When people believe in a brighter better future, they work harder to make it happen.

God: “do your best and I will do the rest”.

You plant the seeds; let him provide the harvest.

Leadership is a transfer of belief. Believe in people more than they believe in themselves.

A man approached a wise man, said 2 dogs at war within, him, which one will win? Wise man: the one you feed the most.

Not “have-to”, but “get to”.

Every challenge is an opportunity to get better

Negative thoughts do not come from within.... but from the “father of lies”.

Just because you have a negative thought doesn’t mean you have to believe it.

Speak truth to the lies.
One of the biggest lies is fear.
But love is a greater power.
Perfect love casts out fear.

You will always be attacked at the place of your identity.

Blueprint : Jesus “it is written”... spoke truth to the lies

Stop blaming yourself and start armoring yourself

Not just state of mind but a state of action.

Biggest mistake as leaders is we don’t deal w the negativity in our teams and organizations. It can sap energy and the will to succeed.

Be aware of “Energy Vampires”

As positive leaders, we shouldn’t be negative about negativity. Be more positive than it.

Don’t let people walk through your mind with dirty feet .

Not everyone will see what you see. But your vision must be greater than all the negative thoughts.

Then you can do your best work as a leader: developing relationships.

2,000 years ago Jesus hung around with 12 incompetent guys. Now people name their kids Peter, Andrew, James, & John and their dogs Nero and Caesar.

Can we connect w one person a day?
“What is your vision? How can I serve you?”

4 c’s to connect and build bonds :
Communicate
Connect
Commit
Care

Communicate:
Jon texted to wife: ”there’s a snack on the patio” (meant snake)

Connect / commit
You will never have commitment without connection.
If connected and committed, When adversity strikes, you will fight with one another instead of against one another.

Act as one body

Care:

Not just about survival ; if that were true we wouldn’t sacrifice to help others

Bring love and accountability.
“I love you... and that means I challenge you to be your best.”

Love tough instead of tough love

Leaders lead from the inside out

The power Of love instead of the love of power

We don’t get burned out because of what we do but because of why we do it.

Leave a legacy because of lives touched through optimism, love, belief

Lead w marache (Greek word) means leave it all behind, do it w heart and soul