As freelancers, we're constantly bombarded with advice on hitting targets and scaling our businesses.
But what if focusing too much on goals is hurting us? Sometimes, we get so obsessed with the end result that we forget to enjoy the journey.
I've experienced it firsthand.
10 years ago, I had a clear goal: to become an engineer and climb the corporate ladder.
I worked hard, and got my degree, but never landed the "dream job." It felt like a failure.
Later, I switched to freelance writing on Fiverr and set new goals—reaching Level 1 and Level 2 status. I was almost there when my account was suddenly banned.
Two goals, two setbacks.
These experiences made me rethink the way I approach goals. As Farrah Garcia ’s post reminds us, careers don’t always follow a straight path.
This article looks at the downsides of being too focused on goals and suggests a better way: focusing on purpose rather than just the result.
How having a goal relates to purposefulness
Purposefulness is the quality of knowing what you intend to do.
Goals, when aligned with this purpose, are powerful tools. However, the wrong goals, or a disconnect between goals and purpose, can have a detrimental impact on your morale, health, and even growth as a freelancer.
A freelancer might set a financial goal, like earning $10,000 monthly.
But what if achieving it doesn't bring fulfillment?
What if it comes at the cost of burnout, due to overwork or toxic client relationships?
Well-crafted goals should express your purpose.
Instead of just "$10,000 a month," a purpose-driven goal might be: Earn $10,000 a month so that I can work fewer hours and spend more time with family.
This connects financial success to a deeper value.
A freelancer focused solely on revenue might neglect other important aspects of their business, like work-life balance or client relationships. They might earn the money but sacrifice their well-being in the process, leading to burnout or dissatisfaction.
The concept of arrival fallacy
Fast forward to when I set up my freelance writing business. I wanted to grow but felt burned out as a generalist writer, so I decided to explore data analysis.
I planned to leave freelance writing entirely and spent a year earning my data analysis certificate. When I passed, I was on cloud nine.
But what happened when I finally reached my goal?
As defined by Calm, “arrival fallacy describes the belief that true happiness will come from accomplishing the next big thing”. Yet, more often than not, when the goal is finally reached, the expected joy is either short-lived or absent entirely.
Finding a job as a junior data analyst turned out to be much harder than I expected. The industry favors niche specialists, not generalists.
Meanwhile, I had barely posted about content marketing on LinkedIn for a year. My impressions dropped, no new leads came in, and I worked with only a few new clients in 2024.
That’s when I remembered Dom Kent’s advice: “Be a niche specialist.”
I asked myself—wasn’t I leaving writing because being a generalist burned me out? I was working more but earning less. So why not combine both skills and become a data analysis writer or a research report writer?
That decision changed everything. I wrote data analysis articles and earned my highest pay yet.
Thriving in the moment
On the Diary of a CEO podcast, Jaackmaate decided not to answer the question of “Where do you want to be in five years time”.
Instead of focusing on five years down the line, he said, “ I’m really fucking happy mate ”.
Working towards a goal —especially one as far out as five years—isn’t conducive to growth and actively moves towards arrival fallacy.
A few years ago, I set long-term goals that spanned decades. Instead of motivating me, they only brought frustration and anxiety. They made me cling to a rigid plan and took away the joy of living in the present.
The world is constantly changing—new technologies emerge every day, and AI is reshaping industries. What seems like the perfect plan today might be irrelevant tomorrow.
Now, I focus on quarterly and daily goals as a freelancer. And I’ve never been happier.
Instead of stressing over a five-year plan, I set clear short-term targets, like how many reports I want to complete in a quarter.
This mindset shift is important for freelancers. Instead of obsessing over where you want to be in five years, focus on enjoying the work you're doing today.
The freedom to choose projects, the ability to work on your own terms, and the satisfaction of delivering great work. These are wins that often get overlooked in the race for bigger goals.
Working towards long-term milestones is important, but not at the cost of your present happiness.
Freelancing is about flexibility, creativity, and fulfillment. If you're always chasing the next big thing, you might miss out on the rewards of the journey itself.
What goals should you set as a freelancer?
Not all goals are bad. The key is to set the right kinds of goals. As freelancers, we should focus on:
1. Commit to continuous learning
Staying updated and expanding is crucial when building a successful freelance business. This may sometimes mean forfeiting billable days for learning.
Think about attending industry conferences, taking relevant courses, and spending time following and networking with experts in your field.
For example, I took the course How to Write Blog Posts That Get 500,000 Views, which helped me improve my outlining and editing skills.
I also attended Tommy Walker’s Content Theory monthly webinars to deepen my knowledge of content marketing.
These resources have 100% improved my writing and content marketing skills so I now get minimal edits when submitting work.
2. Build genuine professional relationships
Networking isn’t just about getting clients—it’s about building long-term relationships. Be active on social media, have casual coffee chats, and support peers by sharing their work.
Dom Kent, for example, recommended Gaetano Nino DiNardi’s SEO course in his email, showing how small gestures can strengthen connections.
3. Align goals with personal values
Define what's truly important to you in your freelance career.
Is it creative freedom? Work-life balance? Making a positive impact? Align your actions with these values.
Nick Lafferty explained it well in his LinkedIn post. Success isn’t just about earning more; it’s about building a business that actually makes you happy.
4. Maintain past client relationships
Freelancing isn’t just about landing new clients —it’s also about nurturing past connections. Like Tyler Hakes, who prioritized reconnecting with former clients and team members. You can make it a goal to reach out to people you've lost touch with.
Send occasional check-ins, holiday messages, or simple catch-ups to keep relationships strong. Even if it doesn’t lead to immediate business opportunities, maintaining these connections can bring long-term growth, referrals, and a supportive network
5. Market your services with a data-driven approach
Freelancing success comes from steady marketing, not just great work. As Liam Carnahan emphasized, tracking how marketing efforts impact income is key.
Set a goal to build a marketing strategy that aligns time spent on content promotion with financial goals. By analyzing patterns, freelancers can adjust efforts for better results.
6. Set up a clear financial system
Separate personal and business finances to maintain stability. Have a dedicated business account, set aside money for taxes, and keep a savings buffer for slow months.
As shared by Anna Burgess Yang, structured financial management, like transferring fixed payments to yourself, using a business credit card for expenses, and keeping surplus funds for growth or education are all must dos when looking after your finances as a freelancer.
What goals should you avoid as a freelancer?
While some goals can drive success, others can create unnecessary pressure or lead to disappointment. Here are a few goals freelancers should avoid:
1. Forcing yourself into a productivity model that doesn't suit you
Freelancers often try to follow a 9-5 work structure, but that doesn’t suit everyone. Dom Kent shared how he broke free from rigid corporate habits and found his ideal workflow.
Instead of forcing a fixed schedule, focus on when and how you work best to maximize efficiency without burnout.
2. Rushing into projects without clear agreements
Jumping into work without contracts can lead to payment issues, scope creep, or even getting ghosted by clients. Avoid making “getting started quickly” a goal if it comes at the cost of clear contractual terms.
Liz Clinen shared how even verbally agreed terms can lead to disputes. Always sign a contract before starting a project. The Autonomous Freelancer includes a useful contract template that I use for signing contracts.
3. Relying solely on client work for income
Don’t rely solely on client work. Many freelancers depend entirely on projects for income, which can be risky.
Once you've built a name in your industry, explore additional income sources like coaching, courses, books, or checklists. The Autonomous Freelancer has a dedicated chapter on this.
4. Prioritizing income over mental health
High-paying clients aren’t always worth it if they cause stress. In a conversation between Estelle and Jai Shree, they discussed how toxic clients drain energy and harm long-term success.
Freelancers should focus on sustainable work relationships rather than just high revenue.
5. Falling into the feast or famine cycle
Many freelancers experience inconsistent income—one month they’re overwhelmed, and the next they’re struggling. This happens when marketing stops during busy periods.
In Chapter two of The Autonomous Freelancer, Dispelling Freelance Myths, Dom Kent explains in detail how to avoid feast and famine.
He shared his slides on how to generate a never-ending freelance pipeline too.
6. Setting unrealistic income goals
One of the biggest pitfalls for freelancers is setting income goals that are either too vague or overly ambitious. Don't just pick random income numbers as goals. Instead, calculate two key figures:
- Base income: The minimum amount needed to cover expenses and sustain your lifestyle. This should be based on your past earnings and realistic expectations.
- Target income: A bit more than your base income, something that will challenge you but is still possible to reach.
For example, if you usually earn $3,000 a month, don't suddenly aim for $10,000. Try for $4,000 or $5,000 first. It's better to grow slowly and steadily than to try too much too fast and get discouraged.
Keep track of your earnings, see what's working, and change your goals as needed. Don't just hope for the best; use your income data to make smart decisions. This way, you'll avoid getting stressed and burnt out from trying to reach impossible goals.
Struggling to align your freelance goals and aspirations?
Struggling to balance goals and purpose in freelancing? Consider working with a freelance coach.
A freelance coach can help you clarify your purpose, identify your strengths, and develop a sustainable strategy for long-term success.
👉 Book your first session with a freelance coach here.
