freelance business tips

The Scarcity Thinking Trap: Creative Freelancing Is Not a Zero-Sum Game

January 14, 2026 by AlisonP Leave a Comment

By Alison Pentecost — Voice Actor & Host of Freelance Fitness

f you’re a creative freelancer—whether you work in video production, audio production, design, animation, marketing, or voiceover—you’ve probably felt it at some point.

That quiet, nagging belief that opportunities are limited.
That if someone else gets the job, lands the client, or receives recognition… there must be less left for you.

This mindset has a name: scarcity thinking.
And while it’s incredibly common in creative freelancing, it’s also deeply misleading.

What Is Scarcity Thinking in Creative Freelancing?

Scarcity thinking is the belief that creative work exists in limited supply—and that success is something you have to compete for.

It shows up as:

Constant comparison with other creatives
Second-guessing your work or your pricing
Wondering if you’re “too late,” “not good enough,” or missing some secret formula
Feeling like there’s a small group of people who get chosen while everyone else is stuck knocking on a locked door

Scarcity thinking is learned.

It often grows out of:

Inconsistent freelance income
Quiet seasons between projects
Watching other creatives appear to “blow up overnight” while you’re still putting in steady work

Over time, it can start to feel like there’s a hidden system behind the scenes deciding who succeeds.

But here’s the truth—whether it feels comforting or uncomfortable to hear it:

Creative freelancing doesn’t actually work like that.

There is no gatekeeper council.
No secret cabal.
No hidden list deciding who gets to succeed and who doesn’t.

The reality is far messier—and far more open—than scarcity thinking would have you believe.

Why Scarcity Thinking Holds Creative Freelancers Back

Scarcity thinking quietly shapes how you show up in your business.

It makes creative industries feel like ladders—when in reality, they’re ecosystems.

There isn’t one correct path.
There isn’t a single definition of success.

Yes, trends exist.
Certain visual styles, formats, sounds, and platforms rise in popularity—especially in marketing and advertising, video and audio production.

But trends always shift.

When you chase them out of fear instead of curiosity, a few things tend to happen:

You do work you don’t even enjoy
You start to sound or look like everyone else
You jump on bandwagons out of desperation instead of strategy

Scarcity thinking shrinks your decisions. It leads to:

Underpricing because you’re afraid to lose the job
Overworking because you feel replaceable
Saying yes to projects that drain you
Copying others instead of trusting your own voice

And one of the biggest costs?

Comparison.

When you’re busy monitoring what everyone else is doing, you stop experimenting—and experimentation is where real creative growth happens.

Scarcity thinking doesn’t protect you.
It doesn’t make your business safer.

It just keeps you small.

A More Sustainable Way to Build a Creative Freelance Business

So if scarcity thinking isn’t serving you—what replaces it?

Not blind optimism.
Not magical thinking.
And not pretending everything “just works out.”

What replaces it is abundance thinking with grounded action.

Abundance thinking means trusting that:

There is room for many creative styles
Creative work isn’t about being “the best,” but being right for a specific moment, client, or need
Your job isn’t to replace someone else—it’s to show up clearly as you

Authenticity is a business strategy.

You can sustain being yourself.
You cannot sustain pretending.

The clearer you are about what you do—and how you do it—the easier it is for the right clients to find you.
Authenticity creates clarity.
Clarity attracts alignment.

In practice, this looks like:

Coming back to your own lane when comparison creeps in
Supporting peers without erasing yourself
Sharing your work even when it feels imperfect
Building relationships instead of guarding ideas like scarce resources

You didn’t choose creative freelancing to blend in.
You chose it to express something specific.

There is no race to win.
There is only a direction to keep moving in.

Keep moving.
Keep creating.

There is room for you—
exactly as you are.

This article is based on an episode of my Freelance Fitness podcast, where I combine short workouts with honest conversations about building a sustainable creative freelance business. If you work in video production, audio production, or any creative field and want business advice without hustle culture nonsense, you’re in the right place.

Day One Energy: A New Year Reset for Body & Business

January 7, 2026 by AlisonP Leave a Comment

By Alison Pentecost — Voice Actor & Host of Freelance Fitness

A Reset Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Starting Over

Today, I want to talk about new beginnings.
Or better yet—resets.

You don’t need to burn everything down and start from scratch to feel nerves, doubt, or uncertainty. You can feel all of that even when you’re experienced, but still evolving. Even when you’re working. Even when things are technically “going well.”

I feel it too.
New year. New plans.
Branching out in my voiceover business.
Closing doors on things that weren’t working. (Hello, doubt!)
Stepping into new areas. (Hello, terror!)

Waiting, stalling, or staying comfortable doesn’t grow a freelance business—especially not a creative business like voiceover. So instead, I’ve had to learn how to move forward with the nerves. Adapt. Pivot. Reassess. Keep going.

If you’re feeling nervous—or honestly scared—about a new direction in your freelance career, welcome. That reaction is normal. Healthy, even.

So, what if today wasn’t just another workday, another audition, another January resolution?

What if this was Day One?

This day.
This action.
This feeling in your body right now.

You know what we forget as adults?

You’re allowed to be bad at the beginning.

But Being Bad Is Embarrassing!

Let’s be honest with ourselves.

Your first voiceover auditions? Probably rough.
Your first demos, edits, marketing emails, reels, websites? Clunky.
Your first attempts at anything new in your creative career? Awkward.

There might be flashes of brilliance—little diamonds in the rough—but mostly, it’s messy.

And you know what? That’s great news.

Because if everyone sucks at the beginning, the pressure is off. You don’t need to wait until you feel ready. You just need to begin. And beginning is the only way anything ever improves.

Here’s another truth that applies directly to running a sustainable creative business:

When things start to feel automatic—when you could sleepwalk through your reels, your reads, your designs—that’s usually your cue to switch things up.

Because when you’re phoning it in:

Is that really your best work?
Is that what your clients deserve?
Is that why you chose freelance voice acting in the first place?

Those butterflies you feel before a job?
Before a workout?
Before trying something new?

They’re not a problem.
They’re a signal.

They mean you care.
They mean you’re challenged—not bored.
They mean you’re alive in the process.

But this is also where shame tends to creep in.

All the “I shoulds”:

I should be further along.
I should be more confident.
I should have launched already.

Here’s a small shift that changes everything:

Replace “I should” with “I would prefer.”

I would prefer to be more consistent.
I would prefer to feel more confident.
I would prefer to move forward.

That’s very different from tearing yourself down for not being somewhere you’ve never been before.

I had to learn this lesson the hard way when I launched Freelance Fitness. I had a plan. A timeline. A neat little deadline that made perfect sense—until real life showed up.

Work. Family. Learning curves I didn’t anticipate.
I missed my own deadline and felt ashamed… even though I had never launched a podcast before.

Would I talk to a friend—or one of my kids—that way while they were learning something new?

Never.

As adults, we forget how learning works. Kids fall, wobble, look silly, and keep going. Adults worry about being watched.

Hate to break it to you, but most people aren’t watching.
Most people are too busy with their own stuff.

So forget about it.

Growth requires failure.
Creativity requires courage.
And laughter helps more than shame ever will.

A Practical Reset for Your Business

So what do we do with this reset—especially as freelance creatives trying to build something sustainable?

First: manage your expectations.

Freelance life isn’t a salaried job. No one covers your tasks if you don’t finish them. Your energy is limited. You’re one human.

Starting a freelance business is a lot like having a newborn:

If the essentials are handled, the day counts as a win.
Some days, you’re polished and client-facing.
Some days, you’re in pyjama pants eating cereal over the sink.

Both days are valid. Both move the business forward.

Yes, you need a plan.
Yes, you need checklists.
But you also need wiggle room.

Course corrections aren’t failures. They’re part of the process.

So here’s your New Year reset, simplified:

Treat today like Day One, not a test.
Let yourself be bad while you learn.
Switch things up when you feel stale.
Welcome the butterflies.
Speak to yourself like someone you love.
Keep moving forward—even if it’s slower than you planned.

You don’t need a perfect start.

You just need an honest one.

Strong Body, Strong Vision, Strong Business: Making a Business Plan

December 31, 2025 by AlisonP Leave a Comment

By Alison Pentecost, Bilingual Voice Actor & Host of Freelance Fitness

Why Creative Freelancers Need a Business Plan (Yes, Even You)

Alright, let’s get focused.
New year, new strength, new clarity.

In the latest episode of Freelance Fitness, the workout is built around effort and intention — and your business goals need that same energy.

You probably have goals for this year.
Maybe they’re crystal clear. Maybe they’re still a little fuzzy.

But even with grit, motivation, and talent — and if you’re here, you have all three — goals don’t magically turn into results on their own.

They need a plan.

Not a 40-page corporate document.
Not something rigid that boxes you in.

A clear, flexible business plan that outlines:

where you’re going
how you’ll know if it’s working
and what doesn’t belong on the path

I avoided this for years. I tried winging it. Sometimes it worked. Sometimes… not so much. And the inconsistency was exhausting.

Life has no guarantees — only risks worth taking. You can’t control outcomes, but you can control your focus, your effort, and how often you reassess your direction.

Success isn’t about following the algorithm or copying someone else’s strategy.
It’s about defining what “enough” looks like for you — and building toward that on purpose.

The Hidden Cost of Distractions (a.k.a. Energy Leaks)

When we talk about focus, most people think distractions = phones, notifications, endless scrolling.

But for creative freelancers — especially voiceover artists — distractions are often sneakier.

They look like:

Projects that don’t align with your long-term goals
Clients who drain more energy than they’re worth
Marketing tactics you “should” do but secretly hate
Busywork that feels productive but moves nothing forward
Tweaking your logo instead of sending auditions or pitches
Constantly comparing yourself to other creatives

All of the above?
Yeah. Been there, done that. More than once.

Here’s the rule of thumb I come back to again and again:

If something doesn’t move you toward your goal —
or support your well-being so you can reach your goal —
it’s a distraction.

Your energy is a limited resource.
Where you spend it matters.

Focused creatives deliver better work. Clear systems create better collaborations. A sustainable business benefits everyone involved.

How to Build a Simple, Effective Business Plan

This is where most people overcomplicate things — so let’s not.

A business plan for a creative freelancer should be simple, actionable, and aligned with real life. A few pages. Not a thesis.

Here’s a practical framework you can actually use.

1. Your Vision

Ask yourself:

What do I want my work life to feel like?
What kinds of projects light me up?
Who do I genuinely want to work with?

This is especially important in voiceover, where burnout can sneak in fast if you say yes to everything.

2. Your Offer

Be clear:

What do you actually sell?
What problem do you solve for the client?
What’s the value or transformation they get?

3. Your Market & Positioning

Who needs your work the most?
How do you stand out naturally — without forcing a niche that doesn’t fit?
Where do your best clients spend their time?

4. Your Numbers

Nothing fancy — just honest:

Income targets
Baseline expenses
Booking rate or project volume needed
Time capacity

Simple metrics you can check monthly beat perfect projections you never revisit.

5. Your Systems

Write down:

How people find you
How you onboard clients
How you deliver
How you follow up

Even a bare-bones version of these five sections gives you more clarity than most freelancers ever take the time to get — which gives you an edge.

And remember:

You can adapt the plan
You can rewrite the plan
You can throw parts of it out if they stop serving you

The goal isn’t rigidity.
It’s direction.

Your Next Steps (Keep It Simple, Silly!)

Picture your goal clearly — and put it somewhere you’ll see it.
Identify one distraction you can eliminate this week. Just one.
Sketch a one-page business plan using the five sections above.
Track what you actually do (real behaviour > ideal behaviour).
Adjust with curiosity, not shame.

This is your path — not anyone else’s.

You’re allowed to want great things.
You’re allowed to take up space.
You’re allowed to build a business — and a body — you’re proud of.

Let’s train with purpose.
Let’s work with intention.
Let’s make this our most focused and productive year yet.

Expenses: How to Increase Your Profits Without Working Harder

December 17, 2025 by AlisonP Leave a Comment

What every creative freelancer needs to know

As a female voiceover talent based in Montreal, I spend a lot of time thinking about workflows, creativity, and client relationships. But today’s topic is one that affects every creative freelancer — whether you’re in audio production, video production, marketing, advertising, or any service-based business:

How do you increase profits… without grinding harder?
No extra clients. No extra hours. No extra hustle.

The answer isn’t sexy — but it’s powerful:
Reduce your expenses.

And not in a frugal, penny-pinching way.
I mean fixing the leaks you don’t even know you have.

Revenue vs. Income vs. Profit — and Why Most People Mix Them Up

When I started my voiceover career, I didn’t think about finances at all. I just wanted to book sessions, send clean audio, and keep my clients happy.
But running a creative business — means understanding three basic numbers:

Revenue

Everything that comes in: project payments, retainers, usage fees.

Income

For many solo freelancers, revenue ≈ income (depending on your business structure).

Profit

What matters most.
It’s the amount left after expenses.

And this is where freelancers get stuck.

Most creatives obsess over earning more:
✔️ more clients
✔️ higher rates
✔️ longer hours
✔️ more projects

But often the fastest way to earn more isn’t by adding work — it’s by keeping more of what you already earn.

Expenses Matter More Than You Think

Not just the obvious ones like equipment, rent, or insurance.
I’m talking about the sneaky expenses — the ones silently draining your profit while you’re busy doing great creative work for clients.

Examples of quiet money leaks:

Interest or late-payment fees
Old software subscriptions you forgot existed
Storage platforms you don’t use
Duplicate services (two VPNs… it happens!)
Tools you bought five years ago “just in case”

Individually, they don’t look like much.
Collectively? They can cost hundreds or thousands per year.

Money that could have gone toward:

a new microphone or interface
training or coaching
upgraded video equipment
a break, a vacation, or simply less stress

And let’s talk about stress, because it’s real.

Financial stress:

shows up in your focus
shows up in your decisions
shows up in your creativity

When money is tight, everything feels like it has to be perfect just to keep a client. That pressure kills creativity faster than a bad brief.

And here’s the part nobody wants to hear:

A downturn is coming.

Not if.
When.

Clients will slow down.
You might get sick.
Expenses will rise.
Life will happen.

Profit isn’t just about money — it’s about freedom.
Creative freedom.
The freedom to say no.
The freedom to avoid burnout.
The freedom to choose work you’re proud of.

Even if you hire an accountant, you still need to understand the basics, because you make the decisions that shape your business.

Understanding your numbers gives you:

clarity
confidence
control
and the ability to create from a grounded place

4 Practical Steps to Increase Your Profit Without Working More

Here’s where clarity turns into action.

1. Schedule a “Money Date.”

Once a month — or quarterly — set aside 20 minutes.

Print or download your business transactions, then sort them into:

essential
optional
unused
outdated

No guilt. No judgment. Just clarity.
(And yes — doing this with a good playlist really helps.)

Cancel everything that doesn’t serve you.

2. Understand Your Money Flow.

Review your last year:

Which months were strong?
Which months were slow?
Which expenses actually helped you grow?
Which ones created only inbox clutter?

Most importantly:
Know your PMVI — your Personal Minimum Viable Income.
This is the real number you need each month to live and operate without stress.

3. Build a Savings Buffer.

Aim for:

1 month of expenses
then 2
then 3

Treat savings like a recurring bill paid to “future you.”
Future you will be very grateful.

4. Set Rules for New Expenses.

Before buying anything, ask:

Does it solve a current problem?
Will it save time or increase revenue?
Do I already own something that does this?

Buy with intention, not FOMO.

Your profit — and your creativity — will thank you.

You Don’t Need to Hustle Harder to Earn More

You don’t need more clients.
You don’t need more hours.
You don’t need more stress.

The smartest business strategy is intention:
✨ Being intentional with where your money goes
✨ Being intentional with what you keep
✨ Being intentional with how you structure your creative life

Because money clarity is creative clarity.

For more insights on freelance life, fitness, and creativity, you can tune into the Freelance Fitness podcast. And if you’re looking to partner with a female Montreal-based voiceover artist for video production, audio production, marketing, or advertising projects, feel free to connect with me here on LinkedIn.

Charge What You’re Worth: Building Confidence in Your Pricing

November 26, 2025 by AlisonP Leave a Comment

The Real Reason Freelancers Undercharge

One of the hardest parts of running a creative freelance business is something we rarely talk about openly: charging enough for our work.

Most of us know, deep down, what our skills are worth.
But saying it out loud to a real client? That’s another story.

I’ve been there.
I’ve undercharged. I’ve said yes to rates that made me cringe. I’ve sent quotes that didn’t reflect my experience, my equipment, or the years I’ve spent training.

And if I’m honest, the reason was fear.

Fear of losing the client by outlining my terms from the get-go
Fear of hearing, “You’re too expensive”
The desire to be liked, to be though of as easy, and “affordable”
Imposter syndrome (for anything not covered above)

But undercharging didn’t help my business grow.
It attracted the wrong clients.
And it silently taught people that my work—and my time—weren’t worth much.

And I know I’m not alone.

Many freelancers have been told that creative work is a passion, not a paycheque. That artists sacrifice. That charging fairly is somehow selling out.

But, passion or not, this is a business.
A business with expenses—gear, software, studio upgrades, coaching, marketing, time, energy, and expertise.

If you’re not charging enough to sustain your business and your life, you’re not just underpricing. You’re running yourself into the ground.

Why This Matters More Than You Think

Undercharging isn’t a pricing issue.
It’s a confidence issue.

And it affects far more than your bank account.

1. It shapes how clients perceive you.

If you don’t value your work, clients won’t either. Low pricing signals low expertise—even when the opposite is true.

2. It affects the entire creative industry.

Every time a professional underprices, it reinforces unrealistic expectations for everyone else.

3. It creates resentment and burnout.

You can’t do your best creative work when you’re stressed, overbooked, or constantly trying to “make it work” financially.

4. It attracts the wrong clients.

The ones who haggle, push boundaries, and complain that “everything is too expensive.”
Being the “easy, agreeable freelancer” doesn’t make you generous—it makes you a doormat.

5. It keeps you from building the career you actually want.

Every hour you spend on an underpaid project is an hour you could have spent on better clients, better work, or better rest.

So how do you begin to shift this pattern?
With clarity.

How to Build Confidence in Your Pricing Starting Today

Here are practical, real-world steps you can start using immediately:

1. Know your costs.

Your mic, booth, software, studio upgrades, insurance, coaching, time—none of these are optional. They’re the foundation of your business.

2. Know your value.

Clients don’t hire you for a deliverable.
They hire you for your experience, reliability, creativity, and professionalism.

You’re not a vending machine.
You’re a collaborative partner who makes the end product better.

3. Know your boundaries.

Discounts are business decisions, not guilt responses.
Inflation affects you too.

Your rate is not a confession.
It’s a statement of value.

Try reframing your mindset:
You’re not expensive. You’re valuable.

And the value you bring saves your clients time, stress, and money.

4. Handle pushback professionally (and confidently).

When a client questions your rate:

Don’t backpedal. Just breathe.
Many clients simply don’t understand your process or your industry.
Focus on explaining the outcome, not defending the number.

Example:

“This rate includes professional editing, broadcast-quality audio, and two rounds of revisions.”

If they truly have a smaller budget, adjust scope, not your worth:

Provide a shorter version
Reduce the number of assets
Offer one language instead of two

If you offer a discount, make it visible on the invoice with a clear reason.
That way it’s a courtesy, not a precedent.

5. Be willing to walk away.

I recently had a new production client reach out with a pre-set budget—far below what I charge for that scope.

So I calmly explained:

The deliverables
Usage
Duration
And why the rate didn’t match the project

We ultimately didn’t work together, but he appreciated the information and said he’d keep me in mind for future projects.

That’s the power of staying professional, calm, and consistent.

Some clients simply won’t be yours.
And that’s okay.

You’re building a business for clients who do value your expertise—those who want reliability, collaboration, and a long-term relationship with a pro.

Charging Fairly Isn’t Greed — It’s Sustainability

You’ve put in the hours.
You’ve trained.
You’ve invested in your studio and your skills.
You’ve earned your expertise.

Professionals charge professional rates.

Confidence doesn’t mean you never doubt yourself.
It means you quote your rate, take a breath, and trust that the right clients will recognize your worth.

Your Turn

Have you recently stood firm on your rates?
Or finally said no to an underpaying client?

Tell me—I’d love to celebrate that with you.

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Interested in an audio version with music, fitness and fun? Check my podcast Freelance Fitness.

ALISON PENTECOST