You Can't Make A Living From Your Talent (or Skills)

You Can't Make A Living From Your Talent (or Skills)

Author: Alvalyn Lundgren March 20, 2026 Duration: 12:04

As a freelance creative, do you focus more on your technical skills, on your creative talent, or problem-solving abilities to attract clients? How you position yourself determines the types of projects and clients you'll work with. Moreover, especially in this age of AI, talent and tools aren no longer enough to be able to make a living. A focus on tools and tech skills are making you obsolete. Speedy turn-around and low fees can't compete with free. You'll be easily replaced. What should you do? Shift gears and change your approach. Alvalyn shares the necessity of human-centered creative problem-solving and capitalizing on your humanity to solve business-related and life-related problems for your clients.


Alvalyn Lundgren guides the conversation on the Freelance Road Trip Podcast, a space built for independent creatives navigating the winding path of running their own practice. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a practical companion for designers, illustrators, and photographers who feel the constant push and pull between their artistic drive and the realities of invoices, clients, and sustainability. Each episode feels like a candid conversation from the passenger seat, tackling how to protect your creative energy while building a business that doesn't burn you out. You'll hear honest discussions about pricing your worth, finding clients who respect your vision, and setting boundaries that allow both your work and your well-being to thrive. The whole point of this podcast is to merge that innate creativity with actionable strategy, moving beyond just getting by to building something genuinely fulfilling. Tune in for a blend of mindset shifts and concrete steps that help you steer your freelance journey with more confidence and clarity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Freelance Road Trip Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Better Clients Through Filtering [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:43
Do you accept every client and project that comes your way? Have you ever worked with a client where things began well but soon went sideways? Every freelancer who's been in it for a few years has at least one story to t…
Aesthetics, Your Clients, and You [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:01
A book review and discussion of why aesthetics matter in business, commerce, communication, and branding. I describe the difference between aesthetic principles — the form (or visual) language — and the idea of personal…
How Setting Goals Helps You Succeed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:30
As a freelance creative, you get to design your own success. Your whole life relies on your ability to achieve your professional objectives, so success isn't optional. Setting significant goals is one of the most powerfu…
Don't Fall For This Scam [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:15
Scammers are highly creative in who and how they target. No one is exempt. This creative project scam, in which the scammers pose as businesses or start-ups to target independent creatives, has been circulating in variou…
12 Rules For Freelance Success [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:47
I share a few of my rules and business policies which have helped me build a successful freelance business. These have kept me from making bad decisions. Some have been formed on the fly and others have been established…
7 Things You Must Do To Start Freelancing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:41
Do you want to build a business our of your creative work? Stop thinking like an artist and starting acting like a business owner. Start with these 7 easy-to-do things to set up a firm foundation for your freelance desig…
Is It Time For A Rest Stop? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:51
My 3 dogs, who enjoy lying around in puddles of sunlight all day, are the inspiration for this discussion about the importance of rest to you success, overall well-being, and creative energy. On any road trip, rest stops…
How To Listen To Your Clients [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:21
Listening belongs before you begin and and all the way through to the end of a creative project. It's possible to win better clients and maintain healthy working relationships through active, focused listening. Effective…
Planning For A Prosperous Year [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:47
It's annual planning season! Where have you come from? Where are you going? In this episode I unpack a successful planning process. Planning gives us a road map to follow. Instead of launching the new year with a few neb…
Why Clients Don't Pay [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:50
Most clients will pay you — on time. But it happens that some don't. There are a variety of reasons why some don't pay. No matter what the reason, non-payment is one of the most frustrating and commonplace problems freel…