The Risk of Referrals

The Risk of Referrals

Author: Millo April 24, 2025 Duration: 57:23
On today’s show, if you get most of your clients from referrals, is that a good thing? Or is your business at risk of failing? You’re about to hear a coaching call with Dwaynia, who’s calling in from Alabama in the USA. Dwaynia has a great writing business going. She’s working with clients she loves and has a small team to support her. But, Dwaynia literally lies awake at night worried about not having a client generation system in place to bring in predictable new work. Her annual goals are literally pulled out of thin air, and she’s not sure how to fix it. Clay and I share a few of our best ideas for building a predictable client referral system, as well as other ways to get clients in the door in a more predictable way. Here we go. This episode was originally aired on January 13, 2022. PS: Get featured in an upcoming Q&A! Just visit http://freelancetofounder.com/ask and submit a question.  Support our Sponsors Our generous sponsors make this show 100% free to you. Support them at the link below. https://freelancetofounder.com/sponsors Get your own on-air coaching call We'd love to feature your business and offer some free on-air advice for growing your business. To see if you're a good fit, click here. Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts: If you enjoy the show, can you do us a favor and leave us an honest rating and review on Apple Podcasts? We'll love you forever. Click here to leave a review. More Recommended Listening: This show is a part of the Podglomerate, a company that produces, distributes, and monetizes podcasts. We encourage you to visit the website and sign up for our newsletter. We suggest you also try other Podglomerate shows about entrepreneurship, business, and creativity, such as Rocketship.fm and Creative Elements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a common gap between working for yourself and truly building something that lasts, and Freelance to Founder lives in that space. This isn’t just theory; it’s a daily conversation for freelancers who are tired of the unpredictable income and ready to create a real business. Host Preston Lee draws from his own journey from freelancer to someone who has built and sold companies, and he brings that grounded perspective to every episode. Nearly every weekday, Preston is joined by other founders and entrepreneurs who’ve navigated the same path, breaking down the practical steps you can take to scale your solo operation. The call-in format means you’re hearing real questions from people in the trenches, facing the same client issues, pricing dilemmas, and growth plateaus you might be. Listening to this podcast feels like having a direct line to a supportive and experienced mastermind group, one that focuses on actionable strategies over vague inspiration. It’s for the designer, writer, developer, or consultant who’s ready to move beyond the feast-or-famine cycle and lay the foundation for something more substantial and sustainable. The discussions are candid, the advice is tested, and the goal is always clear: helping you transition from a solo practitioner to the founder of a thriving business.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Freelance to Founder
Podcast Episodes
Overcoming the Fear of Networking [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:45
Brittany runs her own design studio and knows she needs to get out from behind her screen and start meeting people face-to-face. The problem: she’s shy, and local networking feels downright terrifying. Preston and Clay w…
Things Are Getting Messy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:37
Emma Clark runs Clark Content Co. and has spent years managing projects from her inbox and a few spreadsheets—until now. With two contractors on board and plans to hire more, things are getting messy fast. Preston and Ch…
The Power of Trusting Subcontractors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:46
Omar has built something worth protecting—a roster of loyal clients who hired him as a freelancer and trust him personally. Now he’s growing Vision Craft Studios into a full agency, and the hardest part isn’t finding new…
Is This Cheating? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:52
Layla from Bright Horizon Media has built something real — a small social media marketing agency with two part-time team members and real momentum. Now she's facing the question every growing agency owner hits: how much…
Drowning? Here's the Fix. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:06
Christine Olivas scaled from solo freelancer to leading a 24-person operation—but the path wasn't as simple as just "hire when you're busy." Preston and Christine dig into one of the most misunderstood decisions in freel…
Do Clients Care About 'Expertise'? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:31
CodeCrafter is talented, working hard, and building something real—but a nagging voice keeps whispering that he's not expert enough to charge more, land better clients, or call himself a professional. Preston digs into o…
Subcontracting = Invisible? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:14
Subcontracting can feel like a smart move—until you realize your business is quietly disappearing into someone else's brand. Sound familiar? In this solo episode, Preston digs into a question from Garrett, a 30-year-old…
Big Client, No Team...Do You Say Yes? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:00
Dream client. Huge project. Zero team. Do you say yes and figure it out later—or build the team first and hope they stick around? Preston and Austin break down the classic chicken-and-egg trap every growing freelancer hi…
Can Non-US Freelancers Actually Get US Clients? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:10
Does your zip code actually matter to American clients? Dieter's freelancing from Europe and wondering if the US market is even worth chasing. The answer might surprise you. Preston and Austin break down why being "forei…
Hiring a VA? Here's What Actually Matters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:41
Think you're ready to hire a VA... but have no idea where to start? You're not alone. Every growing freelancer hits that wall — a million tasks, not enough hours, and zero clue who to trust with the work. In this episode…