Episode 25: How To Get Started as a Freelancer with David Kaplan

Episode 25: How To Get Started as a Freelancer with David Kaplan

Author: Sarah Duran May 23, 2024 Duration: 30:32

David Kaplan might be a new-ish freelancer, but he already knows the key to success - you just have to try! I had such a great conversation with David talking about learning by doing, mindset shifts, and the rewards of perseverance.

David is 29, from the Czech Republic, and now lives in Squamish, BC, Canada. He has a master's degree in engineering and started his web development business right after university. In 2022, he landed his first major project as a lead front-end developer for a hospital in the Czech Republic. Since then, he has focused on e-commerce development using the Shopify platform. Alongside his business, David is a passionate athlete who enjoys ski touring, mountaineering, running, and rock climbing. In the summer of 2023, he ran across Vancouver Island, covering nearly 400km in 9 days, to raise money for Doctors Without Borders.

To learn more about David, go to his website or follow him on LinkedIn or Facebook.

To learn more about Sarah, go to www.fruitioninitiatives.com. For early access and transcriptions, subscribe at www.thehustlersmanifesto.com


Hosted by Sarah Duran, The Future is Freelance moves beyond the typical success story narrative to tackle the real, often unspoken, challenges of independent work. This podcast operates on a core belief: the most practical and resilient solutions are forged by the people living this reality every day. Each episode convenes voices from across the entire freelance ecosystem-from solo creators and agency owners to platform developers and policy advocates. The goal is to break down the silos and echo chambers that often isolate us, creating a rare space for genuine dialogue. You’ll hear frank discussions about pricing, client relationships, systemic inequities, mental health, and the philosophical shifts redefining modern work. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all advice, these conversations leverage collective wisdom to explore actionable paths forward. Tuning in means joining a grounded community effort to not just navigate the present landscape, but to actively shape what comes next. It’s for anyone curious about the human and structural dynamics behind the growing freelance economy, seeking both solidarity and substantive strategy.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 72

The Future is Freelance
Podcast Episodes
FRP Episode #11: The Freelance Revolution with Jon Younger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:35
This week we talk about the Freelance Revolution with Jon Younger. Jon is an HR thought leader, author, teacher, and early-stage investor. He writes about the freelance revolution and the future of work.
FRP Episode #10: The Future of Freelancing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:05
This week we talk about the future of freelancing and look at some recent data that has come out around freelancing trends.
FRP Episode #7: The Skills that Pay the Bills Formula [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:50
This week we talk about our Skills that Pay the Bills formula, which gives you'll a method for knowing exactly which skills you can use to make money on your own terms without hating your life and ending up on the unempl…
FRP Episode #5: How do you qualify clients? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:43
This week on the podcast we talk about how to qualify clients including criteria for client quality, how to set boundaries, and when to make concessions.
FRP Episode #4: Do you date your clients or marry them? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:26
In this episode, we talk about short-term vs. long-term clients. What's the right balance? How do you get (and keep) long-term clients? How do you know if you want to "marry" a client instead of just "date" them?