Review: The Unlimited Freelancer (Mason Hipp and James Chartrand)

I’ve been a fan of The Unlimited Freelancer’s two authors – James Chartrand from the Men with Pens team, and Mason Hipp from Freelance Folder – for ages. So why didn’t I get my hands on The Unlimited Freelancer months ago, when it first came out?

Mostly, because I figured I knew it all already. I’m tootling along with my freelance business, and because of the nature of the bulk of my work (paid blogging), I don’t have the usual freelancing headaches of trying to find new clients.

But, Mason and James have impressed me, as ever – and proved me wrong! I don’t know it all already. There’s a huge amount of great information packed into this ebook, and it’s very suited to established freelancers who want a bit more freedom, more time and more money.

That sounds pretty good to me because I’m, frankly, getting a bit swamped. My actual freelancing work for clients doesn’t take up much of my week (roughly two days) – but I can work through The Unlimited Freelancer and apply much of the advice to the other projects I’m engaged in.

So, on with the review…

Note: Links in this review are affiliate ones, so I get a few bucks if you buy through them.

Overview

The Unlimited Freelancer is a 200 page ebook aimed at new freelancers who want more time, more money and more freedom.

The price

$19. It used to be $29, which I thought was good value. I’m now hugely impressed: $19 is seriously cheap for an ebook of this length, especially one written by two experts, and I was impressed by the quality and depth of the content.

What’s included

There are five main sections in the ebook:

How to be An Unlimited Freelancer – Introduction to the book, and an overview of what’s to come

Systems, Software and Automation – Developing systems (eg. templates or step-by-step plans) and using software for major, common freelancing tasks like accounting and billing

Building a Freelance Team – Outsourcing, partnering, and hiring other freelancers. Explains how to build a team of (potentially worldwide) contacts who you can work with when you need them.

Revenue-Generating Assets – Creating assets that will bring in income whether you’re at your desk or not, such as ebooks, websites, and stock photograph.

Combine Strategies for Unlimited Potential – Links together the three main sections of the book, offering advice on deciding which tasks to offload, and how.

Good stuff

As I mentioned in the preamble before this review, I was impressed! There’s a lot of good stuff to talk about:

Really Clear Structure

The five big chapters are broken down into sections, with a “take-home message” at the end of each section to sum up what’s been said. This made the book very easy to read and follow. I plan to go through the book again now I’ve read the whole thing, choosing particular sections to implement in my own business – and I know the structure will make this easy.

Encouraging and Empowering

Mason and James strike an encouraging tone without being patronising. Just reading the ebook made me feel calmer and more confident that I can make changes to the way I do business, in order to free up more time and resources. Here’s an example, from p142 of the book:

Freelancers already know how to create a valuable asset. You just need to do the same work you do for your other clients – except you’re working on your own project.

Mason and James Aren’t Soulless

I’ve read a few business advice books and blogs, and sometimes I’m turned off by advice which seems almost mercenary and ignores fact that people are involved! One of the things I loved about The Unlimited Freelancer is that James and Mason’s characters shine through.

They don’t just stick to “what’s in it for me”, they cover the bigger picture. For example, they look at (and debunking) myths about the impact of  outsourcing on local economies. (”Seven Myths About Outsourcing, p92 – 100).

The book is immensely ethical and there’s a focus on being kind and generous, such as when you need to terminate a business relationship with another freelancer or someone you outsource to, or when giving feedback to your own team.

There’s Real Expertise and Experience Here

Both Mason and James are very successful freelancers who’ve done exactly what they write about here: I can vouch directly for Mason’s work with fellow freelancers because I write for him on one of his blogs, EcoSimply.

This experience lets them give honest and practical advice, and I felt like this section on page 116 sounded like it came from the heart…

You may sometimes feel that you just can’t convey your thoughts well. You might have days when no one seems to understand each other. You’ll certainly have days when you feel tired and cranky.

I get a bit tired of freelancing advice that suggests that every minute is sunshine and roses, and I was glad that Mason and James pre-empted possible problems.

Bad stuff

There’s very little negative to say about The Unlimited Freelancer. I just had a couple of thoughts here:

Not Industry-Specific

This isn’t really a fault with the book, as it doesn’t make any claims of offering specific advice! If you’re after an exact guide for your own situation, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere … though I doubt you’ll find a perfect blueprint just for you by any method other than experimentation!

If you’re looking to be taught a particular freelancing skill, such as how to write press releases or how to create a website, this isn’t the book for you either. Mason and James are writing for freelancers who already have a skill base but who want to grow and expand their business. They do cover how to “cross-source”, though – working with freelancers with skills that complement yours.

Occasionally a Bit Repetitive

I’m being niggly here, probably because I’ve been ruthlessly editing bits of my own (fiction) writing recently. I sometimes found that The Unlimited Freelancer was a bit wordy or repetitive. For example, on page 110:

Other qualities are admirable or might fit well with your needs, but these basic qualities are must-have requirements for anyone you want on your team. The person who has these qualities would be a definite asset to your business.

I thought the last sentence here could’ve been cut without losing anything.

A couple of the points that James and Mason make are also slightly repetitive, such as the points about feedback on p121 and then on p126. Some of the information in section 5 was similar to what had been said already in the book, but in fairness, I’d expect it to be – it was a consolidation section, drawing together the themes of the book.

Verdict

The Unlimited Freelancer is the book I could’ve done with a few months into my freelancing career, and I’m glad I’ve got my hands on it now.

It’s aimed at established but new-ish freelancers: however, I’d suggest buying it even if you’re still in the day job, and thinking about freelancing. Some of the advice will be hugely valuable when you set things up – and you can always go back to the ebook in the future, as your business grows.

The book is also amazing value at $19. It comes with a refund guarantee, too, so what’re you waiting for? Go and buy – and enjoy!