Enjoying Work: Gift Or Curse For A Freelancer?

What if the real challenge of freelancing isn’t finding clients but knowing how to protect your time, value, and sanity once you have them?

In this episode, we speak with Oliver Gehrmann, a freelance web developer with over 14 years of experience who also grows his nexTab.de agency, which is focused on helping clients achieve greater online success by setting up professional websites, optimizing them for search engines, and developing an online marketing strategy 🤩

From this episode, you'll learn:

✅ Why boundaries are the difference between thriving and burnout.
✅ How to handle nightmare clients (including non-payers).
✅ Why transparency is your most powerful business tool.
✅ How to shift your mindset from beginner to expert.
✅ Why niching down is the fastest way to stability and authority.

Watch now and take control of your freelance journey! 🚀

🎧 Or listen to it here on Spotify

Boundaries aren’t optional, they’re survival

“You can fill two lives with work if you let it.”
Our guest explains that the hardest part of freelancing isn’t the work—it’s turning it off. When you enjoy what you do, it becomes nearly impossible to disconnect.

That enjoyment, though, is a double-edged sword. If you’re not careful, you trade flexibility for constant availability.

🔹 Learn when to stop—even if you love your work.
🔹 Remember: You are your own boss and your only employee. Take care of both.

Be transparent—it pays off

Being honest with clients doesn’t push them away—it pulls the right ones closer.

Whether it’s saying, “I’m not the right person for this project,” or telling a client when a revision will cost extra, transparency builds trust. Clients remember that honesty and often return later for the right project.

💡 Pro Tip: “Nice” doesn’t build loyalty—clarity and integrity do.

Set the standard, don’t chase It

Most freelancers think they have to ‘earn’ their way to better boundaries.
But if you keep acting like a beginner, you’ll stay stuck there. Instead, act as if you already have a full client roster. When something feels off, say no—like someone who doesn’t need to say yes to everything.

✔️ Show up as the expert.
✔️ Protect your time like it's your most valuable asset—because it is.

Stop overdelivering—start asking

Your 80% might be 150% to the client.
Many freelancers push themselves for “just one more thing” that clients didn’t even expect. Before you spend five extra hours perfecting a project, ask your client if they’re already happy with what they see.

🧠 Smart working > hard working.
Sometimes, the most professional thing you can do is… stop.

Nightmare clients: low budget, high demands

Let’s be honest: the clients who pay the least often cause the most stress.

Late payments, endless feedback loops, and micromanagement are common in smaller-budget projects. The worst? Those who resell your work at a huge markup but still haggle with you over every euro.

🔹 Set payment terms clearly—always request 50% upfront.
🔹 Consider invoice factoring services for long overdue payments.
🔹 Know when to say, “Thanks, but this isn’t a fit.”

Stream your way out of loneliness

Freelancing can be isolating—but it doesn’t have to be.

Our guest works live on stream almost every day. It helps with focus, accountability, and even builds community with others who want to learn or co-work.

📺 If you’re struggling with procrastination or loneliness, consider working in public—even if it’s just once a week.

The 3 things every new freelancer should know

1. It’s easier than your brain tells you.
   Your mind makes freelancing feel harder than it is. You’ll face problems, but they’re figure-outable.

2. Clients don’t see what you see.
   Don’t waste time on invisible improvements. Deliver value, not perfection.

3. Act like the expert from Day 1.
   Don’t wait for permission to behave like a pro. Set boundaries, charge fairly, and own your expertise.

What to do differently: niche early

The biggest regret? Not choosing a niche sooner.

Being a generalist leads to reinventing the wheel with every new client. Focusing on one type of service or audience creates repeatable systems, better referrals, and more consistent income.

🎯 You don’t need to know everything about a niche—just start solving problems in it. You’ll learn fast.

TL;DR

✔️ Burnout comes from blurred lines—set clear boundaries.
✔️ Transparent freelancers build stronger, longer client relationships.
✔️ Act like a pro now. Don’t wait to be “ready.”
✔️ Niche early to avoid chaos and scale smarter.
✔️ Don’t chase perfection—ask the client what they actually want.

5 quotes from this conversation

1️⃣ “Whatever your 100% is, it’s probably 150% for the client.”
2️⃣ “You don’t become a professional and then act like one—you act like a professional first.”
3️⃣ “Transparency won’t scare good clients—it’s what keeps them coming back.”
4️⃣ “The clients who pay the least often cost you the most.”
5️⃣ “Most freelancers stay stuck because they keep acting like they’re just starting out.”