Learn from my 15+ years at top consulting firms and as a freelancer.
The Art of Strategic Freelancing is a self-paced course for freelancers who want to build a practice, craft a signature offer, increase their pricing, and build a path they want to stay on over the long term.
30-day money-back guarantee · Lifetime access
Taught by Paul Millerd, former McKinsey & BCG strategy consultant and freelancer
Freelancing is a crazy thing to do
Not only are you doing the work you get hired to do, but you are also a full-stack human. You are the marketer, accountant, sales director, accounts receivable department, research analyst, and CEO.
Most freelancers optimize for staying busy instead of designing a path they actually want to be on over the long term.
Do you struggle with these questions?
How to raise rates?
Grinding on the same work at the same rate is a recipe for burnout. Raising your rates is about more than money. It is about raising your ambitions and creating room to evolve.
When to send proposals?
Most consultants send proposals too soon. First scope a problem you actually want to work on and get buy-in before signing.
How to deliver value to clients?
Too many freelancers dump detail. Long-term trust comes from putting yourself in the client's shoes and guiding decisions.
My belief: the only sustainable strategy is to play the long game
The only sustainable path for a freelance consultant is finding work you are excited to keep doing.
The way to find that work is not taking every project. It is developing core skills, shaping projects you want, and building trust-based client relationships.
I want to help you:
Build relationships, not decks
Build trust by collaborating on-site when needed, speaking the client's language, and aligning early.
Solve problems, not dump data
Avoid the book-report trap and guide clients through a process that helps them act.
Learn what it takes to sell a $20,000 project
Fixed-fee work is confidence, scope design, and willingness to walk away, not just raising hourly rates.
I walk you through actual proposals from my work
How many calls should you have before sending a proposal? How do you ask for feedback? What format should you send? What is a normal timeline from first conversation to signed contract?
Use structured templates to win projects
Learn the key elements of proposals, how to shape a problem statement, and how to scope projects around your strengths. The slides follow one sample project from the scoping call to the final deliverables.
Before the call
Credentials and offerings deck
What you do and three ways to start, with prices
First call
First-call guide
Find the problem behind the request
After the call
Problem statement
Write back what you heard and ask what's wrong with it
Proposal
The proposal, three ways
An email with a price, three slides, or a full proposal
Every two weeks
Check-in document
Progress, early findings, and the decisions you need
The end
Final summary and action plan
One owner for each action, handed to the client
In Word: the proposal, fixed-fee and retainer contracts, client emails from a check-in recap to a late invoice, and the check-in document.
Price your work with a calculator
Work out what you need to earn, your floor rate, and what a fixed fee pays per hour when a project runs long. Other lessons have worksheets for drafting a problem statement, an email proposal, and an offer ladder.
Learn from expert freelancers
Hear from long-term freelance consultants on pricing, financial uncertainty, life design, and staying relevant by writing online.
This course will help you:
Learn scoping conversations to uncover the problem behind the problem.
- Scoping: The Art of Ongoing Relationship Building & Alignment
- The Underrated Art of The Check-In Meeting
Learn when to send a proposal and how to handle early client interactions.
- Don't Send A Proposal Too Quickly
- Three Goals Before You Sign a Contract
- Three Types of Work: Time, Project & Product Based
Develop a digital footprint so people know what you do and how to hire you.
- Become Legible: Plant Digital "Curiosity Triggers"
- Attracting Clients: Network, Content & Communities
- Create Your Brand / Credential Materials
Build standardized templates that increase client confidence.
- Download: Freelance Consulting Templates
- Downloadable Proposal Template
- Download: Check-In Document
Price your work with a calculator that shows what a fixed fee pays per hour.
Use consulting frameworks to communicate clearly and package your offerings.
- Synthesizing Data & Information (Pyramid Principle 101)
- Creating Your Own Frameworks
Example curriculum
51 lessons in 7 sections. Open each section to see the full lesson breakdown.
Welcome to the course3 lessons
Before You Become A Freelancer8 lessons
Early Stages - Mindset & Getting the Basics Right11 lessons
Landing Projects, Developing Proposals & Signing A Contract10 lessons
Navigating The Client Relationship8 lessons
Doing The Work5 lessons
One price includes every lesson and template, with a 30-day refund.
Art of Strategic Freelancing
$347
Art of Strategic Freelancing course access.
Consultant's Bundle
$997
Think Like a Strategy Consultant + Art of Strategic Freelancing. Save $147 vs. buying both.
30-day money-back guarantee. If the course isn't for you, contact me within 30 days for a full refund. Read the refund policy.
Also available: Think Like a Strategy Consultant ($797), on how consultants communicate and solve problems.
Questions people ask before enrolling
How long does the course take?
The course has 51 lessons across 7 sections with about 6 hours of total runtime. You go at your own pace and keep lifetime access.
Is this right for me if I'm not a consultant yet?
Yes. The course is designed for people building or considering a freelance consulting practice. Whether you're transitioning from full-time work or already freelancing, the frameworks and templates apply.
Do I get lifetime access?
Yes. Once you enroll you keep access to the course and all future updates for life.
Is there a refund policy?
If you are not satisfied within the first 30 days, contact me and I'll process a refund!
What if I can't afford it right now?
Go through my gift pricing exercise and I'll review it and see if I can send you something that fits your current situation and local economy. Request a gift price.
What's included in the bundle?
The Consultant's Bundle ($997) includes both Art of Strategic Freelancing and Think Like a Strategy Consultant: 131 lessons total covering consulting frameworks, communication, and freelance practice building.
Start with a free lesson, or enroll today.
30-day money-back guarantee · Lifetime access