Free, Zero-BS Support for Founders and Freelancers

✂️TL;DR

• Have a mobile phone? You have tech skills.
• You are half of the equation, so take time to understand yourself as a tech consumer.
• (App) design is a language; bad design = bad communication.
• App marketing’s marketing language makes it difficult to assess fit.
• Tech frustrations often stem from bad product design or poor product fit.

🎮 Quiz

No matter what software companies say, none of them are zero effort. Get acquainted with which frustrations you’re willing to fight through.

🤿 Deeper Dive

Are condescending techsperts living rent-free inside your head?

Let's discuss.

Highlights:

• AI Tools and Trust: The session highlighted the importance of selecting AI tools wisely, emphasizing trust in the companies behind these tools. Participants were advised to read terms and conditions carefully and assess the risk of using AI tools, especially concerning data privacy and confidentiality.
• AI in Business Processes: Discussion centered on how AI can enhance efficiency in business operations, particularly for freelancers and small agencies. It was noted that AI should be seen as a tool to augment existing processes rather than replace them.
• Challenges with AI: Participants shared experiences of AI generating inaccurate or misleading outputs, emphasizing the need for human oversight. The conversation also touched on the biases inherent in AI systems and the importance of selecting the right tool for specific tasks.

In a conversation with Kitwing Editor-in-Chief Tasha Gideon, Amanda Miller Littlejohn shares her perspective on finding sustainable success in a culture obsessed with hustle and grind. Amanda is an executive coach, Mental Health Fellow at the Carter Center, and the author of The Rest Revolution.

You've said that "rest is not a reward." What does that mean, and how can people incorporate rest into their lives as a necessity rather than an afterthought?

Amanda: It starts with a fundamental mindset shift: understanding yourself as a being in nature. When you can genuinely see yourself as a natural being, you recognize that every living thing has innate rhythms and seasons where rest isn't optional but required.

Think about it: we don't question why plants need dormant periods or why animals hibernate. Yet somehow, we've convinced ourselves that humans can operate continuously without restoration. Your body needs time to repair, your

TL;DR

• Rule #1: Hire the right helper. AI tools are not all the same. Some are better at writing, some can’t process images, and some are specialized.
• Rule #2: Include context. Provide your AI tool with a way to understand the point of your request and what considerations should be included.
• Rule #3: Be specific about the format output. Do you want a chart? Bulletpoints? One paragraph of web copy? Say so.
• Rule #4: Anticipate wrong turns. You’re giving driving directions, not hiring a psychic. “Do not” are good words to include in a prompt. AI values what it sees most often; you’ll have to mitigate against blah results.
• Rule #5: Ask yourself, AITA (Am I the Asshole)? If you’re getting bad outputs from your AI tool, you’re likely at least part (if not all) of the problem.

Deeper Dive:

Let’s rework this very crappy prompt: Give me a report on the coffee market in the US.

Kitwing spoke with Christine Olivas, the innovative founder behind No Single Individual (NSI), a pioneering consultancy that's reimagining how outside talent and agencies work together in the advertising industry.

Kitwing: Christine, what spurred you to to start No Single Individual?

Christine: I saw a clear disconnect between solo freelancing and traditional staffing models. Having worked both client-side and agency-side, I recognized that both talent and agencies were struggling with project-based work. Freelancers wanted the community and stability of full-time roles without sacrificing autonomy, while agencies needed flexible, integrated talent solutions that went beyond individual contractors.

K: How would you describe NSI's unique model?

Christine: We're the first consultancy to offer strategy and account teamlancing for the advertising industry. Unlike traditional staffing agencies that match individual freelancers, we provide curated teams to marketing and advertising agencies. It's really a hybrid experience that offers the best of both worlds: the

Online quiz with an instant assessment

Considering striking out on your own? Sometimes it’s a “follow your passion” thing. Sometimes it’s a “find rent money” thing. Sometimes it’s a “dabble and see” thing. Our quiz can help you frame your thinking, weigh your options, uncover dealbreakers, locate your strengths, and shore up areas that might be a little wobbly if you take the leap.

Have an opinion on freelancing? Think we should include something on this quiz? Disagree with our thinking? Comment