Freelance Business Unlocked

Anja Lordanić Mustać

Have you ever asked yourself: “How do I get more leads and clients?” “When is the right time to pivot?” “Do I really need a new website right now?” “How do I balance my finances in alignment with my personal goals?” “How do I get better at public speaking?” “What’s the best way to use email for my business?” “How do I launch a podcast?” If so, you’re in luck. The experts I bring on have all the answers you need to make your small business bigger, but not in the way you might think. Throughout the episodes, my guests and I openly share our successes, failures, and everything in between. You're not in for a bunch of sugarcoating sessions; instead, you'll learn how to run your small business *your* way — sustainably, strategically, and with ease. My name is Anja, and as a small business owner from Croatia, I know what it’s like to look at mega-successful entrepreneurs and creators worldwide and think, “How do I make this a reality for myself?” This is exactly the goal of Freelance Business Unlocked — to help you see what’s possible, no matter where you live and the types of clients you serve. Tune in and learn about effective marketing strategies, podcasting, financial management, email marketing, copywriting, sales, parenthood and entrepreneurship, and much more. Subscribe now and join us for this fun ride! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. #94: You're Already a Salesperson (Here's How to Be a Better One)

    HÁ 2 DIAS

    #94: You're Already a Salesperson (Here's How to Be a Better One)

    FREE 5-DAY PODCASTING MINI-COURSE — Everything you need to know before starting your podcasting journey. Free podcasting newsletter — Weekly. Five minutes or less. No BS. ___________ If you’ve ever said, “I’m just not good at selling,” this one is for you. In this solo episode, I'll walk you through how to sell your services without feeling uncomfortable, manipulative, or fake. This isn’t about tricking anyone. It’s about being clear, helpful, and grounded in your value. Every tip and insight I’ll be sharing today is tangible and applicable to your business, no matter your experience, line of work, or personality type. In this episode, you'll learn why you are already a salesperson—even if you don’t call yourself one, how to "plant the seeds" in everyday conversations and podcast interviews, and the power of detaching from the outcome. Enjoy! Takeaways: Recognize that selling is essential for business survival and there's always room for improvement in your sales skills.Understand that sales is not about tricking or forcing someone to buy, but about guiding them to a solution that benefits them.Use subtle storytelling and casual conversations to naturally showcase your expertise and build trust without hard selling.Focus on being present and serving the client rather than fixating on closing the sale, which can lead to more genuine connections and opportunities.Approach sales with confidence and security, offering your services without desperation, which can create a more positive and attractive dynamic. Resources mentioned: My interview with Bryan McDonald on the Freelance Business Unlocked podcast (Apple Podcasts, Spotify) ___________ Let's connect on LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjalordanic/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you and see you next week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25min
  2. #93: Building in Public: The Power of Transparency

    26 DE AGO.

    #93: Building in Public: The Power of Transparency

    FREE 5-DAY PODCASTING MINI-COURSE — Everything you need to know before starting your podcasting journey. Free podcasting newsletter — Weekly. Five minutes or less. No BS. ___________ In this episode of Freelance Business Unlocked, we explore the concept of building in public with insights from some of my favorite people in the industry. Join us as we dive into the benefits, challenges, and personal experiences of sharing the journey of building a business openly. This episode features voices from the Balkan region, including Croatia and Serbia, offering a unique perspective on this growing trend. This was like a speed-dating-style coffee chat with some of my Internet friends and mentors, and I’m 100% sure you’re gonna enjoy this episode and get value out of it. Enjoy! Featured Guests: Višnja ŽeljeznjakSlobodan ManićStevan KončarDominik Metličić Takeaways: Sharing your journey openly can be a powerful marketing strategy and a catalyst for personal and business growth.While transparency is valuable, it's important to protect personal privacy and avoid oversharing sensitive information.Building in public can lead to unexpected opportunities and insights into what your audience truly wants.Being open about challenges and successes fosters genuine connections with your audience and builds trust. Resources mentioned: My interview with Višnja on the Freelance Business Unlocked podcast (Apple Podcasts, Spotify)My interview with Slobodan on the Freelance Business Unlocked podcast (Apple Podcasts, Spotify)My interview with Dominik on the Freelance Business Unlocked podcast (Apple Podcasts, Spotify) ___________ Let's connect on LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjalordanic/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you and see you next week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25min
  3. #92: Building a Sustainable Podcast Strategy as a Business Owner

    19 DE AGO.

    #92: Building a Sustainable Podcast Strategy as a Business Owner

    Purchase the exclusive Sustainable Podcast Strategy course here ___________ FREE 5-DAY PODCASTING MINI-COURSE — Everything you need to know before starting your podcasting journey. Free podcasting newsletter — Weekly. Five minutes or less. No BS. ___________ In this episode, we dive into creating a podcast strategy that aligns with your lifestyle and business goals. If you’ve been toying with the idea of launching your own podcast, this one is for you. Today, you’re getting 9 minutes of my paid Sustainable Podcast Strategy training video for free, where you’ll get a glimpse into how you can design a podcast workflow that maximizes efficiency and minimizes time spent planning and recording each episode. Learn to build a podcasting system that works for you, not the other way around, discover how to align your podcast with your business goals and marketing efforts, and avoid burnout by implementing a repeatable system that saves time and energy. Enjoy! Takeaways: Treat your podcast strategy as an internal SOP to ensure consistency and efficiency.Focus on creating content that resonates with your audience and supports your brand growth.Develop a predictable and repeatable podcasting system that reduces second-guessing and enhances creativity.Plan ahead to delegate or outsource parts of the podcasting process when necessary, freeing up time for strategic tasks.Regularly refine your podcast workflow to identify areas for improvement and increase efficiency over time. ___________ Let's connect on LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjalordanic/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you and see you next week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    11min
  4. [REPLAY] #57: Pivoting Your Business Your Way

    12 DE AGO.

    [REPLAY] #57: Pivoting Your Business Your Way

    HELPFUL LINKS: My newsletter with weekly podcasting insightsEpisode #46 with Iesha Small: Embracing Career Pivots as Part of Life_______________________________________ Hello and welcome to this week's (solo) episode! As you can tell by the title, today, I'm sharing my thoughts on pivoting as a solo business owner. This is an exciting topic, but it's not all fun and games—it takes effort and persistence; it’s scary at times, but it’s doable once you find your own way of doing it. In my mind, pivoting is NOT a sign of weakness.   Pivoting means you tried something that may or may not have worked, and you’re ready to move on for various reasons (be it financial, emotional, or logistical). Here are some questions to consider: Does pivoting seem scary to you?Have you set solid foundations yet?What is stopping you from switching things up?What do you need to do to make things easier for yourself? Let me know your thoughts about this episode over on LinkedIn! _______________________________________ Let's connect on LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjalordanic/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can donate and support this podcast here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/freelancebusinessunlocked⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you and see you next week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    14min
  5. #91: Solo vs. Co-Hosted: Finding Your Podcasting Style

    5 DE AGO.

    #91: Solo vs. Co-Hosted: Finding Your Podcasting Style

    FREE 5-DAY PODCASTING MINI-COURSE — Everything you need to know before starting your podcasting journey. Free podcasting newsletter — Weekly. Five minutes or less. No BS. ___________ What’s the best podcast format for you—solo, co-hosted, or interview-based? In this episode of Freelance Business Unlocked, I share an excerpt from my conversation with Croatian podcasters Edita and Darko on their Seen & Heard podcast. This clip dives into the pros and cons of different podcasting formats from someone who has tried them all—solo, co-hosted, and interview-based. In this episode, you'll learn the key differences between solo and co-hosted podcasting, why co-hosting can ease pressure and boost accountability, why interview-based formats naturally create consistency, creative ways to test co-host chemistry before launching, and much more. Whether you’re about to launch your first podcast or considering a format switch, this episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look into how each setup affects your workflow, accountability, creativity, and connection with your audience. Enjoy! Takeaways: Explore different podcast formats like solo, interview, and co-hosted shows to find what suits your style and goals.Co-hosting offers shared responsibility and accountability, easing the pressure and enhancing the dynamic.Hosting solo requires managing all tasks independently, but it allows for complete creative control.Interview shows provide accountability and opportunities to connect with guests, enriching the content.Starting with live shows can be nerve-racking due to the lack of editing, but it adds an authentic charm.Leverage different podcast formats to discover creative ways to engage your audience. Resources mentioned: Edita and Darko's Seen & Heard podcast (Apple Podcasts, YouTube)My full interview on their show ___________ Let's connect on LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjalordanic/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you and see you next week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    10min
  6. #90: The Potential of Podcasting for Business Owners

    29 DE JUL.

    #90: The Potential of Podcasting for Business Owners

    FREE 5-DAY PODCASTING MINI-COURSE — Everything you need to know before starting your podcasting journey. Free podcasting newsletter — Weekly. Five minutes or less. No BS. ___________ This episode of Freelance Business Unlocked is an interview I had on my friend Slobodan Manić’s No Hacks podcast earlier this year, and what’s fun about it is the fact that it’s only 12 minutes long. In those 12 minutes, Slobodan and I discuss why you should launch your own podcast and the benefits it can bring to your business, no matter your area of expertise. We discuss overcoming limiting beliefs, the benefits of podcasting for brand awareness, and the art of networking through meaningful connections. Enjoy! Takeaways: Podcasting helps build brand awareness and authority, making it a valuable tool for business owners and freelancers.Use podcasting to connect with experts and expand your network in a meaningful way.Address limiting beliefs like lack of time or expertise to move forward with your podcasting journey.Podcasts serve as "queen content," providing material that can be repurposed across various platforms.Podcasting enhances skills such as public speaking, editing, and time management, which are crucial for business success. Resources mentioned: Slobodan's No Hacks Podcast (Apple Podcasts, Spotify) ___________ Let's connect on LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjalordanic/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you and see you next week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    14min
  7. #89: The Real Secret to Staying Consistent at Anything (Your Way)

    22 DE JUL.

    #89: The Real Secret to Staying Consistent at Anything (Your Way)

    FREE 5-DAY PODCASTING MINI-COURSE — Everything you need to know before starting your podcasting journey. Free podcasting newsletter — Weekly. Five minutes or less. No BS. ___________ Do you ever look at other creators and wonder how they manage to show up so consistently—week after week, month after month—without burning out? In this solo episode, I pull back the curtain on what consistency really looks like behind the scenes. Spoiler alert: it’s not about having more time, support, or willpower—it’s about building a system that works for you. And yes, that includes micro-consistency, a little accountability, and dropping perfectionism at the door. This episode is an honest look at what it takes to stay consistent in your business—especially when you're running things solo (hi, same here 👋) and trying to juggle marketing, content, and, you know… real life. In this episode, you’ll learn why you are already consistent (you just don’t give yourself credit for it), what brushing your teeth and sending a weekly newsletter have in common, why accountability (public or private) can be the secret sauce behind your momentum, and much more. Takeaways: You can be consistent by creating systems that work for you.Identify your non-negotiable habits to build new ones.Eliminate resistance by stacking new habits with existing ones.Micro-consistency can still lead to significant progress.Understanding your 'why' is crucial for maintaining consistency.Accountability can be a powerful motivator for consistency. Resources mentioned: My solo episode on perfectionism (Apple Podcasts, Spotify)Jay Clouse's essay on consistency ___________ Let's connect on LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjalordanic/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you and see you next week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    20min
  8. #88: Leave Perfectionism at the Door (Because No One Cares THAT Much)

    15 DE JUL.

    #88: Leave Perfectionism at the Door (Because No One Cares THAT Much)

    FREE 5-DAY PODCASTING MINI-COURSE — Everything you need to know before starting your podcasting journey. Free podcasting newsletter — Weekly. Five minutes or less. No BS. ___________ If perfectionism has ever kept you stuck, stalled a project, or stopped you from launching your podcast, this episode will help you look at it from a different lens. Today, I'm diving into the sneaky ways perfectionism disguises itself as "high standards"—when in reality, it's fear in a polished outfit. Drawing from my own podcasting journey and real-life examples, I unpack how overthinking and fear of judgment can stop even the most creative minds from putting their work out there. You’ll learn why the fear of being seen (especially by people you know in real life) can be paralyzing—and how to move forward anyway. You'll also hear about one of my favorite insights from Amy Porterfield, reminding us that B+ work gets us further than chasing A+ perfection ever will. Whether you're a podcaster, content creator, or just someone trying to finally take that next step in your business, this is the episode for you. Takeaways: Progress beats perfection.You don’t need it all figured out to begin.You’re not being judged as much as you think.The pursuit of perfection limits your learning.There’s no growth without momentum.B+ work is good enough. Resources mentioned: Interview by Alex Sanfilippo: How Amy Porterfield Went From No Online Presence to $100M In SalesMy LinkedIn profile (let's connect and discuss this further!) ___________ Let's connect on LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjalordanic/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you and see you next week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    16min

Sobre

Have you ever asked yourself: “How do I get more leads and clients?” “When is the right time to pivot?” “Do I really need a new website right now?” “How do I balance my finances in alignment with my personal goals?” “How do I get better at public speaking?” “What’s the best way to use email for my business?” “How do I launch a podcast?” If so, you’re in luck. The experts I bring on have all the answers you need to make your small business bigger, but not in the way you might think. Throughout the episodes, my guests and I openly share our successes, failures, and everything in between. You're not in for a bunch of sugarcoating sessions; instead, you'll learn how to run your small business *your* way — sustainably, strategically, and with ease. My name is Anja, and as a small business owner from Croatia, I know what it’s like to look at mega-successful entrepreneurs and creators worldwide and think, “How do I make this a reality for myself?” This is exactly the goal of Freelance Business Unlocked — to help you see what’s possible, no matter where you live and the types of clients you serve. Tune in and learn about effective marketing strategies, podcasting, financial management, email marketing, copywriting, sales, parenthood and entrepreneurship, and much more. Subscribe now and join us for this fun ride! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.