Empowering Authentic Growth: The Importance of Regularly Reevaluating Work Goals for Black Women, Femme and Nonbinary Creative Freelancers

In the ever-evolving landscape of creative freelancing, it’s essential for Black women, femmes, and nonbinary freelancers to stay agile and adaptive in pursuit of their professional goals. Too often, our professional development can stagnate if we do not intentionally take time to reflect on our work goals and make necessary adjustments. As we discuss in our book The Inside Scoop:​​ Working Differently as a Black Millennial Woman, cultivating an aligned professional journey often comes with unique challenges and opportunities that require a strategic approach. One powerful strategy that can foster success is periodically reevaluating work goals and breaking down long-term aspirations into manageable, time-bound phases. In this blog, we will explore why this practice is crucial and how it can empower growth and success.

The Evolving Nature of Creative Freelancing

Creative freelancers operate in a dynamic and constantly shifting environment. Industries such as art, design, writing, and entertainment are subject to trends, technologies, and societal changes that influence the demand for certain skills and services. For Black women, femmes and nonbinary creatives, these shifts may carry added layers of complexity as they navigate issues related to representation, bias, and the ills of late-stage capitalism. As a result, staying attuned to these changes is vital for not only surviving but thriving in the freelance world while maintaining one’s authenticity.

The Power of Periodic Reevaluation

Periodically reassessing work goals provides freelancers with an opportunity to take stock of their accomplishments, reassess their priorities, and realign their trajectories. This practice is particularly empowering for Black women and nonbinary creatives, as it enables them to confront any barriers or biases they may have encountered and strategize on ways to adjust their approach to finding additional clients or inviting more ease into ongoing projects. In addition, below are more benefits to periodic reevaluation:

Personal Growth

Reevaluation prompts self-reflection, allowing individuals to identify their strengths, areas for improvement, and personal development needs. This introspection helps creatives hone their skills and enhance their creative prowess.

Adaptation

Industries change rapidly, and creative freelancers must evolve with them. Regularly reassessing goals enables these individuals to adjust their focus to align with emerging trends, technologies, and demands.

Breaking Down Barriers

Reevaluating goals provides a chance to address challenges, confront bias head-on and make strides towards longer-term professional goals. Long-term aspirations can often feel overwhelming, especially when pursuing a multifaceted career as a creative freelancer. Breaking down these ambitions into time-bound phases creates a clear roadmap and prevents burnout. It also enables freelancers to celebrate incremental achievements along the way, boosting motivation and confidence.

Set Achievable Milestone

Establishing smaller, achievable goals within a larger framework encourages steady progress. These milestones act as building blocks, propelling Black women, femme and nonbinary creatives toward their overarching objectives.

Focusing on one phase at a time prevents overwhelm and allows freelancers to channel their energy and creativity more effectively.

Flexibility and Adaptability

Dividing long-term goals into phases provides room for adjustment as circumstances evolve. This flexibility helps freelancers remain resilient in the face of unexpected challenges.

Conclusion

In the world of creative freelancing, the journey to success is as unique as the individuals embarking on it. For Black women, femmes, and nonbinary creatives, periodic reevaluation of work goals and breaking down long-term aspirations into manageable phases is a powerful strategy. This practice fosters personal growth, adaptability, and resilience, enabling freelancers to navigate challenges, overcome bias, and thrive in an ever-changing landscape. By empowering themselves through intentional goal-setting and strategic planning, these creatives can forge their paths, leaving an indelible mark on the industries they serve.