2026 Goals: Half-Year Reflection

2026 Goals: Half-Year Reflection

by | Jul 15, 2026 | Blog, Resources

Every year I share my annual goals on the Harlow blog, and halfway through the year, I share my progress against those goals. It’s my way of looping you all into my personal approach to goal-setting, which hopefully inspires you to find your own formula for success. As a personal bonus, the extra accountability motivates me to stay growth-oriented too.

Revisiting my 2026 guiding word and phrase has been a good gut check. My guide words were “abundance” and “ease,” and my guiding phrase was that my life and business would feel “abundant, purposeful, and easeful, bringing me peace and confidence.”

Some of that has held true this year. Some of it hasn’t. And that’s the point of this exercise. I’ve had real wins, especially on the revenue side, and I’ve also let boundaries slip in ways I’m actively recalibrating. Let’s get into it.

    2026 GOALS

    HIGH-LEVEL GUIDE WORD(S): Abundance and Ease

    HIGH-LEVEL GUIDING PHRASE: My life and business will feel abundant, purposeful, and easeful, bringing me peace and confidence.

    PHYSICAL WELLNESS

    GUIDING PHRASE: I invest in myself and my wellness as a top priority over anything else. This fuels my energy to show up well holistically.

    3-5 GOALS:

    1. Monthly lymphatic facials.
    2. Monthly or bi-weekly massages.
    3. Movement of any kind 4-5 days/week. Leaving room for the way I want to move my body to shift by season.
    4. Incorporate strength training ongoing into my routine.
    5. Sauna 3x/week.

    HALF-YEAR UPDATE:

    1. Monthly lymphatic facials have been a consistent win. I found a trusted provider here in Coeur d’Alene, Raw Beauty, and I feel noticeably better every time I go.
    2. Massages have stayed consistent too, roughly monthly. I’ve also started planning activities with friends around wellness, which makes it easier to keep this one a priority instead of something that falls off.
    3. Movement 4-5 days a week has held steady. Some weeks that’s workout classes, some weeks it’s walks or other outdoor and sports activities. The consistency is there even when the format changes.
    4. Strength training was in my routine 1-2x/week until my gym recently shifted its offerings. It’s on my list to pivot, likely bringing in a personal instructor to get back on track.
    5. Sauna hasn’t hit the 3x/week target. I’ve landed closer to 1-2x/week consistently.

    MONEY

    GUIDING PHRASE: Money will come to me with abundance and ease. I know exactly how to make it and will double down on my levers.

    3-5 GOALS:

    1. Harlow revenue target: $Xk months by Q4
    2. Personal revenue target: $Xk total take home revenue (net minus business expenses).
    3. Savings target: Grow savings balance by $Xk
    4. Harlow business goals (sponsorships, coaching clients, job board income, non-service/media products, pay myself at least $Xk/mo by Q2)
    5. Consulting business goals: Consistently bring $Xk/mo
    6. Other revenue goals: rental income and compounding interest/money growth

    HALF-YEAR UPDATE:

    1. Harlow has already exceeded all of last year’s total revenue, in H1 alone. We’re up 46% over last year’s full-year number. I’m thrilled with the growth, and it’s clear certain products are really resonating in market right now.
    2. Personal revenue is hitting and exceeding target, though I’m constantly weighing the balance between reinvesting in the business and taking home income.
    3. I’m putting away at least $5K/mo into savings, and that steady habit is exactly what I was working toward.
    4. We’re hitting our Harlow business goals for certain products, particularly sponsorships and coaching. Others, like the job board and additional offerings, are still in early development and testing.
    5. I haven’t paid myself at the original rate from Harlow, but that’s intentional. We’ve prioritized reinvesting in the business over taking money out of it.
    6. Consulting is consistent and on track. Starting next month, I’ll actually exceed the monthly income I originally planned.
    7. Rental income has stayed consistent. Compounding interest has bounced around more, since it moves with the ups and downs of the market.

    WORK BOUNDARIES

    GUIDING PHRASE: I will deliver exceptional value without sacrificing my well-being.

    3-5 GOALS:

    1. Capped working hours (9am-4pm daily MAX capacity).
    2. No slack or email responses before or after working hours.
    3. No promise of delivery same or next day.
    4. Remove myself as a bottleneck from the team, so they don’t rely on me for same day review/feedback. Empower them to deliver and execute without my micro-management or nuanced guidance from me.

    HALF-YEAR UPDATE:

    1. Capped hours didn’t hold. We intentionally went into sprint mode for parts of Q1 and Q2 to build out Harlow, and that meant weeks at a time working late into the evening or early morning.
    2. Same story with Slack and email. I’ve fallen into checking both early and late, and I’m actively working on breaking that habit.
    3. I’m also still working on this one. I’ve promised 24-hour and quick turnarounds to consulting and coaching clients, and to my team, and I need to get out of that pattern.
    4. This is a real focus for me. I’m building out more SOPs, processes, and guides so the team doesn’t have to rely on me for same-day input. Some of this comes down to growth. Since I set these goals, our team has added four new teammates, I’ve brought on 15 new coaching clients, and I’ve picked up one new consulting client. Sticking to boundaries gets harder as the business and the people supporting it grow, and I’m working through what the new norm looks like. This is the section where I’ve drifted the most from where I set out to be, and writing this reflection on a Sunday while traveling is proof of that. But this is exactly what this exercise is for. It’s not about staying perfectly on track all year, it’s about noticing when you’ve fallen out of sync, recalibrating, and pivoting. That’s what H2 is for me on work boundaries.

    FUN

    GUIDING PHRASE: I find joy in activities, travel and experiences that fulfill different sides of me, from the indulgent to the creative.

    3-5 GOALS:

    1. Try 1-2 new or resurfaced hobbies monthly or bi-monthly.
    2. Take 10 trips this year, but limit back-to-back extensive travel.
    3. Buy an RV this summer/spring and explore the PNW!

    HALF-YEAR UPDATE:

    1. I haven’t tracked this one exactly, but hobbies have been more top of mind for me. I’ve been seeking out and organizing more creative outlets, more reflection, more things like sound baths and self-care. I might not be hitting the exact number, but the intention has resurfaced.
    2. I’ve been on a ton of trips this year, including Costa Rica, a New York road trip I’m on right now, San Diego, Carmel, and Monterey. I’ve been intentional about saving time and money for travel that actually fulfills me.
    3. Life shifted here. We’re gearing up for a move and selling our house, so the RV didn’t happen. But we’ve spent a lot of this spring/summer exploring the Pacific Northwest anyway — plenty of camping trips close to home, with more plans on the calendar for the rest of the summer.

    HALF-YEAR REFLECTION

    I’m ending H1 with a mix of pride and honesty. Harlow’s growth this year has exceeded what I set out to do, and that’s worth celebrating. Work boundaries are the piece I’m recalibrating hardest heading into H2, and I’m choosing to see that as useful information rather than a failure. That’s the whole point of checking in halfway through the year: You get to see clearly what’s working, what’s not, and where to redirect your energy for the second half.

    If revenue and business growth is where you’re recalibrating and focusing your energy for H2, we built something for exactly that. The Harlow Revenue Accelerator is a 13-week program for freelancers, founders, and creators who are ready to see real money hit their bank account. Over four modules, you’ll define or sharpen your offer, build a pricing strategy that supports growth, strengthen your brand presence, and put a client-getting system in place that actually works. It’s hands-on and cohort-based, with weekly teach, cowork, and share sessions to keep you moving and accountable.

    If that’s where you’re at, reserve your spot in the Revenue Accelerator here.

    I hope this exercise offers you some inspiration as you check in on your own goals, wherever you’re at with them. If you want a starting point, you can grab my annual reflection and goal-planning template and make it your own. There’s something grounding about putting pen to paper each year, both when you set the goals and when you come back to see how far you’ve come.

    Wishing you a fulfilling rest of your year!

    A Freelancer Survival Guide to Being Ghosted, Lowballed, and Overworked

    A Freelancer Survival Guide to Being Ghosted, Lowballed, and Overworked

    by | May 18, 2026 | Blog, Resources

    This is a guest post by freelance writer Marchelle Abrahams.

    Flexible working hours. Autonomy. Making boss moves. You thought freelancing would be fun until loyal clients turned into soul-eating baddies overnight.

    Regret keeps you awake. What if you returned to the 9-5 grind? What if this project falls through? What if…

    Hindsight is 20/20. So is taking stock of the things you can control.

    The gig economy is not for the faint-hearted, but giving up is not an option. Bills must be paid. Work must be delivered. Clients must be invoiced.

    Chin up. There’s a solution.

    When Clients Vanish Into Thin Air

    You send the proposal. You follow up. You take a stab at being proactive and start the work. Then… nothing. Silence.

    Yes, ghosting is annoying. It also disrupts cash flow and messes with your confidence. And unfortunately, it’s common. Forbes explains that unclear expectations and weak onboarding processes are mostly the culprits.

    Why it Happens

    • No formal agreement in place
    • Clients shopping around (and not telling you)
    • Lack of structured communication

    Worse, ghosting takes an emotional toll. Clients doing the vanishing act chip away at trust and motivation over time.

    Try This

    Build a tighter onboarding process. Don’t start work without a signed contract, a non-negotiable deposit, and clear timelines.

    Set communication checkpoints. Spell out when and how you’ll check in. No ambiguity means fewer disappearing acts.

    Use the “two follow-ups max” rule. Follow up twice. If there’s still silence, move on. Protect your energy.

    When ‘Budget Constraints’ Become Your Problem

    The classic: “We love your work, but our budget is…” followed by a number that makes you blink twice.

    Lowballing is everywhere. One Redditor says that a client tried to lowball them by framing it as “team values.” It’s a common tactic used by some companies. They offer you “full-time stability” to justify paying you less per hour.

    When it Happens

    • Clients don’t understand the value of your work
    • They’re testing your boundaries
    • You haven’t clearly positioned your pricing

    Undervaluing only works if you accept it. That sounds harsh, but it’s freeing. You’re not at the mercy of bad offers. You’re filtering for better ones.

    What You Can Do

    Anchor your pricing early. State your rates upfront. No dancing around it. Offer scoped alternatives. Instead of lowering your price, reduce the deliverables. Always practice saying no. This is a skill. And honestly, it’s one we struggle with the most.

    Another Skill Worth Mentioning

    While we’re on the topic of skills, now’s a good time to bring up freelancing attributes that are frequently overlooked. Managing clients. Setting boundaries. Navigating conflict. These are human challenges, not business ones.

    That’s why more freelancers are starting to look at structured ways to build these skills outside of their standard work. For example, Master’s of Social Work online programs focus heavily on communication, emotional intelligence, and boundary-setting. Hello! The exact skills freelancers use daily.

    Students prefer online MSW programs because they balance their professional and personal lives as they earn their Master of Social Work degree. The coursework concentrates on conflict resolution, discrimination, and advocacy work.

    For freelancers, an extra credential can be a safety net if projects dry up. You can even consider a career switch down the line once you complete this program.

    Learning About People

    Licensed independent social workers address human needs and advance social justice, says Cleveland State University. You might as well take a few pages from their coursework playbook.

    No, you don’t need to go back to school to survive freelancing. It does, however, highlight something important. The better you understand people (including yourself), the easier this gets.

    When Flexibility Turns Into Burnout

    Freelancing gives you control over your schedule… until the moment of clarity arrives.

    You say yes to everything. You juggle multiple clients. You’re working nights and weekends, wondering why you feel constantly drained.

    Burnout is real and rising. Overcommitment and lack of boundaries are the biggest drivers.

    Signs You’re Overworked

    • You dread opening your laptop
    • Small tasks feel overwhelming
    • You’re always “catching up” but never ahead

    Do This Instead

    Set capacity limits
    Know how many clients or projects you can realistically handle and stick to it.

    Create “off” hours (and honor them)
    No Slack. No emails. No “quick edits.”

    Build buffer time into deadlines
    Everything takes longer than you think. Plan for that.

    You’re Running a Business, Not Chasing Approval

    Ghosting, lowballing, and overworking all have one thing in common: They thrive when boundaries are unclear.

    The moment you start treating your freelance work like a business with systems, standards, and self-respect, everything shifts.

    Will bad clients disappear overnight? Nope. Will you handle them differently? Absolutely. This time, you have emotional resilience on your side. And that mindset can help you reframe any tough situation.

    2026 Goals: My path for the next year

    2026 Goals: My path for the next year

    by | Jan 16, 2026 | Blog, Resources

    As 2025 drew to a close, I found myself reflecting on a year of tremendous expansion. I launched new programs, deepened my coaching practice, explored new places, and built a business that felt genuinely sustainable. But alongside this growth came important lessons about boundaries, presence, and the difference between productive momentum and perpetual busyness.

    With these insights fresh, I greeted 2026 with a clear intention: to cultivate abundance and ease. I identified five core areas to anchor my vision: physical wellness, personal growth, money, work boundaries, and fun. I spent intentional time crafting goals that would allow my business to flourish without sacrificing my wellbeing, and my personal life to feel purposeful beyond my professional success.

    This annual ritual has consistently shaped my trajectory. I’m sharing my process and goals with the hope of inspiring you to find alignment as you step into the new year too.

    Below, you can read my 2025 reflections and my vision for the year to come. If you want to go through this process on your own, you can start with the clean template here.

    2025 Reflections

    1. What did you love about 2025?

    • It was a tremendous year of growth for Harlow. We launched, tested, iterated, and found a number of revenue channels that resonated with our audience — really promising long-term opportunities.
    • I ventured out on my own in the consulting world. (I’d previously been doing co-projects as a boutique agency.) I made a huge impact on each of my clients’ businesses and I felt really valued by them.
    • I launched my coaching business (under the Harlow umbrella) and felt the right fit calling right away.
    • I helped my coaching clients collectively make hundreds of thousands of dollars more in 2025 and build businesses that are truly sustainable.
    • I got super comfortable and confident with both coaching and leading events, two muscles I was training and growing.
    • I experienced a ton of new places and indulged in a lot of travel and experiences.
    • I felt like I truly made the most of every season in its own way.
    • I sustained close-knit relationships with my friends, family, and partner, and I felt like I showed up well for the people who mean the most.

    2. What made you feel good in 2025?

    • Feeling like I was truly impacting people’s lives through my work.
    • Leaning into the control I had over making things happen.
    • Meeting so many incredible ambitious women (and men) in adjacent industries and taking inspiration from them.
    • Feeling overall less apologetic and more confident in who I am and how I show up at work and in my personal life.
    • I took running back up and felt REALLY accomplished for the month or two when I was consistent (then winter hit).
    • Letting go of fear of judgment or criticism. External voices don’t matter if I know I’m on the right track. Negative emails, social comments, stories in real life coming back to me. None of it matters.

    3. What did you struggle with in 2025?

    • Stacked business calendar. Too many meetings, not enough time to be creative and strategic.
    • Overdelivering. I launched so many new programs and I put extra pressure on myself to act quickly.
    • Too much busyness. Back-to-back trips, stacked social calendar… I needed more time to breathe and reflect and just be me.
    • Saving. I felt compelled to spend on support, life, trips, etc. which felt right at the time, but I would like to see my compound net worth grow.

    4. Which decisions had positive impacts?

    • To try new things and launch new programs!
    • To experience new places, cultures, and cuisine.
    • To break co-dependency and launch programs and revenue streams independently.
    • This sounds contradictory, but it’s not. 🙂 To hire a coach and thought partner and bring on the right support (subcontracting, EA, Harlow team members).
    • To create a more in-depth business and income tracker to understand all of my business and expenses in depth, as well as my levers.

    5. Which decisions steered me off course?

    • Opening up my calendar too much.
    • Being too available for consulting and coaching clients. Felt the pressure to respond outside of working hours and/or to last minute requests.
    • Not packaging up more scalable offers for our audience. I did a lot of one-off and service-based delivery, which meant a constant cycle of creating, doing, and drumming up new interest.
    • A lot of phone and screen time when I could have been more present.
    • Prioritizing work over self-care. My workout routine and self-care appointments were prioritized after everything else.

    6. What do I want to take with me from this year?

    • Expansion and growth. More revenue, more programs, more impact delivered.
    • Better understanding of my businesses and the levers I can pull.
    • Faith in my abilities to grow and deliver value and impact across my business and personal life without overdelivering.
    • Joy in travel and experiences.

    7. What am I ready to let go of?

    • Being too booked (work-wise and socially).
    • Starting my days off with checking in on work/clients.
    • The urge to overdeliver.
    • Any self-doubt or scarcity mindset that sneaks in.

    2026 HIGH LEVEL:

    What do I want the next year of my life to look like?

    I want the next year of my life to feel strategic, easeful, calm, and controlled. I want my business to flow with ease and abundance. I want my personal life to feel purposeful. I want my relationship with myself to strengthen and my understanding and acceptance of self to flourish.

    2026 GOALS:

    HIGH-LEVEL GUIDE WORD(S): Abundance and Ease

    HIGH-LEVEL GUIDING PHRASE: My life and business will feel abundant, purposeful, and easeful, bringing me peace and confidence.

    PHYSICAL WELLNESS

    GUIDING PHRASE: I invest in myself and my wellness as a top priority over anything else. This fuels my energy to show up well holistically.

    3-5 GOALS:

    1. Monthly lymphatic facials.
    2. Monthly or bi-weekly massages.
    3. Movement of any kind 4-5 days/week. Leaving room for the way I want to move my body to shift by season.
    4. Incorporate strength training ongoing into my routine.
    5. Sauna 3x/week.

    MONEY

    GUIDING PHRASE: Money will come to me with abundance and ease. I know exactly how to make it and will double down on my levers.

    3-5 GOALS:

    1. Harlow revenue target: $Xk months by Q4
    2. Personal revenue target: $Xk total take home revenue (net minus business expenses).
    3. Savings target: Grow savings balance by $Xk
    4. Harlow business goals:
      1. $Xk of sponsorships bookings/month ($Xk annually)
        1. Sell bigger sponsorship packages
        2. Lock in long-term contracts
        3. Deliver BIG strategic value for sponsorship partners
        4. Leave room for one-off and smaller partnership only to fill gaps/create long-term relationships
        5. Fill content calendar gaps with strategic referral/affiliate partnerships
      2. $Xk of coaching clients/month ($Xk annually)
        1. ~10-15 clients/month ongoing on retainer
        2. Allow for one-off sessions still as intros only
        3. Use targeted events to lock in new cohorts of coaching clients
        4. Experiment with group coaching components
        5. Continue to deliver top-notch support for coaching clients.
      3. $Xk of job board income/month ($X,000)
        1. Sell white label hiring services
        2. Experiment with other offers/price points/value props.
        3. Deliver more value to the freelancer through strategic and higher paying roles.
      4. $Xk of non-service/media products sold/month ($Xk annually)
        1. Grow product revenue to $Xk/month
        2. Grow Freelance Kickstarter Course to $Xk/month
        3. Experiment with a second course or additional offers.
      5. Pay myself AT LEAST $Xk/mo by Q2 (coaching + revenue distributions)
    5. Consulting business goals:
      1. Consistently bring $Xk-$Xk/mo in through consulting ($Xk+ annually)
        1. Maintain current clients.
        2. Potentially bring on a 3rd smaller client.
    6. Other revenue goals:
      1. Rental income: $Xk annual
      2. Compounding interest/money growth: $Xk annual

    I keep my income goals hidden in this specific post, but I’m happy to discuss them directly if you’re curious! For the record, I’m pro-sharing income reflections and transparency, especially as women and regularly share income updates on social media.

    WORK BOUNDARIES

    GUIDING PHRASE: I will deliver exceptional value without sacrificing my well-being.

    3-5 GOALS:

    1. Capped working hours (9am-4pm daily MAX capacity).
    2. No slack or email responses before or after working hours.
    3. No promise of delivery same or next day.
    4. Remove myself as a bottleneck from the team, so they don’t rely on me for same day review/feedback. Empower them to deliver and execute without my micro-management or nuanced guidance from me.

    FUN

    GUIDING PHRASE: I find joy in activities, travel and experiences that fulfill different sides of me, from the indulgent to the creative.

    3-5 GOALS:

    1. Try 1-2 new or resurfaced hobbies monthly or bi-monthly.
    2. Take 10 trips this year, but limit back-to-back extensive travel.
    3. Buy an RV this summer/spring and explore the PNW!

    ACCOUNTABILITY:

    PRINT THIS OUT AND PUT IN OFFICE
    REFLECT BACK BIWEEKLY OR MONTHLY TO ASSESS PROGRESS

    Read my 2025 full reflection here.

    How to Build a Portfolio When Your Best Wins Are Locked by NDAs

    How to Build a Portfolio When Your Best Wins Are Locked by NDAs

    by | Jan 5, 2026 | Blog, Resources

    This is a post by Flowlu, a business management platform that helps freelancers streamline work.

    You know that feeling — the feeling of wrapping up the biggest project in your career. Maybe you ghostwrote a biography for an up-and-coming tech executive, built the backend for a novel AI app, or designed a slide deck for a Fortune 500 company.

    Exhilarating. Shouting from the rooftops wouldn’t be enough.

    But you can’t even do that. Because on Day 1, you signed a scary-looking non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

    This is an ultimate Catch-22 for freelancers. To get high-level clients, you have to prove you’ve done work of this caliber. But the high-level clients are the ones that forbid you from showing it.

    So, do you leave your portfolio blank? Do you promise you’re “really good” and hope prospects trust you on that?

    No. You build a shadow portfolio.

    What is a Shadow Portfolio?

    Unlike a traditional portfolio, which capitalizes on big brand names to establish credibility (e.g., Look, I worked for Google, IBM, Amazon…), a shadow portfolio swears by actual execution and impressive results.

    It’s a curated collection of work that has been sanitized, anonymized, or physically separated from public scrutiny. While a normal portfolio is to be shared, a shadow portfolio is to be verified.

    It separates your skill from your clients.

    A shadow portfolio typically lives in three places:

    1. On your website, as redacted case studies.
    2. In a secure vault, as unredacted files shared privately.
    3. In your internal storage, as raw data for your own reference.

    Think of your shadow portfolio as an “acoustic version” of your career: no brand logos, no gloss, just your work, the decisions behind it, and the impact.

    But before you start building your shadow portfolio, you need to understand what you’re going up against.

    3 Types of Freelancer NDAs

    Not all non-disclosure agreements are created equal.

    In the freelancing world, NDAs usually fall into three classes:

    1. Lockdown: You cannot mention the client’s name, the fact that the project exists, or that you even know them. (This is common with white-label agencies and ghostwriting gigs.)
    2. Secret: You can say you worked with the client, but you cannot share specific revenue numbers, proprietary lines of code, or internal documentation.
    3. Embargo: You can share everything, but only after the product/project has been publicly launched.

    Actionable tip: Go back and re-read your contract. Search for the “Definition of Confidential Information” clause. Does it explicitly ban sharing everything, or “just proprietary data”? If it’s the latter, you have much more wiggle room than you think.

    The Value of Confidential Work

    It’s easy to feel resentful towards an NDA. After all, you do all the work, but get none of the glory.

    Yet, there is unmistakable power in an NDA; it’s a status symbol.

    Entry-level clients rarely ask for NDAs. High-tier clients (enterprise tech companies, major agencies, established influencers) almost always do.

    Having a shadow portfolio signals to your future clients that you are trusted by the big players.

    When you present redacted work correctly, you trigger the “velvet rope effect.” The fact that you can’t show the details makes your expertise even more exclusive. You aren’t hiding the full results because they’re embarrassing; you’re hiding what’s really important.

    4 Ways to Showcase NDA Projects

    How to leverage exclusivity without breaking the law?

    Here are four strategies to help you build your shadow portfolio.

    1. The “Redacted” Case Study

    Best used by marketers, copywriters, strategists

    When you can’t show the who, you must go all-in on the what and the how.

    Potential clients don’t care about seeing an instantly recognizable logo on your past work. They do care about the results you achieved. You can usually discuss the nature of your work and its outcomes within legal boundaries. That is as long as the client remains unidentifiable.

    Write a case study using the “Category + Problem” formula as a substitute for the client’s name.

    • Don’t say: “How I helped Nike launch their new running shoe.”
    • Do say: “How I helped a global athletic brand launch a new product line.”

    Here’s an example:

    1. Client: Series B fintech startup (anonymous).
    2. Problem: User churn was high because onboarding emails were confusing to read.
    3. Solution: I rewrote a 5-part email sequence focusing on value and practical application.
    4. Result: Open rates increased by 40% and user retention improved by 15%.

    With redacted case studies, numbers are your best friends. “Increased revenue by $20k” is a powerful stat that generally violates no IP rights if the company isn’t named.

    2. The Visual Remix

    Best used by UI/UX designers and developers

    For projects that entail visuals, a text-based case study simply won’t do. Your prospects want to see your style.

    This is where the idea of a visual remix comes in. Retain the structure, the code, or the layout, but strip away the branding. You are showing off your process and your thinking behind it, which is what clients are actually hiring you for.

    How to do a visual remix: Take the work you did for the client and “white-label” it.

    • Designers: Keep the wireframe and the UX flow, but swap the client’s hex codes for grayscale or a generic palette. Replace logos with placeholders and swap specific product photos for abstract shapes or stock photography.
    • Developers: Build a stripped demo. Replicate the core logic in a new repo using dummy data. Host this version on a private link to prove the functionality works without exposing proprietary code or data.

    3. The Private Vault

    Best used for high-ticket sales and closing moves

    There is a massive legal difference between posting about a project on social media (public) and showing it to a single prospect in a secure, controlled environment (private).

    Many NDAs are designed for the purpose of preventing harm to the client’s good name or leaking trade secrets to the masses. Depending on your contract terms, they aren’t always meant to stop you from privately proving you can do the job to a specific person during a vetting process.

    What can you do: Create a secure online environment to view your work.

    Instead of sending an email with multiple sensitive PDF attachments (which can be forwarded to anyone), use Flowlu’s Client Portals to set up a protected, branded viewing room for your projects.

    How to set it up in Flowlu:

    1. Brand the Experience: Go to Portal Settings > Branding and customize the login page with your logo and brand colors to make the vault look like a proprietary internal tool, adding to the air of exclusivity.
    2. Lock Down Permissions: Switch to Client Portal > External User Roles to configure access permissions to the Knowledge Base, while denying access to tasks, finance, or CRM data to keep your business private.
    3. Build Your “Wins Wiki”: Create a new Knowledge Base and treat it like a blog. The editor is flexible (think Notion-style), allowing you to embed video walkthroughs, insert data tables for ROI metrics, add images, and format to create a rich, immersive case study.
    4. Invite the Prospect: Add the prospect as an External User and assign them to only that specific Knowledge Base. They will receive a secure login link, giving them instant access.

    When you pitch the new client, say this:

    “I have extensive experience in [Your Industry]. However, due to the nature of strict confidentiality agreements with my past clients, I can’t share the work samples publicly. I’ve created a private, secure client portal where you can view relevant case studies. Here’s your unique access link…”

    4. The Retroactive Ask

    Best used by every freelancer

    Freelancers assume an NDA is a door closed tight. Intimidating and impenetrable.

    In reality, it is often just a boilerplate document the HR department sent over to cover their bases.

    If you parted on good terms, the client might be happy to let you feature the work. All you need to do is ask.

    Actionable tip: Don’t ask for permission to show everything. Ask to showcase a sanitized version.

    Start by writing an email that puts the client at ease by instilling a sense of control. Say that you will anonymize the data and show them the final version before it goes live.

    By minimizing risks for your clients, you increase the chance of a “Yes” in reply.

    Copy-paste email template:

    Hi [Client Name],

    It was a blast working with you on [Project]. I’m reaching out to say that I’m updating my portfolio and would love to feature a snapshot of the work we did.

    I fully respect the confidentiality agreement we’ve signed. Would you be open to me sharing [blurred out sensitive data / replaced dummy data / sanitized screenshot] just to showcase the style of the work?

    I will send a draft of exactly what I’d share for your approval before it goes live.

    Best,
    [Your Name]

    You’d be surprised how many clients will reply, “Sure, why not, only blur out the revenue numbers.”

    Win Clients With Your Hidden Work

    Clients want to minimize risks to their business. Don’t let them erase all of your hard work.

    Your portfolio is the only proof you have of being as good as you say you are.

    The next time you land a big client with an intimidating NDA, don’t panic.

    • If you can’t show the Logo, show the Layout.
    • If you can’t show the Name, show the Numbers.
    • If you can’t show in Public, show via the Private Vault.

    Shine a light on your “invisible” work and make it into your strongest selling point. Build your shadow portfolio today, so the next time a lead asks for proof, you just send a link.

    2025 Goals: End-of-Year Reflection

    2025 Goals: End-of-Year Reflection

    by | Dec 24, 2025 | Blog, Resources

    Every year I share my annual goals on the Harlow blog, and at the end of the year, I share my progress against those goals. It’s my way of looping you into my personal approach to goal-setting, with hopes to inspire you to find your own formula for success. As a personal bonus, the extra accountability motivates me to stay growth-oriented too.

    Looking back at 2025, I’m genuinely proud of what I accomplished. Here are some highlights:

    • Hit 79% of my revenue goal (made a strategic decision to miss)
    • Achieved all of Harlow’s revenue targets
    • Worked with two incredible coaches who helped me stay aligned
    • Launched events that brought together almost 1.5k registrants
    • Grew our newsletter list by 65%
    • Expanded our social following by 47%
    • Traveled to 12 new places across three new countries

    Where I fell short (strength training consistency, savings goals, and some audience growth targets), I’m thinking about refocusing in 2026. And for goals that no longer serve my bigger vision, I’m giving myself permission to let them go.

    My process is simple:

    1. Reflect on where I was in relation to my goals.
    2. Do some deep higher-level reflections on what worked and what didn’t.
    3. Build my actual goals and plan for the year ahead.

    This year, we’re making space for our crew to do exactly that in real time. Join us for our free Goal Setting Workshop on January 15, 2026 at 10am PT. In 90 minutes, you’ll walk away with a structured framework to actualize your dreams, crystal-clear priorities for your business and your life, and a proven process for turning “someday” into specific, achievable outcomes.

    I’ll share my own 2026 goals built using this exact framework, and you’ll get dedicated time to work through yours alongside ambitious people who refuse to choose between professional success and personal wellbeing.

    Register here!

    Now for the specifics on each of my goals:

    2025 Goals

    High-Level Guiding Word(s): manifestation & self-empowerment

    High-Level Guiding Phrase: If I want it, I can make it happen. I am in charge of my success physically, mentally, and financially.

    Personal Wellness

    Guiding Phrase: Treat my body well, and create the right spaces for me to thrive mentally and physically.

    3-5 Goals:

    1. Continue to go to 3-5 workout classes per week.
    2. Build strength training into my fitness routine at least 1x/week.
    3. Invest in at least one wellness home project to bring calm into my space (sauna, hot tub, cold plunge, new bath, etc.).
    4. Fuel my body better. Be intentional with the meals I’m eating and the alcohol I’m consuming, but leave space for experiences and enjoying myself.
    5. Spend more time taking in nature (walks to the water, hanging out outside).

    End-of-Year Update:

    1. I started the year strong with 3-5 classes per week. Then sustained a back injury late spring that threw me out of my routine. Since then I’ve been walking, running, hiking and doing other activities that have been aimed at staying active. I am, however, ready to get back into guided fitness and more intensity in the new year. I am currently searching for group classes at the right class time (both my studios removed the times that work for me!).
    2. Related to the first, this got dropped. And I know every year I get older it becomes more and more important to stay consistent here, so I am bringing this back to the top of my list as we go into 2026.
    3. As I am typing this, I am going into another tab to press purchase on the sauna I’ve been looking at all year! Merry Christmas to me. 🙂
    4. I think I’ve toed this line very well. I am lucky to have a partner who makes our house a haven for healthy home-cooked meals, while having plenty of space and opportunity to enjoy myself and indulge while out and socializing!
    5. I spent a ton of time outside this year, running, walking, hiking. I even downloaded Strava to track it all.

    Relationships

    Guiding Phrase: Protect my energy, while better supporting those closest to me.

    3-5 Goals:

    1. Protect my time and energy better. Say no more often.
    2. Make the people closest to me feel like we’re on the same team, and like they are supported.
    3. Release the desire to control other’s narratives.
    4. Continue to set healthy boundaries with friends and family, based on my own needs.

    End-of-Year Update:

    1. It may sound flaky, but I’ve been the queen of saying no, cancelling if my energy isn’t up for the event, pushing out non-priority meetings. I’ve been much better at putting myself and my wellness and priorities first.
    2. I genuinely hope that the people closest to me have felt support. I will check in to verify. 😉
    3. I am all in on this one. I don’t correct narratives, give them space in my head, or genuinely care what other people think or say about me as I grow, build, and set boundaries.
    4. Check and check. I’m more forthcoming about my own needs and what I will and will not stand for than I’ve ever been. Big win.

    Money

    Guiding Phrase: Get more creative and focused with the ways I’m generating revenue for Harlow and my consulting business. Make it a year of big outcomes. Save to fund future projects and initiatives.

    3-5 Goals:

    1. Hit $Xk annual income through all revenue streams.
    2. Bring on a certified coach(s) to help support me as I build my plan for meeting my financial goals. This will help me add another layer of accountability and keep me in an abundance mindset.
    3. Diversify the ways we’re helping people at Harlow and double down on the ways that are working.
      1. Launch Harlow events to help freelancers more confidently run their businesses.
      2. Launch Harlow “Freelance Kickstarter Package” to help freelancers launch their businesses. 
      3. Continue expanding and improving the ways we help freelancers land new clients.
      4. Broaden our owned audience. 
        1. Grow newsletter list from 6.7k to 25k.
      5. Broaden reach on social media. 
        1. Grow personal and Harlow social following from 35k to 75k. 
      6. Grow Harlow’s annual revenue to X. 
    4. Redefine my consulting positioning and the type of projects I’m interested in taking on.
      1. Take on more independent projects. Ideas: office hours, smaller focused projects, teaching or speaking opportunities.
    5. Put $X into savings.

    End-of-Year Update:

    1. I made it 79% to my overall revenue goal this year (consulting, coaching, rent, interest on existing money, Harlow, sponsorships). My miss on revenue was actually a strategic decision to scale down my consulting business by one client, so I could focus more on the long-term growth of Harlow. And I’m comfortable and confident in that, because I can say that we met ALL of our Harlow revenue goals this year! Much of which we re-invested back into the business for growth.
    2. I worked with 2 different coaches this year. A one-off session with Jenni Gritters on event marketing early in the year, and an ongoing retainer with Robyn MacNeill for 9 months of the year. Both were instrumental in helping me reach my goals, shift my focus, and become more aligned.
    3. Diversify the ways we’re helping people at Harlow and double down on the ways that are working.
      1. Events: We launched events in 2025, and hosted 7 different events for our crew. With almost 1.5k registrants!
      2. Kickstarter campaign: We didn’t officially launch, but surprise! This is in motion. Stay tuned for more details. 😉
      3. Helping freelancers land new clients: We actually hired someone to come in and rev up the job board! In 2026 expect better job postings, higher rates, and more opportunities for you to get connected with the right fit clients! PLUS we launched our Growth Accelerator program to give freelanders and founders 1:1 support to reach their revenue goals. I helped 35+ people put more money in their pockets, while building lives they truly enjoyed living.
      4. Broaden our owned audience: Our goal was to get to 25k subscribers this year, from 6.7k at the end of last. While we didn’t make it, we did end at 11k subscribers at the end of the year. That’s ~65% growth!
      5. Broaden reach on social media: Our goal was to get from 35k to 75k followers on social. While we didn’t get to 75k, we did end with 51,667 followers across channels. That’s 47% growth!
      6. And I am extra, extra pleased to say that we hit Harlow’s revenue number, almost exactly! A big year of growth for us that stemmed from doubling down on sponsorships, events, and our growth accelerator.
    4. I shifted my consulting strategy this year to focus on solo projects. (I was involved in a lot of dual consulting projects with my business partner Andrea prior). I’m serving as a fractional GTM Lead at an early stage company called Olomon, and helping to lead special projects at an enterprise company called New Relic. It’s the perfect mixture for me. I absolutely love the clients I’m working with and the skillset I’m able to flex.
    5. Transparently, I missed my saving goals this year, and a lot of that stems from investing back into my business. I made a conscious decision to invest in long-term growth, for greater revenue and returns long-term that will help me fuel that savings later!

    Fun

    Guiding Phrase: Be intentional with my travel, activities and energy.

    3-5 Goals:

    1. Visit 5 new places.
    2. Visit two new countries.
    3. Take at least two true vacations where relaxation is prioritized.
    4. Prioritize time visiting nostalgic cities and seeing out-of-town friends and family.
    5. Say no to more events, trips, and outings that don’t feel exciting or energizing.

    End-of-Year Update:

    1. Knocked this one out of the park. 😉 All the new places I visited this year: Monterey & Carmel, California; Saulita, Mexico; Barcelona, Spain; Cassis, France; Siena, Pienza & Montepulciano, Italy; Republic, Washington; Seaside, Coos Bay & Astoria, Oregon; Kaui, Hawaii; Belize City & San Pedro, Belize. Wowza, it was a fun year.
    2. Spain, France & Belize were all new countries for me. Check, check, check.
    3. Two true vacations — check, check. Hawaii and Belize!
    4. Visited a lot of nostalgic cities to see friends and explore the familiar too! Seattle, San Diego, Las Vegas, Whitefish, Park City, New York, Chicago, New Orleans, Napa, Florence — all repeat.
    5. While I did A LOT this year, I also did most of it on my terms. I opted out of the things that weren’t the right fit and leaned into the things I truly wanted to experience.

    End-of-Year Reflection

    Revisiting my 2025 goals reminds me why this annual exercise matters. I came farther than I expected in most areas, fell short in others, and made intentional choices to deprioritize what no longer served my bigger vision. That’s exactly what this process is supposed to help you do: create space to assess what’s working, adjust what isn’t, and celebrate the progress you’ve made along the way.

    If you’re tired of reaching December in the same place you were last January, join me for the free Goal Setting Workshop on January 15, 2026 at 10am PT. This isn’t another goal-setting session where you write down aspirations you’ll forget by February. This is about bridging the gap between where you are now and where you actually want to be.

    I’ll guide you through this exact framework that’s helped me and hundreds of others turn ambitious goals into lived experiences, and you’ll leave with clarity, not just ideas.

    Register here!

    And if you want ongoing support and accountability to actually achieve those goals throughout the year, consider joining the Goal Accelerator cohort starting February 2, 2026. The free workshop gives you clarity on your vision. The Goal Accelerator is where you build the tactical plan to actually move the needle and stay accountable to your plan. With only 10 spots available and priority given to early waitlist members, now is the time to secure your place.

    Learn more and join the waitlist here!

    Wishing you a purposeful and aligned 2026!

    How I Stopped Letting Personal Tasks Drain My Founder Energy

    How I Stopped Letting Personal Tasks Drain My Founder Energy

    by | Nov 10, 2025 | Blog, Resources

    A note before you read: Duckbill sponsored this post, but everything you’re about to read is my genuine experience using their platform. They didn’t tell me what to write. This is what happened when I found a solution that actually worked.

    You know what never made it to my calendar, but always loomed in the back of my mind?

    The shoulds. The tasks that weren’t hard exactly… just draining. Unclear. Easy to postpone. Zero joy sparked.

    I’d built a lean, powerful team to help run my business. Freelancers to support with marketing, sponsorships, design and development. I had support across the board, people to delegate to — for work.

    But the personal stuff… my life? That sat squarely on my shoulders.

    Managing personal tasks was a chronic stressor

    Take this one example: After my divorce, I had an engagement ring sitting in my jewelry box. I knew I should sell it. But every time I saw “research ring buyers” on my to-do list, I’d immediately find something else that felt more urgent.

    Do I go to a local jeweler? Sell online? What’s it even worth? Just figuring it out would take hours — comparing options, reading reviews, deciding on fair pricing — and so, I’d punt it to tomorrow. Again. And again.

    Same with the old iPhone I never traded in. It lived in a drawer while “figure out trade-in” migrated from Monday to Tuesday to next week. A friend’s baby shower would be coming up and “order gift and send” would keep getting bumped until it was two days before, and I’d scramble for something that could arrive in time.

    It became a pattern.

    These weren’t five-minute tasks. They required thought, research, coordination. But I always felt like there was a higher-value way I could be spending my time, so they’d get pushed to another day.

    The irony wasn’t lost on me. I’m great at systems. I run a business built on focus and flow. But when it came to personal admin, I couldn’t get out of the procrastination spiral.

    So what changed?

    There wasn’t one breaking point. Just a slow realization that these undone tasks were costing me. Not just time, but energy. Mental clutter. Low-grade guilt.

    I kept thinking, “I should be able to handle this.” I’d feel silly asking someone else to make a phone call or do research. Wouldn’t that make me… lazy?

    That internal dialogue lasted longer than it should have. Because the truth is, your time as a founder — as a person — is finite. Just because I could do it didn’t mean I should.

    I heard about Duckbill and was intrigued. Could an AI-led system (even with human backup) actually take something off my plate without me having to manage it?

    But I tried it. And I was blown away.

    Duckbill is ridiculously good at asking the right questions up front. They make it easy to get a task moving, without me having to over-explain. They’ll present options when I need to make a decision, or just handle it when I don’t. And when real humans are needed, they step in seamlessly — like calling spas to check appointment times. It’s shockingly effective.

    The biggest surprise was realizing these tasks didn’t actually require me. They just needed someone (or something) to extract the right info, make smart choices, and follow through. Duckbill nailed that.

    Here’s a peek at what I’ve delegated recently

    • Find a pharmacy that ships my birth control to my door
    • Book couples massages for an upcoming trip
    • Research jazz clubs in NYC
    • Make dinner reservations
    • Schedule carpet cleaning
    • Book a dental cleaning for my dog

    It’s all the stuff that eats up time and mental space. And now? It’s just… handled.

    The cherry on top? Duckbill has made me money and paid for itself tenfold.

    That ring I couldn’t bring myself to sell? Duckbill helped me list it and close the sale. Same with that iPhone collecting dust. Between the two, I made more than I’ll spend on Duckbill in a year, maybe in five years, seven years.

    That’s not even counting the time savings or the mental lift. For anything with real value — jewelry, electronics, sanity — Duckbill turns what would’ve been hours of work into actual ROI.

    What I tell people now

    I’ve been recommending Duckbill nonstop. I tell other founders it’s like having an incredibly capable assistant who can handle everything from tiny admin to surprisingly complex projects.

    It’s booked hard-to-get reservations. It’s brokered deals. It’s taken both the mundane and the meaningful off my plate.

    If you’re someone with a never-ending list — whether you’re running a business, managing a household, or just trying to be a functional adult — Duckbill is the support you didn’t know you could have.

    My delegation mantra

    When in doubt, delegate.

    Before Duckbill, I was buried in low-grade to-dos that pulled me away from high-leverage work and actual life.

    Now I’m focused. Energized. Back to doing what I do best, and letting go of the rest.