C.J. Hayden

What you write or say to attract clients must apply to both your audience and what you're trying to sell. True for social media; true for blog/Substack posts.

To Get More Clients, Get R.E.A.L. - C.J. Hayden One of the ways I help self-employed professionals and creatives build their businesses is with writing — blog or Substack posts, byline articles, ebooks, and more. To explain to them the type of editorial content self-employed pros need to write in order to attract and land clients, I coined a ne...

Forget about the first step. It's often much easier to start in the middle.

Finding It Hard to Begin a Project? Start in the Middle. - C.J. Hayden One of the most painful moments for any self-employed professional or creative is staring at a blank page or screen, trying to figure out where to begin a project. Robert M. Pirsig, in his classic Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, gave practical advice about this common dilemma: “Your min...

Every one of the original Get Clients Now! strategies is still relevant - and effective - to get clients today. Why? Read this.

Why the Get Clients Now! System Still Works - Get Clients Now! Readers and students who are thinking about dusting off their Get Clients Now! book and working the program again often ask me: “Is the Get Clients Now! system still effective now that so much business development takes place online?” My answer is a firm yes. But I can understand why they ask. I...

Self-doubt is an inevitable part of creativity. Writers, regardless of their experience or success, grapple with questions like, "Is this good enough?" But you can work with that.

Self-Doubt? Write It Out! - C.J. Hayden Joanna Penn is the author of more than forty books, including The Successful Author Mindset. But she has doubts about her writing. I’ve written eight books, dozens of magazine articles, and hundreds of blog posts. And I have doubts about my writing. Both Joanna and I are perfectly normal writers. ...

Next Friday is Get It Written Day! Join us Apr 10 and get your stuff (blog, Substack, book, course, etc.) written.

Get It Written Day - C.J. Hayden Get It Written Day Whatever You Have to Write… …Let’s Write It Together! Day-Long Virtual Writing Retreats for Self-Employed Professionals and Creatives with C.J. Hayden Next Retreat: Friday, Apr 10, 2026 9:00 AM-4:00 PM either Pacific OR Eastern Two separate groups are available; one for each...

"I've gotten to the point where I've felt so exhausted, so stupid, so humiliated that I wanted to quit… when you reach this point, you're close to a breakthrough. Push through. You can do it."

Breakdowns Can Lead to Breakthroughs - C.J. Hayden The worst thing that can happen when a self-employed professional or creative is working on an important project — like a book, a course, a design, a website, or a report — is a breakdown. An essential resource is suddenly unavailable. One of your key concepts turns out to be unworkable. Someone...

Yikes! It's the last day of the 1st quarter of 2026. Are your planned projects for the year 25% done? I know mine aren't.

The activities which produce the best results can also be scary, difficult, or distasteful. But you can overcome this.

How Easy Can Marketing Be? - Get Clients Now! I often speak to groups of self-employed professionals and creatives about what works and what doesn't to get clients. We talk about the effectiveness of active, relationship-oriented strategies like networking online and in person, building referral partnerships, speaking to groups of potential cli...

It's completely normal to have dragons show up around many aspects of building your business.

Slay Your Productivity Dragons - C.J. Hayden They lie in wait for you when you least expect them — the productivity dragons of fear, resistance and procrastination. Just when you think you’ve defeated them at last, they rear their ugly heads again. What’s a self-employed professional or creative to do? First of all, don’t panic, despai...

"Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on." ~ Louis L'Amour

Neuroscientists say that when you repeatedly perform an action, your brain develops connections that link that action to any related skills. Taking advantage of this can help you become a more productive writer.

Muscle Memory to the Writer's Rescue - C.J. Hayden As a self-employed professional or creative, it’s likely that some sort of writing is frequently on your to-do list. But we all have days when getting started on a writing project seems impossible. It can happen when you’re tired or stressed. Or when your brain is full of other priorities. You m...

Do you sometimes think about giving up your business and getting a job? Maybe you're not waiting long enough for the miracle.

Don't Give Up Marketing Before the Miracle - C.J. Hayden “It’s just not working,” my client said dejectedly. “I’ve been doing exactly what the experts say –- expanding my network, asking for referrals, following up, but I still have only a handful of clients. I’m thinking about giving up and getting a job.” “When did you start doing this...