Hey friend,

Are you the person everyone calls when they need something done… but never when they’re deciding what to do?

This week is about stepping off the execution hamster wheel and into a role with real leverage. The kind where clients ask your opinion before they move. Where influence replaces urgency. Where autonomy (and better money) follows.

Remote work actually gives you an edge here. When face time disappears, insight becomes the currency.

You’re too sharp to stay stuck checking boxes.

— Ric & Shellie

P.S. Know someone ready to move from task-taker to trusted advisor? Share this with them. 🙌🏼

CAREER ADVANCEMENT

From Task-Taker to Trusted Advisor

By Angela Smith

Ever notice how the most valuable people in the room aren't always the busiest? 

Strategic advisors don't just execute, they shape the game plan. And here's the plot twist: remote work actually gives you an edge in making this shift. When you're not physically tethered to the office pulse, you're forced to build visibility through insight instead of face time. 

We're breaking down the exact mindset shifts that transform you from order-taker to indispensable advisor (no title change required).

Become the advisor they can't ignore →

QUICK TAKES

Shift Forward

✅ Consultant vs Contractor or Freelancer: How to Build a Real Consulting Business. How AI is reshaping the consulting landscape.

✅ Navigate the challenges of transitioning from freelancing to entrepreneurship. Shift from solo performer to a conductor of an orchestra.

✅ The Ultimate Guide To Becoming A Freelance Consultant: 25 Things I’ve Learned

LAST WEEK’S POLL RESULTS

What's your biggest challenge becoming a strategic advisor?

CAREER ADVANCEMENT

The Trust-First Strategy Playbook

By Nicole St. Germain

Your advice is solid. So why isn't anyone taking it? 

Nicole discovered the hard way that brilliant strategy means nothing without the right relationship foundation. She breaks down her Red/Yellow/Green trust framework and reveals why mapping power dynamics (not just talking to your main contact) changes everything. 

Spoiler: becoming a strategic advisor has less to do with what you know and everything to do with who's actually listening.

Master the trust test and power map →

MEME OF THE WEEK

THE VIBE

News to Use

🔆 Goodbye Dashboards: Agents Deliver Answers, Not Just Reports. We're moving to a world where AI agents become the new UI, making traditional enterprise apps invisible.

🔆 The freelance workforce is growing and business models are shifting. With AI accelerating and full-time models lagging, top talent is going solo.

🔆 Remote control: Meet “the father of telework”. Decades before COVID imposed remote work on the world, Jack Nilles pioneered WFH in the 70s at NASA and championed its many benefits.

POLL – NEXT WEEKS TOPIC

Next week: Our year-end issue explores 2025's pivotal events, trends, and challenges that transformed the landscape.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Your IRL Calendar

Your inbox is full. Your calendar shouldn't be empty. 

We're hitting slopes, serving communities, and actually using our flexible schedules for something other than back-to-back Zooms. 

Pick your vibe and show up.

Check out the Community Calendar 🗓️ for the details!

RESOURCES

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😎 Thriving Freelance: Gigs & Growth : Hundreds of job opportunities sent directly to your inbox each week, plus timely resources to support you as you grow and evolve. The Harlow newsletter is a treasure trove for freelancers, creators, and entrepreneurs.