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<p><a data-mce-href="https://youtu.be/tiexZqc0BFs" href="https://youtu.be/tiexZqc0BFs">https://youtu.be/tiexZqc0BFs﻿</a></p><figure id="figure-zszdjp1fwmnxycm6l"><iframe id="zszdjp1fwmnxycm6l" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tiexZqc0BFs" class="w-full bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen data-url="https://youtu.be/tiexZqc0BFs" data-corners="default" data-fullWidth="false"></iframe></figure><p>In a previous episode I talked about using Calendar to Sheets to pull my Google Calendar into a spreadsheet, and I loved it—until a billing issue made me pause and ask ChatGPT, "Is there a cheaper alternative?" Instead of suggesting another subscription tool, ChatGPT proposed something I hadn't considered: writing a simple Google Apps Script to pull the data directly, for free. As someone who doesn't code, I was skeptical, but ChatGPT wrote the entire script for me and walked me through the setup step-by-step—and when I hit errors (like "Cannot read properties of null" because my sheet name didn't match, or the script pulling 30 days instead of the full next month), ChatGPT translated the technical jargon into plain English and showed me exactly how to fix it. What started as "find me a cheaper tool" became a completely free, customized solution that gives me better visibility into my freelance schedule, and the biggest surprise wasn't just replacing a paid subscription—it was realizing that with the right question and a little guidance, I could solve the problem myself without needing to learn to code or spend hours troubleshooting.</p>

Ep 79: I Liked Calendar to Sheets… But I Found a Better (Free) Way

<p><a href="https://youtu.be/G7FrYaZmGZU" data-mce-href="https://youtu.be/G7FrYaZmGZU">https://youtu.be/G7FrYaZmGZU</a></p><figure id="figure-z59tdgy99mnqx6dvn" class="selected"><iframe id="z59tdgy99mnqx6dvn" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G7FrYaZmGZU" class="w-full bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" data-url="https://youtu.be/G7FrYaZmGZU" data-corners="default" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G7FrYaZmGZU" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></iframe></figure><p>If you're a freelancer juggling multiple client presentations, you’ve probably been doing it the hard way—skipping slides, creating multiple decks, or managing dozens of versions. PowerPoint’s hidden **Custom Slide Shows** feature solves this by letting you create different “playlists” of slides within one master deck, so you can tailor presentations for different audiences without duplication. In this post, I’ll show you how to set it up in five simple steps, share real examples from my own training work, when to use it (and when not to), and how it can save you hours each month by updating one deck instead of many.</p>

Ep 78: Custom Slide Shows-A Freelancer's Secret for Using One Deck for Several Client Presentations

<p><a href="https://youtu.be/Z5SXTsVhPWQ" data-mce-href="https://youtu.be/Z5SXTsVhPWQ">https://youtu.be/Z5SXTsVhPWQ</a></p><figure id="figure-kx7okzt8bbmnqx4d74" class="selected"><iframe id="kx7okzt8bbmnqx4d74" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z5SXTsVhPWQ" class="w-full bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" data-url="https://youtu.be/Z5SXTsVhPWQ" data-corners="default" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z5SXTsVhPWQ" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></iframe></figure><p>I always assumed my LLC taxes were set in stone until a freelancer friend mentioned she elected S Corp tax status, which sent me down a research rabbit hole. Turns out, you can choose how your LLC is taxed: the default treats you like a sole proprietor where you pay self-employment tax on everything, but electing S Corp status lets you split income between salary and distributions, potentially reducing some taxes—though it comes with trade-offs like running payroll, more filings, and higher accounting costs. I'm not a tax professional and I'm still evaluating this with my accountant, but I'm sharing in case you're like I was—assuming there's only one way to handle your business taxes when there might be other options worth exploring with your tax professional.</p>

Ep 77: I May Be Able to Save on My Freelance Taxes—Here’s What I Found

<p><a href="https://youtu.be/h63-GY6H1g8">https://youtu.be/h63-GY6H1g8</a></p><figure id="figure-m87h12kdnnmngwuour"><iframe id="m87h12kdnnmngwuour" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h63-GY6H1g8" class="w-full bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen data-url="https://youtu.be/h63-GY6H1g8" data-corners="default" data-fullWidth="false"></iframe></figure><p> I used to think PowerPoint was just “click From Beginning and go, until a clumsy moment in a client session made me realize the real problem wasn’t my slides, it was my lack of control. That’s when I discovered PowerPoint has multiple presentation modes—windowed, Presenter View, screen selection, and Reading Mode—and each one changes how you manage your content, your screens, and your audience’s experience. Now, instead of forcing one setup every time, I choose based on the situation: a simple windowed view when I need everything in one place, a multi-screen Presenter View for a polished delivery, precise screen selection to avoid sharing the wrong content, or Reading Mode for low-pressure review. The game-changer isn’t just knowing these features exist; it’s using them intentionally so your tech supports your delivery instead of distracting from it.</p>

Ep 76: This One PowerPoint Shift Will Level Up Your Freelance Presentations

<p><a href="https://youtu.be/wl2uqPqUvs0">https://youtu.be/wl2uqPqUvs0</a><br></p><figure id="figure-0f48s57t5smngwsf6f"><iframe id="0f48s57t5smngwsf6f" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wl2uqPqUvs0" class="w-full bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen data-url="https://youtu.be/wl2uqPqUvs0" data-corners="default" data-fullWidth="false"></iframe></figure><p>If you use Microsoft 365 as a freelancer, Power Platform is a powerful (and often overlooked) suite of low-code tools that can help you work smarter without needing to be a developer. It includes Power Automate for handling repetitive tasks automatically, Power Apps for building simple custom applications tailored to your workflow or your clients’ needs, Power BI for turning raw data into clear, visual insights, and Power Pages for creating data-connected websites like client portals. Together, these tools let you automate busywork, create solutions instead of workarounds, and offer new services to clients—all while integrating with the tools you already use. While there is a learning curve, it’s approachable with free resources and can be tackled gradually, starting with small automations and building up. The payoff is more efficiency, better data visibility, and the ability to design systems that fit your business exactly—giving you both a productivity boost and a potential competitive edge.</p>

New The Freelance Shift Ep 75: What is Microsoft Power Platform and Why Should Freelancers Care? Post

<p><a href="https://youtu.be/k6CvsmKmWik" data-mce-href="https://youtu.be/k6CvsmKmWik">https://youtu.be/k6CvsmKmWik</a></p><figure id="figure-42vyri3k8smn6t2t8x"><iframe id="42vyri3k8smn6t2t8x" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k6CvsmKmWik" class="w-full bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" data-url="https://youtu.be/k6CvsmKmWik" data-corners="default" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k6CvsmKmWik" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></iframe></figure><p>Microsoft's new "Help Me Write" feature in Outlook is a massive upgrade from the old "Draft with Copilot" option, and as a freelancer drowning in client emails, it's a genuine game-changer—especially once you add custom personalization instructions that teach Copilot your communication style, business details, and preferences so it stops generating bland, corporate-sounding emails and starts drafting messages that actually sound like you. In this post, I'll show you exactly how to set up your personalization instructions (including what to include about your tone, common scenarios, and email preferences), then walk through three real freelancer scenarios where this feature saves massive time: responding to project inquiries (what used to take 10-15 minutes now takes 2), following up on unpaid invoices without agonizing over tone for 20 minutes, and politely declining projects while keeping relationships intact. Every minute you spend crafting emails is a minute you're not spending on billable work—"Help Me Write" with personalization doesn't just save time, it reduces decision fatigue by handling the first draft while you add final touches, turning routine email communication from a energy-draining task into a quick 2-minute review-and-send that gets you hours back every week.</p><p><br></p>

Ep 74: Copilot's "Help Me Write" Feature in Outlook - An Improvement for Freelance Communication

The Freelance Shift

Welcome to The Freelance Shift — your go-to space for real talk on freelancing, from someone who’s been there. I’m an experienced freelancer sharing everything I’ve learned along the way — from finding clients and setting rates to handling taxes, contracts, mindset shifts, and building a business that actually fits your life. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up, you’ll get practical tips, honest insights, and strategies to help you thrive on your own terms. New videos weekly — subscribe and make the shift to working on your terms.

The Freelance Shift

Freelance Blog

Ep 79: I Liked Calendar to Sheets… But I Found a Better (...

Ep 78: Custom Slide Shows-A Freelancer's Secret for Using...

Ep 77: I May Be Able to Save on My Freelance Taxes—Here’s...

Ep 76: This One PowerPoint Shift Will Level Up Your Freel...

New The Freelance Shift Ep 75: What is Microsoft Power Pl...

Ep 74: Copilot's "Help Me Write" Feature in Outlook - An ...