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Ep 6: Exiting With a Plan: Joni Sweet on Going Freelance With a Sense of Stability
In this episode, I chat with Joni Sweet, a talented freelance writer, editor, & media consultant whose work has appeared in National Geographic, Forbes, Lonely Planet, and more. Joni's journey took her from fulfilling yet financially challenging roles in traditional publishing to a high-paying but uninspiring position at a large bank. Ultimately, she found her sweet spot by starting her own business, gaining the freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment she'd been searching for. Joni's intentional, well-planned transition into entrepreneurship is a wonderful example for anybody looking to take a similar leap.
In this episode, we explore:
- How Joni balances life and business, and her unique approach to managing to-do lists
- The power of an experimental mindset in developing new aspects of her business, even when confidence wavers
- How she navigates slow periods and loss of work with resilience and creativity
- Why Joni believes in aiming for satisfaction over happiness and how that shift has impacted her outlook
- The concept of a "happy file" and how Joni uses it to boost her confidence and own her expertise
About Joni:Joni Sweet is a freelance writer, editor, and media consultant whose work has appeared in National Geographic, Forbes, Lonely Planet, and more. She's passionate about meaningful travel, health, and wellness. Discover her work at jonimsweet.com, join her community at https://jonisweet.substack.com/, and follow her journey on Instagram @jonisweet.
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✨ Follow the show and subscribe to Syd's newsletter, The Sunshine Table at sunshinetable.substack.com, for behind-the-scenes thoughts, upcoming episodes, and more stories, tools, and inspiration from Syd.
__
🎧 Chapters – The Path Less Traveled: Joni Sweet
00:51 – Intro: Meditation, To-Do Lists, and Meeting Joni
04:24 – What a Traditional Path Meant to Joni
07:03 – The Publishing World: Passion Without Pay
10:23 – Corporate Life: Comfort Without Purpose
15:34 – Building a Freelance Business While Employed
20:35 – Making the Leap: Quitting with a Plan
22:21 – Freedom and Discipline in Self-Employment
24:33 – Balancing Client Work vs. Growing the Business
30:00 – Buffer Time, Capacity, and Redefining Productivity
34:59 – Weekly Planning and the Happy File
39:43 – Downtime, Burnout, and Creative Recharge
43:32 – Creativity, Flow, and the Myth of Forcing It
45:38 – Fears About Sustainability and Relevance
47:18 – Freelance Uncertainty and Pivoting with Purpose
51:14 – The Power of Experimentation
52:46 – A 80-Mile Ride That Changed Everything
59:08 – Aliveness, Pride, and Redefining Success
1:00:50 – Satisfaction vs. Happiness
1:02:49 – Self-Reliance, Asking for Help, and Co-Creation
1:09:40 – Owning Expertise, Happy Files, and Final Reflections
Get full access to The Sunshine Table at sunshinetable.substack.com/subscribe
View all episodes
By Syd ConnollyIn this episode, I chat with Joni Sweet, a talented freelance writer, editor, & media consultant whose work has appeared in National Geographic, Forbes, Lonely Planet, and more. Joni's journey took her from fulfilling yet financially challenging roles in traditional publishing to a high-paying but uninspiring position at a large bank. Ultimately, she found her sweet spot by starting her own business, gaining the freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment she'd been searching for. Joni's intentional, well-planned transition into entrepreneurship is a wonderful example for anybody looking to take a similar leap.
In this episode, we explore:
- How Joni balances life and business, and her unique approach to managing to-do lists
- The power of an experimental mindset in developing new aspects of her business, even when confidence wavers
- How she navigates slow periods and loss of work with resilience and creativity
- Why Joni believes in aiming for satisfaction over happiness and how that shift has impacted her outlook
- The concept of a "happy file" and how Joni uses it to boost her confidence and own her expertise
About Joni:Joni Sweet is a freelance writer, editor, and media consultant whose work has appeared in National Geographic, Forbes, Lonely Planet, and more. She's passionate about meaningful travel, health, and wellness. Discover her work at jonimsweet.com, join her community at https://jonisweet.substack.com/, and follow her journey on Instagram @jonisweet.
__
✨ Follow the show and subscribe to Syd's newsletter, The Sunshine Table at sunshinetable.substack.com, for behind-the-scenes thoughts, upcoming episodes, and more stories, tools, and inspiration from Syd.
__
🎧 Chapters – The Path Less Traveled: Joni Sweet
00:51 – Intro: Meditation, To-Do Lists, and Meeting Joni
04:24 – What a Traditional Path Meant to Joni
07:03 – The Publishing World: Passion Without Pay
10:23 – Corporate Life: Comfort Without Purpose
15:34 – Building a Freelance Business While Employed
20:35 – Making the Leap: Quitting with a Plan
22:21 – Freedom and Discipline in Self-Employment
24:33 – Balancing Client Work vs. Growing the Business
30:00 – Buffer Time, Capacity, and Redefining Productivity
34:59 – Weekly Planning and the Happy File
39:43 – Downtime, Burnout, and Creative Recharge
43:32 – Creativity, Flow, and the Myth of Forcing It
45:38 – Fears About Sustainability and Relevance
47:18 – Freelance Uncertainty and Pivoting with Purpose
51:14 – The Power of Experimentation
52:46 – A 80-Mile Ride That Changed Everything
59:08 – Aliveness, Pride, and Redefining Success
1:00:50 – Satisfaction vs. Happiness
1:02:49 – Self-Reliance, Asking for Help, and Co-Creation
1:09:40 – Owning Expertise, Happy Files, and Final Reflections
Get full access to The Sunshine Table at sunshinetable.substack.com/subscribe