Building Momentum as a Freelancer with the Flywheel Effect
- The Spin Style Agency
- Sep 29
- 1 min read
The Challenge Freelancing comes with seasons. Some months you’re racing from project to project; other times, your inbox is quiet. Those slow periods can feel uncomfortable — like momentum has slipped away.
The Mental Model: The Flywheel Effect
Jim Collins described the flywheel as a giant, heavy wheel that takes enormous effort to push at first. But with consistent small pushes, it begins to move faster, building unstoppable momentum.
Freelance careers work the same way. Each “push” you make in slow periods compounds over time:
Reaching out to an old client.
Concept, produce, and shoot dream projects (before a client asks for them)
Experimenting with new tools
Sharing your work online, even if just a small project.
These actions rarely bring instant results. But just like turning a heavy wheel, they build energy. And when the next opportunity comes, you’re already in motion — ready to catch it.
The Takeaway
Don’t see downtime as wasted time. See it as a chance to push your flywheel. Over time, those small, steady efforts create the momentum that carries you through feast and famine cycles.
The Practice
These visuals were born from a collaboration between a stylist and photographer who used their downtime to experiment, create, and keep the flywheel turning.
The Lesson
Downtime doesn’t mean standing still — it means choosing how to move. With every small action, you’re building a wheel of momentum that will be there when the next opportunity arrives.
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