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Yurii Lazaruk

Yurii Lazaruk

Community Builder & Podcast Host

Yurii built the 9am community and hosted the Freelance Thrive and Freelance Sucks podcasts, talking to hundreds of freelancers about how independent work really feels.

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Articles by Yurii Lazaruk

Freelance Case Studies That Win Projects (Even When You Can't Name the Client)

Freelance Case Studies That Win Projects (Even When You Can't Name the Client)

Nobody has measured how much a case study moves a hiring decision. Here is what works anyway, plus three templates you can fill in today.

Freelance Case Studies That Win Projects (Even When You Can't Name the Client)
Yurii Lazaruk

September 06, 2026

The Best Referral Is Not Your Closest Contact: What the Weak-Ties Research Says

The Best Referral Is Not Your Closest Contact: What the Weak-Ties Research Says

20 million LinkedIn users, one experiment: your closest contacts are the least useful for work. The sweet spot is 10 mutual connections.

The Best Referral Is Not Your Closest Contact: What the Weak-Ties Research Says
Yurii Lazaruk

September 05, 2026

Safety Nets for Freelancers in Germany: The Three-Month Window, Unemployment Insurance and the New Grundsicherung

Safety Nets for Freelancers in Germany: The Three-Month Window, Unemployment Insurance and the New Grundsicherung

Three months after going solo you can buy unemployment insurance for about €103 a month. Miss it and the fallback is the new Grundsicherung.

Safety Nets for Freelancers in Germany: The Three-Month Window, Unemployment Insurance and the New Grundsicherung
Yurii Lazaruk

September 03, 2026

Switching Off Does Not Work for Freelancers. Here Is What the Recovery Research Says Instead

Switching Off Does Not Work for Freelancers. Here Is What the Recovery Research Says Instead

Switching off does nothing for freelancers' wellbeing, a study of 1,043 owners found. Relaxation and control do. Rebuild your week.

Switching Off Does Not Work for Freelancers. Here Is What the Recovery Research Says Instead
Yurii Lazaruk

September 03, 2026

Hybrid Freelancing Is Not a Compromise, Unless You Treat It as One

Hybrid Freelancing Is Not a Compromise, Unless You Treat It as One

7 in 10 German founders start alongside a job. New research shows what separates the version that pays off from the one that burns you out.

Hybrid Freelancing Is Not a Compromise, Unless You Treat It as One
Yurii Lazaruk

September 03, 2026

Freelancing After 50 in DACH: 44% Are Already There, and 85% Would Do It Again

Freelancing After 50 in DACH: 44% Are Already There, and 85% Would Do It Again

A third went freelance because nobody would hire them at 50. 85% would do it again. What the market pays for, and what it filters out.

Freelancing After 50 in DACH: 44% Are Already There, and 85% Would Do It Again
Yurii Lazaruk

September 02, 2026

Can AI Be Creative? What the 2026 Research Says, and What It Means for Creative Freelancers

Can AI Be Creative? What the 2026 Research Says, and What It Means for Creative Freelancers

AI now beats the average human on creativity tests. The top 10% of humans still beat every model. Guess which half clients pay for.

Can AI Be Creative? What the 2026 Research Says, and What It Means for Creative Freelancers
Yurii Lazaruk

September 02, 2026

Freelancers Are Twice as Lonely as Everyone Else. Here Is What Actually Helps

Freelancers Are Twice as Lonely as Everyone Else. Here Is What Actually Helps

Freelancers are lonely 2.5 times as often as everyone else. The research on what actually helps (hint: it is not the evening meetup).

Freelancers Are Twice as Lonely as Everyone Else. Here Is What Actually Helps
Yurii Lazaruk

September 01, 2026

Late Payments in 2026: 12% of Revenue Arrives Late, and the Four Levers That Work

Late Payments in 2026: 12% of Revenue Arrives Late, and the Four Levers That Work

12% of your revenue arrives late. Four legal levers get it back, three cost nothing, one earns you 10.52% interest plus €40.

Late Payments in 2026: 12% of Revenue Arrives Late, and the Four Levers That Work
Yurii Lazaruk

August 31, 2026

Curiosity Is the Skill That Survives AI: What 92 Million Displaced Jobs Mean for Freelancers

Curiosity Is the Skill That Survives AI: What 92 Million Displaced Jobs Mean for Freelancers

92 million jobs go, 170 million come, and Cloudflare cut 1,100 people it calls measurers. The skill that survives the swap, you had at four.

Curiosity Is the Skill That Survives AI: What 92 Million Displaced Jobs Mean for Freelancers
Yurii Lazaruk

August 30, 2026

The Freelance Gender Gap in 2026: 3.2% Full-Time, 20% Part-Time

The Freelance Gender Gap in 2026: 3.2% Full-Time, 20% Part-Time

The freelance pay gap fell to 6.2%. Split the sample and it is 3.2% for full-timers and 20% for part-timers. Same market, two stories.

The Freelance Gender Gap in 2026: 3.2% Full-Time, 20% Part-Time
Yurii Lazaruk

August 29, 2026

Imposter Syndrome and Freelancing: Hope Predicts Satisfaction, Self-Belief Does Not

Imposter Syndrome and Freelancing: Hope Predicts Satisfaction, Self-Belief Does Not

A study of 775 solo workers found the ones with the most self-belief were the least satisfied. Hope was the thing that predicted.

Imposter Syndrome and Freelancing: Hope Predicts Satisfaction, Self-Belief Does Not
Yurii Lazaruk

August 27, 2026

Role Switching for Freelancers: The 2x2 That Tells You When to Build Boundaries and When to Tear Them Down

Role Switching for Freelancers: The 2x2 That Tells You When to Build Boundaries and When to Tear Them Down

Five clients in one day feels easy, one hour of bookkeeping feels impossible. A 2x2 from a psychologist-freelancer explains why.

Role Switching for Freelancers: The 2x2 That Tells You When to Build Boundaries and When to Tear Them Down
Yurii Lazaruk

August 21, 2026

Pregnant and Self-Employed in Germany: What Mutterschutz Skips, What Elterngeld Pays

Pregnant and Self-Employed in Germany: What Mutterschutz Skips, What Elterngeld Pays

Mutterschutz does not apply to freelancers. 14 weeks with no income unless you arranged one thing years earlier. The stack, law by law.

Pregnant and Self-Employed in Germany: What Mutterschutz Skips, What Elterngeld Pays
Yurii Lazaruk

August 21, 2026

Clients Don’t Need a Freelancer, They Need a Solution

Clients Don’t Need a Freelancer, They Need a Solution

Discover the real struggles of freelancing—sales, discipline, and client work—and how to build a business around value, not just...

Clients Don’t Need a Freelancer, They Need a Solution
Yurii Lazaruk

April 22, 2025

How To Automate Your Freelance Routine with AI

How To Automate Your Freelance Routine with AI

Discover how freelancers can use AI tools like ChatGPT and automation to save time, find clients, and grow a smarter freelance...

How To Automate Your Freelance Routine with AI
Yurii Lazaruk

April 18, 2025

The Smarter Way To Price Your Freelance Work

The Smarter Way To Price Your Freelance Work

Discover how to price your freelance work, sell with confidence, and stand out in a tough market—real talk from a freelancing...

The Smarter Way To Price Your Freelance Work
Yurii Lazaruk

April 15, 2025

10 Years Of Freelance: What’s Changed and What’s Next

10 Years Of Freelance: What’s Changed and What’s Next

Discover how freelancing has evolved in 10 years, key trends, remote work shifts, and tips to find clients in a competitive market...

10 Years Of Freelance: What’s Changed and What’s Next
Yurii Lazaruk

April 11, 2025

Enjoying Work: Gift Or Curse For A Freelancer?

Enjoying Work: Gift Or Curse For A Freelancer?

Discover real freelance struggles: client issues, late payments, burnout, and mindset shifts to build a more sustainable freelance...

Enjoying Work: Gift Or Curse For A Freelancer?
Yurii Lazaruk

April 01, 2025

How Can Freelancers Use YouTube to Get Clients

How Can Freelancers Use YouTube to Get Clients

Learn how freelancers can use YouTube videos to attract clients, build trust, and grow their business without needing thousands of...

How Can Freelancers Use YouTube to Get Clients
Yurii Lazaruk

March 28, 2025

How To Freelance While Working Full-Time

How To Freelance While Working Full-Time

Learn how to balance a full-time job with freelancing, manage time, avoid burnout, and build a strong network from an experienced...

How To Freelance While Working Full-Time
Yurii Lazaruk

March 25, 2025

What Recruiters Actually Want to See in Your CV

What Recruiters Actually Want to See in Your CV

Learn how freelancers can craft standout CVs, ace interviews, use LinkedIn, and attract more clients with expert tips from a...

What Recruiters Actually Want to See in Your CV
Yurii Lazaruk

March 21, 2025

How To Minimize Disruption To Your Freelance Business

How To Minimize Disruption To Your Freelance Business

Freelancing isn’t all freedom—unstable income, tough pricing talks & no safety net. Learn how to protect yourself & charge what...

How To Minimize Disruption To Your Freelance Business
Yurii Lazaruk

March 18, 2025

How Freelancers Can Find Strength In Uncertainty

How Freelancers Can Find Strength In Uncertainty

Learn essential resilience strategies for freelancers facing uncertainty, crisis, and burnout—practical tips, mindset shifts, and...

How Freelancers Can Find Strength In Uncertainty
Yurii Lazaruk

March 14, 2025

How to Handle Financial Uncertainty as a Freelancer

How to Handle Financial Uncertainty as a Freelancer

Freelancing is unpredictable—learn how to manage financial uncertainty, plan for taxes, and secure clients in a changing market....

How to Handle Financial Uncertainty as a Freelancer
Yurii Lazaruk

March 11, 2025

Why Freelancers Should Use Video Content

Why Freelancers Should Use Video Content

Discover why video content is a game-changer for freelancers! Learn how to create engaging videos, build your brand, and attract...

Why Freelancers Should Use Video Content
Yurii Lazaruk

March 07, 2025

How Can Freelancers Win The Never-Ending Battle For Clients

How Can Freelancers Win The Never-Ending Battle For Clients

Struggling to find freelance clients? Discover why client acquisition feels like a never-ending battle—and proven strategies to...

How Can Freelancers Win The Never-Ending Battle For Clients
Yurii Lazaruk

March 04, 2025

A Simple Strategy That Makes Freelancing Less Risky

A Simple Strategy That Makes Freelancing Less Risky

Thinking about quitting your 9-to-5? Learn how to build a thriving freelance business, avoid common mistakes, and land...

A Simple Strategy That Makes Freelancing Less Risky
Yurii Lazaruk

February 28, 2025

The Million-Dollar, One-Person Business: Elaine Pofeldt on Growing Solo Without Burning Out

The Million-Dollar, One-Person Business: Elaine Pofeldt on Growing Solo Without Burning Out

Elaine Pofeldt studied one-person businesses crossing a million dollars. Her secret is one meaningful task every single workday, not hustle.

The Million-Dollar, One-Person Business: Elaine Pofeldt on Growing Solo Without Burning Out
Yurii Lazaruk

February 25, 2025

How To Set Boundaries And Get More Done As A Freelancer

How To Set Boundaries And Get More Done As A Freelancer

Struggling with work-life balance as a freelancer? Learn how to set boundaries, prioritize tasks, and avoid burnout while staying...

How To Set Boundaries And Get More Done As A Freelancer
Yurii Lazaruk

February 25, 2025

Why Every Freelancer Needs A Growth Strategy To Succeed

Why Every Freelancer Needs A Growth Strategy To Succeed

Learn why a clear strategy is key to freelance success. Discover growth tactics, mindset shifts, and partnerships to scale your...

Why Every Freelancer Needs A Growth Strategy To Succeed
Yurii Lazaruk

February 21, 2025

How to Stay in Control When Client Keeps Changing Priorities

How to Stay in Control When Client Keeps Changing Priorities

Struggling with scope creep, demanding clients, and staying productive as a freelancer? Learn how to set boundaries, manage...

How to Stay in Control When Client Keeps Changing Priorities
Yurii Lazaruk

February 18, 2025

How to Make Clients Listen, Trust, and Work With You

How to Make Clients Listen, Trust, and Work With You

Learn how freelancers can master client and team communication to build trust, align goals, and drive success. Powerful tips for...

How to Make Clients Listen, Trust, and Work With You
Yurii Lazaruk

February 14, 2025

How Thomas Marbella Wins Projects: Give Value First, Then Reach the Decision-Maker

How Thomas Marbella Wins Projects: Give Value First, Then Reach the Decision-Maker

Thomas Marbella on selling to decision makers: leading with value, not skills, and pricing the outcome.

How Thomas Marbella Wins Projects: Give Value First, Then Reach the Decision-Maker
Yurii Lazaruk

July 09, 2024

Client Acquisition and Hourly Rates: Stefania Volpe on the Two Hardest Parts of Freelancing

Client Acquisition and Hourly Rates: Stefania Volpe on the Two Hardest Parts of Freelancing

Client acquisition eats a fifth of your week and nobody pays for it. Stefania Volpe on landing projects and pricing your hour right.

Client Acquisition and Hourly Rates: Stefania Volpe on the Two Hardest Parts of Freelancing
Yurii Lazaruk

March 05, 2024