This is our last podcast episode of the year, and Emma has chosen to do things a bit differently. Here she conducts her own annual performance review as a freelancer. From attendance and punctuality to goals, organisation and communication. Join her as she reflects on the past year, celebrates achievements, and identifies areas for improvement.
Listen to the podcast episode below, watch it on [Youtube], or scroll down for the summary!
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Prefer to read it? Here are the main points!
This episode is a little different. It’s the final episode of the year, and instead of a usual topic-led chat, Emma decided to do something slightly uncomfortable, very honest, and a bit silly. She conducted her own annual performance review.
If you’ve ever worked in a corporate role, you’ll remember annual reviews. Sitting in a stuffy room, being assessed against targets, rated out of five, and wondering if anyone actually enjoys them. As freelancers, we don’t have managers. We are the manager. So this year, Emma decided to step into both roles and see how that went.
Picture the scene: an uncomfortable office chair, a sad pot plant in the corner, and a printed document titled “Annual Performance Review.” Let’s begin.
Attendance, Time Management and Reality
The review starts with attendance and punctuality. Technically, Emma did not work standard office hours all year. She frequently worked from the sofa and was often not at her desk during “normal” business hours. However, she did show up early to every client meeting, largely thanks to setting seventeen alarms.
Time management was… mixed. Tasks estimated at twenty minutes either took two minutes or three hours. ADHD time blindness made plenty of appearances. That said, when tools like body doubling and Sunsama were used, productivity improved significantly. Progress was made, even if consistency is still a work in progress.
Goals, Pivots and Learning What Didn’t Work
At the start of the year, twelve goals were set. Four and a half were achieved. Not perfect, but not terrible either.
Some goals turned out to be bad ideas, and rather than forcing them, Emma pivoted. Adaptability showed up a lot this year. The goals that were achieved mattered. New coaching clients were welcomed, new offers like the emergency bundle were launched, and the book was written.
Not finished yet, but written. That counts.
Organisation, Systems and Controlled Chaos
Organisation was described as chaotic but functional. Around twelve productivity systems were tested, Notion was reorganised sixteen times, and two and a half systems actually stuck.
Emails were frequently organised instead of answered, which felt productive at the time. Despite this, there was real progress. Notion is now used properly rather than endlessly tweaked, which is genuine growth.
Communication, Boundaries and Saying No
Communication with clients was one of the stronger areas. Emails were replied to, expectations were managed, and boundaries were set more clearly than in previous years.
There were moments of forgetting attachments, muting microphones on Zoom, and leaning into humour during calls, but overall feedback from clients was positive. Calm, clear, and professional came up more than once.
Saying no became easier too, especially when people-pleasing instincts kicked in. That shift alone made a big difference to workload and wellbeing.
Focus, Hyperfocus and Creative Strengths
Focus was inconsistent, but when it landed, it landed well. Twenty-three projects were started, eight were completed, and hyperfocus had a habit of showing up late at night for non-urgent tasks.
There were deep dives into office chair research instead of newsletter writing, but also moments of genuinely brilliant creative work. Once Emma understood that her brain is interest-motivated rather than importance-motivated, things began to make more sense.
Creativity, problem-solving, and seeing connections others miss were standout strengths. ADHD brought challenges, but it also brought speed, empathy, and innovation.
Collaboration, Community and Not Doing It All Alone
Although freelancing is often solo, collaboration showed up through communities, group spaces, and support networks. Emma showed up consistently, offered help, celebrated others, and became more comfortable asking for support herself.
That shift towards not doing everything alone was important, and it’s still ongoing.
Financial Progress and Taking the Business Seriously
Revenue targets were not fully hit, but around 80 percent was achieved in a difficult year. Smart investments were made in coaching, tools, and training, showing a clear commitment to treating the business seriously.
Progress was steady, even if it wasn’t perfect.
Strengths, Growth and Gentle Areas for Improvement
The review highlighted creativity, enthusiasm, empathy, and connection as core strengths. ADHD, while challenging, was recognised as a key part of what makes Emma good at what she does.
There were also areas to work on. Getting outside more. Networking a little more. Not checking emails at 11pm. Being more realistic about capacity. And finally, getting the book published rather than letting it sit quietly in draft form.
All fair points.
The Final Rating and a Reminder for You
The overall rating for the year came in at four out of five.
Not because everything went smoothly, but because growth happened. Learning happened. Showing up happened, even when things were hard. Clients were supported. Community was built. Giving up was considered briefly, then rejected.
And that counts.
This episode was light-hearted, but the reflection behind it is something every freelancer can benefit from. You don’t need a manager to review your year. You can do it yourself, kindly and honestly.
If you’re thinking about doing your own end-of-year review, try asking yourself:
What did I actually achieve?
What did I learn?
What do I want to carry forward?
What can I let go of?
And most importantly, be kind to yourself. Don’t focus only on what didn’t happen. Notice what did.
If you’d like to keep the conversation going, you can join Emma in The Freelance Lifestylers Facebook Group, hop into the Discord community, or connect over on Instagram. New podcast episodes will be back in the new year, with guest conversations planned too.
Until then, here’s hoping you can take a proper break, reset gently, and finish the year feeling proud of how far you’ve come.
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