Often times, writers take a bit of valid research and apply it to an entire topic on which we think we’re knowledgeable. It happens to the best of us, but writers who stay humble do an incredible thing for the world: we curb our own propensity for disseminating “slightly wrong” information.

From the time we’re little kids, we inherently understand the ratio of effort-to-reward. It’s no different in business, and it’s important for freelancers and other entrepreneurs to understand and optimize our unit economics!

The tireless “business” rah-rah of networking and making connections doesn’t quite resonate with many freelance creatives. In reality, it’s by staying human that that we get the most out of human connections, the best of which become lifelong friendships.

When we’re just starting off, we should do things that don’t scale. For “hustlers,” salespeople, and anyone responsible for bringing in their own business, that means manually talking to people, nurturing relationships, and finding opportunities to add value. Here’s how.