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    Lost Between Freelancer and Business Owner

    10 min
    |
    6 sources
    |
    Nov 4, 2025
    EntrepreneurshipBusinessLeadership

    Exploring the challenging liminal space between freelancing and true business ownership, where you can feel drained and directionless despite external success. Discover why this identity transition is normal and how to navigate it.

    Lost Between Freelancer and Business Owner

    This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member

    Input question

    The State of liminality between beeing a Freelancer and now Becoming a business owner. Feeling lost and low energy, even if everything Looks amazing

    Host voices
    Lenaplay
    Jacksonplay
    Knowledge sources
    Employee to Entrepreneur
    The Mindset Shift from Freelancer to Business Owner - LinkedIn
    link
    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/mindset-shift-from-freelancer-business-owner-alice-arimoro-qqnve
    Working Identity
    Constructing an entrepreneurial life: liminality and emotion
    link
    https://ideas.repec.org/a/taf/entreg/v31y2019i7-8p567-582.html
    Liminal entrepreneuring: the creative practices of nascent necessity entrepreneurs
    link
    https://eprints.lse.ac.uk/85141/
    10 Mental Health and Wellbeing Challenges Entrepreneurs Face
    link
    https://founderreports.com/entrepreneur-wellbeing-challenges/

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    "Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

    @Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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    "Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

    @djmikemoore
    platform
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    "BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

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    "I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

    @Chloe, Solo founder, LA
    platform
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    12
    likes
    117

    "Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

    @Raaaaaachelw
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

    @Matt, YC alum
    platform
    comments
    12
    likes
    108

    "Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

    @Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
    platform
    comments
    254
    likes
    17

    "Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

    @djmikemoore
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

    @Pitiful
    platform
    comments
    96
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    "BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

    @SofiaP
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    @Jaded_Falcon
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    "It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

    @OojasSalunke
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

    @Leo, Law Student, UPenn
    platform
    comments
    37
    likes
    483

    "Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

    @Cashflowbubu
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

    @Moemenn
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

    @Chloe, Solo founder, LA
    platform
    comments
    12
    likes
    117

    "Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

    @Raaaaaachelw
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

    @Matt, YC alum
    platform
    comments
    12
    likes
    108

    "Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

    @Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
    platform
    comments
    254
    likes
    17

    "Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

    @djmikemoore
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

    @Pitiful
    platform
    comments
    96
    likes
    4.5K

    "BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

    @SofiaP
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

    @Jaded_Falcon
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    thumbsUp
    16

    "It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

    @OojasSalunke
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

    @Leo, Law Student, UPenn
    platform
    comments
    37
    likes
    483

    "Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

    @Cashflowbubu
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star
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    Learn Anything, Personalized

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    Featured book summaries
    Crucial ConversationsThe Perfect MarriageInto the WildNever Split the DifferenceAttachedGood to GreatSay Nothing
    Trending categories
    Self HelpCommunication SkillRelationshipMindfulnessPhilosophyInspirationProductivity
    Celebrities' reading list
    Elon MuskCharlie KirkBill GatesSteve JobsAndrew HubermanJoe RoganJordan Peterson
    Award winning collection
    Pulitzer PrizeNational Book AwardGoodreads Choice AwardsNobel Prize in LiteratureNew York TimesCaldecott MedalNebula Award
    Featured Topics
    ManagementAmerican HistoryWarTradingStoicismAnxietySex
    Best books by Year
    2025 Best Non Fiction Books2024 Best Non Fiction Books2023 Best Non Fiction Books
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    Knowledge VisualizerAI Podcast Generator
    Featured authors
    Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieGeorge OrwellO. J. SimpsonBarbara O'NeillWinston ChurchillCharlie Kirk
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    Key Takeaways

    1

    Welcome & Opening

    0:00

    **Lena:** Hey everyone, welcome to another personalized episode from BeFreed-Jackson and I are genuinely excited to dive into something really profound today. We're exploring that fascinating yet challenging space between freelancing and true business ownership, especially when you're feeling lost despite everything looking amazing on the surface.

    0:21

    **Jackson:** Absolutely, Lena. This is such a crucial transition that so many of our listeners are navigating right now. What we're really talking about is this liminal state-this in-between space where you're no longer just a freelancer but not quite a full business owner yet. And the interesting thing is, this can feel incredibly disorienting even when external markers suggest you're succeeding.

    0:43

    **Lena:** Right, and that's what makes this so complex. You can have all the right pieces in place but still feel like you're floating in this weird middle ground.

    2

    The Liminal Space of Entrepreneurial Identity

    3

    The Identity Crisis Nobody Warns You About

    4

    The Emotional Toll of Transition

    5

    Creative Practices in Liminal Entrepreneuring

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