I grew up in Kailua-Kona, just a short walk from the beach, and like most people raised here, my first introduction to Kona coffee came early. Back in high school, my coffee-drinking habits were pretty simple—whatever was available, usually with way too much sugar, and even more tragically sometimes from Starbucks.
I wish I could tell you I journal every morning without fail. That I wake up before sunrise, pour myself a perfect cup of coffee, and sit in deep reflection, scribbling profound thoughts in a leather-bound notebook, while also setting up the perfect Instagram shot. But let’s be honest—that’s not reality, especially as a work from home parent.
Entering the world of freelance work is an exciting journey, but it takes patience and time to land and keep the best clients. I came up with the following guide to provide myself, and others, a simple framework that can help you analyze potential clients and determine whether your existing clients are a good fit for long-term collaboration. By evaluating clients on these three key aspects, you can aim for a healthy and sustainable balance that will benefit your freelance career. If feasible, I suggest using a current or potential client as a reference while reading through this post. It might also be beneficial to jot down a rating for them in each of these areas on a scale of 1 - 10.
If you’re a coffee lover, you know that great coffee starts with great coffee roasters. And while there are plenty of coffee subscription services out there, only one truly delivers the best: Trade. Though to be honest up front, they are not a coffee roaster, instead they work to connect you with the best coffee roasters around the country.
For Christmas last year I decided to make the switch to the Fellow Ode Gen 2 from the Baratza Encore, and I haven’t looked back. If you’ve followed my coffee journey, you know I was on the hunt for a grinder that balanced precision, quiet operation, and a clean workflow. (I wrote about my decision-making process here and also covered why I needed the quietest grinder possible here.)
When most people think about HubSpot, they think CRM, marketing automation, or sales enablement. But what if I told you that HubSpot can actually serve as a powerful Learning Management System (LMS)?
If you’re in the market for a burr grinder, you’ve probably seen the OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder pop up on a lot of “best grinder” lists. It’s often recommended as a budget-friendly option that gives you an upgrade from blade grinders. But after testing it out myself and comparing it to better options, I can confidently say:
If you’ve followed my coffee journey, you know I’m a bit of a reluctant coffee snob. I love great coffee, but I don’t love the hassle that sometimes comes with it. That’s why I’m always looking for ways to make the best coffee at home with as little friction as possible.