This one is personal.

Not soft… personal.

In this episode, I unpack a piece of feedback that hit way deeper than it should’ve… not because of what was said, but because of what it resurrected. If you’ve ever been told you’re “too much,” “too intense,” “too analytical,” or “too clear,” this will feel a little too familiar.

Across fifteen minutes, I walk you through the anatomy of a gift that doesn’t always feel like one — pattern-recognition, fast logic, clarity that lands like confrontation — and the humility it takes to wield it without wounding people who never signed up to be case studies.

This episode moves through:

• The old ache of being misread for intelligence you never weaponised

• The difference between consulting and coaching (and why people always confuse the two)

• The ego traps that clarity can create

• The painful but necessary moment when someone reflects back the part of you that still needs refinement

• And the real work: letting your character catch up to your genius

It’s not a rebuttal.

It’s not a performance.

It’s a reckoning, and a recalibration.

If your brain sees fast, if you’ve ever apologised for the way you process the world, or if you’ve been punished for clarity you didn’t mean as criticism… this one will uncoil something inside you.

You’ll leave with language for your own gift, compassion for your own sharpness, and a reminder that clarity isn’t a crime … but character is what keeps it from becoming collateral damage.

Next episode? Back to analytics.

This one needed to be said first.

Most freelancers think interviews are where clients decide.

They’re wrong.

This episode reveals the Pre-Close Choreography — the exact sequence of moves that engineers a 90% hire rate without lowering your price, without begging, without chasing.

Inside you’ll learn:

1. Why interviews are just the replay
2. The 5 steps of the pre-close choreography
3. How silence creates more certainty than overselling
4. Why certainty — not skill or price — is what clients are actually buying

Freelancing isn’t about dancing harder.

It’s about dancing in rhythm.

And once you master the pre-close choreography, the yes is already written.

If you think the interview is where clients decide who to hire, you’ve already lost.

This video breaks down the Pre-Close System — the invisible sequence where clients actually make their hiring decision long before you ever hop on a Zoom call.

Inside:

• Why interviews are just the replay

• The hidden ladder of trust every client climbs

• How overselling destroys certainty (and silence multiplies it)

• The choreography that makes “yes” inevitable

Watch this before your next interview — it’ll completely rewire how you see Upwork hiring.

Most freelancers celebrate when they get an invite on Upwork. I don’t.

Because for most of you… that invite is nothing more than an illusion of progress. You think it means you’re halfway to a hire — but the truth?

You’re one awkward message away from being ghosted.

Join the Paid Squad: https://baleseng.co/paid-squad-2

If you’ve ever felt invisible on Upwork, it’s not your imagination. This video reveals the Silent Ranking System – the hidden signals the platform uses to decide who appears in search results, and who disappears into digital oblivion. Most freelancers have no idea this exists. But once you understand it, you can work with the algorithm instead of against it."

Tags:Upwork tips, Upwork algorithm, Upwork search ranking, how to get clients on Upwork, freelancing tips, hidden Upwork settings, Upwork profile optimisation

Join our Wait List

You’ve seen the hype: “Let AI write your proposals.” But if speed was all it took to get hired, we’d all be rich by now. In this episode, Bailey breaks down why Paid Squad members consistently outperform bots—and close premium contracts on Upwork—while AI proposals keep getting ghosted.

From pattern-interrupt hooks to psychological profiling, you’ll learn why writing like an answer beats sounding professional every time. Plus, we break down real stats from Gigradar vs Paid Squad results, and unpack how Upwork’s latest algorithm updates are actually rewarding freelancers who write human-first.

If you’re tired of generic, AI-generated spam and ready to write proposals that actually convert—this one’s for you.

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Struggling to land your first client on Upwork? This episode is your ultimate guide to standing out as a new freelancer!

We not only take a look at proven strategies for crafting an irresistible Upwork profile, developing a personal brand that resonates with clients, and sending proposals that get noticed - BUT - you will also learn how to identify your unique value proposition, create compelling case studies, and leverage psychology to win more jobs.

From micro-niching tactics to advanced proposal techniques, we cover it all. Whether you're brand new to Upwork or looking to level up your freelance game, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you dominate the platform and start booking quality clients.

Episode Highlights:

1. Developing a unique value proposition through Upwork competitor analysis and self-assessment

2. Creating a personal brand story that resonates with target clients

3. Crafting an effective Upwork profile using SEO tactics and storytelling

4. Micro-niching strategies to stand out in your field on Upwork

5. Advanced proposal techniques, including the diagnostic approach and offering pricing options

6. Tips for over-delivering and building long-term client relationships

7. Growth hacking techniques for your freelance business, including referral systems and email marketing

8. Strategies for hacking the Upwork algorithm, such as maintaining a high availability score and using boosted proposals strategically

9. The importance of closing contracts properly to maintain a high job success score

10. Balancing skills, strategy, psychology, and persistence for success on Upwork

Don't miss our insider tips on hacking the Upwork algorithm and building long-term success as a freelancer!

This instalment is a little different from the usual episode.

If King Solomon, considered the wisest (and wealthiest) man in the Bible were to somehow be reincarnated as an AI Assistant, what would conversation entail?

Join Thabi as she explores exactly what that looks like...