On the finish of final yr, we put a name out to the Freelancers Union group, asking our members for his or her favourite accomplishments of 2025. It did not essentially need to be the “largest” or “finest” accomplishment — although it actually might be — however no matter their favourite accomplishment was.
Learn on under for these achievements shared by our members; hopefully their proudest moments of the yr will encourage you to have fun your personal, and contemplate what you wish to obtain in 2026.
“My favourite accomplishment of 2025 was lastly turning twenty years of analysis into one thing tangible. I’ve spent my profession exploring how well being (psychological, bodily, persistent circumstances, life circumstances) shapes inventive work. This yr I constructed a framework and evaluation software that helps artists, writers, and makers perceive these patterns in their very own follow. I am rebranding it for 2026 to serve each particular person creatives and inventive groups in companies. It is terrifying to launch one thing so private, but in addition thrilling.
I additionally wrote what I have been calling my “Mary Poppins letter” about being a 45-year-old multidisciplinary freelancer who does not match neatly into job classes. Watching it resonate with so many others jogged my memory that the bizarre, winding profession paths are sometimes the richest ones.” – Kathryn Vercillo
“I wrote a brief comedy which the forged had enjoyable studying. (I believe this one is definitely humorous.)” – Linda Rogers, Playwright
“Whereas I believe this was a difficult yr for myself and plenty of freelancers in video and images manufacturing, there are nonetheless causes to have fun. A few of my highlights from 2025 embody: (13) new purchasers, the return of some earlier purchasers, a 3-day biking shoot within the SF Bay Space for Trendy Journey, being interviewed on The Nice Huge Images World Podcast, and one other yr of attending to do what I really like!” – Jay Watson, photographer, San Francisco, CA
“For the previous eight years, I’ve labored as a long-term freelance illustrator and animator for a consumer, producing weekly content material in a longtime model type. This yr, I used to be invited to reimagine and evolve the model’s visible identification. After collaborative exploration, we efficiently launched a brand new, distinctive aesthetic. The place we landed was unexpectedly bizarre, great and all mine 🙂 Six months later, this visible evolution—paired with a refreshed tone in copywriting—has considerably elevated viewers engagement. I am grateful to have a consumer that trusts and respects my experience and permits me the liberty to discover.” – Craig Hansen
“My favourite accomplishment of 2025 is merely surviving with my psychological well being intact…This was a yr of ‘firsts’ for me. Not solely did I’ve my first ZERO earnings yr the place practically each proposal was fully ghosted. My parked automotive was totaled in a swanky NYC storage. My bathe leaked necessitating a full intestine renovation of my toilet…
However my most excessive profile consumer, a business airline for whom I designed the identification system, is the topic of a lot controversy as a contractor for homeland safety flying deportation charters for ICE(!)I wrote about it, spoke to Quick Firm about it, and offered a lecture on design and ethics centered round it, which I’m planning to tackle tour in 2026.
The truth that I’m nonetheless right here and standing upright is a testomony to the resilience it requires to face the truth of existence in its entirety with out rejecting the dangerous elements and dwelling solely on the nice ones.” – Kim B.
“Began the yr feeling misplaced in my profession, working a survival job as a nanny to make ends meet whereas I navigated a collapsing leisure trade. Determined to go full-time as a freelancer, and over the course of this yr have constructed up sufficient momentum to QUIT MY SURVIVAL JOB, YAY!!! I have never pulled the set off simply but (I am focusing on an early January finish date), however even simply figuring out that the transition is in progress and I am simply ready on my first large retainer consumer test to clear earlier than I give discover is a large win in and of itself.
I am additionally happy with all of the work I’ve performed to teach myself about inventive entrepreneurship. I’ve taken a bunch of courses and workshops by Freelancers Union (I believe my favourite was most likely “Enterprise Entities for Creatives”), the Leisure Neighborhood Fund, and extra. I’ve additionally gotten arrange with my native SBDC and have been working with a bunch of advisors to set myself up for fulfillment. I now have a Enterprise License, EIN, and DBA/FBN (none of which I had again in January). I am so glad I made a decision to ask for assist! It has made all of the distinction on the planet.” – Carrie S.
“My favourite accomplishment of 2025 is the publication of the Allcento Tarot deck that I created which is now being bought world-wide! Most tarot decks have 78 playing cards. Nevertheless, the Alicento consists of further playing cards from among the earliest tarot decks together with all 7 virtues, zodiac playing cards, and different lesser identified playing cards to create a singular, 100-card tarot illustrated in a daring, whimsical type that has gotten rave critiques from each tarot novices in addition to professional esotericists. The playing cards are packed stuffed with symbolism from varied tarot traditions (together with the Marseille, Minchiate, RWS, Thoth, and extra). The extra you already know, the extra you will notice!” – Michael J. Auger
“I will share that my largest 2025 accomplishment was profitable my very first journalism award. It was fairly a small award (First Place within the Specialty Articles: Inexperienced/Environmental class of the Nationwide Federation of Press Ladies Communications Contest). However firsts are at all times notable, and it was validating as I proceed to attempt to make a journalism profession occur in opposition to the percentages.” – Elyse Hauser
- This yr was my highest income earned, doubling final yr
- Began saving for retirement once more because of New Avenue Advisors
- Traveled to Alaska for the primary time with my husband
- Accomplished an expert growth purpose to attend an trade particular convention as soon as per quarter (Notary)
- Initiated full migration to Google Workspace
- Promoted to President for our native Enterprise Useful resource Group to assist the Wisconsin Notary Neighborhood
- Surpassed 60 critiques on Google!
- Employed contractors to assist scale my enterprise (after all utilizing the contract generator to assist put contracts in place)
- Leased a second workplace
- And most significantly… seeing the expansion I’ve had in my life each personally and professionally.
–Stephanie Stevens-Khan
