Geek & Prosper | Exploring Geek Business and Entrepreneurship

Time Management Tips: How I’ve Successfully Experimented with Productivity Hacks

March 5, 2017 by Bree Brouwer 1,742 Comments

Ever since jumping back into the freelancing game full-time in January of 2016, I’ve been experimenting with different ways to stay productive and motivate myself on a day-to-day basis. After looking up a bunch of time management tips, I decided to implement a few and see where they took me.

The thing is, I used to be very productive in college and the few years afterwards, but I’ve been… drifting from that discipline recently. I know you’ve probably felt the same way. So I wanted to share with you the tips that have worked for me in my business, to see if they’ll help you stay on track, as well!

Here are the main techniques I use which clearly made a difference in my productivity, energy levels, and overall success:

Reader Question: Will My Business Ever Give Me a Comfortable Life?

February 15, 2017 by Bree Brouwer 3,136 Comments

One of the things I love most about running this blog is the responses I get from readers in comments, surveys, or even interactions via social media. It thrills me other entrepreneurs are geeking out and getting paid for it.

But sometimes, these responses break my heart.

It’s not because they’re trolling or rude, or even hateful. It’s because they’re saddening, like a “I want to hug you so badly right now” kind of saddening.

I got one such disheartening response to a survey I sent out last year. After deciding I wanted to include more reader questions on this blog in case others felt like they were stuck in the same situations, I contacted the author of the response asking for her permission to publish it. Fortunately, she jumped at the chance (or maybe she didn’t — I couldn’t see her physical reaction).

How to Get Clients: 3 Legit Methods I Used in 2016 (And What I’ll Do This Year)

January 22, 2017 by Bree Brouwer 71 Comments

Today marks the 1-year anniversary of me leaving my day job and going back to freelancing.

*throws confetti in the air*

There are some things I miss about a “normal” job, like having great co-workers and being part of a leading company; my income, however, is not missed. I just ran my numbers, and this past year, I ended up making at least $4000 per month on average, about $800 more than I was making working a 9-5 (before taxes, of course).

If you want to know how I pulled in that level of income, you’re in luck.

5 Business Lessons I Learned Before Turning 30

December 13, 2016 by Bree Brouwer 1,293 Comments

I turned 30 years old last week.

Which means I can no longer be considered for any “30 under 30” awards. Bugger.

But you know what? I’m okay with that, especially since I accomplished so much this past year, like jumping back into freelancing, making more money than I was at my day job, reviving this blog, etc. Plus, in my personal life, I managed to go on a 3-week trip to Europe with my husband, start decorating the house we’ve owned for a year, redo our kitchen cabinets, and successfully host five relatives for Thanksgiving.

I really did quite a bit when I was 29. I also learned many valuable lessons this year which I wanted to share with you lot.

Happy Second Birthday, Geek & Prosper! (Plus, a Giveaway)

October 31, 2016 by Bree Brouwer 1,752 Comments

It’s been two years and a few days since the first post went live on Geek & Prosper.

And there’s been a buttload of ups and downs since then.

In honor of this blog’s 2nd birthday, I wanted to go over some of the biggest highlights in Geek & Prosper’s history, as well as some of the blog’s most important numbers and stats. Most of this information might look pathetic compared to a big blog, but since I’m trying to stop comparing myself to other bloggers and their blogs, I don’t really give a shit. I’m proud of these accomplishments, and that’s that.

So without further ado, let’s dive in. Or as the 11th Doctor would say, geronimo!

What the Future Holds for Geek & Prosper

October 17, 2016 by Bree Brouwer 79 Comments

I need to be real with you.

This blog has been losing steam for a while now, so I’ve decided it’s time to make some substantial but important changes in these here parts.

If you’re the kind of person who hates change, you’re probably going to dislike what I’m going to say. If you think change is necessary, you might actually find what I’m about to propose to be a great idea. Either way, Geek & Prosper is going to look a lot different than it is now, and I’ll explain why in the rest of this post.

How I Went from $0 to $3000 Per Month (and Quit My Job) in Just Under 4 Months

July 27, 2016 by Bree Brouwer 5,635 Comments

So it’s been a while…

A year, actually. It’s been exactly a year and one week since I published my last post.

Shame on me.

Actually, no shame, because I do have a good reason. That reason is because I was making big adjustments in my life. Like, quitting-my-job-and-going-back-to-freelancing kind of adjustments.

If you’re a part of my email list (and if you aren’t, you really should join 200+ people in-the-know), you already know about my struggles and changes this past year. However, many of you superheroes expressed interest in knowing more of the details about that transition, and exactly how I went from $0 to $3000 per month in freelance work in a little under four months’ time.

Quite the legit request, so I’m going to fulfill your wishes in this post.

24 Pros Share What They Wish They’d Known When Starting An Online Business

July 21, 2015 by Bree Brouwer 13,340 Comments

Wouldn’t it be great if you could avoid making a bunch of mistakes in your online business?

You know, just kind of bypass the stuff which could seriously screw up your momentum and potentially wreck your business’s future success?

Fortunately, you can.

You certainly aren’t the first person to have entrepreneurial dreams. Others who’ve gone before you have made their own flubs time and time again.

And you can learn from them.

How to Make Your First Dollar from Your Hobby or Passion

July 6, 2015 by Bree Brouwer 64 Comments

Listen up! Got a little secret for you.

It’s something a lot of “professional” business owners think is a joke. It’s something a lot of the world thinks is silly. And it’s something you might even think is just a dream.

The secret is you can make money off your hobby or passion.

Seem unreal? It’s not. Other entrepreneurial geeks do it every day.

Take, for example, Elon Musk. He didn’t get where he was by giving up, did he? Even he realized he could earn some dough through his dreams of renewable energy and space exploration.

So why don’t more people start trying to build their own online business empires?

It’s because they don’t know where to start.

Continue reading…

Feeling Lazy? These 3 Geek-Inspired Principles Help Me Refocus in a Jiffy

June 23, 2015 by Bree Brouwer 21 Comments

Isn’t it awesome to be lazy?

Ignoring work while you watch a bunch of YouTube videos. Playing Minecraft an hour later than normal. Letting the next episode of Daredevil auto-load on Netflix (binging, FTW, right?).

But have you ever let that laziness go a bit too far? Like where you shirk your responsibilities all together?

Don’t lie now.

We’ve all done it. In fact, I’m not going to lie to you anymore: I often let laziness get the better of me more than is acceptable for a business owner.

In fact, my latest bout of laziness happened just last week…