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 should be the “greatest” or “finest” accomplishment — although it actually may very well 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 take into account what you need 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, power situations, life circumstances) shapes inventive work. This yr I constructed a framework and evaluation instrument that helps artists, writers, and makers perceive these patterns in their very own apply. I am rebranding it for 2026 to serve each particular person creatives and artistic 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 would 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 solid 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 embrace: (13) new shoppers, the return of some earlier shoppers, a 3-day biking shoot within the SF Bay Space for Fashionable Journey, being interviewed on The Nice Huge Pictures World Podcast, and one other yr of attending to do what I really like!” – Jay Watsonphotographer, San Francisco, CA
“For the previous eight years, I’ve labored as a long-term freelance illustrator and animator for a shopper, 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, fantastic 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 shopper 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 utterly ghosted. My parked automobile was totaled in a swanky NYC storage. My bathe leaked necessitating a full intestine renovation of my toilet…
However my most excessive profile shopper, 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 introduced 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 fact of existence in its entirety with out rejecting the unhealthy 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 business. 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 not pulled the set off simply but (I am concentrating 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 massive retainer shopper test to clear earlier than I give discover is a big win in and of itself.
I am additionally pleased with all of the work I’ve achieved to teach myself about inventive entrepreneurship. I’ve taken a bunch of lessons and workshops by way of 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 this 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! Â Most tarot decks have 78 playing cards. Nevertheless, the Alicento contains further playing cards from a number of the earliest tarot decks together with all 7 virtues, zodiac playing cards, and different lesser recognized playing cards to create a novel, 100-card tarot illustrated in a daring, whimsical type that has gotten rave evaluations 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 understand, the extra you will note!” – Michael J. Auger
“I will share that my greatest 2025 accomplishment was successful 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 Girls Communications Contest). However firsts are all the time 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 improvement aim to attend an business 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 evaluations 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
