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F50 Issue #35: Five Freelance Lessons from Magnum PI!
Published 22 days ago • 5 min read
F50 Issue #35: February 18, 2025
How to Love Your Freelance Business: Five Lessons from Magnum, P.I.
You switch the TV on. An energetic theme song erupts as a colorful helicopter flies over a deep blue ocean. Then a red sports car races down a picturesque highway, and you’re introduced to a cast of characters and their thrilling adventures.
Thomas Magnum had a great life. There’s no doubt about it. Whether you watch the original Magnum, P.I., or the reboot, you can tell from the opening credits that this character is enjoying himself.
Actor (and heartthrob) Tom Selleck played Magnum in the original television series. As you may already know, Magnum was a private investigator and former Navy SEAL who lived in Hawaii in the guesthouse of a beachfront estate called Robin’s Nest. The owner, Robin Masters, had invited him to live there in exchange for security services.
When you think about it, Magnum experienced the kind of freelance freedom many of us aspire to. First of all, he only worked as a P.I. on cases that suited him. He had a flexible schedule, coming and going from the estate as he pleased, and working only when he felt like it.
And, as Craig Cannings would advise, Magnum never freelanced alone. He relied on his friends, Rick and T.C., to help him out whenever he needed them. T.C. was a helicopter pilot, and Rick owned a bar called the King Kamehameha Club.
T.C. often flew Magnum around. Rick provided a place for Magnum to network and introduced him to valuable connections.
In real life, freelancers appear to enjoy their work as much as Magnum did. For example, “82% of full-time freelancers are happier working on their own and say it is ideal for them,” TeamStage reports in an article titled “Freelance Statistics 2024: The Future of Work?” In many cases, a flexible work schedule, freedom of location, and the ability to choose who they work with contribute to freelancers’ job satisfaction.
But how can you build a freelance business you love? Well, in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, let’s unpack five ways you can love your freelance business in meaningful and practical ways. As in many relationships, showering genuine love on your business leads to greater longevity, success, and fulfillment.
Five Ways to Love Your Freelance Business
1. Enjoy the benefits it brings to your personal and professional life.
If you’ve worked in traditional employment, it may feel strange to embrace these freedoms. But to fully enjoy the benefits, you need to give yourself permission to step outside the box:
Work whenever you want, during the hours when you’re most energetic and creative.
Arrange your work hours so you can attend special events or care for a family member.
Work wherever you want, anywhere from a cozy home office to an exotic location overseas.
2. Market your business effectively.
Although Magnum was laid-back and casual, he insisted on being called a “private investigator” instead of using slang terms. He showed his business respect and at the same time built his own credibility.
You can love your business by showing it the same kind of respect. Decide on a title for your role (e.g. content manager or podcast producer), and don’t sell yourself short. Above all, don’t be shy about marketing your services. Here are some ways Magnum might have marketed his business too, if the internet existed in the ‘80s:
Word-of-Mouth Marketing — referrals from clients, friends, and contacts.
Strategic Cold Calling — building rapport and making a meaningful connection with your ideal client prospect through social media.
In-Person Networking — attending local establishments and social events to maintain existing connections and attract new clients.
Content Marketing — publishing online content like blog posts, online videos, podcasts, social media posts, infographics that describe a strategy or workflow, email newsletters, and more.
3. Equip your business with the right technology and systems.
As we mentioned before, Magnum relied on his friends, Rick and T.C., to help him with his investigations. He knew the types of resources and connections they could provide, and he didn’t hesitate to ask for assistance.
In our more online world, you may not need to borrow T.C.’s helicopter, but you will need to choose tools and apps to power different parts of your freelance business. Here are some examples:
Project Management — Use tools like Asana, ClickUp, Notion, or Trello to create timelines and set milestones for projects.
Financial Management — Track time, create invoices, and categorize expenses using software like FreshBooks, HoneyBook, or Wave.
Document Management — Store files securely and share them with clients using cloud storage tools like Dropbox or Google Drive.
Systems and Processes — Use Scribe or Google Docs to document your standard operating procedures (SOPs) for common tasks.
4. Stay on top of the latest trends for your niche.
One thing we don’t see Magnum doing is setting aside time for professional development. If we could give him advice, we’d recommend he set aside a certain number of hours per week for learning. And that’s what we recommend you do too!
Access online courses, workshops, and tutorials to learn the latest skills you need to provide cutting-edge services for your clients.
Listen to podcasts and read relevant blog posts, articles, and newsletters to keep up to date on the latest developments in your industry.
Evaluate each project you do for clients to determine whether you need to incorporate new strategies or techniques.
Lifelong learning keeps your skills sharp and your services competitive. Not to mention the added confidence you’ll experience as you keep learning and growing!
5. Take regular breaks so you stay healthy.
His flexible schedule allowed him to make the most of the beautiful Hawaiian weather and recharge when he needed to. In the same way, you can keep yourself healthy by intentionally incorporating breaks and self-care into your daily routine.
Schedule these breaks into your calendar so that you don’t miss them. And consider using time management techniques like the Pomodoro Technique (25 minutes of focused work, followed by short breaks). This strategy can keep you productive during your workday and provide opportunities for you to get up from your desk and stretch or walk around.
No matter where you live, take these lessons from Magnum and give your business the love it needs so that you can love your freelance lifestyle!
Did You Know?
Actor Tom Selleck turned 80 years old in January! And although you might picture him celebrating his birthday like Magnum, P.I., driving around Hawaii in a red Ferrari, he planned a simple dinner with his wife and family. Some articles have even reported that he went through the McDonald’s drive-thru earlier in the day and enjoyed a burger in his car.
“While many actors throw lavish parties and enjoy week-, if not month-long birthday festivities, Tom prefers to keep things more low-key, even though he can undoubtedly afford a massive celebration. One reason? He doesn’t want to hyperfocus on his age.”
“‘I’m trying not to count,’ he revealed to Parade. ‘I stopped celebrating birthdays a while back. I intend to keep working.’”
Even though his most recent show, Blue Bloods, was canceled, he’s interested in doing more Jesse Stone movies, or even a Blue Bloods spin-off if the opportunity arises. We’re sure many people would love to see him in a reboot of Magnum, P.I., too!
No matter what he does, his refusal to focus on his age and his desire to keep working are inspiring!
You may not have Rick or T.C. to provide you with resources, like Magnum does, but you do have Craig Cannings!
Stay ahead of the curve with these 5 Must-Have Technology Tools for 2025, designed to help freelancers, entrepreneurs, and professionals over 50 thrive in today’s digital world!
In this month’s video, Craig unpacks five categories of must-have tools:
Project Management Tools
Client Relationship Management Tools
Time Tracking Tools
Website Tools
Video Conferencing Tools
Whether you're pivoting into a new career, starting a business, or simply looking to streamline your workflow, these tools are perfect for staying productive, organized, and competitive — no matter your tech experience.
Here’s to loving life and building a business you can enjoy for years to come!
Craig & Kelly Cannings, Co-founders of Freelance University
Ready for an exciting new chapter in your life? Join 8000 subscribers who are pursuing a second-act freelancing career to gain the income, flexibility and freedom they desire!
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