How to Hit Reset on Your Freelance Business with Melanie Padgett Powers
Mon Dec 15 2025
Are you running your freelance business with intention—or just reacting to deadlines?
It’s easy to stay in motion as a freelancer. Between client work, content marketing, invoicing, and trying to keep up with everything else, we often skip the most important work: thinking strategically about what we want from this business and how we’re actually doing.
On this episode, Ashley is joined by Melanie Padgett Powers, a longtime freelancer, managing editor, writer, and host of The Deliberate Freelancer podcast. She shares why stepping back to plan is essential, how she created the idea of a “solo business retreat,” and what creative freelancers can do to build in reflection time—even if they’re short on capacity.
ABOUT MELANIE
Melanie Padgett Powers is the owner of MelEdits in the Washington, DC, area, where she is a magazine managing editor, writer and proofreader for membership associations, primarily in the health care and science space. Melanie has a journalism degree and was previously a newspaper reporter in her home state of Indiana. She is also the creator and host of the Deliberate Freelancer and Association Station podcasts. Melanie lives with her husband and two entertaining cats, Maxy and Daisy. She loves all things books and reading, Washington Nationals baseball and solo travel adventures. Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn.
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Are you running your freelance business with intention—or just reacting to deadlines? It’s easy to stay in motion as a freelancer. Between client work, content marketing, invoicing, and trying to keep up with everything else, we often skip the most important work: thinking strategically about what we want from this business and how we’re actually doing. On this episode, Ashley is joined by Melanie Padgett Powers, a longtime freelancer, managing editor, writer, and host of The Deliberate Freelancer podcast. She shares why stepping back to plan is essential, how she created the idea of a “solo business retreat,” and what creative freelancers can do to build in reflection time—even if they’re short on capacity. ABOUT MELANIE Melanie Padgett Powers is the owner of MelEdits in the Washington, DC, area, where she is a magazine managing editor, writer and proofreader for membership associations, primarily in the health care and science space. Melanie has a journalism degree and was previously a newspaper reporter in her home state of Indiana. She is also the creator and host of the Deliberate Freelancer and Association Station podcasts. Melanie lives with her husband and two entertaining cats, Maxy and Daisy. She loves all things books and reading, Washington Nationals baseball and solo travel adventures. Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn. Full show notes here. Send us a text Support the show Talk Freelance To Me - Where Self-Employed Women Writers, Freelancers, and Solopreneurs Meet to Master the 1099 Contractor Lifestyle FREE GIFT JUST FOR YOU Discover 220+ freelance service ideas to diversify your income using the skills you already have. This free guide helps writers and creatives expand into new offers, niches, and formats—without starting from scratch. Get your diversification guide here. BIG MONEY FREELANCE WRITING GUIDE This 27-page directory contains over 100 places to find high-paying freelance writing gigs. Buy yours here! 1:1 BUSINESS COACHING Click here! LET'S BE SOCIAL! Instagram LinkedIn TikTok Facebook Twitter/X Pinterest YouTube Website ...