One year ago, L&D Free Spirits was just an idea. Today, it’s a buzzing community of self-employed L&D professionals who’ve shown me what can happen when people come together to share, collaborate, and help each other thrive.
So, what does one year of Free Spirits look like?
Events and learning
- 40 webinars and workshops
- 12 Challenge Hours
- 47 Free Spirit Fiestas
Content and resources
- 12 newsletters
- 9 podcast episodes
- 26 blog posts
- 7 downloadable templates
Community growth
- 40+ people welcomed into the membership
- 240+ on the mailing list
- 700+ LinkedIn followers
Milestones
- 2 Slack communities become 1 on Circle
- 2 expo stands (including our first-ever stand share)
- 2 expo afternoon teas
- 2 annual surveys run
- And our first virtual conference is in the works, including a 3-week conference village
When I committed to bringing L&D Free Spirits to life in late 2024, I scaled back my consultancy business so I could dive headfirst into building this community. I’ve learned more in the past 12 months about running a business than I did in the eight years before – and so much of that has come from our incredible guest speakers, partners, and members.
Because that’s what Free Spirits is all about… community.
Yes, the resources and events are brilliant, but the real gold is in the conversations, the collaborations, and the stories our members share.
As Stuart Birley from Pathfinder Digital Consultancy put it:
I want to stress how invaluable Free Spirits has been for me in that first year. I could not have got to where I am without it. The advice, guidance, experience, and faith you gave me has been worth the subscription ten times over.
When I launched, I had a target in mind – 100 members in year one. We didn’t hit that number, and I’m not sad about it. Building something from scratch means dealing with the things you can’t control. Freelancing was tough in 2024, and while 2025 is looking brighter, many people are still feeling the pinch.
That’s why I see year one as a foundation, not a finish line. Running your own business means adapting your targets, tweaking your approach, and knowing when to change direction. Stick too rigidly to the plan and you risk flogging a dead horse.
I’m so grateful for the support of everyone who has helped bring Free Spirits to life. So whether you’re a member, wizard, partner, have written or delivered something, or even just listened to me and my bonkers plans and been a sounding board…thank you so much.
So I’ll be going into year two full of ideas, collaborations, and a serious plan for world domination – I’d love you to be part of it too.
