265: The Proposal Strategy That Helped This Mom Close High-Ticket Clients (Part 2)

In Part 2, we pick up right where we left off—and go deep into the proposal process that helped Jade book aligned, high-paying clients without chasing or convincing. From discovery calls to saying no, you’ll hear exactly how she built a business model around energy alignment and long-term relationships—while raising a newborn.

Resources:
CLO3D
Style3D
Chris Do
The Fabricant AI
Look AI
Nano Banana AI
4 Fashion Designers Battle for $500 - Freelancer Pitching Challenge
264: How Jade Strategically Prepared Her Freelance Business During Pregnancy (Part 1)

About Jade:
Jade is a seasoned 3D sartorial streetwear designer, pattern maker, and product developer who previously contributed her technical expertise at Alexander McQueen. Since 2013, has led design innovation through her creative studio, Atelier WCMF.

With over 20 years of experience in pattern engineering and garment construction, Jade blends traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge digital tools (such as Clo3D, AI-enabled workflows, and virtual sampling) to streamline development, reduce waste, and deliver consistent high-quality results across collections.

Connect with Jacqueline:
Email her at [e-mail]
Check out her website

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Connect on LinkedIn

Download my Freelance Price List just for fashion (it’s free!): sewheidi.com/price

Creators and Guests

Host

Heidi Weinberg {Sew Heidi}

Heidi (aka Sew Heidi) is a self-taught freelance fashion designer who built a six-figure business without a degree, portfolio, or industry connections. After years of burnout in the fashion industry, she went freelance—and never looked back. Now, she helps other designers ditch toxic jobs, land better clients, and build flexible careers they love. Through her podcast, courses, and resources, Heidi has helped thousands of designers take control of their fashion path and finally get paid what they’re worth.

What is Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own Terms?

This is a show for burnt-out fashion designers (and TDs, PDs, patternmakers, textile designer and beyond) who want more flexibility in their career while still doing work they love.

You'll learn how to build a freelance fashion business, so you can do the work you love on your own terms. Freelancing in fashion is the only way to get freedom in your day (instead of being tied to a desk).

Whether you want to earn extra money on the side, fund your fashion brand, or replace your salary, the FDGP podcast will help you get there. Listen in for actionable tips and strategies to kickstart or grow your career as a freelance fashion designer, build your confidence, and create the life you want.

Hosted by $100k+ fashion freelancer Sew Heidi, the show features interviews and strategy sessions with successful freelance fashion designers from around the world who've ditched toxic fashion jobs and taken control of their own destinies. This is the only place to get REAL insights from REAL freelancers who have built REAL careers on their own terms. (Formerly the Successful Fashion Freelancer podcast.)

Heidi [00:00:00]:
This is part two of a two part episode with Jade Way where we are diving straight into the proposal process that helps her land aligned high paying freelance clients without chasing or over explaining her value. If you haven't heard part one yet, definitely go listen to that first or this will not fully land. In this half of our conversation, Jade breaks down how she writes custom proposals, sets firm boundaries and confidently says no to projects that aren't a fit. We also talk about navigating work with a newborn, staying selective with clients, and the bold business model she's building to support both freedom and flexibility. If you've ever wondered what it really looks to write proposals that get a yes and land them without a portfolio, you're about to find out. Let's dive in then talk to us about the proposal. You take some time, you tell them, I imagine you tell them like what do you need like a week to get it together or sometimes even two.

Jade Wei [00:00:52]:
Weeks because obviously I just had ob.

Jade Wei [00:00:55]:
So my time I'm still adjusting to. Okay, how is this being new mom, like and then his routine, you know, like before six months it changed all the time.

Heidi [00:01:05]:
Yeah.

Jade Wei [00:01:06]:
So I'm kind of trying to lean like being flexible, but at the same.

Jade Wei [00:01:10]:
Time just try to get things done like whenever I can. So I kind of give myself even longer time to process things and I can. And I also feel like if I give myself enough time, I can give the actual tension that it really deserves. Like if I already decide I might put a proposal together for this project, I'm already considering working with this client.

Jade Wei [00:01:32]:
Right.

Jade Wei [00:01:33]:
So I feel I'm already invest into.

Jade Wei [00:01:36]:
The project but I'm going to put.

Jade Wei [00:01:37]:
This proposal together otherwise we won't even get to that stage. So I thought it doesn't, it doesn't harm me if even it takes a few days, it's not a few hours thing for me.

Heidi [00:01:48]:
Yeah, I think that's really important because um, I did this experiment where I hired five freelancer or hired a freelancer. I don't know if you watched the YouTube video. And I had people go through the pitching process and I led the discovery calls and the proposals and I, I pretended to be the client. They knew I was not actually a real client. And what, what really surprised me was how many freelancers led the discovery call or we had the discovery call and then they're like, I'll get you the proposal this afternoon. I mean some people sent it within an hour. And I was, the context of the project was me starting an entire brand from scratch. You know, it Wasn't like, I was like, oh, I need three fashion flats drawn or something.

Heidi [00:02:31]:
Right. It was like, I'm starting this brand. I want four pieces design. And it was this really big thing. And for me as the client, as I was pretending in this role, I got very attached to the idea of this brand. And I. It was very. It turned into, like, a little baby for me.

Jade Wei [00:02:45]:
And.

Heidi [00:02:45]:
And when people were so quick on the turn, I thought, well, you're not even taking the time to give it a proper thought or effort. And I think this is a really important nuance because as a freelancer, we can often feel like the client needed it yesterday. Right. Or maybe we are so excited to close the deal that we're like, here it is. Sign it. Let's get moving. But I think that that can sometimes come off the wrong way.

Heidi [00:03:12]:
And.

Heidi [00:03:12]:
And as long as you set expectations and communicate with the client, like, let me get this to you. I'd really like to give it the time and space that it needs to think about your project thoroughly. And I can get this to you in two weeks. And I imagine. Did you give some context that you had just had a baby and stuff, too?

Jade Wei [00:03:28]:
Yeah, I think I did. Yeah.

Heidi [00:03:30]:
Okay.

Jade Wei [00:03:30]:
And then they all very.

Heidi [00:03:31]:
I think people appreciate that.

Jade Wei [00:03:32]:
Yeah, yeah. And then they are very, like.

Jade Wei [00:03:34]:
Yeah, they just so very, like, understanding and very kind. And that, again, really kind of affirmed. I want to work with that kind.

Jade Wei [00:03:44]:
Yeah, right.

Heidi [00:03:45]:
Yeah.

Jade Wei [00:03:46]:
And then there's even one client was approaching me in September, was patiently waiting till beginning of the year, and then, actually, I forgot to send back the message. And then he was the one reached back to me again.

Jade Wei [00:04:03]:
And they end up.

Jade Wei [00:04:05]:
Yeah, he's like my ongoing client right now and my favorite client.

Heidi [00:04:09]:
Oh, that's so cool.

Heidi [00:04:11]:
That's so cool. Okay, so these clients are coming in from LinkedIn in one way or another. You're leading discovery. You say no to people who aren't a great match. You take your time on the proposal. What does your proposal look like? Like, what are the parts and stuff that you put in there? And aside from the price and, like, what takes two weeks, what takes a couple days to put together?

Jade Wei [00:04:37]:
I think.

Jade Wei [00:04:39]:
Yeah.

Jade Wei [00:04:39]:
Again, it's learning from that fast program.

Jade Wei [00:04:42]:
Right?

Jade Wei [00:04:42]:
The training.

Heidi [00:04:43]:
Yeah.

Jade Wei [00:04:44]:
It kind of gave me, like, a good template to kind of, you know, build on. So really, from my first call, when I asked so many questions, that's helped me to kind of, like, navigate, actually, what are their goals for this project?

Jade Wei [00:04:57]:
Because as a brand, you have so.

Jade Wei [00:04:59]:
Many goals in different timeline.

Jade Wei [00:05:00]:
Right.

Jade Wei [00:05:01]:
But we've got to establish what's the goal right now or in a short amount of time. So I will help them to kind of navigate that. I will have that in the proposal first thing. And then I guess it's like one part why me? Why we might be a good fit for this and that. Then tie with. I will build a mini portfolio of maybe my password relate to this type of brand and then what type of thing they want to do. And I already done that before so it's almost let them know they can trust me. I've done this before.

Heidi [00:05:36]:
You do a little mini project for them within the proposal?

Jade Wei [00:05:39]:
No, I do a mini portfolio because.

Heidi [00:05:42]:
I don't have a mini portfolio.

Jade Wei [00:05:44]:
Yeah, yeah.

Heidi [00:05:45]:
And is this work that you already have done and like just gathering stuff that's that is specifically connected to them? Sorry, say it again.

Jade Wei [00:06:00]:
Yes. So I do. Sorry. My headphones just died. So then.

Heidi [00:06:06]:
Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Headphones died. So you. You're not creating a project specifically for them. You're looking through your past work and you're saying okay, this project or this project. If I show them this that gives them a really good idea of how I can help them.

Jade Wei [00:06:25]:
Yeah.

Heidi [00:06:26]:
I'm taking projects.

Jade Wei [00:06:27]:
Yeah. And it's like almost like a tailor to them. Because my proposal I would say is very tailored to each client depends the project. So I will pick out what actually relevant to this project to showcase what I can do or certain testimonial from past clients. This skill they're looking for. Yeah. Which I don't have them in public because then I feel somehow I haven't built a portfolio. It sort of is good in this way because I feel then this become my mini.

Jade Wei [00:06:59]:
Well love letters to them in some way.

Jade Wei [00:07:01]:
Right.

Jade Wei [00:07:02]:
Only for them. I'm doing build this for them only no one else have seen this. And I feel in some way that tie with. I want my client journey to feel experiential with me because I see working on one to one client project. I see as we go on a journey together. I don't see as one off project because I am. I want to build. They call it evergreen client.

Jade Wei [00:07:28]:
Right.

Jade Wei [00:07:28]:
Because I in their success and then we can continue working together. I'm not looking for one and done one and done pattern type of project. That that's just not where I want to build my, you know, different version of freelancing. So again so this is already thought out like in the beginning. So I guess. Yeah. During this process I just keep going back to that I call it like my North Star. What other thing I wrote down.

Jade Wei [00:07:57]:
So then it's really clear for me each step how I kind of like guiding my client. I can go back to that. Like, that was important for me. How am I going to deliver that for this journey with them? So just. Yeah, so I think it's the proposal. I want them to feel that special for them. Yeah.

Heidi [00:08:17]:
That's amazing. So Obi was born in August. You started some discovery calls coming in in September. It's now September 2025. So now we're. We're talking about the last year since Obie was born. Okay. And so have clients continued to sort of come to you via LinkedIn? Like this process is just sort of maintaining.

Jade Wei [00:08:41]:
So it slowed down a little bit, but it does still continue. But then it just means I'm saying more. No. Yeah, because. Yeah, interestingly, because you might get more reach out. Like they call it one leads. I really don't like the word of leads, you know, but I know that's a marketing term. For me it's connection.

Jade Wei [00:09:06]:
You might get more connection coming your way. People want to connect with you, they want to work with you. But there are just certain things when they send a message, you just know. They don't even know what you do. So I would just politely already not even go on discovery call because I feel better for them and me. And then I get more time and space for people. They actually maybe need me and see my value or they will give me more time to do things that I don't want to charge people for. You know, so it's like all this balancing, like you need to kind of figure it out, like what you want to charge for for your value, but that also give you back the freedom what you can do for free.

Jade Wei [00:09:52]:
Right.

Jade Wei [00:09:52]:
And I like, you know, that's the whole point. Like doing business yourself. You get to decide. And I think like when I say I, I see myself more of entrepreneur, freelancer, because I feel slowly, I feel like freelancer can easily become. You are still employee, but you just being employed by yourself.

Jade Wei [00:10:15]:
And I don't want to go down that road.

Jade Wei [00:10:17]:
Yeah. So I guess I am thinking different way. Like, okay, freelancing differently, but building business differently. So yeah, there might be a course I might build and they might be free content. I want to start put out for people to see on YouTube to teach people. I not teach, share.

Heidi [00:10:42]:
Are you making YouTube videos?

Jade Wei [00:10:44]:
I'm planning to. That's my. Okay.

Heidi [00:10:47]:
I'm like, what? I don't know about this. Okay. When you Say this for you, adding value for free that you're not charging people. You're talking about creating content, creating. Creating resources, maybe building some YouTube videos that you can point people to and help distribute to share the knowledge. Yeah, yeah.

Jade Wei [00:11:04]:
I think like even little thing that I did on LinkedIn, share a free guide how you start to learn Cloud 3D for free. And that got me a lot of people find beneficial. And I got so many messages from people just, you know, and I. I love doing that for people. They may be at the beginning of their journey. They don't have the means to invest in freelancer, but they. Maybe they are designer themselves and they want to go on the journey, this DIY journey, but it doesn't take me. I just build out once and I can share with so many people and I just feel that's better for me to use my time instead of working with a client that doesn't align with me.

Jade Wei [00:11:43]:
Yeah. It's just all this.

Heidi [00:11:45]:
Yeah. Yeah.

Heidi [00:11:46]:
Okay. So this is amazing. It's. We're in your first year of building. You said version 3.0 of your freelance business as an entrepreneur. I know we chatted earlier before we hit record about. You didn't want to specifically talk about monetary amounts, which I absolutely respect. But I will say, and you said it was okay, that it is not insignificant the amount of revenue you've brought in in your first year of motherhood.

Heidi [00:12:14]:
But where I feel like we didn't. We kind of started and then we haven't really hit on is like, how are you juggling all of this with Obie? I know you said you have family help. I believe some of your family still lives in Taiwan. You live in London. Maybe your husband's family's there. I don't know. I know your husband is helping out a lot, but what is the day to day, week to week look like in this year that you've had ob, that you've essentially been working the full year, maybe minus six weeks? Are you staying up late? Are you getting up early? How much support do you have from family? What's the reality of this? Because you said you don't have any proper like daycare or anything like that. Yeah, talk to us.

Jade Wei [00:12:57]:
Yeah, we made a decision. We don't want to send Obi to daycare until he's three.

Heidi [00:13:02]:
Okay.

Jade Wei [00:13:03]:
So we've just like straight away, first three months, just me and my husband. So for me to get work done, I either just work when they both sleep or I get up when they sleep. So basically, yeah, stay up Late or getting up early.

Jade Wei [00:13:18]:
So sleeping much.

Jade Wei [00:13:22]:
By the fall. But which I think I build on muscle when I'm basically in fashion. You know, you build that muscle since you.

Heidi [00:13:29]:
But that's hard. Those early days with their sleep schedule and some of the sleep regressions. Like that is hard.

Jade Wei [00:13:37]:
But again, I feel like when your why is so strong all these things you can very kind of like. Yeah, I feel maybe I'm just someone like if I agree to do something not with someone, even with myself, I'm gonna do it. So I feel like when I made that decision, yeah, I want to look after Obi ourselves. But at the same time I don't want to just be a mom. That's a sacrifice I have to make. Not sleeping right. But then I get to choose the difficulty what I want to do. Right.

Jade Wei [00:14:08]:
Or it's like if I'm getting a full time job, let's say I get all the benefit. But then the difficulty in that part. I got go to office and not seeing him for eight hours a day, you know, I don't. I rather swap that with my sleep. So there's always trade off. There's always trade off in life. I feel like I share this with you before, but I really love this I saying. People say but you if you choose your own heart, you know it actually at least you happily doing it.

Heidi [00:14:40]:
Yeah.

Jade Wei [00:14:41]:
And that's how I feel like nothing is easy in life. Like I say, lost my father while I was five months pregnant. And then continue working through nothing is easy. But I choose it, right? Because I have a goal. I have a. I have a mission for myself. Because we all maybe question why are we even here sometimes. Right.

Jade Wei [00:15:08]:
I question that about myself a lot. So I feel maybe not like I'm so great. Like I'm more than just a human. I need to do greater things. It's not just that. It's just like if I can do more to share with more people, why not, Right?

Heidi [00:15:25]:
Yeah.

Jade Wei [00:15:26]:
And that's part of living to share. Because we now living in a silo, right. With other people. And everything you do, everything you say, it does have a butterfly effect. You like it or not. It does. I guess I'm just mindful about things like that. So I really kind of like hold myself accountable what I do.

Heidi [00:15:51]:
So okay, so the first three months, your husband and you only you sacrifice sleep. And you just powered through. You chose your hard. Which I'm a big fan of. Choose your hard. And then after that, what did the.

Jade Wei [00:16:06]:
Next nine months look like we might get Help from my husband's basically my mother in law will come like twice, two days a week. She would stay overnight, which never happened before. So I quite enjoy this new thing as well. Like she would be staying with us like you know, like two days a week and staying overnight, almost like sleepover and it's really. Yeah. Nice. And then all like my auntie, like even she's from Taiwan too. But then she live in UK so she will as well.

Jade Wei [00:16:38]:
So then we might get between two days to four days. I help during the day and then with my mother in law she stay overnight but she does go to bed early, you know, so it's like I probably get six hours to eight hours help like during a weekday. Like when I have the help three.

Heidi [00:16:58]:
Two to four days a week. Depending.

Heidi [00:17:00]:
Yeah, depending.

Heidi [00:17:01]:
And does your husband work full time from home or.

Jade Wei [00:17:05]:
No, not from home. He has to go into the office too. But there are days he can work from home. So I guess that make us like easy to kind of like switch. When he's in the meeting, I have the baby. When I'm in a meeting, he's. So we keep doing. Yeah, we basically work out a system and we will check with each other like, oh, when do you have meeting? So I as a freelancer I try to.

Jade Wei [00:17:26]:
Because I can be more flexible the time booking my meeting. So I'll try to avoid time he's off it. So I try to book my meeting always on the day he's off or the day or basically more towards the evening. So he's already finished. So yeah, late meeting into the evening. That's another thing how I do it. Yeah.

Heidi [00:17:46]:
Yeah. So it's a juggle. But communication, some sacrifice and some help goes a long way.

Jade Wei [00:17:55]:
And I think it's just. Yeah, until you in it, you don't know how you're going to navigate.

Heidi [00:18:02]:
Yeah.

Jade Wei [00:18:03]:
And I really didn't know how I was going to cope. But I guess like, yeah, this is big lesson I learned during giving birth. Just take abreast as at the time.

Jade Wei [00:18:16]:
Right.

Jade Wei [00:18:16]:
And then you go through it and everything would just be fine. You, you don't need to think about too far. You could have a clear goal. My goal was having obi.

Jade Wei [00:18:26]:
Right.

Jade Wei [00:18:26]:
You're having a baby at the end of this. But the process, it could be daunting. But just take that breath, each breath at the time and then the baby come. Yeah, that's the lesson I took away from that big event in my life. And then it does apply to when I look back, reflect on how things turn out, how they are. It is kind of you break everything down into steps. Almost like taking a breath, you know?

Heidi [00:18:54]:
Yeah. Yeah.

Heidi [00:18:56]:
You just get through it one day at a time. You learn every little stage is different and you figure it out.

Jade Wei [00:19:04]:
And I think it's just showing up.

Jade Wei [00:19:06]:
Right.

Jade Wei [00:19:06]:
And then I think I. I talk about it on LinkedIn as well. Just like before be I'm always a professionalist. Everything have to be perfect before it's or is. But I really learned because him like there's no manual how to be a perfect mom. But the best thing is you show up and I. I apply. I learned that and then I really feel that apply to everything.

Jade Wei [00:19:32]:
So I feel that helped me to shift my mindset again in terms of the business. Yeah. Even it's not perfect right now. But I have the mindset. I'm gonna sort it out and I can make it better. You know, it's just like. And that's so freeing because sometimes you almost like the procrastination because you're a perfectionist. Can you.

Heidi [00:19:56]:
What's that?

Jade Wei [00:19:58]:
Yeah, I say a lot of the procrastination just because you are a perfectionist.

Heidi [00:20:02]:
Yeah.

Jade Wei [00:20:02]:
You know, I feel that some that in the past it crippled me sometimes.

Heidi [00:20:06]:
Yeah.

Jade Wei [00:20:07]:
Yeah.

Heidi [00:20:07]:
Can you give an example of like what might you have gotten crippled on within your freelance business by being a perfectionist? And now that you've had OBI and you're like well, I just show up. I do my best. I keep taking steps forward. Like how are you now doing that different in your freelance business? Does that make sense?

Jade Wei [00:20:27]:
Yes, I think projects.

Jade Wei [00:20:29]:
Right.

Jade Wei [00:20:29]:
Because I'm integrate all the 3D and then I even I work project before. But then I feel because it keep changing the software keep update. And then now also empowered by AI. There's so many tools. And I just feel like you can't know everything at the pace that is happening.

Jade Wei [00:20:48]:
Right.

Jade Wei [00:20:48]:
That's another thing as well.

Jade Wei [00:20:50]:
I feel I just need to learn as I go. But then kind of like understand what's the most fundamental importance of that job. First that task.

Jade Wei [00:21:02]:
Right.

Jade Wei [00:21:03]:
And then that's the minimum I need to deliver. But anything else on top is extra. So I'm kind of building this mindset now. But I guess like even my minimum maybe it's a bit more than they that's my own like you know, my heart I choose. So. Yeah.

Heidi [00:21:19]:
But like it sounds like before you would have had to feel like you had everything 100% figured out maybe on a specific knowledge or skill set that you were wanting to deliver and now you're like, okay, I know step one and two and I'll figure out steps three through ten as I go. Did I hear that?

Jade Wei [00:21:37]:
No. I think even it's the fact that I'm delivering one and two now. But I know this is not a final one and two because I think in designs like that, right. Design and then sample and pattern everything, there could be so many iterations even to the last minute. But for me in the past, whenever I show up, I deliver a project, I want it to be perfect for that moment in time. Regardless, I know it's going to be changed or not. That's my own blocker, I think. But now I'm more like.

Jade Wei [00:22:14]:
I feel it's more of a flow. I know all these things flow with each other, everything linked together. Especially with the new 3D in play now with pattern making because before everything is physical, it's less flexible, less agile. So maybe that tie my mindset too. So I think the new technology also helped me to free that side of mind.

Heidi [00:22:38]:
Okay.

Jade Wei [00:22:38]:
Yeah. And for example like design process, I help clients to visualize in with AI image generated image first. But we not producing that. So it's concept but we're building things in 3D. They get to see silhouette again. I'm not tied to every look because I know all these 3D individual piece can be changed as we go. So I'm tied to that final presentation anymore so that help with my speed, help up with the communication. So I feel overall the experience is more open and fluid at the same time.

Jade Wei [00:23:19]:
They. I will be openly telling them this is not final presentation.

Jade Wei [00:23:23]:
Right.

Jade Wei [00:23:24]:
But. But yeah, like I think again it go back to the trust. It just somehow maybe already showing my proposal or the conversation. They know what I. I know I'm saying I. They know what I can do in that even without asking me any portfolio. I think so they have that full trust and I do find it like they are really grateful but also very happy and that bring me joy because I feel it's a two way thing. When I feel happy working on a project because I'm fully invested, like I said, invest in their success, they feel differently because I'm not just delivering a project, getting paid and then bye bye.

Jade Wei [00:24:08]:
So they feel that too. But also yeah. And then I feel like when these high paying clients, they respect boundary a lot more than you know.

Heidi [00:24:18]:
Sure do.

Jade Wei [00:24:20]:
Yes. So I guess I just enjoy that kind of working relationship so much more because everything align.

Jade Wei [00:24:27]:
Right.

Jade Wei [00:24:28]:
Even our approach of like design and Then business. Just a lot of things mindset. You all already collide with each other.

Heidi [00:24:39]:
Yeah.

Jade Wei [00:24:40]:
Yeah.

Heidi [00:24:41]:
So would you say that you're. I know you said you're learning a lot more who to say no to and sometimes you're even seeing that in their initial inquiry before you get on a call, you're like, I just know from the way this message is written or what they're asking, it's not a good match. And you made the comment right now of these higher paying clients. So are you working with fewer clients at more substantial prices?

Heidi [00:25:07]:
Yeah. Yeah.

Jade Wei [00:25:08]:
And I think I deliberately choose that because I feel as an entrepreneur I build other things on the side.

Heidi [00:25:18]:
Yeah.

Jade Wei [00:25:18]:
Because for me working with multiple client project it's the same as my own project is an extra project too. You know. So I guess this is another thing I want to tie back to with running a brand. And I feel in the beginning I feel like freelancing and having a brand is two separate thing. But as I go this new journey, I really feel it can be a one thing. You just need a mindset shift. Because for example I'm building all these for other brands and I have intention to build my own brand again with the same process that I trust that I'm with. I want to use it for my own self.

Jade Wei [00:25:57]:
My myself building a brand again when Obi's older.

Heidi [00:26:01]:
Yeah.

Jade Wei [00:26:02]:
So it's almost like I already trust what I do. So I do it for client. Why can't I do it for me? And then I feel when I kind of like have that kind of mindset, I guess my kind of. No, I'm in it for the win. Not just you know, so that, that really changed a different. The dynamic between me and the client. I think.

Heidi [00:26:23]:
Yeah.

Jade Wei [00:26:23]:
Yeah.

Heidi [00:26:24]:
You're deeply invested in their projects as though it is your own.

Heidi [00:26:28]:
Yeah.

Jade Wei [00:26:29]:
So I guess that's also why like I said in the beginning, I spend more time effort vetting the project.

Jade Wei [00:26:33]:
Right.

Jade Wei [00:26:34]:
I want to know who the person I'm working with. I want to get a feeling and then also how they even in a discovery call when they're asking you question, you can already maybe because I've done it for many years. And then I constantly reflect and then kind of analyze for myself. I, I just know which kind of clients work better with me, with my personality. So I kind of, I guess I'm doing that for me do that analysis thing for myself to moving forward.

Heidi [00:27:04]:
Yeah.

Jade Wei [00:27:04]:
Yeah. Because I, I believe one client can be Peter client to you but they could be amazing client for another I really believe that because I feel it's a personality as well as like a, you know, style of like communication. Yeah.

Heidi [00:27:21]:
And when you're so deeply invested in these projects, plus you have limited bandwidth and limited, not just time, but also mental space to give to Obi, to give to your husband, to give to yourself, to give to your clients. You do have to get really particular with where are you going to spend that mental space and choosing those very wisely.

Jade Wei [00:27:46]:
Yeah, definitely. Because I think, like, well, I would like, I would like to give more time to my husband. Told you, like through and through for me. Yeah. And. But then another thing, he has the faith and belief in me, you know, even when I say to him, like, I want to take a little time off to reinvest myself, you know, blending my skill, learning new skill and then building a new business, he's fully supported, you know, and then. Yeah, it just, I can't fold him. I, Yeah, I think without him, like he's support, I, I don't think I can do it alone.

Jade Wei [00:28:26]:
So I think with business it's always like this. We only see, you know, a shining tight line, but really that behind there's so many other micro story other people don't know. Right. And then like someone doesn't, they just take the fast fit and face value and then compare themselves to that creates so much unnecessary anxiety in comparison. Which I should. Yeah.

Heidi [00:28:55]:
And I want to applaud you because, you know, we, we talked before we started recording the episode about I really pushed you to share some type of monetary reference even I was like, okay, we don't have to share the exact amount, but can we share something? And. And you really pushed against that and I applaud you for that because I think it kind of comes full circle with what you just said right here. Right. We get this really catchy headline. Jade made a million dollars. Here's as a new Bob. Right. And we.

Heidi [00:29:26]:
In a 30, 45, 60 minute conversation, it's really hard to get all the context and nuance and those micro stories, as you phrased it, which I love that term of like what's really going on behind the scenes. And also this iceberg. Right. Of like it's not only these nuances of right here in this first year, in this moment, this first year of your motherhood in this moment, but it's also like what came before in the 10 years building up to that and all the work you did. Right. Because I mean, even you said you took time during your pregnancy to take time off to Dedicate yourself to learning more about running your freelance business, being really strategic, being intentional, building up your skills. And I think, you know, even that is. Is an edge that you have that not everybody has the luxury of being afforded.

Heidi [00:30:13]:
Right.

Heidi [00:30:14]:
Yeah.

Heidi [00:30:14]:
And having family to help or, you know, whatever resources you have to help get all this stuff done on a day to day, month to month basis, that allows you to have the time and the space to push and build your freelance business. And it's hard to get all the context. So I applaud you for being really mindful of people listening. And it can feel hard to hear those stories. You're like, well, wait, I'm doing all those things. Why am I not making that million dollars? Right. Jay is not making a million dollars. Guys, for context.

Jade Wei [00:30:48]:
Yeah, someday maybe I would say, yeah, because I feel like when it comes, like, okay, the earning, that's such a good headline in many business.

Jade Wei [00:31:03]:
Right.

Jade Wei [00:31:04]:
But I really feel like, especially like being a woman, we need to kind of go through pregnancy basically almost taking a pulse, a career pose. If you want a child, there's no other way you can do it.

Jade Wei [00:31:19]:
Right.

Jade Wei [00:31:20]:
And I just feel like, like you say I have the. I do have the luxury, and I know that. So without kind of like people knowing me, if they just know the tagline, I really feel that's unfair to other people. And also in terms of like, even 3D, I had the time, luxury to invest myself to blend that skill. But not everyone can do that. They can take time. Because I speak to other freelancers, they just can't even put a post right now. You know, they need to.

Jade Wei [00:31:50]:
They got bills to pay. And then how can they say no and then go on learning 3D? You know, it's just all these things I'm aware of, like, because in my circle, I hear that. So I just kind of want to be more mindful what I share. I don't want to make it unrealistic for other people. Yeah, I appreciate that.

Heidi [00:32:12]:
Yeah, I appreciate that. And yeah, as we said before, hitting record was, you know, I do share a lot of financial success stories on here, and you said, I'd like to hear more of just the real raw stories. So thank you for nudging into that and I appreciate your candidness to share all of this. I would love to wrap up and ask you the question that I think you know is coming because I've asked you before. I know you listen to the show. What is one thing people never ask you about working in fashion that you wish they would or working as a freelance fashion designer slash entrepreneur that you wish they would.

Jade Wei [00:32:51]:
I guess now would be why 3D? Or why AI? Yeah, this is a big why question. People don't ask enough. Because actually can you share that a.

Heidi [00:33:02]:
Little bit of your answer with us?

Jade Wei [00:33:04]:
I think because generally, especially on these two topic within fashion industry, it's almost like it's like putting people into groups. You either yes or no. But I feel again it's so much more beyond the yes and no.

Jade Wei [00:33:22]:
Right.

Jade Wei [00:33:22]:
The context.

Jade Wei [00:33:24]:
Right.

Jade Wei [00:33:24]:
What do you use it for and what actually does it benefit for? I feel people don't know enough to even make a yes and no judgment yet. And I feel when it comes to new thing or new idea, new concept very easily as a human I am too because in the beginning AI3D was A. You know, I'm kind of like figuring out as well. So I know it's human nature to kind of first resist to something new alien.

Jade Wei [00:33:54]:
Right.

Jade Wei [00:33:55]:
But then I kind of like retrain myself to decode those kind of habits and then I mine. Yeah, I feel like then that stop you learning something you don't know. And it's kind of go back to the beginning. I feel something that really helped me grow is when I comfortable with the concept. I don't know everything. Even I'm in this industry for this long. Even my old way, I think it works fine. But I still don't know everything in this new modern world.

Jade Wei [00:34:25]:
And I want to know because I am still living on this modern world. I don't want to live continue in the past. And I feel this is an uncomfortable thing for people to even think about as well. Yeah, in the beginning for me too because we just very comfortable with the skill that we already built maybe with 10 years. So now I gotta learn something new, you know. But then for me like once I kind of realized I don't know everything and I'm curious about so many things. Just being curious. I think that give me energy, it bring me joy because I'm still living.

Jade Wei [00:35:03]:
Of course I want to thrive to know new things and be a different person. And I guess I can say like recently I'm a huge crystal fan by the way. So recently there's a podcast episode he talk about you just can't be the same person and want to charge 10x.

Jade Wei [00:35:24]:
Right.

Jade Wei [00:35:24]:
And I guess also when I talking about price, I don't like to share in public. Also is that because we change all the time.

Jade Wei [00:35:35]:
Right.

Jade Wei [00:35:37]:
So I'm not the same person two years ago.

Jade Wei [00:35:42]:
Right.

Jade Wei [00:35:42]:
I might Give a price, then my mind is different. I charge differently now I work with maybe even different people. It's just so many things like to be concerned. Consider. Yeah.

Heidi [00:35:54]:
So yeah, Christo is awesome.

Jade Wei [00:35:57]:
Yeah, he's great.

Heidi [00:36:00]:
I'm going to ask selfishly because I want to know, but I also feel like people listening are going to want to know. What are your current. Go to tools for 3D and AI tools.

Jade Wei [00:36:09]:
My 3D tool at the moment. Close 3D, but I'm kind of like in the beginning of. Yeah. Exploring style 3D now as well.

Heidi [00:36:19]:
Okay.

Heidi [00:36:21]:
And what about for AI?

Jade Wei [00:36:23]:
AI? I think there's a few I'm playing in the background at the moment. One is the Fabricant.

Heidi [00:36:29]:
Ah, yeah.

Jade Wei [00:36:30]:
And then look AI.

Heidi [00:36:33]:
Uhhuh.

Jade Wei [00:36:34]:
And I think. I think this month Nano Banana is on the radar.

Heidi [00:36:41]:
What is it called?

Jade Wei [00:36:42]:
Is it called Nano Banana? Basically, I think it's the. Yeah. I think a lot of AI experts.

Heidi [00:36:49]:
On LinkedIn, I've never even heard of this.

Jade Wei [00:36:53]:
So I'm gonna try that. So that's another thing. Like this year I'm testing and playing with a lot AI tool because I feel with 3D, another thing is like when I build 3D, I. I look beyond it's just a pattern anymore. Because before the reason why I go in 3D because pattern making. But now when the more I understand what it actually means, like building a 3D asset. It's more than that. And also that kind of go back to.

Jade Wei [00:37:23]:
As a business mindset, I want my client to know that value. We're not building a 3D just for your pattern. This 3D asset, we can level it up to go into your marketing stage. And then I think for a lot of small medium brand, that's where they don't have the budget for.

Jade Wei [00:37:41]:
Right.

Jade Wei [00:37:41]:
They can build sample. They have budget for that. But it's the marketing campaign, all that. And I think 3D is a great tool to leverage with AI for you to kind of like still have a control with your design. But you can. Yeah. Leverage with AI. Have a more polished like marketing material for you to kind of do Pryota model.

Jade Wei [00:38:05]:
Because I really. All these new tools are great opportunity for new fashion brand to come up with a new fashion business model. We don't have to do this thing the same way because we have different tools now. And that's what I fully invest and believe in. Yeah.

Heidi [00:38:23]:
Yeah.

Heidi [00:38:24]:
That's amazing. I've heard great things about the Fabricant in terms of the. What's the word I'm looking for just the quality the realism of the renders and the consistency across poses and models and stuff is really strong. I haven't played around with it, but I've heard really good things because in.

Jade Wei [00:38:46]:
The past I tried Raspberry AI as well. And the one at the moment I forgot the name.

Heidi [00:38:53]:
Yeah, there's a lot out there.

Jade Wei [00:38:54]:
The baby brain is still here, by the way.

Heidi [00:38:58]:
Oh, I don't think it ever goes away. The mom brain.

Jade Wei [00:39:00]:
Oh my God. Really?

Heidi [00:39:03]:
Sorry. I mean, maybe it gets better. I'm not sure it completely goes away though. I don't know. My son's only five and a half, so perhaps you do outgrow it at some point.

Jade Wei [00:39:13]:
But yeah, I think like all this new AI tool, there's again context, what you want to use it for. Because I feel even for true like realistic aspect, that's one thing, but I think it's stylistic. People don't talk about it enough when it comes to AI because I can use two tools. I feeding the same 3D model what come out as a realistic image. Yeah, it's just not the same. And I feel it's done for me. I like to tie it with taste. Everybody has different taste and I believe different AI software, they got fed into different kind of data, so they already have certain bias test taste too.

Jade Wei [00:40:01]:
Right.

Jade Wei [00:40:01]:
So for me, I prefer fabricant because maybe the data they think is more like a small independent type of brand. They target at those type of brand.

Jade Wei [00:40:11]:
Right.

Jade Wei [00:40:11]:
And the more avalon design type, but versus Raspberry AI. More like a ready to wear type of thing. If you want to launch, ready, ready to launch type of style of Raspberry AI. Good for that. So again, I think as a freelancer, as an entrepreneur, what you want to use this tool for, you need to do some research and then learn about it before you say no.

Jade Wei [00:40:34]:
Right?

Jade Wei [00:40:34]:
Yeah. So all this. And I feel like, yeah, that's the thing. I like to have a. When I say allow no to other things that give me time for this because I feel this is investment. I need to give myself to understand all this new tool to navigate. Where am I going? Where am I taking my car and going? Because I guess like fashion is not just always about new clothes. I feel it's also the new way of thinking, new approach.

Jade Wei [00:41:02]:
Why are we not talking more about that? You know, like what's new? Like this Stop. Just about material stuff. There's other things. We can kind of have a new, new mindset, new approach, you know, this type of thing.

Heidi [00:41:17]:
Yeah, yeah.

Heidi [00:41:18]:
I feel like we could do a whole nother episode on 3D and AI.

Jade Wei [00:41:22]:
I would love that.

Heidi [00:41:23]:
Yeah, we'll save that for next time. Jade, where can everybody connect with you and find you online? It sounds like LinkedIn is where you're hanging out.

Jade Wei [00:41:30]:
LinkedIn, I think.

Jade Wei [00:41:31]:
Yeah. Because Instagram is more personal thing. But I am thinking to have a new Instagram account basically, again, just work stuff now because I feel more comfortable. Comfortable to share like free stuff or just to share how I navigate learning all this new tool so people can feel less unfamiliar with things. Because I guess that's another thing the more you see is more normal as well. I feel like for us all the AI, when they come out, we all still not touching it still, even with 3D, I think I'm not a pioneer in 3D. There are so many other people I learned before me, but then it just. I decided to go in the time.

Jade Wei [00:42:16]:
I feel like, you know, when it's more mature and then the update just speed up, like since I adopt. So, yeah, everybody's on different journey and different timeline that I. That's what I like to say, like, and share with other people. Don't compare yourself with other people. Compared to yourself. Like, have you grown, you know, compared to last year?

Heidi [00:42:38]:
Yeah.

Jade Wei [00:42:38]:
Oh, don't even, like, just enjoy today, you know, take up.

Heidi [00:42:43]:
Where are you at today? Yeah. Take that for what it's worth in that moment.

Heidi [00:42:47]:
Yeah.

Heidi [00:42:48]:
It's been lovely chatting with you, Jade. Thank you so much for coming on the show and sharing everything. I always enjoy our chat so thoroughly. You. You make me think. You inspire me to think in new ways, which I think is one of the greatest gifts you can give someone.

Jade Wei [00:43:03]:
Thank you. That's. Yeah, yeah. I'm really. I feel. I don't know what to say because I do feel a bit humble at that. Like you say. No.

Jade Wei [00:43:12]:
Yeah.

Heidi [00:43:13]:
No pressure. I don't mean to put you on the spot, but I truly believe changing the way someone thinks or introducing a new way of thinking is a really big impact you can have on someone's life. And you do that for me every time we chat. So thank you.

Jade Wei [00:43:24]:
Oh, you're welcome.