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The Wisepreneurs Podcast

For independent professionals building practice on their own terms.
Working lives have extended far beyond what anyone predicted.

Organisations need people who can navigate complexity and ambiguity—and increasingly, these professionals want to work independently.

Hosted by Nigel Rawlins, Wisepreneurs features conversations with experienced professionals about what it actually takes to build sustainable independent practice.

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● Building business through partnerships and collaborative networks
● AI tools that amplify rather than replace experienced judgment
● Navigating the transition from employment to independence
● Sustaining cognitive capacity for the long term

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This podcast shows you how to systematically leverage it.

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The Wisepreneurs Podcast

Robert Vlach Why Your Good Name Beats Personal Branding

August 28, 2025 • Nigel Rawlins • Season 1 • Episode 75

Most career advice tells experienced professionals to modernize, rebrand, and compete with younger workers on their terms. Robert Vlach, who leads Europe's largest freelance community, says that's backwards.

In this three-hour deep dive—our longest episode ever—Robert explains why your "good name" built through decades of professional relationships is more valuable than any personal brand. This conversation fundamentally changed how I think about professional positioning for experienced professionals.

Key Topics Covered

The "Good Name" vs Personal Branding: Why ancient reputation-building trumps modern marketing tactics
The Independent Professional Identity: How to position yourself beyond freelancer labels
Pattern Recognition Advantage: Why 20+ years of experience creates unbeatable market advantages
Building Professional Reputation: From career capital to client magnet
Pricing Your Expertise: Why experience commands premium rates
The AI Advantage: How critical thinking separates you from younger competitors
Essential Business Skills: What every independent professional must master

About Robert Vlach

Robert Vlach is the author of "The Freelance Way" and leader of Europe's largest freelance community, supporting over 250,000 Czech and Slovak professionals. He's built his expertise over 20+ years working with freelance communities and has become a leading voice on independent professional success in Europe.

Connect with Robert:

Book: The Freelance Way (available via Harper Collins worldwide) https://freelanceway.eu/ or available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/9354893228/
Community: Freelancing.eu - Europe's most comprehensive freelance resource directory
Website: https://freelancing.eu/robertvlach/

We also have a YouTube version of this podcast found here: https://youtu.be/rvJfsV3nMBU?si=vA0uM2mG_7hHkLtb

Practical ideas for independent professionals building practice on their own terms. Arrives Tuesday. Subscribe free at wisepreneurs.com.au

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