Jim Freeman

When someone once asked me what my life mission was, I answered — without thinking — “Mentoring leaps of faith.”
The words surprised me. But they’ve stuck with me ever since.

I’ve worn many hats: businessman, writer, father, trainer. Across nine decades, I’ve navigated more than my share of storms — market crashes, personal losses, reinventions. I lost two sons. I ran a company for 35 years, then built a second life as a writer. And I carry all that experience into the work I do with others.

For over three decades, I’ve mentored leaders, entrepreneurs, and creatives. I listen deeply, speak plainly, and share what I see. Not theory. Not jargon. Just a long-term view, shaped by real-world experience, and delivered with candor and clarity.

It’s lonely at the top. I know that first-hand. When you’re the one holding the vision — for your company, your team, your future — there are few people you can talk to without filtering. Not the board. Not the clients. Not even your spouse.
That’s where I come in. I may not be where you are — but chances are, I’ve been somewhere close.

A close friend, a retired CEO of a global firm with 25,000 employees, once said to me:

“You’ve nailed the central problem of leadership. I lived with it for 40 years.”

There are many ways to cooperate, let’s get together and find one that is comfortable. If you’re facing a leap — or already in midair — let’s talk.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

 “When I was clueless, unconfident, and more than a little lost, living in Prague and working on what became my first of stories, no person on earth was more supportive and encouraging than Jim Freeman. As a host of the Beefstew Poetry Readings in the basement of Radost FX, Jim welcomed me literally off the street. ‘Come and read,’ he said. ‘Read anything.’ And so I did. Every week, something new. And Jim (and his wife Michaela!) would sit there in the dark, on those big puffy couches and listen to my very brief stories as if what I had to say was worth listening to. I know this, there would have been no first book had it not been for Jim. But more important: I learned from Jim to say ‘fuck it, you want it, work at it, work at it, work at it…’”

Peter Orner
(USA)
Acclaimed author and creative writing professor
http://peterorner.com/

“If Jim were a character in a film, he’d be the straight-talking, wisecracking, fountain of wisdom in the fedora, who meets the hero at 3 am on a rooftop car park to impart the final pieces of the puzzle that ultimately save the day. He’s that good.”

Alasdair Bouch
(UK/Prague)
Educator & Songwriting Coach
www.reverbnation.com/alasdairbouch

“Jim Freeman’s motivational guidance really opened the way for me to consider my work’s appeal to a wider public, which I had thought impossible. His attention to detail, insightful questioning, straight-talking approach, and passionate commitment to seeing the real potential in early-stage projects continue to inspire and support my career. I met Jim at my first public performance and he has helped and supported the individuality of my work ever since. Currently, I’m lucky enough to be teaching and performing at the level I always dreamed of, working with some of the UK’s top art schools and museums. Being a teacher myself, and having experienced tuition at two of the world’s leading universities, I can say with absolute confidence that the level of knowledge, support and wisdom he offers is extremely rare. It’s no exaggeration to say that without his mentoring, I would not be where I am today, personally or professionally.”

Clair Le Couteur
(UK)
Artist, musician and academic
PhD (writing up), Royal College of Art
http://johnaffeymuseum.tumblr.com/
https://soundcloud.com/lunatraktors/

“Everyone should have a Jim Freeman in their lives. Frankly, I don’t know how I survived my teens through early twenties without one. There has been no one other person as consistently supportive and encouraging in my life. I am deeply indebted to Jim — all of which I promise to pay back once I hit the big time.”

Ken Nash
(USA/Prague)
Designer, artist, writer, musician and educator
www.kennash.com

“Jim gave me advice about life that I didn’t want to hear, when I most needed to hear it. That’s what real friends are for. I will forever be indebted.”

Morgan Sowden
(UK)
Computer technology expert and serial entrepreneur

“Jim Freeman was my first mentor for the adult world. He told me to capitalize the letter i in my poetry… which was his way of telling me to stand up for myself. He also told me to write “loads of poems that you never show your parents.” That was an issue for me as I made the transition from young adult to full adult. I am now the author of three books on writing and in one of them I quote him on how not to write something to death, his praise for a work that exhibits “that fresh feeling of not having been too well-worked.” Without a Jim Freeman, there is no Stuart Horwitz.”

Stuart Horwitz
(USA)
author of the Book Architecture trilogy: Blueprint Your Bestseller, Book Architecture, Finish Your Book in Three Drafts. (www.bookarchitecture.com)