Doing It For The Kids

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Detective Maria 'Chilli' Pepper AKA Anonymous. They say:

“Lots of the podcast episodes and questions in the group have been really useful if you’re sitting at your computer, but I’m often on the move and do lots of work on my phone.

Do any other DIFTKers do this? And if so, what strategies work for you? I find I’m often overwhelmed with the admin side of things and wait till I have a laptop day, but that can be once a fortnight sometimes."

What would your advice be? Let us know your thoughts using #DIFTKpodcast on Twitter and Instagram, and join in the conversation via the DIFTK Community on Facebook.

Here's the link to Ross Wintle's DIFTK "app" listing lots of free resources for parents with kids at home: https://diftk.glideapp.io/

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This episode is supported by Nutmeg.

Nutmeg launched in September 2012 as the first online wealth manager in the UK with a promise to open up the previously exclusive world of wealth management. Nutmeg offers customers a high-quality investment service at a reduced cost, whether they have £500 or £5 million to invest. Nutmeg now manages over £2bn on behalf of over 80,000 customers, making Nutmeg one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth managers and the fifth largest wealth manager in the UK by customer numbers (Source: PAM Asset Management, January 2019). www.nutmeg.com

[Risk warning: Capital at risk. JISA rules apply]

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Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Facebook Community
DIFTK Instagram
DIFTK Twitter

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Detective Dwayne Carver AKA Anonymous. They say:

"Dear Steve and Frankie,

I know that’s the wrong way round, but everything seems weird and topsy-turvy at the moment.

Here’s the long version of my question:

How can we best brace ourselves and our businesses for potentially having our kids off school for weeks on end?

Not in a summer holidays kind of way where we’ve maybe wound down our work and booked in a few summer camps or stays with family. But in a snow-day kind of way — abrupt, sudden — but without the fun of being able to go outside and build a snowman and knowing both the kids AND the other half will be returned back to normal tomorrow when it’s all gone to slush. This time I don’t know when normal is coming back.

Or you can read the short version of my question which is simply…

WHAT THE FUCK?!

Thanks so much,

Detective Dwayne Carver"

What would your advice be? Let us know your thoughts using #DIFTKpodcast on Twitter and Instagram, and join in the conversation via the DIFTK Community on Facebook.

•••

This episode is supported by Nutmeg.

Nutmeg launched in September 2012 as the first online wealth manager in the UK with a promise to open up the previously exclusive world of wealth management. Nutmeg offers customers a high-quality investment service at a reduced cost, whether they have £500 or £5 million to invest. Nutmeg now manages over £2bn on behalf of over 80,000 customers, making Nutmeg one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth managers and the fifth largest wealth manager in the UK by customer numbers (Source: PAM Asset Management, January 2019). www.nutmeg.com

[Risk warning: Capital at risk. JISA rules apply]

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Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Facebook Community
DIFTK Instagram
DIFTK Twitter

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from graphic designer and illustrator Ami-Lou Harrison. She says:

“Hey Steve and Frankie!

My question is about co-mentoring. I've heard you mention a couple of times that you mentor each other. It sounds like such a brilliant idea and something I feel I could benefit from myself, so I'm wondering if you could talk more about how it came about, how you go about co-mentoring someone and also how it has benefitted your freelance businesses?

Thanks so much. Love and biscuits, Ami-Lou”

What would your advice be? Let us know your thoughts using #DIFTKpodcast on Twitter and Instagram, and join in the conversation via the DIFTK Community on Facebook.

•••

This episode is supported by Nutmeg.

Nutmeg launched in September 2012 as the first online wealth manager in the UK with a promise to open up the previously exclusive world of wealth management. Nutmeg offers customers a high-quality investment service at a reduced cost, whether they have £500 or £5 million to invest. Nutmeg now manages over £2bn on behalf of over 80,000 customers, making Nutmeg one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth managers and the fifth largest wealth manager in the UK by customer numbers (Source: PAM Asset Management, January 2019). www.nutmeg.com

[Risk warning: Capital at risk. JISA rules apply]

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Ami-Lou Harrison's website
Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Facebook Community
DIFTK Instagram
DIFTK Twitter

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Detective Sidney Watson AKA Anonymous. They say:

"So the time has come for us to seriously consider leaving the city we have lived in for almost 15yrs. Both me and my other half are freelancers and we have two children under 3... and too cats that hate us (due to making them share a flat with said toddler and baby).

After our second baby was born, serious discussion of where we can now afford to rent — maybe even buy — have led us to potentially returning to a home nearer family in the countryside

After establishing strong freelance networks in the city, and having a small children's entertainment business which is based here, how do you start again? Some of our work can be done remotely but when you are freelance, it's not just finding a new home/nursery it's also new clients/networks and that's scaring us!

Hoping your expert knowledge can help us find a path to our new countryside freelance lives...”

What would your advice be? Let us know your thoughts using #DIFTKpodcast on Twitter and Instagram, and join in the conversation via the DIFTK Community on Facebook.

•••

This episode is supported by Nutmeg.

Nutmeg launched in September 2012 as the first online wealth manager in the UK with a promise to open up the previously exclusive world of wealth management. Nutmeg offers customers a high-quality investment service at a reduced cost, whether they have £500 or £5 million to invest. Nutmeg now manages over £2bn on behalf of over 80,000 customers, making Nutmeg one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth managers and the fifth largest wealth manager in the UK by customer numbers (Source: PAM Asset Management, January 2019). www.nutmeg.com

[Risk warning: Capital at risk. JISA rules apply]

•••

Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Facebook Community
DIFTK Instagram
DIFTK Twitter

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from freelance writer and educator Fiona Tapp. She says:

“I live in Canada and yesterday I slipped on the ice walking back from school and hurt every single bone and muscle in my body.

I am not seriously hurt but I am sore and don’t want to work because it would interrupt my self pitying calls to my mum, copious biscuit eating and catching up on every single episode of Scott and Bailey on Netflix.

My question is — to protect against times like these or even more serious periods of not working, how much money should a freelancer have saved for emergencies and how do you start a fund that you don’t pilfer from when you fancy a holiday or whatnot?”

What would your advice be? Let us know your thoughts using #DIFTKpodcast on Twitter and Instagram, and join in the conversation via the DIFTK Community on Facebook.

•••

This episode is supported by Nutmeg.

Nutmeg launched in September 2012 as the first online wealth manager in the UK with a promise to open up the previously exclusive world of wealth management. Nutmeg offers customers a high-quality investment service at a reduced cost, whether they have £500 or £5 million to invest. Nutmeg now manages over £2bn on behalf of over 80,000 customers, making Nutmeg one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth managers and the fifth largest wealth manager in the UK by customer numbers (Source: PAM Asset Management, January 2019). www.nutmeg.com

[Risk warning: Capital at risk. JISA rules apply]

•••

Fiona Tapp's website
Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Facebook Community
DIFTK Instagram
DIFTK Twitter

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Detective Rene Dukes aka Anonymous. 'S/he' says:

“Hello Frankie & Steve,

You've had an episode for freelancers starting a family, now here's a question about throwing another child into the mix (not literally throwing of course).

I remember speaking to a friend of mine a while ago just after their second baby was born. I naively asked them "so I guess the second one must be easier right?" and they replied "yes, sort of, but the problem is now there's two of them".

My partner and I are thinking about having another child. Our daughter is three years old, and goes to nursery three days a week. Aside from that, my other half and I juggle childcare between us and our respective work (my other half is employed, I am self-employed).

We do want to (are going to) have another child, and NOTHING you could say could convince us otherwise (although, please don't test that). But I am feeling a bit worried that our precarious juggle of work, family life, and grown-up relationship will become even more precarious and complicated once we willingly welcome another kid into our lives.

In short, I feel as clueless as I did before our first child was born — please tell me it'll all be ok???"

What would your advice be? Let us know your thoughts using #DIFTKpodcast on Twitter and Instagram, and join in the conversation via the DIFTK Community on Facebook.

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Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Facebook Community
DIFTK Instagram
DIFTK Twitter

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from nutritionist Kezia Hall. She says:

“How can I spend less time in my inbox?

I've had VA's in the past but there are still LOTS of client emails that I can only answer as they relate to my clients’ health, programs of support or other sensitive issues (AKA talking about their poo or their periods!)

I also get a lot of new clients by following up leads via email etc. But I will literally do anything to avoid sitting down during naptime to bosh through them — I make coffee, watch Modern Family, drink kombucha, even tidy (only when I am desperate).

Ironically I am actually a really efficient worker — I generally feel pretty productive and run my whole nutrition business in 20-25 hrs a week.

But my gmail — it makes my stomach turn.

Any tips, strategies? Or do I just need to grow up, shift my mindset and load up on the ol' 'gratitude' in that I have clients to respond to in the first place…? Even if they do email me about their latest bowel movements or what they ate for dinner??!

All wisdom welcome. I should go now and actually answer some emails...”

What would your advice be? Let us know your thoughts using #DIFTKpodcast on Twitter and Instagram, and join in the conversation via the DIFTK Community on Facebook.

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Kezia Hall's website
Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Facebook Community
DIFTK Instagram
DIFTK Twitter

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from stylist, writer and blogger Hannah Bullivant. She says:

“I would love your thoughts on the perils/advantages of being a ‘multi-hyphen’ freelancer. Sometimes I think it’s really clever (have different income streams, keeps me interested and engaged) and sometimes I really regret it (such little time and stretched thin! Especially as only have 2 days of childcare!)”

What would your advice be? Let us know your thoughts using #DIFTKpodcast on Twitter and Instagram, and join in the conversation via the DIFTK Community on Facebook.

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Hannah Bullivant's website
Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Facebook Community
DIFTK Instagram
DIFTK Twitter

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from detective Barry Steel (aka Anonymous). 'He' says:

“What do you do when social media is the absolute bane of your life but you know you should do more of it to promote your business, grow your audience and be seen by your peers?!

I had to delete Facebook from my phone to make more space and honestly the only thing I missed was the DIFTK community!

I don’t think I can afford to outsource it (which would be the obvious answer) but it sucks my soul away — especially Facebook, but I also get lost in a spiral of ‘instashame’ and angry at politics on Twitter!

And you know when you’re a parent and a freelancer and you already have a to-do list that is never ever going to be completed and you feel guilty and lame that you can’t do it all? Well adding ‘keeping social media updated’ to that list is painful. HELP!!! I work in theatre and events so I do really need to engage with social meeds else I would happily delete the lot.”

What would your advice be? Let us know your thoughts using #DIFTKpodcast on Twitter and Instagram, and join in the conversation via the DIFTK Community on Facebook.

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Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Facebook Community
DIFTK Instagram
DIFTK Twitter

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Laura West, Founder of The Doers. She says:

“I went freelance a little over a year ago and soon after launched The Doers — a marketing consultancy powered by freelancers (*ah hum* plug over!)

I have 3 young children (almost 4, 2 and 9 months) and struggle to explain to them what I do, why I do it, why I don’t go into an office like Daddy etc. etc. Last week my eldest told someone I work in a cafe (not far from the truth, I love a cafe hop!) and I couldn't find a way to explain to him what I actually do in a way he could understand.

Frankie, Steve and the DIFTK community do you have any nuggets of wisdom of how the explain the freelance life to little people in a way they understand and can be proud of what I do?

Many many thanks, Laura”

What would your advice be? Let us know your thoughts using #DIFTKpodcast on Twitter and Instagram, and join in the conversation via the DIFTK Community on Facebook.

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The Doers Website
Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Facebook Community
DIFTK Instagram
DIFTK Twitter

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi