Doing It For The Kids

In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from project management expert Nina Lenton.

Nina says: 

“As well as my work as a freelance project director and manager, I have a blog on the subject of everyday joy (in life and work), which I write on every now and then.  

I’d like to do more with it, but am afraid I could easily spend all of my time doing that instead of paid work, which of course isn’t really sensible!

How do people who have similar side projects (blog, podcast etc) manage to balance it with paid work (or even manage to get paid something for doing the side project)?”

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.
 

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

Doing It For The Kids website
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In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Lametta Truffleballs AKA Anonymous.

They say…

“Hi Frankie & Steve,

I see a lot of freelancers ‘doing good’ with their business, donating x % to the planet or to another good cause. I really like this idea, but — with two small children, one of which is still in a private nursery — I feel like I just don’t have the spare money to do this? Should I just suck it up and do it anyway??

Help!”

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.
 

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

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Instagram
DIFTK Twitter

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In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Colin Parks AKA Anonymous.

They say…

“Hi Frankie and Steve

I’ve worked for a company (employed) for over 12 years. 
It’s grown from 50 people to a 5,000+ strong agency.

I work with digital technology as an Account Director and I’ve managed some decent clients. My key skills are listening to, understanding and challenging client requirements, and then translating them into actionable, achievable outcomes. I have the soft skills of technology, but I don’t code. 

I’m now fed up with the increasing internal hierarchy, unnecessary process bollocks and the required emphasis on being seen to do things (like PowerPoint decks) rather than actually achieving valuable outcomes for clients.

Anyway, I’m currently on 3 months of gardening leave so I have some time to plan my goals, brush up on skills, and, of course, do some gardening…

Ultimately, I want to go freelance, but I don’t want to be known as a “C” word (Consultant) as I intend to actually roll my sleeves up and do work such as designing Proof of Concepts, helping their development teams and deciding on the right technology.

What advice can you give someone wanting to go freelance when it’s about services and outcomes rather than outputs? That is, I don’t create, say, graphics or videos. Instead, I help clients define their problems and investigate solutions. 

Any thoughts? Thanks, Colin”

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.
 

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

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Instagram
DIFTK Twitter

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In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Grace Abell, designer at Abell Design — a brand and digital creative studio.

She says…

“To cut a long story short — I’m a seasoned freelancer who is just getting back into working evenings as I’m caring for twins during the day.

My problem is this: 

As I do not have the capacity for project work, I’m now taking on small tasks from one agency whose fingers are in many pies. I have a set of ethical views which are privately held. These tend to overlap with what this client does, but not always. 

Therefore, I need some tips on turning down work on topics which are icky for me personally, but aren’t icky for other people. The client always asks “are you available?” and doesn’t usually disclose what the task is. This kind of work is often under NDA. 

I’m just very scared I’ll agree to a job based on my availability, then the content will arrive in my inbox and I’ll have to turn it down there and then. 

I’ve considered writing my list of no-gos in a contract, but then I don’t really want my views to be known by every client. I’m not ashamed of my opinions — I just think it’s more professional and mature to keep them to myself. What do you think?”

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.
 

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

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Instagram
DIFTK Twitter

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In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Emma Roberts, director at Social Qual.

Emma says:

“You know when you stumble upon someone fab, and your brain goes ‘ooh, collaboration potential’? 

Perhaps we meet on LinkedIn and then organise a cuppa or intro call. We chat, we laugh, we bond over work joys and woes... and then we part with that cheerful, 'let's collaborate soon' but then… often our busy lives take over. 

I'm on both sides of this — an instigator of these types of calls and also someone who people reach out to.    

So, I'm wondering...

How can we make these cuppa-time conversations transform into actual collabs? Or should we even bother with these sorts of meetings?

It feels like I need to be more strategic about which invites I accept and who I reach out to.  

The social side of me responds to new folk with a Pavlov-dog response of ‘let's arrange a call’ but I’m increasingly feeling a bit unsatisfied with that approach.  

Anyone else? How do I get more strategic about these calls without being a nob?”

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.
 

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

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Instagram
DIFTK Twitter

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To celebrate 100 episodes of DIFTK, Frankie & Steve answer a bunch of quick fire questions! 

And a HUGE thank you to everybody that has listened, reviewed, sent in a question or a comment. Wouldn't be the same without you. Thank you.
 

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

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Instagram
DIFTK Twitter

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Lucy Critchley, founder of Untold Creative Services.

Lucy says:

“I use Canva A LOT. My clients find it super simple (mostly!) so it just makes sense. I’ve never learned how to use Illustrator/Photoshop etc but I feel like I should…? 

I think it would be a good skill to have and could be a benefit to my business in terms of being taken seriously with design/graphics/socials work. 

But I haven’t a clue where to start! Or if it’s even a good idea or not. 

It probably also stems back to being told I wasn’t very creative when I was younger… hello imposter syndrome!

Any thoughts welcome!”

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.
 

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Untold Creative Services
Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Instagram
DIFTK Twitter

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Anonymous, AKA Lotus Vanreisel.

Lotus says:

“Hello freelance friends!

I'd like your opinion on an email I’ve received from one of my longest and most favourite clients…

After months of no work and no contact, she asked me last month if I have any availability in the next few weeks. I said ‘yes’ and also told her that my rates had gone up since we last spoke.

Here is her reply:

"So I'd love to be able to put some work your way but the hourly rate is a bit high — is there any flexibility? I know you don't really do full days because of your daughter. Let me know."

This irritates me no end as it implies I should charge less because wI have childcare duties. (I also know she worked part-time and didn’t earn much when her kids were younger.)

How do you handle situations like these?

I'll also add that another long-standing client just asked me for a lot of work over the next couple of months, so while I could fit her in, I don't have an awful lot of availability.

Would love your thoughts.

Thanks, Lotus”

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.

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

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Instagram
DIFTK Twitter

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from designer, coder and illustrator Andi Best.

Andi says:

“I can't go on like this — I think I need to give in and ask for help!

I am inundated with work and the enquiries keep coming, which is a great problem to have, but I don’t know what to do about it.

Previously I've mitigated large volumes of work by quoting higher or asserting my unavailability — ultimately turning work away. For a "busy period" that works well, but for the past 6 months I've been consistently (too) busy, and I now accept that I need to try something else. I just don't want to keep saying 'no'.

I think I need more resource? I don't want ‘staff’ (insurance, sick leave, payroll? No thanks!) but I do want something more robust than the ad-hoc outsourcing I do now.

I think I need a firm freelance partnership? Or agency temp?

Or similar arrangement?

What's holding me back is a lack of trust in an unknown entity (the quality of the work, sharing client credentials etc.) —  ultimately relinquishing control of the work that's getting my name attached to it. And also a fear that their rates will exceed the fees already agreed for the work.

Any advice?

Thanks, Andi”

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.

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

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Instagram
DIFTK Twitter

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In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Anonymous, AKA Zoe Honeysuckle.

Zoe says:

“Hi Frankie and Steve,

I've been running my own business since May 2020 (with a 5 month old in tow!) and I feel fairly well versed with the peaks and troughs of freelance life.

However, over the past few months I've noticed a few clients who are on my smaller packages/retainers drop off because of financial reasons. All good, and all totally understandable.

I thought I’d use this new gap in my schedule to put together some new packages and try something a bit different around social media content creation and email marketing (and podcasts!) 

BUT, one of my existing clients has now asked for more hours and I am torn. I don't know whether to go for it — my client is brilliant and I really like working with them — or say no and protect my new-found time to build something new.

I'm nervous that my new packages won't sell in the way I hope, and I don't want to turn down (well paying) work. 

What would you do? Help!”

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.

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

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Instagram
DIFTK Twitter

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi