Freelance AF

It’s that time of year when the veil is thin…and so are our boundaries when it comes to oversharing!
 
We’re getting Spooktacular AF this week and digging up the skeletons in our freelance closets – the tricks we’ve learned, the treats we’ve earned, and the fears we’ve had to face in the dark corners of small biz life.
 
Along with the usual unhinged rhetoric, Sean and Michelle are serving up chills, giggles, and maybe a little witchy wisdom, too.  (But only if you dare listen.)
 
Grab your costume, your courage, and a king-size chocolate bar; it’s gonna be a boo-tifully chaotic ride.

This week on the Freelance AF podcast your favourite hosts are slipping on their proton packs and gearing up to battle every entrepreneur’s nightmare:  ghosting.

Ghosting is all-too common, with over half of Canadians saying they’ve been ghosted at least once in the past year.  And for small businesses?  Depending on the industry you’re in that could be even higher (think 60-70%).

Whether you blame app and phone-based culture or our ever-increasingly apathetic populace, it’s clear us small biz owners need to toughen up.  After all, it’s business not personal!  Sean and Michelle dive into it, talking about the how, what, why and when of those eerily ephemeral clients and what you can do to ease the toll on yourself.  And maybe, just maybe, even reduce the chances of it happening to you.

So ask Janine to hold all calls and say it with us now:  I ain’t afraid of no ghost!

Who you gonna call?

This week on the Freelance AF Podcast, we’re kicking back with our girl Candice Neufeld; entrepreneur, coach, and literal ray of human sunshine.  She showed up with good vibes, big dreams, and energy so contagious we’re honestly still rockin’ the high!

Candice gets real about what it’s like to peace out of your biz’s physical space, and how sometimes walking away is actually the most badass move you can make.  Spoiler:  it’s giving freedom, flow, and full-on trust in your purpose.

We’re talking big plans, bigger goals, and how a solid dose of positivity can make all the difference between burning out and blowing up.  Because success isn’t one-size-fits-all; it’s whatever the hell you say it is.

So grab your coffee, your manifestation journal, or maybe just a mimosa, and get ready to Dream Big or Go Home!

This week on the Freelance AF Podcast, your favourite freelancers are diving headfirst into the wild world of professional communication for the bold and scrappy small biz owner.

Here’s the thing:  the way you communicate says everything about how you do business.  And let’s be real; some people (not Sean, nope, never Sean, absolutely not Sean…) get majorly turned off if your vibe isn’t hitting right.

From tailoring your tone to your audience, to picking a style that actually matches your brand, to keeping things consistent and clear, we’re serving up all the juicy tips to help you say what you mean and actually get heard.

Struggle with this?  Same!  (Have you met our podcast?)  But hey, stick with us and you’ll be communicating like the boss you were always meant to be.

And remember:  do as we say, not as we do.

This week's pour is Dutch Crumble Hard Apple Cider from London, Ontario's hometown hero, Heeman's Cellar!

Do you hear that?  Oh, it’s just us…Talking to Ourselves.  Again.

Yep, we’ve said this before, but some advice is too good not to put on repeat.  These are the nuggets we wish we could whisper to our past selves when we were just getting started, whether that was 9 years ago or, let’s be real, 18 months back.

This episode is jam-packed with the pep talk every entrepreneur needs:  be patient, trust your gut, stand your ground, say no when you need to, build that hype squad, and jump at the right opportunities.  Freelancing takes thick skin and quick reflexes, but don’t forget; you also need to pause, breathe, and hype yourself up.

So grab a sticky note, a vision board, or heck, a megaphone, because these reminders are worth keeping front and center.  You got this, babe!

Ooooh baby, your favourite Freelancers are back with another juicy interview, and this one’s a total Giftii!

We’re sitting down with the powerhouse herself, Katie Brooks, founder of Giftii Canada, gifter extraordinaire, and queen of turning “just because” into jaw-dropping wow.  With her hubby by her side, Katie has built a biz that’s all about heart, thoughtfulness, and making people feel like the main character with every box.

From championing Canadian makers before it was trendy, to weaving family, tradition, and pure magic into every curated gift, Katie’s not just sending boxes; she’s building connections.  Trust us, you’re gonna want in on this magical conversation!

Sizzle, fizzle, poof – burnout strikes again!

This week on the Freelance AF Podcast, Sean and Michelle are diving headfirst into the not-so-glam side of hustle life:  burnout.  You know it, you’ve felt it, and let’s be real; half of Canada is feeling it right now (stats don’t lie, honey).

But don’t panic; your favourite freelancers have your back!  From spotting the warning signs to building your burnout bounce-back toolkit (think sleep, support, and a whole whack of self-care), we’re serving up tips with our usual side of sass to get you feeling right as rain.

Grab your headphones, sideline the fretting, and tune in.  Burnout might be inevitable, but staying there?  That’s optional AF.

This week's pour is Brunch's delicious Rosé Cider from Niagara, Ontario!

Oh my god, we’re back again!

Your favourite Freelancers have returned from their not-a-break break with stories, chaos, and just a little too much caffeine.

Sean and Michelle are spilling on what they’ve actually been up to.  Surprise:  it wasn’t relaxing!  Think big projects, family chaos, drinks, road trips, planning apple picking trips, mental health curveballs, and even a few hair updates (some greys gone, some hair REALLY gone).

It’s a slightly updated format, the same ol’ sass, and a whole lot of catching up.  Missed the craziness?  We know you did.  Welcome to the Chaos Catch-up, baby!

This week we’re drinking something from one of the oldest Canadian cider-makers, Growers’ Honeycrisp Apple cider!

Your favourite Freelancers are here with the grand finale of our mini episode series, and this one’s all about a lesson we should’ve mastered in elementary school:  no means no.

When a client asks if you can “do it cheaper,” it’s easy to panic.  From our lips to your ears, here’s the truth:  your prices aren’t up for debate.  You set them for a reason, and standing behind them is part of owning your worth.

In this episode, we’re breaking down how to say no without being defensive (or a doormat).  From offering alternatives to holding the line with confidence, we’ll show you how to handle discount requests like the boss that you are.

So take a load off, hit play, and get ready to flex those boundary-setting muscles.  Remember:  saying yes to discounts means saying no to yourself.

Blank brain, empty feed, and zero inspo?  We got you.  This week’s mini is The Emergency Post Kit, aka your lifeline when the content well runs dry.

You’re not the only one staring at your grid like it owes you money (trust us, Sean’s a permanent resident here).  But lucky for you, the FAF duo is serving up quick-hit content ideas that’ll snap you out of scroll-staring paralysis.

Think bloopers from behind the scenes, a juicy throwback, or the universally adored “here’s my coffee” flex, all easy AF posts you can spin up in minutes and still look like the boss babe you are.

So take a breath, push past the panic, and let’s give that feed the glow-up it’s been begging for!