The Freelance Hustle

Hi guys! Sorry for the wonky sound in the beginning, but I promise it gets better! I'm here with my photography MUSE today, Chellise Michael, and we talk all about her business. In this episode we break down:

We dive into a lot of important topics in this episode and I am just so thankful that Chellise was able to join me on this one! You can find her work using the links below:

https://www.chellisemichaelphotography.com

https://www.instagram.com/chellisemichaelphotography/

Eric Floberg offers us a dose of practical advise about growing your platform, whether that be on Instagram or Youtube. He's built a successful career out of being vulnerable to his audience, putting out content that is uniquely his, and sticking to his voice. Here is where you can check out more of Eric's work:

https://www.instagram.com/eric.floberg/

https://www.youtube.com/user/edflobe

https://www.patreon.com/ericfloberg

Thanks for listening! 

Hey everyone! We are BACK with season 3 of TFH and to kick it off I have Emily Moyer on today's episode. We talk all about how to bounce back from a layoff and the steps you should take to get into that freelance career you've always wanted.

Emily touches on unemployment benefits and how taking time off can actually be the best use of your time, clarifying your purpose, trying out new projects to open up your mindset and brain patterns, and how to functionally build a plan that will set you up for success. 

You can get in touch with Emily though her website https://www.emilyelizamoyer.com or her instagram page https://www.instagram.com/emilyelizamoyer/. You can also listen to this episode from her page right over here. 

Can't wait to share more episodes with you all soon enough!! Any episode ideas you might have, get in touch! We've love to hear from you. [email protected]

This is the FINAL episode of Season Two!! I thought hard about how I wanted to end this season, and I decided to end with me.  On this final episode, I'll be sharing my story of how I got started. I hope going back to the beginning helps inspire you and how you can get started on what you want to be doing. A quick preview: I'm giving you a little tough love.  Please enjoy this final episode and know I was where you were and I am thankful to have came through on the other side.   Thank you for being such an engaged community, and for finding this podcast and my voice useful. I'm always curious about what people are looking to do and how to turn doubt into growth.   Please share what you're up to and what you are building upon with me at [email protected] 

Season Three will be in the works soon! I want to know what you want to hear, so feel free to email or DM me with feedback and suggestions.  Stay productive and go get em'!  

SHOW NOTES: 2:08 - It all started in 2015, when I was laid off from my tech start up job.  

3:40 - If I was going to take a giant leap, I needed to be 100% myself. I needed a reset.  

4:54 - So, I went WWOOFing in Santa Barbara. These two weeks forced me to be in the present. And propelled me into my second phase of my career.  

7:00 - Working on a farm cleared my mind and got me ready to go back to NYC. And to say out loud, "I am going after photography."  

8:38 - My first photography shoot was a 10 day James Beard food shoot. Not Paid. But, it paid off.  

11:18 - The trust I built on that first unpaid shoot was unparalleled to any other experience. And gave me the needed confidence.  

12:48 - Whatever job it is, show up to the job, and do the best possible job.  

14:50 - It's all small stepping stones when making a long lasting business.  

16:10 - Limit your distractions to focus on tasks at hand.  

17:22 - What I spent time on in my early days: Portfolio. Creative shoots. Website. LLC. Bank account.  

19:00 - What I spend my time on today: This podcast. Emails. Portrait Sessions. Shoot prep.   

19:45 - What I want to spend my time on in the future: Any associates out there?  

20:20 - Distinguishing what is work and what is not work.   

21:30 - Keep things to yourself to make joy. Be choiceful about what you share with the world.  

Resources! - WWOOF: https://wwoof.net/

- Book: The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life by David Brooks 

- Podcast: The Next Big Idea: How to make yourself indistractible (Wonderly) 

- Book: How to Not Always Be Working: A Toolkit for Creativity and Radical Self-Care by Marlee Grace

I am SO PUMPED to have the owner of Healthy Soil Compost, Jonathan Scheffel, on today's episode! If you haven't heard of them, Healthy Soil is a hybrid solution to healthy waste for residents and business to start composting. Jonathan is a true expert and has a clear passion for transforming waste into something good - as he calls it "energy transformation." Even if you are not big on composting, it's more reason to listen. I learned SO much from Jonathan on the ins and outs of what it means to compost, how he got the idea to start his business and the hoops he's had to jump through to help Chicago compost. Jonathan literally went door to door to get his business up and running; he is the true definition of the hustle. Enjoy and hope you learn something new, and maybe even get inspired to compost.   

P.S. We have just ONE MORE episode until Season 2 comes to a close! I want to hear what you think and what you want more of, so hit me up at [email protected]. Plus, a very friendly reminder to please review, rate and share with your friends. Much love!   

Follow Healthy Soil's hustle: 

http://www.healthysoilcompost.com

@healthysoilcompost  

Show Notes: 2:25 - How Jonathan got started + what is hydroponic farming.  

4:20 - How Jonathan went from fired, to starting his business the next day.   

5:30 - It takes just one simple idea.  

7:00 - Financials, risks and demand.  

8:00 - How Crain's and WBEZ caught wind of the business.   

9:08 - What is organic recycling?  

10:15 - Sweet spot of pricing.  

12:04 - Educating people on what composting is, what it can be and why it's important.  

13:00 - How he got into working with restaurants and hotels. (hint: talk to the chef)  

15:22 - Why there is no clear incentive to compost for restaurants.     

17:05 - How the business pushed forward after learning that Chicago classifies food waste as toxic waste.   

18:46 - Which neighborhoods does Healthy Soil service.  

19:20 - Jonathan's role as the company grows.  

21:20 - The feeling of having a company that does good for people.   

22:50 - Realizations as an owner and where he knows his own faults.

We are BACK with another episode from our most requested guest (drum roll please) Karla my accountant! We are hear talking about all things write-offs and why they are so crucial to your business and can be the ultimate protector against the IRS. Karla as always gives some amazing tips as to what we can do to get better at write-offs, and tips and tricks as to how we can better organize ourselves. If. You want to hire Karla, her info is below for you!

Karla Harrington, CPA at ShindelRock

[email protected]

www.ShindelRock.com

Show Notes

3:09 we dive into a conversation with Karla and she explains the overview of write-offs and why they are beneficial to your business

4:27 - Karla explains a few ways of how we can better track our write-offs.

5:30 - we break down receipts and why you may need or not need to keep them

6:30 - Auditing. Will the IRS find you???

6:56 - write-offs are different from business to business

8:46 - we get into a few things in my business that have not been considered a write-off, and Karla explains why.

11:05 - Made a mistake with your write-offs? Karla explains how to fix that before tax season

13:25 - Vehicle write-offs and what you need to know about it.

15:40 - What are the consequences of not saving any records?

19:43 - Meals and entertainment and how you can write those off.

21:50 - We wrap up and I take you through what’s next with TFH!

This week, we're LIVE from Ipsento 606 in Bucktown with make-up artist Shannon O’Brien and hair stylist Emily Katz!

This week it's just me. I've gotten some awesome questions from all of you on the gram, in-person and over email and I'm happy to take this episode to give you the answers. Please take a listen as I go a bit more in-depth on my photography process and business.  

REMINDER! LIVE SHOW THIS WEEK. Have you RSVP'd yet? Join me and special guests for a live show on Thurs., October 17 @ 7-9pm at Ipsento 606 (1813 N Milwaukee). RSVP via @alishatova. Keep those questions coming, hit me at @alishatova or [email protected].  Your Burning Questions Answered: 

2:20 - Which lenses do I use? And why I travel with two cameras, always.   

6:06 - How do I have time for anything? I share more about when I am most productive, time management and outsourcing.  

9:00 - How do I get couples to look so comfortable and confident? It's all about humanity and what I'd want if I was on the other side of the camera. I always walk my clients through the day and process and we don't get into shooting right away. We first have a drink .  

11:09 - How many weddings do I have booked for 2020? I have 18 for 2020, and my goal is to keep it at 25. I have 35 this year for context. I want to slow down a little bit. But that does not mean I still don't need to work hard to get my goal of 25.  

11:50 - Do I get an associate shooter? Great question. It's hard to get your clients to trust someone else. I am going through that process of deciding if it's right, right now.  

13:05 - Yes, the accountant episode is coming!  

13:34 - What was I doing before what I do now? I worked at Tabletop and Fab.com.  

14:40 - What to dowhen I am not getting respected on the job? From videographers to parents, it's all about knowing how to work with various people and stay confident you are a professional. I now have a preferred vendors list I send to clients. Plus, listen to Chaz Cruz's episode, he has great tools on how to work with families and new people.   

16:50 - Inspiration!  Book, The Second Mountain by David Brooks: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40642458-the-second-mountain

Photojournalist, Andre Wagner, @photodre: https://www.instagram.com/photodre/?hl=en

Go for a hike, get out of the city and turn off your phone!

This week we have a VERY special guest on today, Ellen Rutt! I sat down with Ellen on a recent trip to Detroit and we chatted about her life as an artist, how she got her start with murals, what's been the most challenging part about pricing yourself, and how to incorporate activism into her business and brand. We unpack a ton of stuff in this short 28 minute episode and I hope you enjoy listening! 

Ellen Rutt makes bold mixed-media paintings, murals, installations and wearables. Her abstract vocabulary of layered shapes and primary colors is applied to a variety of media to facilitate a conversation between materials and movement, places and process. As a multidisciplinary artist, her distinct style is recognized internationally through public murals and her studio work. Rutt has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from University of Michigan School of Art & Design. She has exhibited work at MOCAD, PLAYGROUND DETROIT, Red Bull Arts Detroit, Heron Arts. and painted murals in Detroit, New York, Chicago, Canada and France.

Remember that we are having a LIVE show on Thursday October 17th at Ipsento 606 in Chicago IL. We hope to see you all there!! 

Here is a short breakdown of what we cover in this episode:

1:25 We talk about our roots and how Ellen discovered her passion for art

4:44 Ellens touches on when her skills caught up with her drive 

5:30 We break down how to get started with Mural painting 

11:40 We learn more about how Ellen broke away from smaller jobs and started to see her full time career take storm 

14:45 I ask Ellen about money and how it affects her stress and fear within her work 

16:25 Ellen offers advice to people who want to get started with murals

19:19 Ellen opens up about how she prices herself as an Artist 

22:00 We touch on climate change and how it's deeply rooted in Ellen's work and brand

Thanks for listening everyone! You can find Ellen Rutt on instagram at @Ellenrutt, and see her recent work at www.ellenrutt.com