Doing It For The Kids

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from interior and events stylist Sally Cullen. She says: “Hey Frankie, Steve and the DIFTK community,Last year when we were still deep in lockdown I was asked if I would like to cover maternity leave on a magazine for a year. I wasn't sure what was in store for my freelance career as an interiors stylist at that point (thanks Covid) so I said yes on the proviso I could still keep all my regular client work and fit that around the full time job.That was nearly 8 months ago and far from slowing down, my freelance work has increased way more than I could have predicted and I have basically been working 2 full time jobs since then. Gulp.I have been trying to survive week at a time doing my best not to let any of the (many) balls drop but I have the niggling feeling in the back of my mind that I should be making more of this unicorn time as an employed person, but I'm too knackered to think what that looks like!I have ceased all soci

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from project manager and editor Rose Parkin. She says:“Talk to me about school holidays.We’re currently in the second week of Easter, but the summer break is looming.Both me and my partner are freelance and we have two kids aged 5 and 8. We don't tend to do a huge amount of holiday clubs (maybe 1-2 days a week at most) so the kids end up having a fair bit of screen time so that we can juggle work, cooking, house chores and our own downtime.Our routine tends to be 7-8am TV, then 'full on' parenting (with one parent, then the other) until 3pm, then they have an hour of technology time, then a film.Today I'm seriously feeling the guilt of them being in front of screens and missing out on the sunshine. I’m interested to know how others juggle holidays and maintain some flexibility while also having some structure to ensure work gets done?!Is that too much to ask??”What would your advice be? Let us know your thoughts using #DIFTKpodc

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Detective Rene Hammer aka Anonymous. They say:"Hi Frankie & Steve, My partner hates their job. Like, really hates their job.Meanwhile, they see me being busy and wearing all the hats — but happy working freelance. So I’ve been softly encouraging them to become self-employed too.They’re coming round to the idea. But crucially, they haven’t fully figured out what it is they would actually DO as a freelancer. I don’t want to say too much about their job in case it gets back to their employer but hopefully you can still answer my question — How do you pin down what your freelance business is and does??Thanks!"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.•••Download a DIFTK Bingo cardPlay DIFTK Bingo onlineFrankie Tortora's websiteSteve Folland's websiteSteve's podcast - Being FreelanceDoing It For The Kids

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from website marketing specialist Tom Garfield. He says:“Life costs so much more now!Fuel, heating, food, clothes, EVERYTHING is way more expensive. I shudder every time I hear the letterbox clunk, wondering what bill is coming for me next. I don't want to dip into savings or reduce my pension payments. That feels like a bad plan… Do I raise my prices to keep up instead? Can I use the cost of living crisis as justification??Other than pulling my kid out of nursery, living life as a recluse and doing nothing at all (I've had quite enough of that, thanks covid!), what’s the best way to keep financially afloat when the water just keeps rising? Heeeeelp!”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.•••Download a DIFTK Bingo cardPlay DIFTK Bingo onlineTom Garfield's websiteFrankie Tortora's websiteSteve Folland's web

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from coach Rachael Middleton. She says:“Dearest Frankie, Steve and the DIFTK crew,I've been working on my business about a year now and have a name and logo already BUT I recently attended a webinar where the host made a point about words that trigger potential clients. This can have a negative impact too.My ideal client base are traditionally a weary group (farmer's stressed out partners who may be frowned upon for seeking help!) and as coaching still isn't an accepted norm in their world I'm starting to question whether my business name is having a negative effect...So, my question is how do you choose a suitable business name and how important is a logo to go with it? I appreciate for certain professions it helps, but how much can the wrong name and logo impact your business?Thanks in anticipation,Rachael”What would your advice be? Let us know your thoughts using #DIFTKpodcast on Twitter and Instagram, and join in the convers

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from accountant and business consultant Caroline Boardman. She says:“How is everyone getting back out into the real world?Obviously everyone feels differently about this — some of us can't wait for more face to face client meetings and networking events, some have enjoyed the online world and Zoom and comfort of own homes...How is everyone managing the transition back to reality? Slow and steady or 100 miles an hour back into it?”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.•••Download a DIFTK Bingo cardPlay DIFTK Bingo onlineCaroline Boardman's websiteFrankie Tortora's websiteSteve Folland's websiteSteve's podcast - Being FreelanceDoing It For The Kids websiteDIFTK Facebook CommunityDIFTK InstagramDIFTK TwitterSupport DIFTK on Ko-Fi

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from communications consultant Sarah Randall. She says:“How on earth does anyone get any rest. Like, real restful rest?I feel like for the past 18 months I've been waiting for a break, but it never comes.I need to find a way to make it happen.The flipping pandemic means that I have way less support from family, increased work pressures… my husband also runs his own business that's been pretty smashed to smithereens by the pandemic. We have a 2 yr old and 4 yr old and are expecting a third so we knew it was always going to be a tricky year but I’d be interested in hearing thoughts on how not to burn out. All the 'normal' business / wellbeing blogs advocate stuff I used to do pre-kids e.g. meditate, get up early to go for a walk, sport... but now there is just no frickin time... Obviously this is a phase of life... and the pandemic won't be quite so intense forever... but it feels like the marathon is far from over and they’ve for

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Detective Agnes Armstrong AKA Anonymous. She says:"What is an appropriate level of self promotion when doing a talk?I have been asked to do a talk on Imposter Syndrome for 150 female leaders in an organisation. Naturally I don't feel in the slightest bit confident I am able to do this or the right person for the job, but given the topic I feel that is exactly why I should, and so for that reason I am in!I will be one of four people contributing and my slot will take up nearly half of the online event, including the break out room workshops I will help shape. I was initially told there is budget but that hasn’t proven to be the case — I won’t be getting paid.I therefore really want to make sure that there will be some additional work to come from this event. This will be my first event like this, and so I’m unsure of the etiquette when it comes to self promotion?Any advice on how to get the balance between being the ultimate

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Detective Val Abbott AKA Anonymous. She says:“How do you get over a client breakup?Recently I had a client who I felt I worked really hard on. Prioritising their work when it was dropped on me at the last minute, replying to whatsapp at any given hour, working weekends (I know, I know) only to receive a message to say that they felt I was too busy and had found another agency to replace me.Whilst I know that I actually went above and beyond for this client and that I really had worked my hardest, I can’t help but shake the feeling of guilt that I could have done more.So my question is, how do you get over a client breakup? It is just a common thing that happens to freelancers? Tell me I’m not alone in feeling this way??"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.•••Download a DIFTK Bingo cardPlay DIFTK Bi

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Detective Serena Steele AKA Anonymous. She says:“I’m expecting my second baby later this year. Do you have any tips on planning maternity leave (pre- and post-birth) and maybe around lining up work for 2022? I don’t want to prepare too much because I don’t know how I’ll feel after the birth. But I also don’t want to go into this without a plan! I love the idea of taking all the time I need but I don’t know how realistic that is. I guess I’m worried I’ll have to start all over again when I come back? Help! Thanks”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.•••Frankie Tortora's websiteSteve Folland's websiteSteve's podcast - Being FreelanceDoing It For The Kids websiteDIFTK Facebook CommunityDIFTK InstagramDIFTK TwitterSupport DIFTK on Ko-Fi

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from web and graphic designer at Spurwing Creative — Claire Wood. She says:“Hi both! My current dilemma is a question I keep coming back to and yet have never found a way to resolve.I started my freelance business 13 years ago and over the years my role has moved from a predominantly creative business into a more developer/online business. I love designing and creating but now find that I am so bogged down in 'adminy' and technical jobs, that I end up being less and less creative. I am incredibly lucky that the bulk of my work is referrals and that I’m busy — but I find the more websites and systems I produce, the more I get recommended for that kind of work, which exacerbates the issue.I understand how I got here (I’m good at producing these systems!) but I find them incredibly boring to produce and am still in a mindset where I’m unable to turn down work.Now I’m in a position where I'm not enjoying the bulk of my workload and

A very quick message to say that we won't be doing a full episode this week after all as we've just got too much to do on the last week of term!!! WAAAAAHHHH.Apologies for the quality of Frankie's audio. She messed up. #awardwinning

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Founder & Designer at See, Think, Do — Jason Hunt. He says:“OK DIFTK crew!The (for me at least) perennial question has come around again...How do I credibly present my agency as a viable team when actually, it's just me?? The reality is that my agency is just me, and that I outsource/sub-contract anything I don't do or have no time to do, but I have a sense that in an imminent pitch — that may not be quite what the client wants.Do you have any tips about how to sell this setup to a larger client? Explaining the benefits (there must be some right?!), and eliminating all/most perceived negatives? What about 'stability', financial security, everything under one roof – all things I would struggle to prove. I have 10+ years of solid trading, increasing and solid revenues, some great (and relevant) client experience and just want to give myself the best shot. Thanks!”What would your advice be? Let us know your thoughts using

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from sportswear designer Lily Pawley. She says:“Retainers. The holy freelance grail. But WTF?? I've got one with a client I’ve worked with a fair bit before, it's new and shiny but now I'm in a weird relationship with the client — Am I freelance? Am I an employee?From working out how to allocate my time (them, other clients, life, smalls) to which email account I need to use (the one they set up for me — which I keep forgetting to check and isn't linked to my phone grrr? Or mine — which has my freelance signature on so it's confusing?) What are the top tips for retainers, managing them successfully and basically retaining some semblance of life?! It feels like I really wanted this annoying toy that I kept seeing advertised and now I’ve got it, I’m not sure how it works or what it does and I think I just need to take the batteries out. I own a retainer furby! Help!”What would your advice be? Let us know your thoughts using #DIFTK

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Detective Quinn Finn, aka Anonymous. They say:"I know this has been discussed in the group and on the podcast so others are doing this too... Over the last 12 months I have made the decision to stop working with certain clients who either don't pay me, take the piss with their expectations of my time or just aren't a right fit for whatever reason. It's my business, I can choose who to work with, right?For the second time in a few months, the response to my email to end the client relationship has been one of questioning my decision and disappointment that I have let them down.I am telling myself that this is their issue and not mine but as it's happened twice now (almost identical wording) I'm beginning to question whether I'm being too unreasonable in choosing who to work with?I would love to hear other experiences of moving on from clients who aren't a good fit. My T&Cs state a 15 day notice period  on both sides and

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Detective Tom Snow, aka Anonymous. They say:“Hi Frankie and Steve,My partner is a very creative person, but is currently doing an employed job that helps others in creative education, but is bogged down with institutional admin, company politics, meetings etc. It doesn't allow her to be creative herself.I'd like to encourage her to take the leap to become self employed and find the thing she loves doing. Finding 'the thing' is the hard part — how do you turn your love of creating and making into a money earner? How do you find what your passion might be on the one hand, and also think about how it will bring in money on the other?Thanks a lot, Tom"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 Penfold.The flexible pension for freelance parents. Penfold provides freelancers with

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Detective Jason Chase, aka Anonymous. They say:“My question is about professional 'ghosting'... spooky!I was recently in touch with an old acquaintance who now works with a big organisation that I have been interested in working with for a while. This person encouraged me to pitch for quite a big contract, chatted through the project with me on the phone and even read through my ideas and made encouraging suggestions before I submitted.But — I didn't get the gig.I was really gutted but assumed I was up against some tough competition. The acquaintance apologised, and told me that there would be further opportunities coming up really soon and also offered — unprompted — to give me some feedback on a call. Great, I thought!But when I replied to schedule a time to chat I didn't get a reply. A week or so later I sent a follow up message and again... silence!!I think this professional ghosting is becoming more and more common and

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from coach, leader and feminist Lisa Townsend. She says:“I need some help to work out which opportunities are for me and which to say no to!An opportunity to collaborate comes my way for example and my mind automatically lists off all the negatives/worst case scenarios. I've been wondering lately if that’s just the fear of feeling like I've potentially got someone else to answer to (which is why I left employment) or whether the opportunity just isn’t right.How can you make a best guess about a new opportunity, without having any prior experience to relate to?"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 Penfold.The flexible pension for freelance parents. Penfold provides freelancers with an online pension that’s simple to use and completely flexible.Sign up with the code DIFTK an

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Kate Nikityuk, founder of Questime. She says:“How do you put yourself back together if all you want to do now the kids are back in school is lay down and stare out of the window?I allowed myself a day of rest on Monday. It is already Thursday and I am still not a rock star 'nailing it'. More like a jellyfish answering a few enquiries from clients and delegating bare minimum to the team. My list of work-to-be-done-when-kids-are-back-to-school is growing, the pressure to make ends meet is terrible and in a blink of an eye it will be the Easter break with both kids back at home and juggling it all again. Any ideas on how to quickly come back to life?'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 Penfold.The flexible pension for freelance parents. Penfold provides freelancers with

This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Detective Casey Gunn aka Anonymous. They say:“What advice do you have when your clients habitually deliver things late which then completely messes up your planning and diary?For context, I’m a social media manager. I have three big clients — all contracted for minimum three month periods — and two of my three clients do this! Usually, these clients are good — we have a good relationship, they pay on time (ish), pay a rate I’m happy with... BUT the constant lateness is making things really tricky for me.My diary gets booked up well in advance (especially at the moment with no childcare!) and their lateness means I have to cram work into already scarce time. I can’t just move the work until when my diary clears, because then the campaigns I’m working on for them become irrelevant as often they are attached to a particular calendar event.I build in ‘wiggle room’, send reminders and prompts but.... NOPE, still late. I don’t kn