Being Freelance

This is actually the fourth time Jackson’s been freelance. He’s not just quit jobs, he even once quit his own company.

But whereas the other times he was a ‘regular’ graphic designer, this time he’s spent a decade as a specialist: a lettering artist and calligrapher.

Regularly posting to Instagram and Behance got him noticed and grew an audience as commissions from around the world reached him at his home in Brazil.

He’s since launched online courses, prints, fonts and NFT collections, building his reputation so he can work when he wants around his family. There’s no sign of him quitting this time around.

You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com
 

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
A place to ask questions, sense-check, laugh and support.
With LIVE Q&As, Coworking, Meet-ups, Socials and more.

JOIN YOUR BFFS AT  beingfreelance.com/community
 

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!

There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from the experience of Steve and hundreds of guests of the podcast.
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

Find out more about the course.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Anna had built a career across corporate and government comms in Melbourne. But if she wanted to move her family out of the city and that meant first meant transforming the way she worked.

Anna set out to prove she could match her past income, now as a freelance copywriter. 
The seeds she planted in the city are now bearing fruit. From a farm in rural Victoria she’s reaping the rewards - a business that feels good and that runs around her kids.

Today she’s questioning the external pressures that tell us to ‘scale’. The farmers before them planted olive trees. That doesn’t mean it’s a business for her. Just because other copywriters before her have grown with subcontractors and products, does she have to follow them too?

Anna goes into detail about how she has built her website and her business to work around her family. So much insight AND the sound of Australian birds too - you're in for a treat!

You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com
 

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
A place to ask questions, sense-check, laugh and support.
With LIVE Q&As, Coworking, Meet-ups, Socials and more.

JOIN YOUR BFFS AT  beingfreelance.com/community
 

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!

There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from the experience of Steve and hundreds of guests of the podcast.
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

Find out more about the course.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Alex trained as a musician. He followed a drumming dream to Nashville along with an internship at a 'mom & pop' business.

There, they had him creating graphics and videos - those two things came together when Alex discovered motion graphics. He took to studying and developing as a motion designer. Self taught, he’s always been constantly trying to learn and improve.

He didn't want to be the best in his company. He wanted to learn from the best...

Finding an internship in LA working on big Hollywood movies, he kept at it. Swapping socialising for learning, upskilling and sharing his self initiated projects on Instagram - he made a name for himself and studios started coming to him.

Now, post-pandemic, he’s trying to rebalance work-life. 4 day weeks are in. Snowboarding weekends are the norm. But it’s a slippery slope when you stop learning - the instability of freelancing is still keeping him on his toes.

You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com
 

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
A place to ask questions, sense-check, laugh and support.
With LIVE Q&As, Coworking, Meet-ups, Socials and more.

JOIN YOUR BFFS AT  beingfreelance.com/community
 

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!

There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from the experience of Steve and hundreds of guests of the podcast.
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

Find out more about the course.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Spring 2020. A pandemic lockdown. Doesn’t sound like the ideal time to build a business, but Ayo had 20 years of marketing experience as her foundations. And a love of marketing that she’d put to good use on herself.

Specialising in the ‘built environment’ - think construction, engineers, architects - Ayo launched a podcast that raised her profile and brought her clients. Repurposing content across socials and her newsletters, Ayo put the same plans, systems & processes she uses with clients to boost her own business.

With award-winning added to her LinkedIn profile, she’s built something pretty special. Maybe we can learn by studying the blueprints. 

Seriously so much to learn on the content marketing strategy Ayo is using!

You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com
 

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
A place to ask questions, sense-check, laugh and support.
With LIVE Q&As, Coworking, Meet-ups, Socials and more.

JOIN YOUR BFFS AT  beingfreelance.com/community
 

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!

There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from the experience of Steve and hundreds of guests of the podcast.
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

Find out more about the course.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Brazilian creative Victoria was working in advertising in London when in 2013 she fancied a change.

A change of pace, country and language, and to help her do that she figured she’d go freelance in Spain.

After 3 years she took a job in an agency. Four years on she felt ready to freelance again. A pandemic and motherhood making the flexibility of working from home even more appealing.

Second time around Victoria felt much more prepared. In her positioning, her processes, her dealings with clients… in running her own business.

In this conversation we cover, amongst other things:

• the importance of a network of fellow freelancers
• getting to know clients properly
• working around having a child
• how some things you want to do just can't be done right now, and that's okay...

You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com
 

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
A place to ask questions, sense-check, laugh and support.
With LIVE Q&As, Coworking, Meet-ups, Socials and more.

JOIN YOUR BFFS AT  beingfreelance.com/community
 

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!

There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from the experience of Steve and hundreds of guests of the podcast.
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

Find out more about the course.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

It’s quite a winding route that’s taken Marcelle to be known as a fashion photographer. But from working in shops on London’s Oxford Street as a teenager, now her photos can be seen in those windows instead.

Marcelle did lots of work for free early on but it built a network, a portfolio and a reputation that has since served her well. Whilst her training as a graphic designer has kept her working at times when she didn’t have a camera in her hand.

She loves her job and is a self professed workaholic, but her thirty year plan finds her sitting in a beach far away from the streets of London.

You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com

This episode is sponsored by AXA Business Insurance.

Get cover for your work, your tools, your reputation. It feels better being protected, being freelance.

Work hard, insure easy. Check out their site or Search AXA Business Insurance.

AXA Insurance UK plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority

This episode is sponsored by IPSE

The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed -  support for UK freelancers.

Advice, networking, events, perks - and sort your pension, insurance, legal, tax..

There's a lot to think about when being freelance, and IPSE have your back.

New to freelancing? The Being Freelance course is made for you!

Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 250 freelancers.

There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.

Find out more about the course.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? 
Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Kyle left agency life and started his self-employed journey working with friends as a collective. 8 years on though, he’d built his own name through hosting meet-ups and speaking at events to the point where it made sense to go solo.

From small meet-ups he ended up speaking on some of the biggest stages with the likes of Adobe as clients. Yet in 2020 decided to switch from being a freelancer to becoming a Creative Director in-house.

Now, full-time at School Of Motion, a fully remote company, he still has flexibility in his life. Kyle believes his years of working independently, general skill-set, and ability to get things done that comes from being freelance is actually making him a better employee.

You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com

This episode is sponsored by AXA Business Insurance.

Get cover for your work, your tools, your reputation. It feels better being protected, being freelance.

Work hard, insure easy. Check out their site or Search AXA Business Insurance.

AXA Insurance UK plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority

This episode is sponsored by IPSE

The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed -  support for UK freelancers.

Advice, networking, events, perks - and sort your pension, insurance, legal, tax..

There's a lot to think about when being freelance, and IPSE have your back.

New to freelancing? The Being Freelance course is made for you!

Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 250 freelancers.

There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.

Find out more about the course.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? 
Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

When Korean Hyunjin, or ‘Jenna’ as she’s also known, met her American husband, she moved to be with him and needed to find work in small town USA.

Whilst blogging tips about international relationships, Jenna found readers started to approach her for help with their own written English requirements like cover letters and applications. Her freelance journey had begun.

Years later she joined Elance, that became Upwork, and worked her way up to be one of the top 1% professionals on the freelancer job site.

Her blog meanwhile spawned what is now the largest community for Korean/international couples. Currently based back in South Korea, along with regular clients on Upwork, her free community brings her plenty of opportunities as her members recommend her too.

Maybe Upwork doesn’t have to be a race to the bottom after all. Hear Jenna's story. And her cat.

You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com

This episode is sponsored by AXA Business Insurance.

Get cover for your work, your tools, your reputation. It feels better being protected, being freelance.

Work hard, insure easy. Check out their site or Search AXA Business Insurance.

AXA Insurance UK plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority

This episode is sponsored by IPSE

The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed -  support for UK freelancers.

Advice, networking, events, perks - and sort your pension, insurance, legal, tax..

There's a lot to think about when being freelance, and IPSE have your back.

New to freelancing? The Being Freelance course is made for you!

Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 250 freelancers.

There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.

Find out more about the course.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? 
Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Luke needn’t have been scared of going freelance. He’d spent 10 years of agency life making great work and making a name for himself. Through writing, speaking and community, people knew he’d be a great freelancer even if he didn’t.

And whilst all of his income is derived from client work, that’s definitely not where all his time is spent

Luke devotes huge amounts of energy to Birmingham Design. Joining forces with his friend Dan to organise events, workshops, a shop, website, directory, mentorship scheme and a massive festival celebrating and nurturing the creative scene around them.

You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com

This episode is sponsored by AXA Business Insurance.

Get cover for your work, your tools, your reputation. It feels better being protected, being freelance.

Work hard, insure easy. Check out their site or Search AXA Business Insurance.

AXA Insurance UK plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority

This episode is sponsored by IPSE

The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed -  support for UK freelancers.

Advice, networking, events, perks - and sort your pension, insurance, legal, tax..

There's a lot to think about when being freelance, and IPSE have your back.

New to freelancing? The Being Freelance course is made for you!

Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 250 freelancers.

There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.

Find out more about the course.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? 
Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

When Australian Robyn quit her job working in comms for a French yacht company, she wasn’t expecting her boss to be so keen to keep her that he’d offer her a 2-day-a-week retainer if she went freelance.

So she did. Finding work through her network and referrals along the way. 6 years later Robyn still has no website.

But working solo also gradually sent Robyn into her shell. So now, she’s proactively seeking out connection once more. Making online dates with other freelancers and working with a business coach - she’s enjoying life being freelance once more.

You'll find full show notes and transcript for this episode at beingfreelance.com

This episode is sponsored by AXA Business Insurance.

Get cover for your work, your tools, your reputation. It feels better being protected, being freelance.

Work hard, insure easy. Check out their site or Search AXA Business Insurance.

AXA Insurance UK plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority

This episode is sponsored by IPSE

The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed -  support for UK freelancers.

Advice, networking, events, perks - and sort your pension, insurance, legal, tax..

There's a lot to think about when being freelance, and IPSE have your back.

New to freelancing? The Being Freelance course is made for you!

Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 250 freelancers.

There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.

Find out more about the course.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? 
Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland