99 Problems (but a boss ain't one)

You’re in business, you’ve got customers and things are going great. But there may come a point where you either want to do something else and expand your skills, or maybe your customers love you so much they want more goods and services - and they want them from you specifically. How do you add more services into your offering? In this episode, we talk about how to expand what you offer in a way that's manageable and sustainable!

In the olden days of our parents or grandparents, you had one job and you did that job for life - or at least for a long time. Now the ways of work have changed and people are used to switching jobs, but although having a “side hustle” is more common, there’s still some stigma around having more than one project, business or role as a freelancer. In this episode we look at whether you can have your cake and eat it by doing more than just one thing!

Big business is rubbish at looking after our planet, so it looks like it’s up to us micro-businesses to lead the way.  But can we make a difference? What can little old us do for the planet and why should we make this a priority as freelancers? In this episode we look at why considering your carbon footprint is important and share some practical tips for reducing it.

When we first start out we will often turn our hand to anything in our skill set and work with pretty anyone who will do business with us. But we often find out that where we start out is not where we want to be. It’s not the ‘real us’. How do you work out ‘your thing’ and avoid doing what you think you should do? In this episode we talk about what it means to be authentic beyond an Instagram hashtag.

In this episode, we're talking about the challenges of being a female freelancer. Do women face more challenges in freelancing than men? What’s the difference? And what can we do about it? 

It’s not you, it’s me. That’s right, in this episode we’re going to cover the topic of business breakups. You may have started by skipping through fields together but what happens if it stops being all rosy and you need to consciously uncouple?

Rejection is something that will impact every freelancer at some point. It doesn’t feel good but being able to deal with it well (and even use it for good) will set you up for freelancing success. In this episode we talk about tips for coping with rejection and discuss whether it's better to try to avoid it or embrace it!

When you’re freelance it’s up to you to decide what your values are, and then do business accordingly. In this episode we’re talking how to run a business with integrity, why it matters, and how to avoid the temptation to go down an unethical path.

As we enter yet another year of uncertainty, you may be reluctant to plan when you’re not sure what lies ahead and you’re exhausted from the past year. We look at how to make planning into a positive activity that focuses on what you already have and your strengths, and resisting the temptation to add in more that you need to.

Freelancing requires a whole different approach to money. When you’re employed your employer basically sets your worth, but when you’re freelance you have to decide your own value, which can be scary! In this episode, we look at common money mindsets that might hold you back as a freelancer, and wha

We realised this probably should have been our first challenge to tackle, but better late than never! So in this episode we look at the concrete steps you can take to set yourself up as a freelancer. We talk about how we get started, what you actually need to do, and common barriers to starting. Some of the content is specific to the UK but most of our advice would apply to freelancing anywhere in the world. 

They say never to work with children or animals, but what about collaborating with family or friends? In this episode we're going to look at the perks and pitfalls of mixing your work and personal life.

A recent survey showed that 75% of people have experienced stress to the point where they felt they couldn’t cope, and we know that this is a problem for freelancers too; we’ve seen this in our own networks with people being burned out and overwhelmed. So without a company policy to protect us, and no paid sick days, how do we manage our stress and anxiety?

After over a year of upheavals it’s natural to question if you’re doing what you want (both in life and work). Some people have had this reflection forced on them because their previous work has ceased to exist, but even if your work has stayed mostly the same, the way you engage with it might have changed (for better or worse) and got you thinking… 

One of the most frustrating bits of feedback given to freelancers is “You have to get over those limiting beliefs” but without any solutions suggested. In this episode we explore some of the top limiting beliefs freelancers experience, we’ll help identify where they came from and more importantly how you can overcome them.

We like having tangible outcomes as it makes us feel like we’ve done something. You can look back over emails you’ve sent, invoices generated, workshops delivered, website pages created and it’s easy to see the result of that time spent. But what about the activities that don’t feel like work or have less concrete outcomes? We talk about how to justify this time when it's for clients or your own business.

As a freelancer the lines between work and life are often blurred to start with, add in a global pandemic with increased working from home and home schooling and is it any wonder we’re finding it hard to find time away from work. In this episode we look at why switching off is important and how you can make it happen.

Ever feel like you’re stuck in a rut? Perhaps everyday feels the same or you can’t muster the motivation to get things done. In this episode, we look at what can get us stuck in a rut, and what we can do to get out.

This episode is all about how to process an annus horribilis. It’s been inspired by the events of 2020 but you can have one for any reason. We share why you should reflect on this year (even if you don't feel like it) plus how to extract some good from it and use it for an equally uncertain future.

We all want our businesses to do well and most of us have an idea of how we want them to develop. In pursuing our goals it’s really tempting to simply throw more at it, but often, we already have what we need right under our noses! We chat about how to resist the temptation of MORE.

Have you become associated with a skill or service but your heart just isn’t in it? Is there a difference between what pays and what you’d really like to offer? You’re not alone. It’s great to become known for being good at something (and it certainly flatters the ego) but how do we become associated with the stuff we really love to do? 

The freelance world has its fair share of conventional wisdom but these pearls of ‘wisdom’ don’t always hold true. Some are out of date and others weren’t ever true in the first place. In this episode, we explore some of our favourite myths and help our listeners to be released from their spell.

Have you relied on your shining personality to make an impact with your clients? Do you feel that it’s harder to make connections with people over distance? Physical distancing doesn’t have to mean social distancing. We’ll show you how to keep those personal relationships personal over distance.

Just because you’ve set up business on your own doesn’t mean you have to set up business on your own doesn’t mean you have to figure out everything yourself. No matter how intelligent or experienced you are sometimes we all need some outside help, and in this episode we talk about how to find the right support whether it's coaching, mentoring or a little help from your friends. 

During the pandemic many of us will have realised that ‘I haven’t got time’ was not the real reason we didn’t launch that new project or product! In this episode we talk more about these self-imposed barriers or "safe problems". We look at some examples of safe problems, and discuss how to spot and overcome them. 

We’re not actually talking about Instagram influencers here (although they probably use a lot of the techniques we’ll be covering) but we are focusing on how to win people over. We discuss the different stages of influence and some top tips for persuasion. 

Lockdown has forced us to work differently, but one positive consequence for some freelancers has been working at a slower pace and having time to spend on other projects. So how do we keep this up as we gradually emerge into a post-pandemic world? We chat about the benefits and barriers around slowing down.

One of the first things people say when you freelance is “oh you’re so brave” and often they mean “you’re so crazy”. But actually it does take courage to go - and stay - freelance. So let’s jump in with both feet.  

Sometimes it’s hard to keep a sunny disposition and we’ve all had our ups and downs as freelancers.  In this episode we discuss why there is actually a place for negative thinking,  consider whether Katy is a witch, and look at how to turn your negatives into "megatives"... along with some actual practical tips for staying positive.

You’ve probably heard that Steve Jobs always wore the same kind of clothes to give him one less decision to make. Should we humble freelancers be following the lead of the late tech entrepreneur? In this episode we look at how we can make the "right" decisions and share tips on simplifying the decision-making process. 

Wouldn’t it be good if you predict what the future holds for your business? How can you predict what the future holds and make decisions now, that will benefit you in the months and years to come? Dust off your crystal ball as wl share some futurecasting tips and techniques.

The world can be an unpredictable place. There are some things that even the best business planning can’t forsee as many people are probably finding out (at the time of recording, Coronavirus has been declared a pandemic). Our flexibility makes us desirable but when panic sets in it can also make us disposable in the eyes of some clients. How do we make sure we keep the show on the road when the unexpected hits?

We're officially over half of the way to 99 and in this episode we're talking about how to manage tricky conversations, in particular with clients. We share tips to help you plan for these calls or meetings (or emails, if you must) and what to do if you find your emotions taking over. 

It's quite common for freelancers to have a bit on the side, but with our "day job" and life rudely getting in the way, how do we make time for other projects? In this episode we talk about the benefits of having a side hustle and how to overcome the barriers that can prevent it from moving forward. 

We each get 86400 seconds a day, so how do we actually do what matters in this time? In this episode we look at why freelancers sometimes struggle more to manage their time, and why the phrase "time management" might not actually be the right way of looking at the problem. We also share some practical tips on how to prioritise your days and get things done!

The classic freelance conundrum: if your business is doing well, should you grow it? And if so, how? In this episode, we question the idea that success is measured by growth and talk about the benefits of staying small (and yes this is the Paul Jarvis appreciation episode) as well as looking at how to grow sustainably if you do go down that route. Have a listen to find out why Michelle thinks "friends with benefits" could be the key to your freelance success 😉

In this episode we look at whether freelancers are more susceptible to mental health challenges, and chat about ways to manage time and clients if you're struggling. We share insights from our own experiences and discuss how much to share with clients.

Everyone wants to start the year with a bang, so how do you plan effectively? In this episode we talk about how to set goals in a way that works, and even question whether goals are always the right option to get you to where you want to be. We also share tips for planning and look at creative ways to get the work done!

As freelancers we don't tend to get appraisals, so it can be hard to know how we're doing. In our final episode of 2019, we open up about how our year has gone and look back at the highs and lows, as well as discussing the importance of making this time to reflect. 

The beauty of freelancing is that you can work from anywhere, but the challenge with freelancing is… you can work from anywhere! From the kitchen table to a dedicated office, how do you decide where is best?

After Michelle had what can only be described as "a bit of a day", we look at how to cope when everything goes wrong, and discuss ways to turn a negative mindset into a positive one. We also chat about how to cope with other people's negativity!

Sometimes you will find yourself needing to change direction or make some changes. In this episode we’re going to talk about why we might want to hit refresh, and what to bear in mind when we do it. 

The opportunities for freelance guilt are neverending, so how do you cope? You feel guilty for not working enough, you feel guilty for working too much. With so much to feel bad about, we chat about why we feel guilty and what we can do about it. 

You’re working on a client project and then you get the dreaded question. “Could you just…?” And inevitably what sounds like a five minute task ends up taking hours. So how do you protect your time whilst also keeping a good client relationship? We discuss options.

As more people go freelance, how do you stand out against your competition? In this episode we look at what you can do to set yourself apart from the crowds, and why it can help to make friends with your "competitors". 

As freelancers we’re in a unique position to be able to “pivot” and make changes to our business. But how do we deal with the impacts of change or uncertainty, and what happens when the change isn’t our choice?

When we first started out we dreamed of being busy. Then, we finally get there and it’s harder than we thought. In this episode, we look at how to manage when work starts to pile up!

Do you ever feel like you haven't found your purpose? You aren't alone. Most of us haven't had that lightning bolt moment, so we take a closer look into the idea of searching for a purpose and ask whether it's something that's found or created. 

A couple of episodes ago we talked about what characteristics are helpful as a freelancer, and resilience came up. So we wanted to take a bit of a deeper dive into what resilience means for freelancers, and share our tips on how to cope with the harder parts of self employment (spoiler alert: Katy's involves a video of milk bottles).

We’re a third of the way through our 99 problems, so we thought this might be a good time to get all reflective. So we’re going to fire up the Delorian and take ourselves back to our first days of freelancing. Knowing what we know now, what would we do with that time?