Doing It For The Kids

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 #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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 forgotten to provide the orange slices and jelly babies at the side of the road. How the heck do others do it? Can someone throw me a jelly baby?”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 onlineSarah Randall'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 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 inspiring professional speaker, whilst also not wasting the opportunity to self promote would be greatly appreciated. Should I just trust in the process that work will naturally come from 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 onlineFrankie 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 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 Bingo onlineFrankie 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 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 feel isolated, lonely and bored thanks to working from home — my mental health has suffered. In an ideal world I would have a financial cushion that would allow me to turn down some of these projects and pursue more that interest me, but — as many self-employed people are — I work very hand to mouth (especially being a widowed parent). My question is, how can I somehow incorporate more of what I love (and ultimately went freelance to do), without losing out financially? Somedays I think I'd love to work outside or do something completely different, but understand this isn't possible (unless I win the lottery), but the ideal would be to design book covers all day, but that is only 5% of what I currently do.Any ideas on how to help morph my business back to a place where I am not voluntarily doing something I don't enjoy? Thanks! Claire”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 and get a £25 bonus into your pension pot. Penfold are also offering up to a £1,000 top up on pension transfers until the 31st of March 2021, so you can earn more from your old pension pots!Penfold is regulated by the FCA. When you put money in a pension, it’s an investment, and like all investments, your capital is at risk. Check for benefits before transferring.Go to www.getpenfold.com/diftk•••Spurwing Creative websiteFrankie Tortora's websiteSteve Folland's websiteSteve's podcast - Being FreelanceDoing It For The Kids websiteDIFTK Facebook CommunityDIFTK InstagramDIFTK TwitterSupport DIFTK on Ko-Fi

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 #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 and get a £25 bonus into your pension pot. Penfold are also offering up to a £1,000 top up on pension transfers until the 31st of March 2021, so you can earn more from your old pension pots!Penfold is regulated by the FCA. When you put money in a pension, it’s an investment, and like all investments, your capital is at risk. Check for benefits before transferring.Go to www.getpenfold.com/diftk•••See, Think, Do 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 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 #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 and get a £25 bonus into your pension pot. Penfold are also offering up to a £1,000 top up on pension transfers until the 31st of March 2021, so you can earn more from your old pension pots!Penfold is regulated by the FCA. When you put money in a pension, it’s an investment, and like all investments, your capital is at risk. Check for benefits before transferring.Go to www.getpenfold.com/diftk•••Lily Pawley'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 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 I always give at least a month so it isn't that. What can I / should I do differently?"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 and get a £25 bonus into your pension pot. Penfold are also offering up to a £1,000 top up on pension transfers until the 31st of March 2021, so you can earn more from your old pension pots!Penfold is regulated by the FCA. When you put money in a pension, it’s an investment, and like all investments, your capital is at risk. Check for benefits before transferring.Go to www.getpenfold.com/diftk•••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 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 an online pension that’s simple to use and completely flexible.Sign up with the code DIFTK and get a £25 bonus into your pension pot. Penfold are also offering up to a £1,000 top up on pension transfers until the 31st of March 2021, so you can earn more from your old pension pots!Penfold is regulated by the FCA. When you put money in a pension, it’s an investment, and like all investments, your capital is at risk. Check for benefits before transferring.Go to www.getpenfold.com/diftk•••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 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 I hate it! How hard is it to send a quick message to someone, especially if you have volunteered to share the information in the first place?I would love to move on from this, but feel a bit embarrassed, and also annoyed, and a bit like a ditched date! I'd love a chance to work with this organisation, and to have the feedback that was offered up. Would love to hear what you think! Any advice?”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 and get a £25 bonus into your pension pot. Penfold are also offering up to a £1,000 top up on pension transfers until the 31st of March 2021, so you can earn more from your old pension pots!Penfold is regulated by the FCA. When you put money in a pension, it’s an investment, and like all investments, your capital is at risk. Check for benefits before transferring.Go to www.getpenfold.com/diftk•••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 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 and get a £25 bonus into your pension pot. Penfold are also offering up to a £1,000 top up on pension transfers until the 31st of March 2021, so you can earn more from your old pension pots!Penfold is regulated by the FCA. When you put money in a pension, it’s an investment, and like all investments, your capital is at risk. Check for benefits before transferring.Go to www.getpenfold.com/diftk•••Lisa Townsend'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 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 an online pension that’s simple to use and completely flexible.Sign up with the code DIFTK and get a £25 bonus into your pension pot. Penfold are also offering up to a £1,000 top up on pension transfers until the 31st of March 2021, so you can earn more from your old pension pots!Penfold is regulated by the FCA. When you put money in a pension, it’s an investment, and like all investments, your capital is at risk. Check for benefits before transferring.Go to www.getpenfold.com/diftk•••Questime websiteKate Nikityuk's LinkedInFrankie 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 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 know what to do!!!Do I charge more if work has to be completed post-deadline? Like, the equivalent of ‘overtime’? How do I protect myself from this situation in my contract?It means that next week, for example, I have to build three advertising campaigns (when my planning says I was supposed to only be working on one) and write two campaign analysis reports, alongside my day to day duties with another client... oh and homeschooling my two kids aged 6 and 8 because — PANDEMIC.Basically, I’M FUCKED AND I WANT TO CRY. End.”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 and get a £25 bonus into your pension pot. Penfold are also offering up to a £1,000 top up on pension transfers until the 31st of March 2021, so you can earn more from your old pension pots!Penfold is regulated by the FCA. When you put money in a pension, it’s an investment, and like all investments, your capital is at risk. Check for benefits before transferring.Go to www.getpenfold.com/diftk•••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 podcast producer Dave Howard. He says:“I develop and make podcasts for people — universities, PR companies, businesses, charities. I’m largely a one-person operation, with a few trusted freelancers available to take on odd bits of work here and there when things get busy.But now there is just too much work. I seem to have won a lot of business all at once, and I’m finding myself constantly racing to edit people’s programmes, to meet deadlines. Some things are getting rushed and some things are a bit stuck on the back burner.There’s no time for working on the business, updating the website, socials, etc. (Accepting that home schooling is also happening — and is a shitshow).So, is it some sort of pipeline management strategy I need? Do I just need to learn to say no – or even ‘I can help with that but not until April’? To adjust my prices? Move to a model of bringing in subcontractors?(I’ll be honest, I don’t really want to become someone whose day-to-day work is managing and overseeing other people — been there, done that, didn’t enjoy it. But I can see that being a way forward).”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 and get a £25 bonus into your pension pot. Penfold are also offering up to a £1,000 top up on pension transfers until the 31st of March 2021, so you can earn more from your old pension pots!Penfold is regulated by the FCA. When you put money in a pension, it’s an investment, and like all investments, your capital is at risk. Check for benefits before transferring.Go to www.getpenfold.com/diftk•••Dave Howard'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 designer and web developer Laura Ockenden. She says:“As a newbie full-timer, I'm struggling a bit with planning in work and knowing how much I can take on and when.I've got a few jobs on now but often find myself procrastinating under the guise of waiting for clients to get back to me — should I be looking for more work? Should I book in clients for next month? How long will a job take? How long is a piece of string?!I've been quite lucky that things have sort of just fallen into place recently but it feels like I need to start giving this whole idea some brain-space now it's the thing that actually pays my mortgage!"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 Agorapulse.Managing social media has never been easier. Schedule your content, get reports, and engage followers with one simple tool. Try Agorapulse FREE for 1 full month.Go to www.agorapulse.com/diftk•••Lauren Ockenden'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 Detective Mel Horn, AKA Anonymous. They say:“How do you cope with "Client Ick"? Like that physical cringe you experience when you see someone you snogged at a staff party years ago but this time, it’s because your client is calling you and you secretly hate them.Clients are good. Clients pay the bills. I should love that I have this client. Times are hard and I shouldn’t be ungrateful — after all I worked hard to get them in the first place.But the honeymoon period of this client has died a death. My dilemma is that despite being a nice (but very insecure) person, as a client they are a royal pain in the bum. Which is fine when you are being paid for the service but right now we are in limbo between projects, so I’m officially off the books.It’s a culmination of lots of little things that have started to grate on me. But after months of working with them and recently having some issues with bill payments, I now see their name appear on my phone or receive an email and I want to hit the gin (before responding in a professional manner, obviously!).I hate that they annoy me (I need them!) and hate that they suck my time even when I’m not charging for it (look at me writing to you about them right now!)Should I just accept that our relationship is tainted, move on and hope that a better client comes along? Is this the end?? Or am I just being a dick, battered after a year of sodding covid draining all my patience and humility."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 Agorapulse.Managing social media has never been easier. Schedule your content, get reports, and engage followers with one simple tool. Try Agorapulse FREE for 1 full month.Go to www.agorapulse.com/diftk•••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 Ginger Nuts Cracklefriend, AKA Anonymous. They say:"As we come to the end of this shit show of a year, what do you want to take into 2021 and what would you leave behind? I remember the episode where Steve sat in his car and you never answered a question but had mutual therapy and I wondered how the rest of the year went for you both. 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.•••This episode is supported by Agorapulse.Managing social media has never been easier. Schedule your content, get reports, and engage followers with one simple tool. Try Agorapulse FREE for 1 full month.Go to www.agorapulse.com/diftk•••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 Christmas elf Perky Chocolate Plum, AKA Anonymous. They say:“I don’t know if this is a consequence of being both employed and self-employed for many years, but I find myself being “led” by my clients. I struggle to say no or to set boundaries with them as I don’t feel like I control the relationship. This leads to me working every night/weekend and feeling exhausted and frustrated. What can I do to change this?"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 Agorapulse.Managing social media has never been easier. Schedule your content, get reports, and engage followers with one simple tool. Try Agorapulse FREE for 1 full month.Go to www.agorapulse.com/diftk•••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 soon-to-be counsellor Juliette Toop. She says:“Assuming all goes to plan, at the end of this year I’ll qualify as a counsellor and set up a private practice. What do you both consider to be ‘must haves’ and ‘nice to haves’ and ‘totally not necessaries’ for starting up?Even though I’ve been self employed before I know I wasted a lot of time and money back then on things I didn’t need!”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 Agorapulse.Managing social media has never been easier. Schedule your content, get reports, and engage followers with one simple tool. Try Agorapulse FREE for 1 full month.Go to www.agorapulse.com/diftk•••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 health communications specialist Anneliese Levy. She says:“How can I 'get a life' outside of work/kids?I find being a freelancer really intense, in that all my focus is on looking for work, thinking about work, doing work, following up on work. And oh yeah, looking after my kids! Other than that I don't think I do anything else.I think back fondly to the days when I used to have actual hobbies, did evening classes and had pastimes that were totally unrelated to the job I did. A lot of this was before kids but it also relates to when I became a freelancer about 4 years ago. I don't tend to switch off because I am always on the lookout for the next client or trying to keep up with research and reading related to my field. It seems like some other people have lovely creative hobbies or are really sporty, but the thought of trying to fit something else in feels too overwhelming.Has anyone else has managed to reclaim some time to do other things outside of work and family?!”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 Agorapulse.Managing social media has never been easier. Schedule your content, get reports, and engage followers with one simple tool. Try Agorapulse FREE for 1 full month.Go to www.agorapulse.com/diftk•••Anneliese Levy'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 virtual assistant and founder of MuthaCollective, Annabelle Williams Dos Anjos. She says:“How do you avoid ‘shiny shiny’ syndrome?As a creative person I love doing so many different things. I often have to talk myself down from creating 5 new things/businesses that I just don’t have time for (and therefore wouldn’t do well).How do you stop yourself from constantly running towards the latest, shiniest idea? And how do you know when something should remain a hobby?!”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 Agorapulse.Managing social media has never been easier. Schedule your content, get reports, and engage followers with one simple tool. Try Agorapulse FREE for 1 full month.Go to www.agorapulse.com/diftk•••Annabelle Williams Dos Anjos' 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 software developer and 'multidisciplinary geek' Ross Wintle. He says:“How the flippin flippity flip do I reduce this baseline of anxiety I have whereby every time one of my children coughs or has a borderline temperature of 37.9 I go into fight-or-flight mode expecting to have to slash my hours in half to do homeschooling again while we obtain/wait for the result of a COVID test?Do people have some kind of "plan" for how to manage this so that it's not permanently stressing them out? How do I go about booking work in when I might have to take anything up to two weeks off at a day's notice?(Context: I have two kids FINALLY both full-time at school. My wife is working pretty much full-time now and can only take limited time off. I'm aware we need to share the burden and her employer should flex as well as mine, but even so, this is a HUGE challenge and my nerves are shredded!)”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 Agorapulse.Managing social media has never been easier. Schedule your content, get reports, and engage followers with one simple tool. Try Agorapulse FREE for 1 full month.Go to www.agorapulse.com/diftk•••Ross Wintle's websiteRoss's 'DIFTK Homeschooling & Isolation Resources App'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 content creator Becky Coote. She says:“Project creep. We've all experienced it, but how do you deal with it in a way that doesn't piss off your client?I'm working with someone who is ever so slowly, one email at a time pushing the boundaries further and further away from what we agreed. The problem is each individual email isn't enough for me to go "WOAH, hold your horses!" but when you look at the big picture, the amount of time I'm spending on this project is dragging my hourly rate right down, taking me away from other client work and generally winding me up.How do you set the limits from the start and then police it during the project?"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 Agorapulse.Managing social media has never been easier. Schedule your content, get reports, and engage followers with one simple tool. Try Agorapulse FREE for 1 full month.Go to www.agorapulse.com/diftk•••Becky Coote'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 career coach Abbi Buszard. She says:“I’ve been running my business for 2 and a half years, with a small baby hiatus in the middle (compounded by, y’know, a global pandemic that stole all the f-ing childcare).2 and a half years in and I still haven’t learned to ride the rollercoaster of emotions that accompanies doing your own thing. I feel like a dog chasing squirrels made of feelings:‘Ooh a new idea, I’m so happy!’‘Oh no a rejection, I’m so sad’‘Ooh a new client, I’m so happy!’How can I find some equilibrium guys? I drive myself mad — what about my poor family?”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 Agorapulse.Managing social media has never been easier. Schedule your content, get reports, and engage followers with one simple tool. Try Agorapulse FREE for 1 full month.Go to www.agorapulse.com/diftk•••Abbi Buszard'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 social media consultant and embroidery artist Claudette Anderson. She says:“How do I navigate going from freelance into an employed role? Particularly when I’m going to be keeping my small business going on the side.What can I do to make the transition easier and more manageable? How can I take the awesome parts of freelance life into an employed job? And how can I embrace the parts of an employed job that I’m not so fond of?"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 Nutmeg.Nutmeg launched in September 2012 as the first online wealth manager in the UK with a promise to open up the previously exclusive world of wealth management. Nutmeg offers customers a high-quality investment service at a reduced cost, whether they have £500 or £5 million to invest. Nutmeg now manages over £2bn on behalf of over 80,000 customers, making Nutmeg one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth managers and the fifth largest wealth manager in the UK by customer numbers (Source: PAM Asset Management, January 2019). www.nutmeg.com[Risk warning: Capital at risk. JISA rules apply]•••Claudette Anderson's embroidery websiteClaudette Anderson's LinkedInFrankie Tortora's websiteSteve Folland's websiteSteve's podcast - Being FreelanceDoing It For The Kids websiteDIFTK Facebook CommunityDIFTK InstagramDIFTK TwitterSupport DIFTK on Ko-Fi

EPISODE 50!!!This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from graphic artist and designer Rachel Brown. She says:“I’ve worked from home in one form or another, in both employed and self- employed roles, for five years now. There’s been ups and downs, and I’ve learnt along the way how to manage the work/home balance and what I need to do to keep my wellbeing up (I don’t always follow my advice but at least know the theory by now!). My husband, however, came off furlough last month and is now navigating full time working from home for the first time. I can see him falling foul of many things that I did in the early days of working from home that didn’t create the best balance.So how can we, as experienced work-from-homers, support our other halves/family members to get used to life outside the office?ALSO, how on earth do I get used to having a home office buddy who slurps his tea SO LOUDLY and swears at his computer when the internet drops out, because I am NOT DEALING WELL WITH THAT!!!”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 Nutmeg.Nutmeg launched in September 2012 as the first online wealth manager in the UK with a promise to open up the previously exclusive world of wealth management. Nutmeg offers customers a high-quality investment service at a reduced cost, whether they have £500 or £5 million to invest. Nutmeg now manages over £2bn on behalf of over 80,000 customers, making Nutmeg one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth managers and the fifth largest wealth manager in the UK by customer numbers (Source: PAM Asset Management, January 2019). www.nutmeg.com[Risk warning: Capital at risk. JISA rules apply]•••Rachel Brown's InstagramRachel Brown's EtsyFrankie 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 coach, mentor and consultant EJ Trivett. She says:“With Lockdown 2.0 looming precariously ahead, what are our lessons from the first wave, and what could we put in place NOW to proactively protect our businesses (and sanity) ahead of the game?”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 Nutmeg.Nutmeg launched in September 2012 as the first online wealth manager in the UK with a promise to open up the previously exclusive world of wealth management. Nutmeg offers customers a high-quality investment service at a reduced cost, whether they have £500 or £5 million to invest. Nutmeg now manages over £2bn on behalf of over 80,000 customers, making Nutmeg one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth managers and the fifth largest wealth manager in the UK by customer numbers (Source: PAM Asset Management, January 2019). www.nutmeg.com[Risk warning: Capital at risk. JISA rules apply]•••EJ Trivett'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 writer and educator Fiona Tapp. She says:"Congrats on your British Podcast Award! I won an award in my field last year and I have been wondering how to best market the fact without sounding like a wanker. It’s sometimes hard to shout about your wins (especially as a woman) but if you have been recognised surely you should be able to celebrate?”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 Nutmeg.Nutmeg launched in September 2012 as the first online wealth manager in the UK with a promise to open up the previously exclusive world of wealth management. Nutmeg offers customers a high-quality investment service at a reduced cost, whether they have £500 or £5 million to invest. Nutmeg now manages over £2bn on behalf of over 80,000 customers, making Nutmeg one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth managers and the fifth largest wealth manager in the UK by customer numbers (Source: PAM Asset Management, January 2019). www.nutmeg.com[Risk warning: Capital at risk. JISA rules apply]•••Fiona Tapp'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 Detective Stella King AKA Anonymous. They say:“I’m so sick of my husband’s negativity about my business! I started it 7 years ago with a view to running it when children came along and since then, I’ve been able to pick it up and put it down around my son and various life events.I’ve always felt the need to hold onto my part-time supermarket job so I feel like I’m ‘doing my bit’ but have been increasingly resenting the fact that my business takes a back seat to everything else — how am I supposed to make the same or more money if I’m not given the opportunity to work on it!?His view is if I’m spending ANY time on it, it should equate to money coming in and it doesn’t matter how many times I try to explain to him that I need to put the hours in before I reap the rewards, he makes comments like “I don’t want you to get your hopes up” — Obviously not with comments like that!He doesn’t understand it and he never will, but can anyone advise on things I could do to get him more on board before I start looking for a new husband!!?”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 Nutmeg.Nutmeg launched in September 2012 as the first online wealth manager in the UK with a promise to open up the previously exclusive world of wealth management. Nutmeg offers customers a high-quality investment service at a reduced cost, whether they have £500 or £5 million to invest. Nutmeg now manages over £2bn on behalf of over 80,000 customers, making Nutmeg one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth managers and the fifth largest wealth manager in the UK by customer numbers (Source: PAM Asset Management, January 2019). www.nutmeg.com[Risk warning: Capital at risk. JISA rules apply]•••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 Detective Mo White AKA Anonymous. They say:“How do you know you’re ready to make the leap into freelancing — especially during COVID?I’ve been freelancing on the side for a while and am feeling super uninspired by my day job lately. I don’t currently make enough freelancing to make it work with healthcare and such (thanks, America) but am considering making the jump.What were your must-dos before jumping into full time self-employment?”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 Nutmeg.Nutmeg launched in September 2012 as the first online wealth manager in the UK with a promise to open up the previously exclusive world of wealth management. Nutmeg offers customers a high-quality investment service at a reduced cost, whether they have £500 or £5 million to invest. Nutmeg now manages over £2bn on behalf of over 80,000 customers, making Nutmeg one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth managers and the fifth largest wealth manager in the UK by customer numbers (Source: PAM Asset Management, January 2019). www.nutmeg.com[Risk warning: Capital at risk. JISA rules apply]•••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 copywriter Catherine Jones. She says:"Let's talk social media.Do you use every platform or focus on one? Do you schedule? How do you allocate time for answering comments and interacting with other people? How do you ensure you don't get sucked down the rabbit hole and lose hours to it? Is it worth outsourcing? If so, how do you know you're ready / can afford to?Sorry, I know it's only supposed to be one question!"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.***Vote for us in the Listener's Choice Award at the British Podcast Awards!***•••This episode is supported by Nutmeg.Nutmeg launched in September 2012 as the first online wealth manager in the UK with a promise to open up the previously exclusive world of wealth management. Nutmeg offers customers a high-quality investment service at a reduced cost, whether they have £500 or £5 million to invest. Nutmeg now manages over £2bn on behalf of over 80,000 customers, making Nutmeg one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth managers and the fifth largest wealth manager in the UK by customer numbers (Source: PAM Asset Management, January 2019). www.nutmeg.com[Risk warning: Capital at risk. JISA rules apply]•••Catherine Jones' websiteCatherine Jones' blog Lazy MumFrankie 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 Hannah Harvey who runs pregnancy yoga workshops and online courses. She says:"Is it still worth being self-employed? With some employers offering flexibility around working hours / childcare / working from home — is it time to return to employment?”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.***Vote for us in the Listener's Choice Award at the British Podcast Awards!***•••This episode is supported by Nutmeg.Nutmeg launched in September 2012 as the first online wealth manager in the UK with a promise to open up the previously exclusive world of wealth management. Nutmeg offers customers a high-quality investment service at a reduced cost, whether they have £500 or £5 million to invest. Nutmeg now manages over £2bn on behalf of over 80,000 customers, making Nutmeg one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth managers and the fifth largest wealth manager in the UK by customer numbers (Source: PAM Asset Management, January 2019). www.nutmeg.com[Risk warning: Capital at risk. JISA rules apply]•••Hannah Harvey'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 digital content consultant and journalist Suzanne Locke. She says:“How do you even think about pitching for new work — when you have none — and when you don’t know when you’ll have childcare again...?! I’m a solo parent with a toddler!”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.***Vote for us in the Listener's Choice Award at the British Podcast Awards!***•••This episode is supported by Nutmeg.Nutmeg launched in September 2012 as the first online wealth manager in the UK with a promise to open up the previously exclusive world of wealth management. Nutmeg offers customers a high-quality investment service at a reduced cost, whether they have £500 or £5 million to invest. Nutmeg now manages over £2bn on behalf of over 80,000 customers, making Nutmeg one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth managers and the fifth largest wealth manager in the UK by customer numbers (Source: PAM Asset Management, January 2019). www.nutmeg.com[Risk warning: Capital at risk. JISA rules apply]•••Suzanne Locke'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 science writer Richard Berks. He says:"Alright gang. Any top tips for finding motivation when you have none, but desperately need some??I'm sure I'm not alone in finding that when I most need to get some flippin' work done, I seem to have the least motivation to do it. That precious time, while the kids are occupied, or after they're in bed, and you have a list of things you need to get done... and then bleugh. Not feeling it. List doesn't get done. Feel bad.I know I know, we're all trying our best in a difficult situation, but really I sometimes need to give myself a good kick up the bum. I know there are lots of amazing people in DIFTK who are experts in getting shit done when time is tight — so how do you do 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.***Vote for us in the Listener's Choice Award at the British Podcast Awards!***•••This episode is supported by Nutmeg.Nutmeg launched in September 2012 as the first online wealth manager in the UK with a promise to open up the previously exclusive world of wealth management. Nutmeg offers customers a high-quality investment service at a reduced cost, whether they have £500 or £5 million to invest. Nutmeg now manages over £2bn on behalf of over 80,000 customers, making Nutmeg one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth managers and the fifth largest wealth manager in the UK by customer numbers (Source: PAM Asset Management, January 2019). www.nutmeg.com[Risk warning: Capital at risk. JISA rules apply]•••Richard Berks' 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 accountant Caroline Boardman. She says:“How should we chase payments in this climate? When you know times are tough for people but you need to get paid too, what's the best way to approach credit control?As an accountant, I am in the position of knowing more than most about my clients' finances, so it is tricky to chase a late payment when I know they really don't have the cash in the bank! Should we just be leaving it at the moment and chase after lockdown? Should we just be doing what we usually do? Or is the best thing to do to offer payment plans? Help!”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 Nutmeg.Nutmeg launched in September 2012 as the first online wealth manager in the UK with a promise to open up the previously exclusive world of wealth management. Nutmeg offers customers a high-quality investment service at a reduced cost, whether they have £500 or £5 million to invest. Nutmeg now manages over £2bn on behalf of over 80,000 customers, making Nutmeg one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth managers and the fifth largest wealth manager in the UK by customer numbers (Source: PAM Asset Management, January 2019). www.nutmeg.com[Risk warning: Capital at risk. JISA rules apply]•••Caroline 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 wedding and family videographer Charlene McNabb. She says:“Do you have any tips on how to keep work ticking over and keeping visible when you now have around 7 minutes a day rather than the usual 6 hours?!Our daily life consists of my husband working full-time from home doing some important banking stuff and me trying to homeschool, have family time, keep us all fed, attempt one warm cup of tea a day AND stop my own wedding and family photography and videography business from sinking out of sight... Maybe once a week I’ll get a full hour to do something juicy off my to-do list OR schedule in some social media.I know everyone's struggling. I know we can't do it all. But what can we actually do that will be like a super boost once a day??”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 Nutmeg.Nutmeg launched in September 2012 as the first online wealth manager in the UK with a promise to open up the previously exclusive world of wealth management. Nutmeg offers customers a high-quality investment service at a reduced cost, whether they have £500 or £5 million to invest. Nutmeg now manages over £2bn on behalf of over 80,000 customers, making Nutmeg one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth managers and the fifth largest wealth manager in the UK by customer numbers (Source: PAM Asset Management, January 2019). www.nutmeg.com[Risk warning: Capital at risk. JISA rules apply]•••Charlene McNabb'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 photographer Hannah Brooke. She says:“So. I built my photography business up for 2.5 years alongside my day job, got it to the point I could resign. Yay. And I finish that day job next Thursday. Eek!The photography diary already got cancelled or postponed and after crying about it for about 2 solid weeks, I picked myself up and wrote an online course on smartphone photography. Which people have actually bought. Hurrah! Obviously I’m right proper chuffed about this (I’m from Yorkshire and you’ll need to say this in a Yorkshire accent!) but my question to you is around pivoting my business and how to market this extra string I’ve added to my bow, whilst still making it really clear that photographing weddings and families is what I do and want to be doing when this extraordinary time is over! I have A LOT of ideas but I’m worried it all looks a bit chaotic and confusing to my customers.Thanks in advance, Hannah”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 Nutmeg.Nutmeg launched in September 2012 as the first online wealth manager in the UK with a promise to open up the previously exclusive world of wealth management. Nutmeg offers customers a high-quality investment service at a reduced cost, whether they have £500 or £5 million to invest. Nutmeg now manages over £2bn on behalf of over 80,000 customers, making Nutmeg one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth managers and the fifth largest wealth manager in the UK by customer numbers (Source: PAM Asset Management, January 2019). www.nutmeg.com[Risk warning: Capital at risk. JISA rules apply]•••Hannah Brooke'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 consultant and governance expert Gemma Sykes. She says:“As well as struggling with trying to work with a 6 year old and an 18 month old around — and a lot of my work disappearing over night! — I need help on how to drum up work without sounding opportunistic or seen to be exploiting the situation.Also, what’s the etiquette on mentioning that working with you means supporting a small business at a time when we've been really badly hit and not eligible for government support? I don't want to sound like I'm begging, particularly with charities whose service users are likely to be badly affected (much much worse than me in many cases) but I also need to feed my kids and pay the mortgage!”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.Join the Being Freelance Community here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/beingfreelance/Read Gareth Thomas' blogpost here: https://www.garethkthomas.com/blog/this-is-tough•••This episode is supported by Nutmeg.Nutmeg launched in September 2012 as the first online wealth manager in the UK with a promise to open up the previously exclusive world of wealth management. Nutmeg offers customers a high-quality investment service at a reduced cost, whether they have £500 or £5 million to invest. Nutmeg now manages over £2bn on behalf of over 80,000 customers, making Nutmeg one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth managers and the fifth largest wealth manager in the UK by customer numbers (Source: PAM Asset Management, January 2019). www.nutmeg.com[Risk warning: Capital at risk. JISA rules apply]•••Gemma Sykes on LinkedInFrankie Tortora's websiteSteve Folland's websiteSteve's podcast - Being FreelanceDoing It For The Kids websiteDIFTK Facebook CommunityDIFTK InstagramDIFTK TwitterSupport DIFTK on Ko-Fi

Soooo, we've gone a bit off-piste this week. We sat down to record an episode as normal, but in reality just ended up talking about what's been going on in our lives during the Coronavirus 'Lockdown'. Clearly we needed to get some stuff off our chests! We hope us sharing our frustrations and observations from the past week will help you too. Enjoy.•••This episode is supported by Nutmeg.Nutmeg launched in September 2012 as the first online wealth manager in the UK with a promise to open up the previously exclusive world of wealth management. Nutmeg offers customers a high-quality investment service at a reduced cost, whether they have £500 or £5 million to invest. Nutmeg now manages over £2bn on behalf of over 80,000 customers, making Nutmeg one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth managers and the fifth largest wealth manager in the UK by customer numbers (Source: PAM Asset Management, January 2019). www.nutmeg.com[Risk warning: Capital at risk. JISA rules apply]•••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 Detective Maria 'Chilli' Pepper AKA Anonymous. They say:“Lots of the podcast episodes and questions in the group have been really useful if you’re sitting at your computer, but I’m often on the move and do lots of work on my phone.Do any other DIFTKers do this? And if so, what strategies work for you? I find I’m often overwhelmed with the admin side of things and wait till I have a laptop day, but that can be once a fortnight sometimes."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.Here's the link to Ross Wintle's DIFTK "app" listing lots of free resources for parents with kids at home: https://diftk.glideapp.io/•••This episode is supported by Nutmeg.Nutmeg launched in September 2012 as the first online wealth manager in the UK with a promise to open up the previously exclusive world of wealth management. Nutmeg offers customers a high-quality investment service at a reduced cost, whether they have £500 or £5 million to invest. Nutmeg now manages over £2bn on behalf of over 80,000 customers, making Nutmeg one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth managers and the fifth largest wealth manager in the UK by customer numbers (Source: PAM Asset Management, January 2019). www.nutmeg.com[Risk warning: Capital at risk. JISA rules apply]•••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 Detective Dwayne Carver AKA Anonymous. They say:"Dear Steve and Frankie,I know that’s the wrong way round, but everything seems weird and topsy-turvy at the moment.Here’s the long version of my question:How can we best brace ourselves and our businesses for potentially having our kids off school for weeks on end?Not in a summer holidays kind of way where we’ve maybe wound down our work and booked in a few summer camps or stays with family. But in a snow-day kind of way — abrupt, sudden — but without the fun of being able to go outside and build a snowman and knowing both the kids AND the other half will be returned back to normal tomorrow when it’s all gone to slush. This time I don’t know when normal is coming back.Or you can read the short version of my question which is simply…WHAT THE FUCK?!Thanks so much,Detective Dwayne Carver"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 Nutmeg.Nutmeg launched in September 2012 as the first online wealth manager in the UK with a promise to open up the previously exclusive world of wealth management. Nutmeg offers customers a high-quality investment service at a reduced cost, whether they have £500 or £5 million to invest. Nutmeg now manages over £2bn on behalf of over 80,000 customers, making Nutmeg one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth managers and the fifth largest wealth manager in the UK by customer numbers (Source: PAM Asset Management, January 2019). www.nutmeg.com[Risk warning: Capital at risk. JISA rules apply]•••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 graphic designer and illustrator Ami-Lou Harrison. She says:“Hey Steve and Frankie!My question is about co-mentoring. I've heard you mention a couple of times that you mentor each other. It sounds like such a brilliant idea and something I feel I could benefit from myself, so I'm wondering if you could talk more about how it came about, how you go about co-mentoring someone and also how it has benefitted your freelance businesses?Thanks so much. Love and biscuits, Ami-Lou”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 Nutmeg.Nutmeg launched in September 2012 as the first online wealth manager in the UK with a promise to open up the previously exclusive world of wealth management. Nutmeg offers customers a high-quality investment service at a reduced cost, whether they have £500 or £5 million to invest. Nutmeg now manages over £2bn on behalf of over 80,000 customers, making Nutmeg one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth managers and the fifth largest wealth manager in the UK by customer numbers (Source: PAM Asset Management, January 2019). www.nutmeg.com[Risk warning: Capital at risk. JISA rules apply]•••Ami-Lou Harrison'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 Detective Sidney Watson AKA Anonymous. They say:"So the time has come for us to seriously consider leaving the city we have lived in for almost 15yrs. Both me and my other half are freelancers and we have two children under 3... and too cats that hate us (due to making them share a flat with said toddler and baby).After our second baby was born, serious discussion of where we can now afford to rent — maybe even buy — have led us to potentially returning to a home nearer family in the countrysideAfter establishing strong freelance networks in the city, and having a small children's entertainment business which is based here, how do you start again? Some of our work can be done remotely but when you are freelance, it's not just finding a new home/nursery it's also new clients/networks and that's scaring us!Hoping your expert knowledge can help us find a path to our new countryside freelance lives...”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 Nutmeg.Nutmeg launched in September 2012 as the first online wealth manager in the UK with a promise to open up the previously exclusive world of wealth management. Nutmeg offers customers a high-quality investment service at a reduced cost, whether they have £500 or £5 million to invest. Nutmeg now manages over £2bn on behalf of over 80,000 customers, making Nutmeg one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth managers and the fifth largest wealth manager in the UK by customer numbers (Source: PAM Asset Management, January 2019). www.nutmeg.com[Risk warning: Capital at risk. JISA rules apply]•••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 freelance writer and educator Fiona Tapp. She says:“I live in Canada and yesterday I slipped on the ice walking back from school and hurt every single bone and muscle in my body.I am not seriously hurt but I am sore and don’t want to work because it would interrupt my self pitying calls to my mum, copious biscuit eating and catching up on every single episode of Scott and Bailey on Netflix.My question is — to protect against times like these or even more serious periods of not working, how much money should a freelancer have saved for emergencies and how do you start a fund that you don’t pilfer from when you fancy a holiday or whatnot?”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 Nutmeg.Nutmeg launched in September 2012 as the first online wealth manager in the UK with a promise to open up the previously exclusive world of wealth management. Nutmeg offers customers a high-quality investment service at a reduced cost, whether they have £500 or £5 million to invest. Nutmeg now manages over £2bn on behalf of over 80,000 customers, making Nutmeg one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth managers and the fifth largest wealth manager in the UK by customer numbers (Source: PAM Asset Management, January 2019). www.nutmeg.com[Risk warning: Capital at risk. JISA rules apply]•••Fiona Tapp'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