When you’ve got too much work to do
“I can't go on like this — I think I need to give in and ask for help! I am inundated with work and the enquiries keep coming, which is a great problem to have, but I don’t know what to do about it. Previously I've mitigated large volumes of work by quoting higher or asserting my unavailability — ultimately turning work away. For a "busy period" that works well, but for the past 6 months I've been consistently (too) busy, and I now accept that I need to try something else. I just don't want to keep saying 'no'. I think I need more resource? I don't want ‘staff’ (insurance, sick leave, payroll? No thanks!) but I do want something more robust than the ad-hoc outsourcing I do now. I think I need a firm freelance partnership? Or agency temp? Or similar arrangement? What's holding me back is a lack of trust in an unknown entity (the quality of the work, sharing client credentials etc.) — ultimately relinquishing control of the work that's getting my name attached to it. And also a fear that their rates will exceed the fees already agreed for the work. Any advice? Thanks, Andi”
Doing It For The Kids · Andi Best, Frankie Tortora, Steve Folland, DIFTK, Doing It For The Kids, Being Freelance
Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (cdn.simplecast.com) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.
Show Notes
In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from designer, coder and illustrator Andi Best.
Andi says:
“I can't go on like this — I think I need to give in and ask for help!
I am inundated with work and the enquiries keep coming, which is a great problem to have, but I don’t know what to do about it.
Previously I've mitigated large volumes of work by quoting higher or asserting my unavailability — ultimately turning work away. For a "busy period" that works well, but for the past 6 months I've been consistently (too) busy, and I now accept that I need to try something else. I just don't want to keep saying 'no'.
I think I need more resource? I don't want ‘staff’ (insurance, sick leave, payroll? No thanks!) but I do want something more robust than the ad-hoc outsourcing I do now.
I think I need a firm freelance partnership? Or agency temp?
Or similar arrangement?
What's holding me back is a lack of trust in an unknown entity (the quality of the work, sharing client credentials etc.) — ultimately relinquishing control of the work that's getting my name attached to it. And also a fear that their rates will exceed the fees already agreed for the work.
Any advice?
Thanks, Andi”
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.
•••
Andi Best's website
Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance