From South Africa, to Scotland and now to your ears. This is the story of Suz Bird.Being made redundant, going through a separation, moving house, parenting… it might not have seemed like perfect timing. But volunteering her vast marketing experience to a charity suddenly led to the possibility of freelance work. Something flexible for her new life.A year later after referrals kept bringing her work she looked around and realised - “oh, so this is the business you always wanted to start, but you never knew you were going to..’Now we get to find out how she got serious about her business, her prices and her marketing whilst remaining fun and happy . Realising that when no one can offer exactly what you offer, you have no direct competition, so embrace it. This episode is sponsored by With Jack - insurance for creative freelancers.Not sure why you need insurance? Check out this awesome With Jack guide and take that first step to becoming a confident freelancer.New to freelancing? The Being Freelance course is literally made for you!Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 250 freelancers.There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Find out more about the course. Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!You'll also find useful links, show notes and transcript for this episode. That's beingfreelance.comLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Being Freelance

No Competition - Social Media Strategist Suz Bird

Afoma trained to be a doctor. Yes, an actual medical doctor. So how did she end up worrying more about the health of her business than of patients?Hear how Afoma forged a career as a freelance writer & editor working with clients from around the world from her home in Nigeria. First via UpWork, then through her own contacts. All without losing her love of writing.Alongside freelancing, Afoma runs a successful book blog, which serves as an income stream, living proof of her SEO skills, and as a place to just enjoy writing without a client’s feedback.And all this whilst working a four-day week?! Just what the doctor ordered. This episode is sponsored by With Jack - insurance for creative freelancers.Not sure why you need insurance? Check out this awesome With Jack guide and take that first step to becoming a confident freelancer.New to freelancing? The Being Freelance course is literally made for you!Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 250 freelancers.There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Find out more about the course. Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!You'll also find useful links, show notes and transcript for this episode. That's beingfreelance.comLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

You are more capable than you think - Writer & Editor Afoma Umesi

Vic realised he didn’t just want to be a Spanish copywriter. He knew his strength was in being bilingual.He also knew other freelancers were using LinkedIn to great effect to find clients. So he formed a LinkedIn strategy and stuck to it.Creating quality content and making real connections. Now Vic has great recurring clients and writes in Spanish and English. Confident to say adiós (or goodbye) to the work that no longer interests him. This episode is sponsored by With Jack - insurance for creative freelancers.Not sure why you need insurance? Check out this awesome With Jack guide and take that first step to becoming a confident freelancer.New to freelancing? The Being Freelance course is literally made for you!Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 250 freelancers.There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Find out more about the course. Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!You'll also find useful links, show notes and transcript for this episode. That's beingfreelance.comLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

LinkedIn-lingual - Copywriter Vic Giménez

Chronic pain had left Kendyll unable to work. Stuck at home, depressed, her sister gave her a watercolour set, saying ‘If Henri Matisse can paint from bed, then you can too”.And she did. Every single day. Sharing her illustrations of food and household objects on Tumblr.Kendyll’s fine art education had helped her find relief from the pain. Unexpectedly, it also helped her find work when a celebrity chef with a magazine got in touch. A year and a half after that first commission Kendyll had the confidence to realise this was actually a career. She was a freelance illsustrator.From dealing with clients, budgets, contracts, deadlines, health, starting a family, diversifying her income… there’s been a lot to learn. And each client gives her a chance to do just that. Now Kendyll paints a picture of life for her being freelance as she chats to Steve in the first episode of Season 15. Enjoy!This episode is sponsored by With Jack - insurance for creative freelancers.Not sure why you need insurance? Check out this awesome With Jack guide and take that first step to becoming a confident freelancer.New to freelancing? The Being Freelance course is literally made for you!Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 250 freelancers.There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Find out more about the course. Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!You'll also find useful links, show notes and transcript for this episode. That's beingfreelance.comLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Every client is a learning experience - Illustrator Kendyll Hillegas

Tom began freelancing right out of university after realising that the suit-and-tie life wasn’t for him. 12 years on, he’s built a strong and successful web development business and he’s now ready to branch out and try his hand at other things.When one of his tweets blew up and gained 2.5 million impressions, Tom seized the moment and wrote an ebook; the first in a lineup of digital products he’s creating to help freelancers get ahead. He’d always wanted to write a book and sell a product and he finds meaning in helping other freelancers to make their way.Tom shares that story and chats to Steve about finding clients, pricing his services and balancing his time. This episode is sponsored by the very first Being Freelance course!Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 250 freelancers.There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.Find out more about the course. Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!You'll also find useful links for this episode. That's beingfreelance.comLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Seize the moment - Web Developer Tom Hirst

Erica was born in Korea, where she studied and worked before moving to London in 2010 to complete a masters degree. After that, Erica stayed in the UK and built a career as a designer.Ready for a new creative challenge after 7 years in a full-time job, Erica began freelancing. Her first project helped her decide which direction to head in and it’s been a rocky but exciting ride ever since.She chats to Steve about figuring out how to introduce herself, exploring the potential in both London and Seoul, and pursuing better clients who respect her skills, time and processes. This episode is sponsored by the very first Being Freelance course!Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 250 freelancers.There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.Find out more about the course. Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!You'll also find useful links for this episode. That's beingfreelance.comLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Exploring the potential - Art Director Erica Yunwook Choi

Kat freelanced on the side of her design jobs for years, with work coming in via word of mouth referrals from her large, local community. After designing day and night for years, Kat eventually pulled back on freelancing so that she could spend her free time exploring other creative pursuits.Later, Kat spent several years writing a book while still working as a designer for companies including Slack and Pandora. After self-publishing that book in January 2020, opportunities and offers began pouring in and Kat’s now freelance full time, speaking and facilitating around the topic of her book — cultivating better friendships in adulthood.She chats to Steve about finding community and connection, pricing her work, and writing a book and the self-publishing process. This episode is sponsored by the very first Being Freelance course!Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 250 freelancers.There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.Find out more about the course. Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!You'll also find useful links for this episode. That's beingfreelance.comLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Connection and belonging - Speaker and Facilitator Kat Vellos

Marco moved from Italy to London in 2015, ready for a big reset in his life and career. He quickly found a job in design but he wasn’t happy with the work he was doing. In search of more creative freedom and control, Marco began working with agencies and looking for a better job, but it soon became clear that freelancing was his best option.Today, that drive to create work he’s proud of is still steering Marco, and he focuses on building relationships with clients who trust him and his expertise.He chats to Steve about finding work, building a portfolio and being selective about the projects he takes on. This episode is sponsored by the very first Being Freelance course!Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 250 freelancers.There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.Find out more about the course. Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!You'll also find useful links for this episode. That's beingfreelance.comLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Creative freedom - Designer Marco Inve

Nela Dunato is an artist, designer, and writer from Rijeka, Croatia. She likes to have fingers in 'many pies’, but equally has to balance the challenge of having so many hobbies that could also become work.As a freelancer she specialises as a brand designer. But she’s realised that once she’s created your logo and brand, she’s then in a position to offer you much more over the months and years. Drawing from her experience in web and print, she can take your brand and run with it.She's forged a successful freelance career working for 'human centered brands'. A form of business ownership she knows so well she could write the book on it. In fact, shedid.Nela discusses the great position bilingual freelancers are in. So many go straight for English language websites, but actually if you have a site in your native tongue too, you can make a far greater impact SEO wise in that smaller pond. This episode is sponsored by the very first Being Freelance course!Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 250 freelancers.There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.Find out more about the course. Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!You'll also find useful links for this episode. That's beingfreelance.comLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Human Centered Freelancing - Brand Designer Nela Dunato

Oladimeji studied architecture but soon realised he wanted to make his own thing. Not a building or a structure, but a creative business that would free him from the nine-to-five.Developing the skills he learned in university, Oladimeji taught himself graphic design. He put in the hours to practise and got started by volunteering his services to local businesses.Today, Oladimeji works globally, offering a variety of design services to clients and creating content to educate and inspire the next generation of creatives.He chats to Steve about how he meets and keeps clients, why he creates content and how he found balance after burnout. This episode is sponsored by the very first Being Freelance course!Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 240 freelancers.There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.Find out more about the course. Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!You'll also find useful links for this episode. That's beingfreelance.comLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Putting in the work - Designer Oladimeji Ajegbile

Mel’s freelance story began when she walked away from a job that she hated. She had a big network of contacts in her industry, and so she emailed them all to say she was going solo. She got a couple of jobs right away and built it up from there.Eight years on, Mel’s still freelancing and she says that she’s deliberate in everything she does. From how she plans her days, to the type of clients she takes on and the way she prices her services—Mel’s looking for order and structure in her freelance life.She tells Steve about how she keeps her eye on the big picture, continues to build her network and avoids the cycles of feast and famine. This episode is sponsored by the very first Being Freelance course!Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 240 freelancers.There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.Find out more about the course. Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!You'll also find useful links for this episode. That's beingfreelance.comLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Being deliberate - Writer and Editor Melanie Padgett Powers

June’s been freelance since 2008 when she left her full-time role in London in pursuit of creative freedom. Today, she’s on a mission to inject optimism into the world via her art and design work.With support from advisors and coaches, who’ve taught her the business side of things, June’s working towards a big goal. She wants to earn enough for her husband to retire. This episode is sponsored by the very first Being Freelance course!Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 240 freelancers.There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.Find out more about the course. Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!You'll also find useful links for this episode. That's beingfreelance.comLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Spreading optimism - Artist and Graphic Designer June Mineyama-Smithson

Charlie started taking photos when he was 8 years old, but it wasn't until he fell and broke his back in 2017 that his current freelance journey began.With no insurance and a long recovery ahead of him, Charlie was left with zero income. He chats to Steve about how he slowly bounced back from the fall and built a new freelance business in the process. This episode is sponsored by the very first Being Freelance course!Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 240 freelancers.There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.Find out more about the course. Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!You'll also find useful links for this episode. That's beingfreelance.comLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Bouncing back — Photographer and Videographer Charlie Budd

From designing for his buddies to speaking at events all over the world, Aaron’s been riding the freelance wave for more than two decades now, and it’s going well.With speaking gigs, his ‘Big Three’ retainers, a stream of other freelance work, his own merch shop and the thriving product business he co-founded, Aaron’s got a lot on his plate. There wasn't a lot of balance, but he was determined to get ahead and win his freedom.Aaron talks to Steve about how he got there, how he keeps it together and what he’s learned along the way. This episode is sponsored by the very first Being Freelance course!Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 240 freelancers.There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.Find out more about the course. Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!You'll also find useful links for this episode. That's beingfreelance.comLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Getting ahead - Graphic Designer Aaron Draplin

Salma made her first $3 online by selling a digital planner on Etsy. As she worked to grow that product-based business, Salma fell in love with design and began developing her skills. In time, she built a portfolio and a second, service-based business.Salma chats to Steve about setting up processes, staying organised and using content and social media to demonstrate expertise and bring clients to you. This episode is sponsored by the very first Being Freelance course!Steve’s rolled up everything he’s learnt from over 6 years of conversations with more than 240 freelancers.There’s no ‘one way’ to be a successful freelancer, but this course will help you avoid the many mistakes that most of us make. Learn from our experiences.Find out more about the course. Looking to learn from and connect with other freelancers? Check out the website beingfreelance.com, and be part of the Being Freelance Community!You'll also find useful links for this episode. That's beingfreelance.comLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Crafting a business - Brand and Web Designer Salma Sheriff

Freelancing? Being boss of your own life and business can be tough and isolating. But it can also be totally rewarding. Pick up tips, advice and thoughts on how to make it as a freelancer by hearing other freelancers share their experience. You're not alone being freelance. Hosted by Steve Folland. www.beingfreelance.com