In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from graphic designer and brand strategist, Joanne Grubb. She says:

“My best friend and I have a really good idea for an online membership 'club' for charity comms professionals. We want to build a community that's as engaging and supportive as DIFTK and Being Freelance.

Where do we start? And what do you wish that you both knew before you started?

My initial entry point before I joined was your amazing podcasts, as it feels like they’re really important for breaking down barriers to entry and building your brand?”

Let us know your thoughts on Instagram and Linkedin. Or join in the conversation in the DIFTK Community.

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Joanne's JG Creative website
Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Instagram

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In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from social media trainer and strategist, Sarah Pascaru. She says:

“How are we all coping without any family to help nearby?? I’m in this situation — and also a single parent — and it’s hard. What are we all doing to avoid burnout and stress? Anything?”

Let us know your thoughts on Instagram and Linkedin. Or join in the conversation in the DIFTK Community.

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Sarah's Social Jooce website
Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Instagram

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Jon Richards — graphic designer at Goodness By Design. He says:

“How do I stop feeling guilty about not working during 'working hours'?

I've been freelancing for over 15 years, but until last year it was always alongside a part time 9-5. So this is the first time I've been fully freelancing and I'm noticing a lot of guilt around when I'm not working.

If it's a weekday and within 'normal' working hours, I feel like I should be doing client work, marketing or something. But as a creative, sometimes I'm just not in the right mood. Someone suggested recently that this might be a hangover of working in a 9-5.

One of the main drives to go freelance was the flexibility it would bring. So I guess my question is, how can I get better at giving myself permission to do things like, go to Bristol for the day, visit an art gallery or just watch a film, when my head isn't in the right place to work? Do you ever have the same feeling?”

Let us know your thoughts on Instagram and Linkedin. Or join in the conversation in the DIFTK Community.

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Jon's Goodness By Design website
Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Instagram

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from career coach for parents at The Balance Collective, Clara Wilcox.

She says:

“I'm unapologetically anti-AI for a whole load of reasons — ethical, against the ‘big bro tech boys’, and the way they steal information to train it etc. But how do you work and promote yourself in a world that seems so pro-AI without sounding like a Luddite?”

Let us know your thoughts on Instagram and Linkedin. Or join in the conversation in the DIFTK Community.

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The Balance Collective's website
Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Instagram

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from career and worklife coach Vicki Kirk.

She says:

“Hi Frankie & Steve,

Is it just me that is finding it really hard to get going again this new year? Normally I’m all for diving into the planning / organising / new year-ing but this year I just want to curl up under the duvet!

There’s a few reasons behind it (potential big family stuff on the horizon, a bit burnt out from last year, not entirely sure where I want to go with my business this year) but with a to-do list the length of my arm, I’d really like to find some motivation soon!

Anyone else feeling like this? Any words of wisdom?”

Let us know your thoughts on Instagram and Linkedin. Or join in the conversation in the DIFTK Community.

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Vicki Kirk's website
Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Instagram

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Anonymous. They say:

“Hi Frankie & Steve,

I’ve been working freelance for an agency for a while now and have a good relationship with them .They’ve asked me to consider them buying me out of my company and coming on board as a director of their company instead, as effectively a partner.

How should I consider this? Should I consider this?!

What should I include in my thinking? How do I value my company?”

Let us know your thoughts on Instagram and Linked. Or join in the conversation in the DIFTK Community.

•••

Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Instagram

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Anonymous. They say:

“Hi Frankie and Steve,

I love the freedom, flexibility, variety and potential of freelancing, but the places I used to get work don’t need me anymore, and I’m struggling to find a new service/niche that works. So I’m wondering whether a job might be a better option for a while.

How do you know when it’s time to stop freelancing and look for a job? What would you take into consideration?”

What would your advice be?

Let us know your thoughts on Instagram and Linked. Or join in the conversation in the DIFTK Community.

•••

Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Instagram

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi

In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from photographer Victoria Phipps. She says:

“Hi Frankie and Steve!

I’m a photographer specialising in analogue family photography (as in film, from the olden days when we were the kids!)… maternity, newborns, families etc.

I’ve been in business for 15 years and have often struggled with the concept of “speculate to accumulate” when it comes to business growth. Or in the case of freelancers — personal growth!

Do you subscribe to this theory?

Obviously as freelancers we don’t often have the big budgets that larger corporations have to play with, so decisions around investing in further professional education, coaching, fancier equipment etc. take a bit of thinking about. It’s sometimes hard to know what will ‘move the needle’ in your business.

Do you have a set of rules you apply when making decisions like this or do you follow your gut? Do you have any examples of times when the outcome of an investment in your own business growth has made it worthwhile? Or times when you’ve got it totally wrong and thrown your money down the drain?!

Victoria”

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.

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Victoria Phipps' website
Frankie Tortora's website
Steve Folland's website
Steve's podcast - Being Freelance

Doing It For The Kids website
DIFTK Instagram

Support DIFTK on Ko-Fi