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

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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.

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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.

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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

In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from creative mentor & workshop tutor, Sophie Roberts. She says:

“Hi Frankie & Steve!

I’m Sophie — a creative mentor and workshop tutor at West Plum Studio. I help people spend more time crafting.

My question is around how to know where to draw the line between what you’ll give away for free vs what you’ll charge for in your business?

In the crafting world there is so much free information available online. I’ve learnt lots over the years from generous free content that others have shared. I’m more than happy to share my own content for free but there does need to come a point where you start to charge otherwise it’s just not a business! I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.

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.

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Sophie Roberts' 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

*A summer holiday special*

I put a call out for questions for the podcast and had SO MANY messages about the school summer holidays. Then Penny Brazier sent me THIS message and we agreed it was a brilliant idea.

Penny says:

“I’m eternally curious about how people tackle the summer holidays once they’ve got school age kids. It’s an impossible equation and there’s no one answer, but I feel like we can maybe come closer to our own personal truth by hearing how other people do it — to try and glean some inspiration.

What about an episode where you gather responses *first* and then go over them? Including yours and Steve’s own methods?

I’m sure the DIFTK crew have hacks we don’t know about!”

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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Penny Brazier'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