20 min listen
When your creative business isn't creative anymore
When your creative business isn't creative anymore
ratings:
Length:
20 minutes
Released:
Sep 16, 2021
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
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
Released:
Sep 16, 2021
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
Freelance friction. When working evenings and weekends eats into 'family time': This week Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a CORKER of a question from 'Detective Grace Ace' aka Anonymous. She says: “Looking for a pep talk please! I have just changed from a fixed hours contract (22 hours/week) to setting up on my own in a different field. My husband and I have two preschool children and I have always been responsible for childcare. They are in playschool four days a week so I have 20 hours a week of regular work hours. With two kiddos, inevitable illness, appointments and holidays, it always falls to me to reduce my hours to pick up the slack. When I was working fixed hours and needed to make up time in the evenings or at weekends it was fine. But now I can set my own hours, my husband asks me not to work evenings or weekends as it eats into family time. All the while wondering when I will start earning money... I have tried explaining what the childcare by Doing It For The Kids