99 Problems (but a boss ain't one)

Have you relied on your shining personality to make an impact with your clients? Do you feel that it’s harder to make connections with people over distance? Physical distancing doesn’t have to mean social distancing. We’ll show you how to keep those personal relationships personal over distance.

Just because you’ve set up business on your own doesn’t mean you have to set up business on your own doesn’t mean you have to figure out everything yourself. No matter how intelligent or experienced you are sometimes we all need some outside help, and in this episode we talk about how to find the right support whether it's coaching, mentoring or a little help from your friends. 

During the pandemic many of us will have realised that ‘I haven’t got time’ was not the real reason we didn’t launch that new project or product! In this episode we talk more about these self-imposed barriers or "safe problems". We look at some examples of safe problems, and discuss how to spot and overcome them. 

We’re not actually talking about Instagram influencers here (although they probably use a lot of the techniques we’ll be covering) but we are focusing on how to win people over. We discuss the different stages of influence and some top tips for persuasion. 

Lockdown has forced us to work differently, but one positive consequence for some freelancers has been working at a slower pace and having time to spend on other projects. So how do we keep this up as we gradually emerge into a post-pandemic world? We chat about the benefits and barriers around slowing down.

One of the first things people say when you freelance is “oh you’re so brave” and often they mean “you’re so crazy”. But actually it does take courage to go - and stay - freelance. So let’s jump in with both feet.  

Sometimes it’s hard to keep a sunny disposition and we’ve all had our ups and downs as freelancers.  In this episode we discuss why there is actually a place for negative thinking,  consider whether Katy is a witch, and look at how to turn your negatives into "megatives"... along with some actual practical tips for staying positive.

You’ve probably heard that Steve Jobs always wore the same kind of clothes to give him one less decision to make. Should we humble freelancers be following the lead of the late tech entrepreneur? In this episode we look at how we can make the "right" decisions and share tips on simplifying the decision-making process. 

Wouldn’t it be good if you predict what the future holds for your business? How can you predict what the future holds and make decisions now, that will benefit you in the months and years to come? Dust off your crystal ball as wl share some futurecasting tips and techniques.

The world can be an unpredictable place. There are some things that even the best business planning can’t forsee as many people are probably finding out (at the time of recording, Coronavirus has been declared a pandemic). Our flexibility makes us desirable but when panic sets in it can also make us disposable in the eyes of some clients. How do we make sure we keep the show on the road when the u...

We're officially over half of the way to 99 and in this episode we're talking about how to manage tricky conversations, in particular with clients. We share tips to help you plan for these calls or meetings (or emails, if you must) and what to do if you find your emotions taking over. 

It's quite common for freelancers to have a bit on the side, but with our "day job" and life rudely getting in the way, how do we make time for other projects? In this episode we talk about the benefits of having a side hustle and how to overcome the barriers that can prevent it from moving forward. 

We each get 86400 seconds a day, so how do we actually do what matters in this time? In this episode we look at why freelancers sometimes struggle more to manage their time, and why the phrase "time management" might not actually be the right way of looking at the problem. We also share some practical tips on how to prioritise your days and get things done!

The classic freelance conundrum: if your business is doing well, should you grow it? And if so, how? In this episode, we question the idea that success is measured by growth and talk about the benefits of staying small (and yes this is the Paul Jarvis appreciation episode) as well as looking at how to grow sustainably if you do go down that route. Have a listen to find out why Michelle thinks "fri...

In this episode we look at whether freelancers are more susceptible to mental health challenges, and chat about ways to manage time and clients if you're struggling. We share insights from our own experiences and discuss how much to share with clients.

Everyone wants to start the year with a bang, so how do you plan effectively? In this episode we talk about how to set goals in a way that works, and even question whether goals are always the right option to get you to where you want to be. We also share tips for planning and look at creative ways to get the work done!

As freelancers we don't tend to get appraisals, so it can be hard to know how we're doing. In our final episode of 2019, we open up about how our year has gone and look back at the highs and lows, as well as discussing the importance of making this time to reflect. 

The beauty of freelancing is that you can work from anywhere, but the challenge with freelancing is… you can work from anywhere! From the kitchen table to a dedicated office, how do you decide where is best?

After Michelle had what can only be described as "a bit of a day", we look at how to cope when everything goes wrong, and discuss ways to turn a negative mindset into a positive one. We also chat about how to cope with other people's negativity!

Sometimes you will find yourself needing to change direction or make some changes. In this episode we’re going to talk about why we might want to hit refresh, and what to bear in mind when we do it. 

The opportunities for freelance guilt are neverending, so how do you cope? You feel guilty for not working enough, you feel guilty for working too much. With so much to feel bad about, we chat about why we feel guilty and what we can do about it. 

You’re working on a client project and then you get the dreaded question. “Could you just…?” And inevitably what sounds like a five minute task ends up taking hours. So how do you protect your time whilst also keeping a good client relationship? We discuss options.

As more people go freelance, how do you stand out against your competition? In this episode we look at what you can do to set yourself apart from the crowds, and why it can help to make friends with your "competitors". 

As freelancers we’re in a unique position to be able to “pivot” and make changes to our business. But how do we deal with the impacts of change or uncertainty, and what happens when the change isn’t our choice?

When we first started out we dreamed of being busy. Then, we finally get there and it’s harder than we thought. In this episode, we look at how to manage when work starts to pile up!