Starting out freelancing can be really daunting – there’s a whole heap of unknown unknowns. One of these unknowns is what do you actually need so that you only buy what’s really essential while you’re starting out? So here are my essentials from my start-up journey: Laptop (around £500) It may seem obvious…
Category: Start Up
How to Start Freelancing
It’s a question I’ve been asked so many times since I started. I hadn’t appreciated how many people were looking for something beyond employment, had a side-hustle they wanted to turn into a full-time job, or really wanted to zone in on a niche by working for themselves. Starting out freelancing is the…
What You Need is a Marathon
“What you need is a marathon” – said no-one, ever. But this week marked my second one, and even I struggle to explain why I put myself through it. My first one was a kind of therapy, booked in the delirium of sleeplessness in the middle of the night, holding my first baby…
Probation Review
Who was it who said talking to yourself is the first sign of madness? When you’re all roles wrapped into one as a freelancer, you don’t have a lot of choice. Since January marked 6 months of freelancing as my only job, I thought it was high time I sat myself down for…
First 90 Days (Actual)
Considering the first 90 days of any new role are heralded as a key period of bedding into a role and laying the foundations for future success, it’s a great opportunity to review progress, consider learnings and celebrate success. I’ve now been freelancing as my sole job for three months now and so,…
How to find a freelancer
Naturally to be a successful freelancer, you need to be able to secure the work. I’ve been trialling a few different ways to find opportunities (more on that later) and something I’ve noticed is the huge disparity in how organisations are marketing, and outlining, their opportunities. From vague one-liners to 5+ pages of…
First 90 days (foundation)
This week marked my first 90 days as a consultant. I’m counting it as foundation setting, however, rather than actual because 90% of it was while working my notice in employment and running some freelance work alongside. As the first 90 days are generally considered a key transition period into any new role,…
What’s In A Name?
Every business needs an identity, and it doesn’t get more fundamental than a name. A name could tell you everything, or nothing – it can be descriptive, cryptic, creative or fun, but every business needs a name. So when you start out creating your very own business – what on earth do you…
Committee of One
Freelancer, consultant, founder, director, sole trader, entrepreneur, self-employed, business owner – apparently, I’ve gained a whole load of new titles recently. But all of it boils down to the fact that I’m creating a business out of myself. So, what’s the verdict so far on being a team of one? Cooking on gas…
Someone Call IT
Having worked in the charity sector for over 12 years, I’ve got experience in a fair few areas now. From training and advocacy to projects and volunteer management, there’s some good strings on my metaphorical bow already I reckon. But it turns out I’m now adding IT-helpdesk and engineer into the mix, and…