The Freelancer's Teabreak

Welcome to The Freelancers Teabreak with Emma Cossey! In this episode, Emma explores the concept of 'amber flags' for freelancers. Distinct from red and green flags, amber flags signal uncertain potential in clients that could swing either way depending on the freelancer's response.  Emma shares practical examples of amber flags such as clients seeking discounts, having unclear project scopes, or expressing urgency.  Learn how to navigate these scenarios to turn potential red flags into green.  00:00 Introduction  00:34 Understanding Client Red Flags  01:12 Identifying Client Green Flags  01:25 Navigating Client Amber Flags  01:52 Handling Client Discount Requests  04:23 Dealing with Unclear Project Scopes  06:37 Managing Urgent Client Requests  09:08 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership. Join the Fr

Navigating Solo Entrepreneurship with Maggie Patterson   In this episode of The Freelance Teabreak, host Emma Cossey is joined by Maggie Patterson to discuss the challenges and benefits of running a solo business. Maggie, the founder of BS Free Business and author of 'Staying Solo', shares her extensive experience from over 20 years in freelancing. The conversation delves into the pressures freelancers face to scale their business, the importance of building a sustainable and profitable solo business, and practical tips on increasing income and avoiding burnout. They also address societal misconceptions about solo entrepreneurship and highlight the value of maintaining control and flexibility. If you are a freelancer feeling overwhelmed by industry expectations or seeking ways to thrive as a one-person business, this episode is a must-listen. 00:00 Intro 01:44 Maggie's Freelance Journey 03:04 The Solo Business Landscape 05:35 Challenges and Misconceptions 09:39 Strategies for Solo Success 21:05 Avoiding Burno

In this episode of The Freelancers Tea Break, we delve into the importance of having standard operating procedures (SOPs) in your freelance business. We discuss what SOPs are, why you need them, and introduce three powerful tools – Notion, Loom, and Scribe – to help you create, store, and share your SOPs efficiently. Tune in to learn how to streamline your processes, ensure consistency, and make onboarding easier. Join our Facebook or Discord group for more discussions! 00:00 Introduction to The Freelancers Tea Break 00:10 Understanding Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) 00:30 Benefits of SOPs for Your Business 01:22 Modern Tools for SOP Management 01:29 Deep Dive into Notion for SOPs 02:25 Using Loom for Video SOPs 03:19 Exploring Scribe for Step-by-Step Guides 05:06 Getting Started with Your Own SOPs 05:35 Join the Community Discussion 05:53 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group W

Get Ready for National Freelancers Day | Special Offers and Events  In this quick episode of The Freelancers Tea Break, I announce the upcoming National Freelancers Day on June 17th and shares exciting news for freelancers. Listeners can enjoy 20% off on various freelancing courses, including '30 Days to Go Freelance' and 'How to Find Clients.' The episode also hints at a potential networking event on Discord and encourages freelancers to celebrate their achievements. Tune in for all the details and special offers!  Find my courses here: https://freelancelifestyle.podia.com/ 00:00 Introduction and Welcome  00:09 National Freelancers Day Announcement  00:44 Special Offers on Courses  01:55 Additional Resources and Free Courses  02:07 Closing Remarks Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership. Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community

In this episode of The Freelancers Tea Break, we delve into whether new graduates can successfully transition to freelancing. We discuss the benefits such as lower financial commitments, up-to-date knowledge, and the ability to take risks. We also cover potential challenges like limited professional experience and smaller networks. We offer practical advice on building a portfolio, starting part-time freelancing, and exploring different freelance opportunities. Additionally, we introduce the Graduate to Freelancer course, designed to guide graduates through the freelancing journey and provide flexibility in career choices.  30 Days To Go Freelance Course: https://freelancelifestyle.podia.com/30-days-to-go-freelance Freelancing for Graduates Course: https://freelancelifestyle.podia.com/freelancing-for-graduates 00:00 Introduction: Can a Graduate Go Freelance?  00:32 Benefits of Freelancing After Graduation  02:47 Challenges of Starting as a Freelance Graduate  04:46 Building Your Freelance Portfolio  06:59 Par

In this episode of The Freelancers Tea Break, we explore the advanced features of Zoom that go beyond just hosting and joining calls. Learn about Zoom's AI Companion, whiteboards for brainstorming, document sharing, AI-enhanced meeting notes, and useful apps like Timer and name tags by Warmly. Perfect for freelancers who conduct client meetings, workshops, and collaborative sessions. Don't forget to check out Stream Deck for optimised Zoom navigation. Join our Facebook group or Discord for more tips and discussions! 00:00 Introduction to The Freelancers Tea Break 01:30 AI Disclaimer 02:00 Exploring Zoom's AI Companion 04:06 Zoom Whiteboard for Visual Collaboration 05:32 Enhancing Meetings with Zoom Documents 08:59 Zoom Apps and Integrations 10:52 Stream Deck: A Must-Have Tool for Zoom Users 12:40 Summary and Final Thoughts Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle S

In this episode of The Freelancers Teabreak, I discuss the three tiers of services freelancers can offer: DIY (Do It Yourself), DWY (Done With You), and DFY (Done For You). DIY services include low-cost offerings like guides, training, or templates that clients use independently. DWY involves more interactive options such as memberships or coaching, where freelancers provide support and accountability. DFY is the premium service where freelancers handle tasks entirely, like creating website content, requiring fewer clients at a higher cost. This tiered approach helps cater to varying client needs and budgets without discounting services.   Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership. Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz  

In this episode of The Freelancers Teabreak, I discuss how Parkinson's Law can affect our productivity by allowing tasks to expand to the time allotted for them. Instead of dedicating an entire day to a task, try limiting the time you allocate to it.    Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership. Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz  

In this episode of The Freelancers Teabreak podcast, I delve into my current tech stack, a popular request from our Facebook and Discord groups. I explore a variety of tools that have been instrumental in my business operations. Starting with Dubsado for onboarding and offboarding clients, Podia for course management, and Discord for community engagement. I mention Sunsama for email management, Speaking Email and Speechify for audio email handling, Slack for team communication, and Notion for overall task management and business organisation. I also touch on using Voxer for communication and Descript for recording podcasts. If you're dealing with a specific business challenge and need a tech solution, reach out—I'd love to help!   Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership. Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.

In this episode of the 'Freelancers Teabreak' podcast, we're diving into the vital topic of recognising red flags and celebrating green flags when it comes to clients. As the cost of living rises, more red flag behaviours emerge, and it's essential to identify them early on.   Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership. Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz

Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership. Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz

Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership. Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz

My Dubsado Affiliate link: http://dubsado.com/?c=freelancelifestyle    Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership. Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz

Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership. Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz

Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership. Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz

Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership. Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz

Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership. Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz

The wonderful people that helped with my Discord community: Kiri: https://www.faelioness.co.uk/  Alexis Bushnell: https://bushnellcommunitysolutions.com/  Marylin Muir: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marylin-muir-231a33175/?originalSubdomain=uk    Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership. Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz

Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership. Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz

Tricky Clients Emergengy Toolkit: https://freelancelifestyle.podia.com/the-tricky-client-emergency-toolkit    Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Bluesky Email: hello@emmacossey.com  Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership.