The Freelancer Life: Meet Steve Folland
Welcome to The Freelancer Life, a series of interviews which focus on community over competition in a bid to open up the freelance community and help you feel a little less alone. It’s also a chance for some shit hot freelancers to share their highs, their lows and gives them a chance to reflect on all they’ve achieved since going freelance.
We’re thrilled to speak to Steve Folland, freelance video and audio producer, and, like us, a huge advocate of community over competition. Steve’s regular podcast and online community ‘Being Freelance’ brings freelancers from all over the country together. Since 2015 over 150 freelancers have shared their stories, tips and advice with Steve – what a hero! We talk about his highs, top tips, doing it for the kids and what collaboration means to him.
Nisha Haq Photography
Hey Steve and welcome to The Freelancer Life
Tell us a little bit about yourself, what you do and how long you’ve been doing it:
Hey! I’m a freelance video/audio producer. These days I work a lot with corporates to make training videos people actually want to watch. I’ve been full-time-freelance for five years, but did it on the side for a lonnng time before that during fifteen years working in radio. I also host the Being Freelance podcast, videos and community.
Why did you become a freelancer?
To be there for our kids. I realised I could work from home, remotely, at hours that suited my family. On top of that it’s awarded me the chance to work on some amazing projects creatively, meet incredible people, push myself in ways I would never had in a normal job and opened up my earning potential too. But the whole idea stemmed from my kids.
Where’s your favourite place to work, aside from your home?
In the past year it’s become a co-work space that opened up in our town. I didn’t realise how much I missed being social and it’s made me more productive too. That said, I still need to surround myself with the white noise (and cake) of a coffee shop for some script writing focus.
A2Zoom
Share your struggles – what do you find hardest about working for yourself?
Probably staying on top of my finances. I was really bad at that for a long time, but finally getting better.
The thing that sucks most though, is when I slog it out finishing an epic project to hit a deadline and then.. And then… nothing. No one to celebrate with, no high fives, no beer. Just a blank faced cat.
Share your perks – what do you enjoy most about working for yourself?
The freedom. To work when I want, on what I want. And on sunny summer days I love the ability to work outside (or not work at all!)
What are your top tips for anyone working for themselves?
Get to know your finances. Get online accounting software and stay on top of it weekly.
Get to know yourself. Figure out what success looks like for you. Know when you work best. Discover and then play to your strengths. When you become more self-aware it’s easier to move forward without beating yourself up.
Get to know other people. It’s probably the best thing I’ve done for my business and my own happiness.
Make opportunities for yourself. It’ doesn’t begin with ‘Get to know…’ so screws that pattern up, but still, it’s important. You can’t just sit there being ace at what you do. You need to get out there and make stuff happen.
Nisha Haq Photogrpahy
What are your top podcasts, books, people to follow and any other sources of inspiration?
Books:
Company of One by Paul Jarvis.
Confessions of a Misfit Entrepreneur by Kate Toon
Podcast – I realise it wouldn’t be cool to say my own Being Freelance podcast, so instead I’ll say Adam Buxton’s podcast. Because sometimes you need to switch off from thinking about work. They’re long form, funny, interesting, surprisingly deep conversations and it just feels like great company.
Community – Doing It For The Kids is run by freelance graphic designer Frankie Tortora. It’s for self employed parents (but hey, statistically that’s pretty likely to happen to most of us at some point, so bookmark it!). Such a brilliant place to be online and the instagram account is one of my favourites.
What role does collaboration play for you?
Video production is inherently a team game, so I work with quite a lot of other freelancers. Script writers, voice artists, videographers, animators. It’s all mostly remote though.
I think mentoring should count as collaboration too right?
This past year I’ve become part of an informal mastermind group. There’s five of us meeting online every couple of months and it’s already made a huge difference.
And then I have a co-mentoring thing going on. That sharing of experience, brainstorming, accountability, cheering on, laughs. It’s the best. And actually, I reckon that’ll lead to creative collaboration too.
What is the best project you’ve worked on since going freelance?
I work on multiple projects at once. But I’ve spent the best part of two years working with a major food manufacturer, creating videos that will help their line managers.
Now, you may not think that sounds exciting. But they’ve given me so much creative freedom. We’ve created some really powerful pieces (in particular a mini-documentary on modern slavery). They won major awards for the overall project (and invited me along to the ceremonies).
To know the work we’ve produced is going to make a difference to hundreds (or thousands) of individual careers and lives, not just a business is a good feeling. But the team have been such a joy to work with. And it’s that word – ‘team’. It’s felt amazing to feel part of a team and truly valued.
What do you love to do?
Doing some kind of art project with my kids. I was never ‘arty’, so beyond the age of 12 never really bothered. But with kids you rediscover it. This kind of meditative, creative place of cutting, sticking, experimenting, drawing. Kids don’t get hung up on ‘perfect’ and it’s good place to be. Away from a screen, chilling out using your hands.
Second to that, it’s getting away for a weekend with my friends. It’s rare it happens, but it’s that time away that allows you to really chat, laugh and connect, more than you can ever do in an evening in the pub.
Professionally? It’s chatting to freelancers one on one for my podcast. There’s not a call that ends with me not feeling energised and inspired.
And most recently it’s been creating, curating and hanging out in the Being Freelance Community on Facebook – it’s my new favourite place. They inspire me daily. From a professional view, it’s been figuring out how to do the live Q&As that has been the most challenging and rewarding (and fun!).
What were you doing this time last year? What have you learnt or how have you changed since then?
This time last year I’d not spoken on stage before. I really threw myself into it, talking about freelancing and work life balance. And I learned a lot. Really studied what works, rehearsed, reworked. Felt great to really push myself.
And in the past year it really hit home to me: the power of people. Just because I work by myself, doesn’t mean I’m alone in it. I can honestly say, making deeper connections with other freelancers/business people this past year has made a huge difference to me personally and professionally.
Photograph © Jeremy Freedman 2018 | www.jeremyfreedman.com
What one thing would you change in the freelance world and why?
I don’t really like to dwell on the negative.. So what would I change?…
Actually maybe that’s what I’d like to change. Freelancers with negativity. I’m not saying everything’s rosy, but it’s about how you approach the downsides. Both inside your own head and how you respond to other people. Dwelling on the negatives and moaning about it just brings you and everyone else down. Much more to be gained from trying to be, see and create the positive. Making a cup of tea is as good as place as any to start.