What types of people make great – and joyful – freelancers? With freelance video and podcast producer Steve Folland

Steve Folland, founder of a thriving freelance community in the UK and the long-running Being Freelance podcast, discusses the nature of successful freelancers and where the joy in our work comes from.

Steve’s bio:
Steve is a freelance video/podcast producer, running his business whilst also looking after his two kids.

His other babies are the long running Being Freelance podcast where Steve chats to freelancers from around the world about their story. And co-hosting the award-winning Doing It For The Kids podcast - a fun Q&A for those parents freelancing 'with kids in the mix'.

Steve spends a lot of time hanging out in his Being Freelance Community where he brings together self-employed creatives for support, fun and biscuits. He’s also brought together his own experience and that of 250+ guests to help new freelancers with the course “How to get started being freelance.”
Notable quotes from the episode:

“I do think what helps a successful freelancer is if you do kind of fall in love, not just with the skill that you originally tried to sell, but with the art of selling itself, like with being a business.”

“As freelancers we get to explore what is success to us. You get to decide. And so then you also get to decide what makes you happy.”

“I quite like the not knowing. I think for some people, that would drive you nuts, not knowing what's around the corner. But I quite like that, that sort of element of surprise.”

“In the past, when I worked for companies, I might absolutely bust my gut and might not even get a thank you, let alone more financial reward. Whereas now there is a correlation between the amount of work I do and the amount of money I make.”

“One of my favorite quotes [from my podcast] is ‘don't freak out.’... And another guest said, ‘Just keep meeting people.’”

“I think it's really useful to listen to others and pick up on little productivity tactics and things. Also, though, I think it's important to crack on and do things.”

Links:

• Being Freelance website
• Steve’s professional website
• Doing It For the Kids Podcast
• Being Freelance Community
• Steve’s course: How to get started being freelance
• Being Freelance on Twitter or Instagram