I am working full time and trying to go freelance/start a business, any top tips on how to do this & manage time?
Within the music video industry / film studio space
Replies14
- Hi@Dagmar Bennettgreat you are looking to go freelance! I have a blog dedcated to helping beginner freelancers build their business: www.remireports.com I have also just launched an ecourse for beginner freelancers and am currently offering a free 1 hour strategy call with those who download the course. More on the course here: https://remireports.com/product/beginner-freelancer-e-course-remi-reports/
- Freelancing is simple - measure your productivity and use that data with the time planning.With business it's even simpler... and more awful.To begin with - select your area and straight away dive into the Chaos! ;)After some time you'll understand if it's yours or not - so (if yours) you'll be ready to finally start planning something and using a lot of apps (not working), returning to the pen-and-paper after a while.If at that time you still would want to have your business - it's a good time to quit your job and really start it.Basic things you'll need to have to bootstrap - network of relevant contacts (this should be done BEFORE the Chaos diving AND expanded during that deep-dive), financial backup to run you regular stuff (home, rent, food, fun) for 6-9 months, FFF to help you with initial investments and a good support from the close ones.And of course - excellent supporting community around.You'll definitely make it!
- You have to slowly segway that and carve out evenings and weekends before making that leap. You almost prototype your way and make proper financial calculations allowing yourself a decent runway. Good luck and let us know how it goes!
- dedicate certain times of the day for your business around your day job. I personally wake up and answer business emails before leaving the house for my job, during my lunch break I run any errands or make any calls that need to be done during working hours then after work back to admin tasks in front of the telly, be it marketing, finance, emails, etc
- Make use of calenders and notes on your phone and laptop!
- Write down a little flow of everything you need to do for each project! So the documents you might need for each section (briefs, contracts, storyboards, invoices, receipts for expenses, final edits, edits you want to put on your portfolio etc etc), and make sure you have a file structure with folders for each of them. That way it's easier to remember to keep to each step, and you have a paper trail of everything at the end of the project and when you get to the end of the tax year :)
- Theme your days. Besides the daily tasks (checking emails, appointments and any other routinary actions).Since you become all departments of the company, it might work for you as well to dedicate one day one task.Example: Monday is for Finance, Tuesday is for Marketing, Friday for physical Networking, and so on....
- Hi Dagmar,This is what I've done before jump to freelance life:— First practical thing to do is have enough money to pay 6 months worth of bills and rent (some says 4 months, but better be sure). Just in case the freelance thing doesn't work out immediately, as it can take a bit depending on the type of freelance. In this case you don't feel the pressure about money and you can reinforce your client porfolio. Also, create a salary montly target, so you know how much you need to earn each month, and if goes up, great, if goes down, not worry too much as you can calculate the average montly salary, and see if you hit the target. (hope it makes sense)— Have few clients before quitting, or have clear idea of your plans to get clients. Prepare portfolio, CV, website, etc. before hand.— Create a network, go to events and use internet platforms. I call it "Blob Strategy", expand your online presence, conquer any platform, and you will see clients contact you from everywhere.About organisation, I could suggest you many online platforms, but I use the old way, a good list, paper and pen, which works for me much better. I think for this one you will need to see what better works for youI hope it was helpful somehow. I left my full time job 6 months ago and it was the right call. :)
- Network, network, network and find clients, so you get busy with your freelance work most evenings / weekends. You might need to do a few late nights, you might need to put your social life on hold for a bit. I wouldn't worry too much about time management. You will just drop things that aren't important enough and your gut will tell you which are those things. All the best, it's an exciting journey!
- Acceptance and discipline. Acceptance to understand that you will work way longer hours for a period of time until you start making money (or raise money) for your new business.Discipline to ensure you block proper time on your evenings and weekends to work on your new venture.Also, I highly recommend you work on your biz at a specific place, it could be a co-wo, desk at a friend's office, or even a cafe near your home. That will massively help you switch your brain and focus on what you need to achieve next in your biz.Transitioning from full time job to become an entrepreneur is a magical moment. Enjoy the ups and downs so you will look back as I do and feel really great about taking the leap! Good luck :)
- Network: Not everyone's up for this but there are huge benefits to getting out and about. You never know who you might meet who might be looking to work with someone like you.Get noticed: We have all the tools, resources and channels we need to make something. Now. We don't need to ask for permission, respond to a brief, or wait for a job. We can just get on with what we want to do, what we want to create and what we want to show for ourselves. So make something. Make the thing you've always thought about making. Write the article you've always thought about writing. And share it with the world. The more active you are on platforms relevant to your industry, the more you get noticed and when you get noticed, you get approached with work offers.Self care: Fill your pockets with patience and strength. I freaked out when I first went freelance. I found it very hard to not worry about work and money but actually, the freaking out was worth it. Just accept that you may not work five days a week. And then embrace it. Enjoy the downtime. It’s a time to relax, revive and reboot. To catch up with friends, see a film, read a book. It’s not a time to panic. Don’t wish it away - you’ll wish for it back as soon as you’re busy again.Wishing you lots of luck and success!
- https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/how-to-balance-a-5-9-career
- Hi Dagmar, saw this article on my phone newsfeed and thought of you, hope it helps! :)https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/how-to-balance-a-5-9-career
- Hi Dagmar,Lovely to hear that you're taking the leap, I quit my fulltime job 3 months ago and haven't looked back! I was working fulltime as a project manager and I worked on freelancing/ researching companies by getting up at 5:30am every morning and putting in at least 2-3 hours a day into my goals. (It's good to do before you go to your 9-5 job too, you feel happier and it gives a great sense of achievement!)Then... I used some of my holiday days to just have freelance/ meeting days to build contacts and made sure that when I quit I had enough savings to last me not having a continous salary for a while.I feel so much happier, follow your dreams!(I hope this helps some how!)x
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