Jess knew she wanted to work on her own terms.
What she didn't know, was what a 'virtual assistant' was.
And yet when an opportunity came up to be one, to work remotely and become freelance... she jumped at it. As years went by, the amount of work started to overwhelm her. So she hired her own virtual assistants to help out... and her company Don't Panic Management was born. Everything 'virtual' had gradually become very real.
It feels like Karen is being freelance on her terms.
With her own voice, her own style. Stress free. Quite possibly in pyjamas.
Here we chat about how she got started as a copywriter, how she got started making money from courses helping other writers and how she got finished with trying to be a digital nomad.
Read MoreThrough podcasts Michelle gained the knowledge and confidence to quit the 9-to-5 and start being freelance... and now years later her own podcast Creative Playdate is helping herself and others navigate being freelance, whilst also being a parent.
From starting out, reaching out and figuring it out as a freelance mum.
Read MoreAt the heart of Matt's success are other people. Sure, of course he's good at what he does. But it's the people he's met along the way that have helped him grow himself and his business.
Put simply: the more people you meet, the more chance you have of working with them in the future. Be that fellow freelancers or potential clients. Just keep meeting people!
Tidying her child's room Annie suddenly found a name for a business. With it she found a way to make work fit with family, she found meaningful work in a remote location and found a community of other freelancers to help her along the way. Now all she has to do is find time for herself...
Hear Annie's journey as self-employed virtual assistant 'Hello My PA', becoming one of the freelance heroes.
Read MoreIf you don't take yourself seriously, why would your clients?
South African photographer and digital artist Natalie chats about making connections, passion projects, hiring other freelancers, expanding her services and wrestling with being a workaholic learning when to say 'no'.
'Social Mouth' Sam has a story of reinvention, investment, belief and community.
We hear about the power of Instagram Stories and her Small & Mighty podcast in helping people get to know her. The benefits of a business coach. And the impact that ill health, a dog and a dad can have on your future.
Read MoreWhen Dan was made redundant two weeks before his second child was born, he knew failure wasn't an option. He had to make a success of being freelance.
Hear how he's made that happen - the coworking studio, networking and adapting to a changing world - always learning new skills, reinventing.. and never with his shirt tucked in.
Read MoreFor German freelancer Uli, it all started with sharing. Using Twitter to share and make reality her dream of living and working in London.
Since then she's been sharing work spaces, sharing in communities, sharing thoughts, groups, content, challenges, knowledge and now she shares it with us
Read MoreCarson has always freelanced on the side. Chasing the cash and the creativity that freelance opportunities would bring whilst still studying or working full time.
He's learned how to find the good clients, set expectations, communicate and avoid work overload (eventually).
Read MoreComposer Grant Kirkhope has spent the past 20 years not just making video games music, but making a name for himself.
From the lessons and habits learned as an in-house composer, to breaking out as a freelancer in a new country: looking for opportunities, an agent and a day off.
It may seem like a series of ‘happy accidents’ but it’s a tale of persistence, creativity and professionalism. Doing whatever it takes to get the job.
Read MoreWinner of the IPSE UK Freelancer of the Year 'Aspire' 2017 for young, up and coming self-employed talent.
We hear a snapshot of how Nisha got started as a photogapher: finding funding (without a loan in sight), and with it, finding community, clients and self belief.
Read MoreHolly chats about first finding enough freelance work to hang up her waitress apron... and now finding balance from all of that work.
We hear about the mental challenges, relocating, making YouTube videos and... dogs.
Read MoreRedundancy isn't the end.
It's a new beginning.
For Caroline that meant retuning and retraining from radio to design.
Key to surviving both business and relocation has been Caroline's ability to get out there and meet people.
Not networking. It's meeting people.
And one person can make a difference.
Australian animator Chris had a side project.
That led to big projects all over the world.
Chris' gif loops have been viewed millions of times on the likes of Giphy, Dribbble, Behance, and Instagram.
We chat about dealing with clients, being paid, switching off and getting out - or not.
Read MoreAs an editor in publishing Rose is used to reshaping people's words.
She's also done it with her life.
Cutting out the full time job for flexibility as a working mum. Stripping out the management role to focus on the work she enjoys. Reforming her hourly rate and rejecting the projects that won't hit it. Whilst creating The Freelancer's Cookbook.. well, that's a whole new tasty chapter in itself.
Early on, London based filmmaker Ben started juggling life as a freelancer and studying.
Here, he chats about working for free and how he transitioned that to paid gigs.
How collaborating with others can inspire him both creatively and in business.
Plus, coping with cashflow and the pressures of travelling for work.
