Episode 8 - Dealing with feedback

This week:
- dealing with feedback
- podcast with Emelier Fågelstedt
- editing voiceovers
- worrying about half term on the horizon
- loving what you do
- putting on my nice shoes

Despite having lots of projects on the go and a lot of work to get done, I was glad I took Wednesday out to hit the road.

Getting face to face isn't something I do a lot of. Unless it's via Skype.

I find what makes far more efficient use of my time (and their's) is talking to clients/collaborators on the phone or Skype/Facetime etc. Neither of us have to drive anywhere, the only time taken from our day... well, is the time we've taken to talk.

But that said, it's nice to meet people in real life, it's important. Two of my biggest projects at the moment were kicked off face to face last year. Those initial brainstorming meetings and workshops were invaluable not just in the work we got done, but the relationships that were formed.

So, nice to meet with the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce this week. And great to have lunch with old friend/colleague turned friend/business owner like me.

Really nice. And gave me an excuse to put on my nice shoes.

Episode 7 - Continually Learning

This week:
- When your computer refuses to work on deadline day
- Neglecting exercise for work
- Turning work into exercise
- One day turnaround video (including sign off)
- Podcast editing for Superlogoboy's chat
- The Amy Schmittauer book (from last week's podcast) arrives

My guest this week on the podcast - Paddy McGrath spoke about his 'addiction' to continually learning.

For him it involved a lot of books and a mentor. But it doesn't have to be.

We need to make sure we continually learn in everything we do.
After/during each project and life experience.

I've learned that when my Final Cut editing software is doing really weird things (not often) it takes a reboot of the whole computer. It's not worth struggling on.

I've learned I need to make writing a blog post, or editng a vlog or podcast, a habit - I need a self imposed deadline in my head.

I've learned that getting outside and exercising actually boosts productivity.

And as you can see, I've learned to take my own flask of coffee to children's parties (they really should give these to new parents - baby wipes, muslin, calpol and a thermos mug).

Continually learning.

Episode 6 - Dad on To-Do List

This week:

- Exploring stock sites
- Losing a day of work to a child off nursery
- Gaining a day of fun to a child off nursery
- FaceTime brainstorming
- Potential Business coffee(s)
- Being Freelance edit for Amy Schmittauer

In amongst the editing, script writing and voiceovers this week I had to find extra time to be a Dad.

Our 3 (and three quarters she'd have me point out) year old was off sick from nursery.

I don't mention this in the video, but actually until September 2016 I had her all to myself every single Wednesday. So I only worked 4 days a week (well, if you don't count the evenings and weekends of course!) but Wednesday was Daddy & Daughter day.

So actually, it was really nice having time to together to hang out. But of course you get hit by the guilt when you're playing that you should be working... and when you sneak in a bit of work, the guilt that you should be playing, cuddling, singing, dancing... add them all to my LinkedIn Skillset why don't you?

Overall though, blessed to be self-employed and flexible enough to be there when she needed me.

And blessed too that she went back to nursery the next day.

Episode 5 - The benefits of putting out content

This week:

- directing/recording a voiceover on location
- edit-edit-edit (repeat)
- email marketing
- the benefits of putting out content

Twice in this episode you see the benefits of regularly putting out content.

A client taking my advice to produce testimonials after reading my blog on the subject.

And a production company getting in touch after watching a video marketing video interview I'd put out on YouTube nearly a year earlier.

Sometimes it can feel like we're not seeing the benefits of content marketing. But it's the slow burn. It's consistently giving value. Of getting your ideas out there.

You never know when it'll come back around.

Episode 3 - What can your business learn from a KIA showroom?

This week:

- Dealing with work while the kids are still off
- How a KIA showroom inspired me to tweak my website
- Voiceover work
- A long weekend of video editing

I managed to pretty much not work for two weeks over Christmas.

My iMac was cleared away from the dining table to make way for food and fun.

It was just those last few days of the school holidays that became tough as clients began getting in touch again whilst I tried to still be in full on Dad-mode.

In the end I knew I had to devote a whole weekend to finishing off some fitness video edits. Because sometimes there's nothing for it but to get your head down and put in the hours.

I felt so much better for it. I didn't need to feel guilty family wise - we'd had two weeks of togetherness.

It's amazing how much more productive you can be when you just focus on one thing.

Episode 2 - The deadline of Christmas

This week:

- podcast production for a client's content marketing
- cramming in work before the Christmas school holidays kick in
- the hidden costs of video production: the storage!
- recording Being Freelance podcast with Amy Schmittauer
- family time

Can you really make time for creating a regular video blog?

If anything was going to test me, it'd be the busiest time of the year.

With so many client deadlines to meet, the biggest looming deadline was Christmas itself.
Fitting in friends, family and work.

If anything, making this episode made me realise that next year I really want to get all projects tied up by the time the kids finish school. Working while everyone else is playing is stressful and not good for me, nor the family.

I'm wondering how I can adapt that approach for the big school holidays of 2017 that are on the horizon.

Episode 1 - Why not?

For 2017 I was considering starting a vlog documenting my freelance week.

And then I thought... why wait until 2017?! What's wrong with now?

I can totally see the value in making a vlog that looks at what you do, whilst introducing viewers to who you are. But if I'm ever going to suggest this video marketing approach to my clients, shouldn't I have tried it myself?

How much work will it be?

Can I really shoot it just on an iPhone?
(I wanted to show how easy it should be - that you don't need the gear to get started!)

Will it make me trim my beard and put on nicer clothes more often?

And so it begins...