Tag: time management

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Making changes: From Freelancer to Employee

Embarking on a creative freelancing journey can be an exhilarating experience, filled with dreams of independence and artistic fulfilment. Yet, not all paths unfold as expected. If you find yourself transitioning from freelancing to seeking traditional employment, know that you’re not alone, and this shift doesn’t diminish your creativity or worth. It’s a chance for growth, learning, and a renewed perspective on your creative journey.

Initially, freelancing might have seemed like the perfect platform to showcase your talents and carve your niche. However, challenges in client acquisition, inconsistent income, and the business side of things can sometimes overshadow the creative joy. As you reflect on this transition, remember that setbacks are part of any creative venture. They don’t define your artistic abilities or creative potential.

It’s okay to feel a tinge of embarrassment or uncertainty as you consider traditional employment. But rather than letting this emotion overshadow your next steps, use it as a driving force for self-discovery and reinvention. Remember, your creative skills and experiences gained during freelancing are invaluable assets that can enrich your new professional endeavours.

Here are a few strategies to embrace this transition: Continue reading “Making changes: From Freelancer to Employee”

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The Job Hunt Dilemma


If you’re a creative professional, you know the feeling. You want to get a job, but you can’t seem to get your foot in the door. You need experience, but you can’t get experience without a job. It’s a catch-22. And it’s frustrating.

So how do you break the cycle? Here are a few tips:

  • Start small. Don’t expect to land your dream job right away. Start by looking for small projects or volunteer opportunities. This will give you some experience and help you build your portfolio.

  • Network. Talk to people in your field and let them know you’re looking for work. Attend industry events and meetups. The more people you know, the more likely you are to hear about opportunities. It can feel a bit daunting, but be brave. You can do it because other people have done it before you.

  • Be creative. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Come up with creative ways to get your foot in the door. For example, you could start a blog or create a portfolio website to showcase your work. Really critique and polish your work. Take some free courses – learn new skills, meet new people.

  • Be sharp. Create an on-point portfolio of work/experience that fits with where you want to be. If you want to work in advertising or marketing, create brand mock ups, web sites, creative work to strut your stuff. If you want to work in gaming – design some games, learn Python or whatever the the current tools are – you need to find out what they are. The key secret is to work your work hard and continually improve it. Quality and work beats all.

  • Don’t give up. The job hunt can be tough, but don’t give up. Keep applying for jobs and networking. Be open to change. Eventually, you’ll find the right opportunity. Do. Not. Give. Up.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

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Lifelong Learning: Your Catalyst for Creativity and Business Success



People who’re fully dynamic in creative professions and entrepreneurial ventures usually exploit continuous learning – it’s a powerful driver (and indicator) of success. For busy creative professionals and business leaders, the pursuit of knowledge and the commitment to ongoing development have become indispensable factors in staying competitive and achieving sustainable growth.

It’s a been a bit fashionable to mock the idea of getting a university degree, that the entrepreneurial burn is enough. And it can be enough to get started, but often the burn becomes supplemented by books, audio files, and any other of the myriad ways we share our accumulated knowledge. No matter how smart an individual is, without learning new information means they’re going out of date. It’s important for all of us, at any stage of our lives.

In this era of constant innovation and ever-evolving markets, here’s why continuous learning is the key to unlocking new possibilities and maximising your potential. Continue reading “Lifelong Learning: Your Catalyst for Creativity and Business Success”

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Financial Stability for Creative Professionals

As with most creative professionals, your work is your passion. There’s always a ton of work to be done – jobs large and small. But getting paid for your work – now that’s another story. You either already know that it can be difficult to make a living from your art, or you’re bright eyed and bushy tailed. Pro-tip: Take cash over a promise. Many creative professionals face financial instability due to irregular income, gig-based work, or difficulty in monetising their skill set. Finding ways to achieve financial stability while pursuing creative passions is a common struggle.

Here are a few tips for achieving financial stability as a creative professional: Continue reading “Financial Stability for Creative Professionals”

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Balancing Creative Freedom and Client Demands

When you’re a creative person, it’s important to have the freedom to express yourself. But when you’re working with clients, you often have to balance your creative vision with their demands. This can be a delicate balance, and it’s not always easy to find a happy medium.

Here are a few tips for balancing your creative freedoms and client’s demands: Continue reading “Balancing Creative Freedom and Client Demands”

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Working-Mum Guilt: How to Overcome It


Being a working mum is hard work. Balancing your career, your family, and your own needs is a demanding task. They don’t exactly teach you how to do this at school and suddenly you’re trying to do it. It can be so easy to feel guilty about not being able to do it all. But working-mum guilt is a normal emotion, and there are ways to overcome it. And if not overcome it, then at least find some ways to help cope and maybe come to terms with it. 

Here are some tips for overcoming working-mum guilt:
Continue reading “Working-Mum Guilt: How to Overcome It”

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How to Escape the Grip of Social Media


Rediscovering Creativity: 
When I was a kid my mother made me birthday cakes. I had a seal with a ball on its nose, a train, a pineapple, and a gingerbread cottage. To defend what seems like a complete cake greed on my part, I must point out that my birthday fell around the same time as an annual cake decorating competition; and, I shared my birth day (and cake) with my father and grandmother. In hindsight, the cakes weren’t for me at all. No matter what, I don’t know how my mother found the time to make the cakes and then decorate them.

I probably only remember these cakes because Dad made photos of them using his prized Kodak rangefinder. They were colour slides – Kodachrome, of course. The slides lived in the yellow plastic box and viewing them was a special event in itself. I remember the photos and the projector rather than the cakes themselves. Although we were all proud of my mother’s creative efforts and the time and effort it took to create these prize-winning decorated cakes, few other people ever knew about them. There was no social media in those days.

Social media can be a great way to connect with others, stay up-to-date on the latest news, and find inspiration. But for busy creatives, it can also be a major distraction. If you’re feeling like social media is holding you back from your creative potential, here are a few tips to help you break free:
Continue reading “How to Escape the Grip of Social Media”

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How to Work Smarter, Not Harder as a Creative


Ever seen the sunrise after an all-nighter? Another summer day and you’re still in the office seeing the sunset?

As creatives, we know that working hard is important. But you need to know that working smarter is even more important. When you work smarter, you can be more productive and creative, and you can also save time and energy.

Here are some tips on how to work smarter, not harder:
Continue reading “How to Work Smarter, Not Harder as a Creative”

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How to Discover Your Hidden Talents: Exploring Your Blind Spots


Do you know what a blind spot is? It’s an area around a car that the driver can’t see. Blind spots can be dangerous, but they can also be a great way to discover new things. Just perhaps not in your car…

In our lives, we also have blind spots. These are things we can’t see or understand about ourselves. But don’t worry, there are ways to discover your blind spots and unlock your hidden talents.

Here are three ways to explore your blind spots:
Continue reading “How to Discover Your Hidden Talents: Exploring Your Blind Spots”

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Relax! How Taking Breaks Boosts Your Creativity

Man in a tree boosting his creativity by relaxing.
In our fast-paced world, it can be hard to find time to take a break. Worse than that, if you’re driven, you feel guilty or bad if you’re not working 24/7 (and the weekends too). But did you know that taking breaks can actually help you be more creative?

That’s right! When we’re constantly working, our brains can get overwhelmed and fatigued. This can make it difficult to think clearly and come up with new ideas. But when we take a break, our brains have a chance to rest and recharge. This allows us to come back to our work with a fresh perspective and renewed energy.

In addition, taking breaks gives our brains a chance to “incubate” ideas. Incubation is the process of subconscious thinking that happens when we’re not actively working on a problem. This is when our brains make connections between different ideas and come up with creative solutions.

So, how can you take breaks that boost your creativity? Here are a few tips:

  • Get outside. Taking a walk in nature is a great way to clear your head and relax your mind.
  • Listen to music. Listening to music can help you focus and de-stress.
  • Engage in a hobby. Doing something you enjoy can help you tap into your creativity.
  • Take a power nap. A short nap can help you recharge your batteries and improve your focus.

Taking breaks doesn’t mean you have to stop working altogether. You can still be productive while you’re taking a break. Just make sure to do something that relaxes you and helps you clear your head.

So, next time you’re feeling stressed or stuck, take a break. Your creativity will thank you for it!

Here are some additional benefits of taking breaks:

  • Reduces stress
  • Improves focus and concentration
  • Boosts energy levels
  • Increases productivity
  • Prevents burnout

So, what are you waiting for? Start taking a few deliberate breaths and a fewbreaks today and see how they can boost your creativity and overall well-being.

Photo by Rob Mulally on Unsplash