Working for yourself, and loving the culture

Posted by on | Featured

Working for yourself, and loving the culture

You chose this, and that matters

Last month, thousands of New Zealanders wore pink to work, school, and community events for Pink Shirt Day, the annual anti-bullying campaign led by the Mental Health Foundation. The kaupapa behind Pink Shirt Day, that everyone deserves to feel safe, valued, and respected in the spaces they work and live in, resonates strongly with us at freemeup. Because one of the most powerful things about working for yourself is that you get to build exactly that kind of environment. You choose who you work with, how you work, and what kind of professional you want to be.

This month, we want to celebrate that.

Reference:

The numbers tell a great story

New Zealand has over 400,000 sole traders, making up almost 20% of the workforce. And when Hnry surveyed that community in 2024, the results were striking. Kiwi sole traders reported the highest rates of wellbeing, work-life balance, personal satisfaction, and financial outlook since the survey began in 2021. Personal satisfaction, enjoyment, and work-life balance rates were on par with Australian sole traders, who had previously reported higher rates. That is a remarkable result for a group of people who carry the full weight of running their own business every single day.

Working for yourself is not always easy. But the people doing it are, by and large, thriving. And there are good reasons for that.

References:

What sole traders have that most people do not

When you work for yourself, you get something that is genuinely hard to put a price on: the freedom to make your own decisions. You decide what work you take on, who you work for, and how you spend your time. That is not a small thing. Research consistently shows that having that kind of control over your work is one of the strongest predictors of job satisfaction and overall wellbeing.

But it goes beyond that. Sole traders also tend to have a much clearer line of sight between the work they do and the value it creates. There is no middle layer between you and your client. When you do good work, you know it and they know it. That directness is one of the things people who go out on their own often say they value most about it.

And then there is the Pink Shirt Day angle. When you are the one setting the culture of your working environment, the values you bring to it are entirely your own. Kindness, respect, the freedom to be exactly who you are at work. These are things sole traders often have in abundance, simply because they have built their work life around them.

Of course, working for yourself is not without its moments of self-doubt. Even the most experienced sole traders have days where they wonder if they are really good enough. And that is worth talking about too.

The voice in your head (and why it is usually wrong)

Here is something almost every sole trader experiences at some point: the quiet, uninvited thought that maybe you are not quite as good as your clients think you are. That sooner or later someone is going to figure it out. That the last project going well was luck more than skill.

This is so common it has a name. Imposter syndrome affects around half of all New Zealand workers according to research from SEEK, and freelancers experience it at even higher rates than those in traditional employment. So if you have felt it, you are in very good company.

The reassuring thing about imposter syndrome is what it actually signals. It almost exclusively visits people who care deeply about the quality of their work and take their professional relationships seriously. People who are not doing a good job rarely worry about being found out, because they are not paying close enough attention to know the gap exists. The fact that you hold yourself to a high standard is not a sign that you are not good enough. It is a sign that you are exactly the kind of professional clients want in their corner.

When the voice gets loud, try this: write down three things you have done well recently. A piece of work you are proud of. A client who came back. A problem you solved. The evidence is almost always there. It just needs to be on paper.

Reference:

It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.

Sir Edmund Hillary

Keep the Pink Shirt Day kaupapa going

Pink Shirt Day is one day a year, but the Mental Health Foundation is clear that the kaupapa continues every day. For sole traders, that means thinking about the kind of professional you are in every client relationship and every interaction you have. The way you communicate, the boundaries you set, and the standards you hold yourself and others to. These things matter.

The Pink Shirt Day website has a free workplace toolkit with practical tools for building positive, inclusive environments. It is worth a look, even if your workplace is just you.

At freemeup, we are here to help sole traders make the most of working for themselves. Less time figuring out admin, more time doing the work you love, with the people you choose. If you would like to find out more, visit our website or get in touch with us.

Read last month’s blog on how AI tools can help sole traders work smarter. Read it here.

Disclaimer: All content provided on freemeup.nz is for informational purposes only and is intended as a general information resource regarding the matters covered. It is not tailored to cover specific situations and circumstances and shouldn’t be taken as direct professional advice. Freemeup makes no representations to the accuracy or completeness of the information found on this site or found by following any links on this site and will not be held liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the use of this information. 

More
Articles

Women in STEM – your voice matters

Posted by on | Featured

Women in STEM - your voice matters

A day worth marking

Every year on 11 February, the United Nations marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This year’s UNESCO theme is “From Vision to Impact: Redefining STEM by Closing the Gender Gap.” It’s a shift from simply naming the problem to spotlighting what’s actually working, and that feels like the right direction.

This day is for every woman building a career on her own terms in a field where women are still underrepresented. And at freemeup, that’s exactly the kind of sole trader we exist to support.

Reference:

The NZ picture

The data on women in STEM in New Zealand tells a familiar story, and it’s worth understanding clearly.

A 2021 survey found that 41.5% of Year 12 girls study STEM subjects. But there’s a steep drop-off from there: only 19.8% of women continue into STEM at tertiary level, just 4.6% go on to a master’s degree in those fields, and only 2.4% pursue a PhD. The pipeline narrows sharply at every stage, long before the workforce is even reached.

The pay gap compounds that picture. In New Zealand, women currently earn 5.2% less per hour than men on average. Although this is the lowest this gap has been since records began in 1998, a gap remains, and the World Economic Forum notes that men continuing to dominate well-paid technical and professional roles is one of the key drivers of the gender pay gap globally. At the current pace of change, full economic parity between men and women is still more than a century away.

Researchers at the University of Auckland have pointed out that this matters beyond the numbers themselves. Diverse teams produce better research, more innovative solutions, and outcomes that reflect the needs of the whole population. When women are missing from the room where decisions are made, those decisions reflect that absence.

References:

A chance to rewrite the rules

For women who have built careers in STEM and then made the leap to sole trading, going out on your own brings something that employed life rarely offers: the chance to build your career entirely on your own terms. Working for yourself removes some of the structural barriers of employed life, and while it can feel like stepping away from the colleagues and support networks you relied on, the reality is that it can open up far more connections than it closes off.

Searching for new clients takes you into rooms and conversations you may never have had as an employee. Mentors become easier to approach when you are running your own business. Professional organisations, industry groups, and networks that once felt peripheral suddenly become genuinely useful, and you have the flexibility to engage with them properly. Some sole traders find entirely new avenues they had never considered, contributing to industry panels, guest lecturing at universities, or taking on advisory roles that broaden their professional profile.

Going out on your own is not the end of a network. For many women in STEM, it turns out to be the beginning of a much bigger one.

It can also be a direct and practical way to address the pay gap on your own terms. As a sole trader, you set the price for your expertise. Nobody is comparing your rate to a male colleague’s, applying unconscious bias to a pay review, or quietly penalising you for taking parental leave. The flexibility of sole trading means you structure your work around your life, not the other way around, and there is no ceiling imposed by someone else’s assumptions about your commitment or availability. For women who have experienced those quiet structural penalties in employed life, that freedom is significant. You get paid what your work is actually worth.

The right foundations matter

Whether you’re a woman working in engineering, IT, environmental science, or any other technical field, the business fundamentals are the same as for anyone else. You need your H&S sorted, your professional insurance in place, and your technology set up securely. What freemeup does is take those three things off your plate so you can focus on the work you’re actually good at.

That’s the pitch, and it applies equally to everyone. But on a day like today, it feels worth saying directly: if you’re a woman who has done the hard work of building expertise in a STEM field and is now working for yourself, you deserve the same solid business foundations as anyone else. You shouldn’t have to figure out the compliance and risk management side on top of everything else.

If you’d like to know more about how freemeup can help, get in touch with us. We’d love to have a conversation.

Science and gender equality are both vital for the world to reach its full potential.

United Nations

Read last month’s blog on starting the year with good H&S habits. Read it here.

Disclaimer: All content provided on freemeup.nz is for informational purposes only and is intended as a general information resource regarding the matters covered. It is not tailored to cover specific situations and circumstances and shouldn’t be taken as direct professional advice. Freemeup makes no representations to the accuracy or completeness of the information found on this site or found by following any links on this site and will not be held liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the use of this information. 

More
Articles

Maximise your growth with effective mentorship

Posted by on | Featured

Maximise your growth with effective mentorship

Propel your development

Whether you are an employee or are working for yourself, you might have thought about getting a mentor. In this blog, I look at what to expect from a mentor, why have one, and where to find one. If you are looking for guidance, a mentor can provide support, knowledge, and wisdom. 

What does a mentor do?

  1. A repository of knowledge: Mentors have amassed a wealth of knowledge and expertise. They share this information with their mentees to help them navigate problems and challenges. 
  2. Advisor: Mentors can help mentees when asked for advice. A good mentor will not solve the problem or decide for the mentee. Instead, they will lead the mentee to a solution by offering insights and guidance. They will also help their mentee to understand how some actions could make the problem worse and therefore less likely to reach their goals. 
  3. Gardener: Mentors have experience in identifying strengths and weaknesses. A good mentor can look at a situation or a person objectively and provide conclusions that are not biased. In this way, a mentor can help their mentee define areas for improvement and promote growth. 
  4. Confidence builder: A good mentor will help their mentee to take calculated risks and chase opportunities. Without this support, a mentee may not chase certain opportunities because they think they are not ready. 
  5. Networker: Mentors usually have a huge network of valuable contacts and resources they have curated over the years. Mentees can often get an introduction to this network. 
  6. Listener and Supporter: An important part of being a mentor is being able to listen to concerns and questions. Being able to listen can be a hard skill to master, especially when the answer seems obvious. A good mentor will listen carefully and respond when appropriate. 
  7. Someone who also wants to grow: Being a mentor is not just a learning experience for the mentee, but also for the mentor. A good mentor will admit when they need to learn something new.  By being open to learning new skills, such as learning to communicate in new ways, the mentor also has the opportunity to develop themselves. 

 The goal of a mentor is to promote the growth and development of their mentee. This helps their mentee achieve their personal or professional ambitions. 

Why do I need a mentor?

Taking the time to find a mentor who understands you and your goals can provide many advantages. Knowing you have someone who understands your situation can significantly help reduce stress and anxiety associated with new challenges. Many of us confide in our family and close friends. Concerning work though, they may not have the experience and insights relevant to our role and responsibilities. Loved ones may also have a biased view because of their feelings for us. 

Whether you need a mentor to help you navigate your personal or work life, both of you will benefit from checking you understand each other’s personalities and approaches to tackling challenges. Your mentor should understand what drives you and what scares you. They should understand how to encourage you to take risks without causing undue stress and anxiety. A good mentor will also help you discover insights by guiding you to find the answers rather than just telling you what to do. In return, a mentor will offer their services because they genuinely want to help another person. If they do not feel their mentee is taking their advice seriously, they could end the mentorship. 

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Maya Angelou

What makes a good mentee?

To be a good mentee, it helps to have the following qualities. But don’t worry if you don’t tick all the boxes. The mentor/mentee journey is a learning opportunity for both parties. You both learn how best to work with each other and develop a trusting relationship. 

  1. Openness to Feedback: A mentee who accepts suggestions for improvement so they can continue their growth and development. 
  2. Receptiveness: A mentee who will consider new ideas and perspectives and step out of their comfort zone.  
  3. Self Awareness: A mentee who thinks about their progress and identifies improvement opportunities. 
  4. Curiosity: A mentee who wants to ask questions, and obtain answers, therefore fueling their desire to learn. 
  5. Responsibility: A mentee who can manage their development, goal setting, and stay true to their commitments. 
  6. Communication Skills: A mentee who can communicate what they want, what challenges them, and how they have progressed. 
  7. Initiative: A mentee who will take a proactive approach when it comes to engaging their mentor, learning, and applying what they learn. 
  8. Mutual Respect: A respectful relationship between the mentee and mentor, appreciating the time and experience they share. 

Where can I find a mentor?

  1. Professional Organizations: Join associations related to your field; they often have mentorship programs. 
  2. Networking Events: If possible, attend industry conferences, seminars, or workshops where you can meet experienced professionals. Your employer will likely pay to send you to networking events as part of promoting your company. 
  3. Online Platforms: Use platforms like LinkedIn to connect with potential mentors. Look for groups or discussions in your area of interest. Check out the freemeup blog “Harness the power of social media” to start growing your network and get yourself noticed among your peers. 
  4. Local Community Groups: Check out local business incubators, co-working spaces, or community colleges that may offer mentorship opportunities. 
  5. Universities: If you’re a student or alumni, reach out to your university’s career services or alumni network. 
  6. Volunteer: Get involved with organizations, associations, or causes you care about; you may meet mentors in the process. 

When searching for a suitable mentor, set clear expectations and request the same from them. 

Disclaimer: All content provided on freemeup.nz is for informational purposes only and is intended as a general information resource regarding the matters covered. It is not tailored to cover specific situations and circumstances and shouldn’t be taken as direct professional advice. Freemeup makes no representations to the accuracy or completeness of the information found on this site or found by following any links on this site and will not be held liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the use of this information. 

More
Articles

woman in blue jacket and black pants sitting on ledge overlooking bay

Do you want to achieve your ambitions?

Posted by on | Featured

Do you want to achieve your ambitions?

woman in blue jacket and black pants sitting on ledge overlooking bay

"Ambitions reveal direction" - Mace Windu

Earlier this year, I attended the Electrify conference held in Wellington. It was a fantastic conference and provided a wealth of information and advice. I am still writing blogs and posts 6 months later based on what I learned that day. 

The last speaker of the day had a fantastic story to tell. Rebekah Campbell told us her experiences as a founder, mixed with a wonderfully humorous account of her personal life. She also went on to tell us about her book, 138 Dates. Given how inspiring her presentation was, I purchased her book a few weeks later and started reading it. 

One of the things I liked about her book was how she identified her need to set goals and determine how to complete them. I have experience setting goals, but what I liked about her method was how simple she made it. So, I want to discuss why we should set goals and highlight some different goal setting methods. 

Why do we need goals?

There are times when our lives are settled and routine based, and setting goals may not seem important. But when we are ready for an upheaval, creating a goal can help reach our targets. Small changes can usually be managed by updating our to-do list. Sometimes though, the change is life altering – moving to a new country, a career change, or starting a business. These types of changes require research, planning, management, and time. 

There are several benefits to setting goals, especially when achieving those goals could change your life. Goal setting can help: 

  1. Provide focus and direction to achieve the desired outcome. 
  2. Reduce time spent on irrelevant/unnecessary tasks.
  3. Redefine large, difficult tasks into smaller, more manageable ones. 
  4. Deliver good habits over time. 
  5. Develop and maintain motivation by meeting deliverables. 
  6. Increase confidence by measuring progress and recording achievements. 
  7. Provide accountability.
  8. Develop professionally, leading to new skills and experiences. 

Ambition is enthusiasm with a purpose.

Frank Tyger

What does goal setting involve?

A person may express wishes, desires, or intentions on the spur of the moment. However, fulfilling those intentions will need further thought to accomplish them. To set achievable goals, an action plan needs to be developed. The plan needs to inspire and provide criteria that will ensure the completion of the goal. 

There are many methods to set goals. Generally, these methods require defining the goal, creating a timeline, and documenting the steps required to reach the goal. When we are excited about starting a new goal, it is tempting to jump straight into action. However, this can sometimes result in a loss of motivation as unforeseen challenges become overwhelming to the point where we give up.

Deliberate Experimentation

Before starting our goals and developing an action plan, it can be useful to try an experimental version to see if we are likely to succeed. For example, you want to complete a new qualification to be ready for a promotion opportunity. You have decided to dedicate 1 day a week to learning and will study and complete assessments during the weekends and evenings. You can reduce your income to 4 days a week and can afford the cost of living on a reduced salary. The ultimate goal is to move into a more senior position at work, in which the new qualification will boost your chances of promotion. 

Before jumping in and handing in your request for reduced work hours and signing up for your course, you could experiment first with a short course that has less workload, maybe one that is free. You will still need to work evenings to complete your studies, but you won’t need to reduce your work hours and the reduced workload will leave your weekends free. This way, you can see if you can work and study at the same time before making a significant commitment. Also, you may find a short course that counts towards your studies with regard to obtaining your final qualification. 

This is the Deliberate Experimentation method and can be useful to help determine whether an idea has merit. Check out the freemeup blog “Overcoming the fear of change” for more info. 

Goal setting methods

S.M.A.R.T.

SPECIFIC – keep goals specific and set boundaries. Define exactly what it is you want to achieve. Rather than state “I want to learn more about marketing”, define exactly what type of marketing you want to learn about, and what type of qualification you want to obtain. 

MEASURABLE – make it a goal you can measure. By stating a specific course you want to complete, you are setting a tangible goal that has an endpoint. Completing measurable outcomes boosts your confidence and maintains motivation to keep going. 

ATTAINABLE – your goal needs to be something you can achieve. Going back to full time study when you have expenses to pay for may not be realistic. Instead, studying part time and obtaining micro credentials that progress you towards your final qualification may be easier to manage. 

RELEVANT – your goal should be important to you. You are more likely to continue working towards it if it has significance to your life. 

TIMELY – set deadlines for your goals. A timeline for achieving each stage of your goal will help keep you focused and stop you from drifting or losing commitment. By setting deadlines you form habits, where the tasks become part of your lifestyle rather than a chore. 

S.M.A.R.T goals are great for short term goals, or goals that need to be structured using methodology and deliverables. 

Reference: How to Set and Use SMART Goals (verywellmind.com) 

 

WOOP

WISH – start daydreaming and think about what you want. Think about your desires and create a need for what it is you want to achieve. Once you have that absolute need in mind, plan for it. However, your wish needs to be attainable – don’t make it an impossible goal (I WILL win the lottery!). 

OUTCOME – expand on your wish and start documenting how you will achieve it. Break down your final goal into smaller steps, include a timeframe and deliverables. This stage needs to be as detailed as possible so you can really start to believe how you will accomplish your wish. 

OBSTACLE – try to come up with obstacles that will prevent you from achieving your goals. Work through each step you have documented and find the pain points that could cause you delays, or failure. Try to be detailed as possible about the obstacle – will it affect you financially, technically, etc. 

PLAN – start thinking about logical solutions. If this happens, then I must… the important aspect of this method is visualising yourself overcoming the obstacle and recording how. By planning for these obstacles, you may prevent them from occurring. 

To get practicing with WOOP, start with small or short term goals, and build up to bigger ones when you are ready. 

Reference: WOOP Goal Setting Strategy: 4 Steps to Get Started (developgoodhabits.com) 

 

BHAG

Big, hairy, audacious goals! 

For example: I am going to start my own business as a sole trader. 

BHAG framework lends itself to setting lifechanging goals that require multiple smaller goals to achieve. Experimental deliberation may be required first to see if the idea is one that will work for you. The final goal requires a large commitment that could take time, emotional commitment, and financial resources. However, the achievement of the goal promises to be life changing and ultimately makes you happier, more fulfilled, and provides more stability in your life. 

BHAGs need careful planning as the sheer size and complexity of the goal can be a show stopper if you hit roadblocks and pain points along the way. 

Reference: 7 Effective Goal-Setting Frameworks Analyzed (+Tips for Selecting the Right One) (deel.com) 

hot air balloon interior

How can freemeup help?

For some, the goal of owning and running a business is something we aspire to. To do the work we love, with the people we want, and work when we want. But the pain points of starting and running a business can make that goal seem unattainable. Pain points such as upfront costs for insurance policies and IT services, and the need to upskill for H&S and accounts. Not to mention finding out what business structure you need, if you should be GST registered, if you need a NZ business number or a separate IRD number. That’s where freemeup can help you. 

If you want to run your own business and are planning on working for yourself, think about working as a sole trader. Working for yourself means you don’t need to employ others or take on sub-contractors. Your clients will appreciate paying for your time, knowing they are getting your expertise, skill, and knowledge. 

Freemeup can save you time setting up and running your business tech, H&S, and insurance responsibilities. You can be onboarded to the freemeup Tech and H&S services within a week and have a Certificate of Insurance for your business within 3 weeks. We don’t require any upfront costs; you only pay for the services when you earn income. We have also partnered with the awesome team at Hnry who can take care of your tax and accounting responsibilities. We want to help you run your business, so you can spend more time doing the work you love. 

Disclaimer: All content provided on freemeup.nz is for informational purposes only and is intended as a general information resource regarding the matters covered. It is not tailored to cover specific situations and circumstances and shouldn’t be taken as direct professional advice. Freemeup makes no representations to the accuracy or completeness of the information found on this site or found by following any links on this site and will not be held liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the use of this information. 

More
Articles

Why work for yourself – create your perfect work environment!

Posted by on | Featured

Why work for yourself - create your perfect work environment!

Our expectations...

For many of us, heading off to the office every day is not just about doing a job, it is about working in an environment where we feel comfortable in a well thought out office space. 

But recently, some employees have been experiencing a growing dissatisfaction with the office environment and what is being provided by employers as a suitable workspace. 

In this post-COVID era, many of us are re-evaluating what we need from our work environments, where we work, and when we work. Some companies are not moving with the times or are trying to head back to a pre-COVID work situation – that just isn’t going to fly! If this sounds like somewhere you work, then read on. 

So, how much time do we actually spend at work?

  • In 2023, the number of available workdays was 248. Assuming you took your 4 weeks annual leave, that leaves 228 workdays. 
  • A standard 40-hour week is the most common work schedule in New Zealand. This is equivalent to 8 hours per day. Based on 228 workdays in 2023, that results in 1,824 hours of work in 2023. Or approximately 21% of the 8,760 hours available to us per year. 
  • Now factor in some sleep hours! According to the MOH, in 2023/24 approx. 69% of people got the recommended 8 hours of sleep per night. Assuming you are one of those people, that is equivalent to 2,920 hours of sleep per year, leaving 5,840 waking hours. That means we worked on average for 31% of the time we were awake in 2023. 

References:

By working faithfully eight hours a day you may eventually get to be boss and work twelve hours a day.

Robert Frost

Home comforts

According to the Stuff article about key trends in commercial properties and what occupants want from their offices “… they don’t want just rows of desks. Instead, they want flexible floor plates, and intuitive fit-outs that reflect modern ways of working”. If your employer isn’t looking to upgrade your office space any time soon, you may want to rethink where you work. 

Your home may be able to provide a suitable alternative if you are someone who likes their home comforts. And thanks to WFH policies, you may already have a great home office setup. But for me, I don’t just want a workstation with good WI-FI access. I also want a comfortable and quiet lounge space where I can reflect on tricky problems. I want space to walk around while talking on the phone without disturbing people. I want to be able to choose where I do my work, in different environments, whenever I want to.

Reference:

car side mirror showing heavy traffic

The daily commute

Fed up with sitting in traffic? The Stuff article about drive times in New Zealand’s 3 largest cities indicates that commuting during rush hour could see you sitting in the car for 150 hours or more per year. Some can spend that time listening to a great audiobook or learning a new language. But some just don’t want that time stuck in traffic. Working for yourself can remove your daily commute or provide you with the option of choosing a different commute time to get to your office. If you do need to have meetings in person, you can either manage them online or choose a time that works for you outside of rush hour traffic. 

Could be worse though, we could have to deal with London traffic!

Reference:

Return To Office policies

COVID has changed the way we work. I would find going back to the office 5 days a week, 8 hours a day pretty much impossible. I want to be able to choose when I work, where I work, and how I work. But with unemployment rates starting to creep up this could swing in favour of those employers who want stricter RTO policies and potential employees agreeing to them.

You may have seen #workschoolhours by Ellen Joan Ford on LinkedIn (here is a link to her website for those interested – workschoolhours). You don’t need to have children to apply the principle of #workschoolhours. Working your own hours can take many different forms. For example, you may be an early riser and get your best work done by midday, or you may be nocturnal and prefer to work in the evening to late at night. Whatever your preference is, you can choose it when you work for yourself. 

References:

woman holding clipboard calendar front

Five day work week

Some of us may want to work four days a week instead of the traditional five. And for many of us, we need that extra downtime. The article published by HRD indicates employee burnout has reached a new high. Therefore, having that extra time to decompress could make all the difference. Alternatively, we may want to use that extra day to sort out personal responsibilities, return to the classroom or volunteer for an organisation. However we decide to spend it, time that we can completely switch off from work can be good for our mental health.

So, how do we reduce it down to a 4-day week? We don’t try and cram 40 hours into four days; we reduce the number of days a week we work to four. End of. Studies have shown improvements in productivity, happiness, and a positive impact on the environment from trialed 4-day weeks. So, if your employer doesn’t have any immediate plans to try this futuristic idea, it might be time to strike out on your own. Choose your own schedule!

References:

Worried about working alone?

Finally, have a quick read of an earlier freemeup blog “Taking the sole out of sole trader”. Here we discuss how working for yourself doesn’t mean working alone. 

Disclaimer: All content provided on freemeup.nz is for informational purposes only and is intended as a general information resource regarding the matters covered. It is not tailored to cover specific situations and circumstances and shouldn’t be taken as direct professional advice. Freemeup makes no representations to the accuracy or completeness of the information found on this site or found by following any links on this site and will not be held liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the use of this information. 

More
Articles

Overcoming the fear of change

Posted by on | Featured

Overcoming the fear of change

What stops us from making a change...

I have taken time this month to discuss with Digby Scott of Change Makers about the fear of change. What prevents someone from changing their life? He pointed out that “there’s often a significant gap between ‘idea’ and ‘implementation’”, so the reality of trying something new doesn’t match the idea. Challenges and blockages can prevent the idea from working how we want it to, therefore leading to the assumption that the idea failed. Consequently, we then decide not to try anything new again in case it fails. Digby’s approach is to bridge the gap between the idea and implementation by using deliberate experimentation.

Reference: How to Experiment

A common barrier I have been getting feedback about from potential sole traders is the fear of finding work. I decided to use his approach to create an example experiment that can help bridge the gap between idea and implementation for the potential problem of “what happens if I don’t earn money straight away while I grow my client base?”   

This approach can be used to test other ideas you might have about becoming a sole trader, such as:

  • developing your network and growing your brand;
  • identifying the type of work you want to do and researching if there is a market for it. 

Deliberate Experimentation

- an example

Planning Resources

If you want to work out your financial position, then here are a couple of useful links to get you started.  

Firstly, there are plenty of cashflow templates you can find on the web, but one I have found that is simple and easy to use is the “Simple Personal Budget” excel template provided by Microsoft. You can download and use this free template if you have a Microsoft account.

Secondly, to work out the minimum number of hours you need to work a week as a sole trader to cover your current living costs, try out the handy freemeup calculator. This will calculate the annual salary per year (before tax and deductions) based on the charge-out rate you want to use. You can use this calculator to:

  • help you figure out your charge-out rate; and
  • how many days per week you will need to work to cover your business and personal expenses.

To sum up...

Changes that we implement do not always pan out how we expect them to. But with a little time and planning, an experimental approach can help test the water and take away the fear of change. If you have decided you want to take things a step further and would like to try working as a sole trader, please get in touch with me at hello@freemeup.nz. I would love to chat more to see if freemeup can help you on your journey.

"All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Disclaimer: All content provided on freemeup.nz is for informational purposes only and is intended as a general information resource regarding the matters covered. It is not tailored to cover specific situations and circumstances and shouldn’t be taken as direct professional advice. Freemeup makes no representations to the accuracy or completeness of the information found on this site or found by following any links on this site and will not be held liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the use of this information. 

More
Articles

selective focus photo of brown fedora hat

6 months as a Freelancer

Posted by on | Featured

6 months as a Freelancer

selective focus photo of brown fedora hat

By Iain Rabbitts - Freelance Principal Engineer

After I had been a freelancer for 3 weeks, I wrote about the top three things I have learned. 

  1. Don’t feel guilty that you are not working every hour God sends.
  2. Working with friends is fun.
  3. Don’t be afraid to say you can’t start a job immediately.

After 6 months would I change these three things and how easy has it been?  So, let’s take each one of these and see if it still holds. 

Not feeling guilty about not working

I don’t think I have ever found this a problem (believe it or not).  What I try to focus on is making sure that my clients get value for money when I am working and making sure that I get the time I need to recharge my batteries.  Do I get a day off a week?  Not always, but equally I don’t necessarily work a whole 40 hours in the week.  Sometimes I work longer weeks and sometimes shorter weeks.  In the end am I happy with my lot? – Yes.  

What it has allowed me to do, is to do more around the home for my wife and to start volunteering with the Coastguard.  I volunteer in the Comms Centre in Mechanics Bay in Auckland.  Today (Friday), for example, a call was put out for some support in the Comms Centre. As I didn’t have any appointments or deliverables, I was able to put my hand up without getting permission from anyone or taking leave. Whether it is admirable or not, I get a kick out of it and am having fun that would be more difficult working for someone else. 

Working with friends is fun

I have so many friends!  I guess after working in the water industry in this country for 25 years, you build up a bit of a network.  I am working all around Aotearoa New Zealand, from Invercargill to Kaipara and, in the most I am working with people I have known for anything up to 25 years.  It’s pretty cool. It’s also cool meeting colleagues of the people I have known for a while and making new contacts. A big thank you to all the people I am working with, it is a blast!  

So will I work with new people and new clients.  Of course I will, but given my current workload, I am not in a position to help anybody else for the next 3 months or so.  My friends seem to be keeping me busy at the moment. 

The other aspect in working with friends is making it easy for them to work with you and you with them. Specific projects are easy with a defined scope and outcomes.  But what about all those phone calls and half day little jobs that you get asked to do.  It’s a pain to try to get a PO for each occurrence.  So, don’t.  With people you have worked with for a long time, raise a PO for an agreed amount for non-defined scope and charge against that. Or better yet, a retainer is a great approach for both of you. 

Don't be afraid to say you can’t start immediately

This is really important and is the key to getting your life balance right.  There are only 168 hours in a week, and you can effectively work sustainably long term for about 40 to 50 hours per week.  So don’t commit to more.  In reality, the whole point of going freelance is to increase your amount of leisure/free time, not to work harder.  It’s also okay to say you can’t help (either through capacity or capability).  It’s better still, to say you can’t help, but you know someone or some organisation who might be able to help the client.  So, building up a network of likeminded, varying skill base individuals and companies helps you and helps the client.  

Value Yourself!

The only other thing I would add to the above list is, Value Yourself! When you were working for your previous company, they charged you out at a rate.  Don’t drop it.  If your clients were willing to pay that for the outcomes you delivered before, then they are willing to pay the same for the outcomes you will deliver.  

Have my views changed after 6 months?  Not really. About the only thing that has changed is that I now have a new Panama Hat for the summer as the Fedora was a bit warm. 

Disclaimer: All content provided on freemeup.nz is for informational purposes only and is intended as a general information resource regarding the matters covered. It is not tailored to cover specific situations and circumstances and shouldn’t be taken as direct professional advice. Freemeup makes no representations to the accuracy or completeness of the information found on this site or found by following any links on this site and will not be held liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the use of this information. 

More
Articles

4 factors for successful self-employment

Posted by on | Featured

4 factors for successful self-employment

Why work for yourself?

Working for yourself as a sole trader can be incredibly rewarding. Great job satisfaction, autonomy, perception of value provided, and remuneration to name a few. However, one of the questions you may be pondering is “do I have what it takes?” 

There are hundreds of articles on the internet on this exact theme: 5 things, 10 things, 100 things to think about before working for yourself. 100 things is probably overthinking it so I’ve been doing some reading and have concluded that these four things are as good a place to start as any. 

1. Experience and marketable skill

Clearly, you’ve got to have a skill or knowledge that clients will pay for. You could test that out by asking potential clients what they need and then refining your ideas before you launch. Experience counts but I’m not going to limit anyone by putting a number on it. There will be people who have the confidence and personality to knock it out of the park with less experience than others. If it helps, update your CV thinking about all the direct knowledge of your industry and transferrable strategy, project, and people management skills you have. Get to know yourself and make sure what you’re proposing to offer makes you pumped to go to work too. 

2. Characteristics and personality

No longer having a manager or administrators to keep you on track means you need to be self-motivated. As a sole trader, you will be responsible for making sure you meet deadlines. You will also need to keep upskilling yourself and carry out business administration to keep things running smoothly. On top of that, you need to put yourself out there and market yourself and your brand.  

Resilience to setbacks, optimism, adaptability, and your ability to tolerate ambiguity were all skills linked to being more successful, having more billable work, and providing higher levels of satisfaction in freelancing according to a 2018 study (Eden McCallum and London Business School, 2018). 

3. Financial situation

All the articles I read talk about having a financial cushion. You need to be able to weather any lulls between projects or take time to pivot in what you are offering. If you have a partner maybe this means they can cover the household expenses while you take a leap of faith. Or if you are by yourself maybe you have savings or other financial resources that you can fall back on. Taking some time to look at how much you actually need to live on and maybe changing up your life could also give you some more leeway in starting out on your own.

4. Strong networks

Finally, having a strong existing network is going to be your best resource (aside from yourself) as this will be the source of most of your business. Your network could be former clients, colleagues, or other people you have worked with in the industry. Amy Gailo (Gailo, 2016) and some of our followers recommend making time to set up lunch/coffee meet ups to let other industry professionals know you are out there and find out how you might be able to help. You will need to keep building your networks over time. Don’t forget about your so-called competition, they are a great source of information and present opportunities to collaborate on bigger projects.

You don't become what you want, you become what you believe. If you believe in yourself, you have everything it takes to build your business.

Oprah Winfrey

How about it?

You don’t have to have a plan that is 100% laid out. But putting some time into these questions will serve you well before you dive into the nitty gritty of deciding how to set up your business, the tools you will use, how to schedule your time, and how to get those clients. Good luck! 

References:

Disclaimer: All content provided on freemeup.nz is for informational purposes only and is intended as a general information resource regarding the matters covered. It is not tailored to cover specific situations and circumstances and shouldn’t be taken as direct professional advice. Freemeup makes no representations to the accuracy or completeness of the information found on this site or found by following any links on this site and will not be held liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the use of this information. 

More
Articles

Taking the sole out of sole trader

Posted by on | Featured

Taking the sole out of sole trader

Will you be working alone?

When freemeup started, some feedback was about the worry of working alone as a sole trader. In particular, not working in an office with other colleagues. However, this needn’t be the case. Being a sole trader provides plenty of opportunities for collaboration with others. From working closely with your clients to developing ongoing relationships with other consultants, contractors, and suppliers in the industry. You may even have more time to develop these relationships with less pressure to make 95% of your time billable.

What can you do to maximise your interactions?

  1. Keep in touch with the people you have worked with in the past. Put some time aside each week to comment on their LinkedIn posts, give them a call to say hi, and arrange to catch up for a coffee or lunch regularly.
  2. Develop your profile on LinkedIn and put yourself out there. Write posts and describe what you’re working on or the challenges you have overcome. Find and follow interesting people. Once you have established a connection, request to connect. I have been amazed at how quickly this has increased my network, even though I am just starting this venture. 
  3. Share office space – if you miss hanging out with others in the office, ask if you could do some of your client’s work from their workplace. Alternatively, you may have colleagues or friends who want to reduce their company overheads and would rent out a desk.  
  4. Volunteer – Engineering NZ often requires professionals to help run their local committees. Check out other organisations too, such as Water New Zealand and IChemE. Inspire the next generation to take an interest in STEM. The Wonder Project takes engineering to schools, helping inspire the next generation. 
  5. Professional Development – courses are a good way to keep up with your professional development and meet people with the same interests. Consider courses that contribute to your CPD hours so you can maintain membership with institutes such as Engineering NZ. 
  6. Look for networking opportunities – check your local business roundtable or chamber of commerce for interesting events and networking opportunities. You may not meet water industry professionals, but you will meet people running their own businesses who you could learn from. 
  7. Go to industry conferences and make time to catch up with people you wouldn’t normally be able to see. Double down and write a paper with someone. This is great for your professional development too.
  8. Become a mentor or mentee – these relationships can be very fulfilling and provide support and guidance for the mentee and learning opportunities for the mentor. 

Succeeding in business is all about making connections.

Richard Branson

And finally...

Fill your life outside work with family, friends, and fun social activities and by that stage, you’ll probably want some time to yourself! 

Disclaimer: All content provided on freemeup.nz is for informational purposes only and is intended as a general information resource regarding the matters covered. It is not tailored to cover specific situations and circumstances and shouldn’t be taken as direct professional advice. Freemeup makes no representations to the accuracy or completeness of the information found on this site or found by following any links on this site and will not be held liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the use of this information. 

More
Articles