F. R. I. E. N. D. S.
Do you really need them? Yes.
Hello, Ben here.
Listen to our latest episode here :)
When you start something new, the focus tends to be on the long term outcome, the big picture stuff of what things could look if all goes to plan.
In my own experience, you start by setting big meaty goals and then plan your route to achieving them. Then you daydream and imagine what it’ll feel like when you do.
One day I’ll find out ;)
If you’ve chosen to do something you enjoy, and you’ve left or are leaving traditional employment, then hopefully you find your work satisfying and rewarding. But it is still work. And everything that goes along with running your own business, accounts, tax, getting clients, chasing money - all the ‘stuff’ you have to take care of - can easily suck the joy out of doing the thing you love to do.
It took me quite a long time of self-employment to recognise that what fills my cup is friendship and positivity. I played team sports my whole childhood, but then started a small business where I worked on my own for years. I didn’t realise it at the time, but I felt a bit lonely.
I tried to get some of that friendship and positivity from in-person networking. The traditional, BNi-style, breakfast clubs. I did get some of the friendship, but not a lot of the positivity. And I found them hard work. There’s a game involved in them that I just didn’t want to play. So I retreated a bit more into myself and my own business.
But then I found it. Friendship and positivity. Initially it was online before and during the pandemic. It was in movements like the Freelancer Magazine Kickstarter campaign and eventual launch. And then it was in-person again at conferences and get togethers.
You’ll know when you find this friendship and positivity because you suddenly won’t feel quite so alone when running your own thing. You feel supported. And you find you get these little unexpected experiences which remind you that the real joy of doing your own thing is being free to work with people you actually like and want to partner with.
This isn’t a recent pic, but it sums up what I’m trying to say and I reckon it’d make a good album cover. Right to left it’s Mel (vocals), and friends of the show Molly Scanlan (drums), Alex Thompson (guitar and vocals), and Dave Harland (Bez-style dancer and vocals) after a late night Karaoke session in London following The Marketing Meet-up Conference earlier this year. It was a work trip. Honest.
Have a great week :)
Ben & Mel
Find our producer, theme composer and potential new starter of something Ant Henderson on LinkedIn and you can watch older episodes of the show on YouTube here.
PS: indie business club is now on Instantgram (I know, I know). Connect with us on there @indiebusinessclubpod
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The back catalogue
27 Music Sounds Better WithYou: audio branding
26 You Get What You Give: outsourcing
25 Frankly Mr Shankly: testimonials
24 Let’s Go Surfing: LIVE Q&A episode
23 Separated by motorways: working with friends
22 Bloc Party: celebrating wins
21 Got Your Money: pricing part 2
20 Joy Division: work/life balance
19 Daytripper: conferences part deux
18 The Day We Caught The Train: conferences ft Nick Crawford and Lorna Smart
17 Hanging On The Telephone: ghosting ft Will Slater and Heather Pownall
16 Heart Shaped Box: niching ft Ayo Abbas and Raymond Manzor
15 The Masterplan: goal setting ft Janine Coombes and friends
b-side Word of the year
b-side LinkedIn revisited
14 Handbags and Gladrags: industry awards ft Charles Commins and Fab Giovannetti
13 You’re The Voice: tone Of Voice ft Nick Parker, Rishi Dastidar and Amy Nolan
12 Plug In Baby: software ft Jo Shock and Jack Chambers-Ward
11 Somebody Told Me: referrals ft Bob Burg and Penni and Jo Pickering
10 Paranoid Android: AI vs creativity ft Tom Albrighton and Molly Scanlan
09 Shiny Happy People: personal brands ft Lea Turner and Steve Folland
08 Chasing Rainbows: business planning ft. Alastair Thomson and Melanie Johnson
07 A Design For Life: creating for yourself with guest co-host Dan Nelken ft. Penny Brazier and The McKinneys
06 I Bet You Look Good On The Timeline: social media ft. Dave Harland and Jonathan Wilcock
05 Flaming Lips: public speaking ft. Pascalle Bergmans, Becki Wilson and Nikki Pilkington
04 A Little Respect: client relationships ft. Jodie Newman and Sophie Cross
03 All Together Now: communities ft. Mark Masters and Ant Henderson
02 It’s Oh So Quiet: finding clients ft. John Lyons and Bonnie Harrington
01 Fools Gold: pricing your projects ft. Tom Garfield and Ange Lyons
00 What’s The Story? Podcast origins