AI - Gaining Time, But Losing Creativity
The Freelancer's Tea Break
AI can be really useful for freeing up time as a business owner. But one thing it is taking away is our creativity, whether that’s in creating content and copy, or brainstorming. And losing creativity can really take the joy out of things Want help brainstorming how you can use AI without losing the sparkle? My coaching packages include Voxer support to walk you through it: 00:00 Welcome to The Freelancers Tea Break 00:18 The Struggles of Recording with AI 00:53 AI's Impact on Creativity 02:31 The Importance of Critical Thinking 04:23 AI in Business and...
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What I’d Do Differently If I Started Freelancing Today
The Freelancer's Tea Break
Looking back, I’d absolutely still go freelance — but there are some things I wouldn’t do again. Today I talk about what I’d do differently with what I know now. If you’re starting out (or re-starting), check out my 30 Days To Go Freelance Kit – it’s got everything I wish I’d had: 00:00 Welcome to The Freelancers Tea Break 00:29 Reflecting on Freelancing Beginnings 00:46 The Pitfalls of Working for Free 01:50 Setting Boundaries Early 03:05 Avoiding Comparisons with Others 04:50 Financial Advice for New Freelancers 06:05 The Importance...
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What to Do When You’ve Lost Motivation in Your Freelance Business
The Freelancer's Tea Break
Lost your spark? You’re not broken. Freelance motivation dips are normal — especially in summer. Here’s what I do when the fire fizzles out. I talk about this loads inside the Freelance Business Lounge — come join us if you need motivation, accountability or a boost. In this episode of The Freelancers Tea Break podcast, Emma Cossey, a UK-based freelance coach and ADHD mentor, explores strategies for overcoming motivation challenges in freelance work, particularly for those with ADHD. 00:00 Welcome to The Freelancers Tea Break 00:27 Understanding ADHD and Motivation ...
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The Easiest Way to Raise Your Rates Without Losing Clients
The Freelancer's Tea Break
Worried you’ll scare off clients if you raise your rates? You’re not alone — but there’s a simple shift that makes it way less scary. If this made you think ‘I should really do this’ — I’ve got templates in my Tricky Client Conversations Toolkit: 00:00 Introduction to Freelancers Tea Break 00:03 Why You Should Raise Your Rates 01:09 When to Raise Your Rates 02:06 How to Communicate Rate Increases 02:55 Handling Client Objections 03:54 Testing and Implementing New Rates 04:11 Resources for Difficult Client Conversations 05:04...
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5 Ways to Find Clients in August (Even When Everyone’s on Holiday)
The Freelancer's Tea Break
August can feel like tumbleweed season for freelancers… but there are clients out there. Here are 5 quick ways to find them without spamming LinkedIn. Need help getting visible? Check out my Finding Clients bundle: 00:00 Introduction to the Freelancers Tea Book 00:27 Challenges of Finding Clients in August 01:10 Reconnecting with Past Clients 02:00 Leveraging Online Communities 02:43 Promoting Offers and Bundles 03:30 Reflecting on Past Successes 04:02 Planting Seeds for Future Work 04:42 Comprehensive Client-Finding Strategies 05:58...
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Pivoting as a Freelancer in 2025
The Freelancer's Tea Break
Navigating Freelancing in Uncertain Times: Connection, AI, and Adaptation In this episode of Freelancer's Teabreak podcast, Emma Cossey, a coach for freelancers, discusses the current complex landscape for freelancers and small business owners in the UK. She touches on the impact of AI, the shift from educational to storytelling content, and the importance of connection and networking. Emma also highlights the challenges and opportunities in offering services versus courses, and emphasises the need for freelancers to adapt by possibly raising prices and refining their offerings. She...
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Preparing for the Summer Holidays
The Freelancer's Tea Break
In this episode of Freelancers Teabreak, discover practical tips for preparing your freelance business for the summer holidays. Learn how to batch content, boost sales in July, manage childcare costs, and communicate effectively with clients to enjoy a more relaxed and flexible August. Perfect for freelancers looking to balance work and downtime while still staying productive. Tune in and get ready to make the most of your summer! Follow me on Follow me on Email: Come join us in the free Want more support? Check out the courses and membership. Join the Freelance Lifestyle...
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Understanding Amber Flags: Navigate Freelancing with Confidence
The Freelancer's Tea Break
Welcome to The Freelancers Teabreak with Emma Cossey! In this episode, Emma explores the concept of 'amber flags' for freelancers. Distinct from red and green flags, amber flags signal uncertain potential in clients that could swing either way depending on the freelancer's response. Emma shares practical examples of amber flags such as clients seeking discounts, having unclear project scopes, or expressing urgency. Learn how to navigate these scenarios to turn potential red flags into green. 00:00 Introduction 00:34 Understanding Client Red Flags 01:12...
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You Don't Have To Scale! With Maggie Patterson
The Freelancer's Tea Break
Navigating Solo Entrepreneurship with Maggie Patterson In this episode of The Freelance Teabreak, host Emma Cossey is joined by Maggie Patterson to discuss the challenges and benefits of running a solo business. Maggie, the founder of BS Free Business and author of 'Staying Solo', shares her extensive experience from over 20 years in freelancing. The conversation delves into the pressures freelancers face to scale their business, the importance of building a sustainable and profitable solo business, and practical tips on increasing income and avoiding burnout. They also address societal...
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Three tools to make SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for freelancers
The Freelancer's Tea Break
In this episode of The Freelancers Tea Break, we delve into the importance of having standard operating procedures (SOPs) in your freelance business. We discuss what SOPs are, why you need them, and introduce three powerful tools – Notion, Loom, and Scribe – to help you create, store, and share your SOPs efficiently. Tune in to learn how to streamline your processes, ensure consistency, and make onboarding easier. Join our Facebook or Discord group for more discussions! 00:00 Introduction to The Freelancers Tea Break 00:10 Understanding Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) 00:30 Benefits...
info_outlineSometimes, I come away from recording a podcast episode with a long list of things to do. This was one of those episodes! Molly Scanlan joined me this week to chat about sustainability, our online carbon use and small tweaks we can do to improve our business online in a sustainable way.
Molly Scanlan
Molly builds low carbon, privacy-friendly websites for social enterprises and non-evil small businesses. If your current website no longer fits you, or is a shonky DIY job you're embarrassed to show people, she can sort it out. She used to be a teacher, so everything can be explained as if you're a 6 year old.
Website: https://www.mollygetsitdone.com/signup/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scanlanmolly/
Mentioned Websites
Fathom (Affliate Link): https://usefathom.com/ref/AQXGUO
Website Carbon: https://www.websitecarbon.com/
Digital Beacon: https://digitalbeacon.co/
Below Radar: https://belowradar.co.uk/
Surveillance Capitalism: https://shoshanazuboff.com/book/
Follow me on Instagram
Email: [email protected]
Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group
Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership.