Weekly discussion by freelancers and professionals about running a business, finding clients, marketing, and lifestyle related to being a freelancer.
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Episode 342: TFS 330: Job Interviews for Freelancers
Sponsors: Sentry use the code “devchat” for 2 months free on Sentry small plan .TECH - Go.tech/Freelancer and use the coupon code “FREELANCER.TECH” and get a 1 year .TECH Domain at $9.99 and 5 Year Domain at $49.99. Hurry! Try GanttPRO FREE for 14 days| Software Development project template Use coupon code “devchat” to get $50 for using GanttPRO CacheFly Panel: Jeremy Green Erik Dietrich Episode Summary: In this episode of the Freelancers' Show, the panel talks about how to handle “stump the chump” interviews. These are type of interviews where tech companies ask developers whiteboard questions or algorithm questions. The panel advises that this type of interview is a red flag about the company and how they view freelancers and share tips on what to do and say in such an interview. They then share tips on how to create a better reputation as a freelance developer so that the quality of interviews get better. Links: https://devchat.tv/ Picks: Jeremy Green: Authority by Nathan Barry Erik Dietrich: Hit Subscribe
Episode 341: TFS 329: Career Development
Sponsors Sentry use the code “devchat” for 2 months free on Sentry small plan .TECH – Go.tech/Elixir and use the coupon code “ELIXIR.TECH” and get a 1 year .TECH Domain at $9.99 and 5 Year Domain at $49.99. Hurry! Try GanttPRO FREE for 14 days | Software Development project template Use coupon code “devchat” to get $50 for using GanttPRO CacheFly Panel Erik Dietrich Reuven Lerner Jeremy Green Summary The panel starts by discussing why career development as a freelancer is important and what skills to work on for career development. They share mistakes and use examples from their own businesses. The panel gives career tips for those just starting out as well as freelancers who are advanced. Networking and masterminds are considered; the panel advises developers on how to choose a mastermind to join. The episode ends with a discussion on improving technical skills. Picks Reuven Lerner: http://store.lerner.co.il/numpy https://www.pipedrive.com Erik Dietrich: http://HitSubscribe.com/ Jeremy Green: http://PersonalMBA.com/
Episode 340: TFS 328: Things Not To Do (even if others are doing them)
Sponsors Sentry use the code “devchat” for 2 months free on Sentry small plan .TECH – Go.tech/Elixir and use the coupon code “ELIXIR.TECH” and get a 1 year .TECH Domain at $9.99 and 5 Year Domain at $49.99. Hurry! CacheFly Panel Erik Dietrich Reuven Lerner Summary The panel discusses various “things not to do” that they have seen others do. First, they advise not sticking with a single client in a pseudo employment situation. The panel also warns against biting off more than you can chew. Erik brings up not relying on global freelancing platforms like upwork.com, while Rueven cautions against saying yes to all business. The panel considers overworking and hourly rates. They also debate when to get a virtual assistant and communication tools. The panel ends with consideration on what technologies to use and warns against chasing new and shiny technologies. The episode ends with an invitation to the listeners to share their own “things not to do”. Links www.upwork.com Picks Erik Dietrich https://gramblr.com/uploader/#home https://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/view-clipboard-history-on-windows-10/ https://think-boundless.com/the-failed-promise-of-freelance-consulting-talent-platforms/ Reuven Lerner http://LinuxJournal.com/ https://us.pycon.org/2019/
Episode 339: TFS 327: Making Sure You're Paid
Sponsors: Sentry– use the code “devchat” for $100 credit .TECH – Go.tech/Freelancer and use the coupon code “FREELANCER.TECH” and get a 1 year .TECH Domain at $9.99 and 5 Year Domain at $49.99. Hurry! CacheFly Panel: Jeremy Green Erik Dietrich Reuven Lerner Special Guest: Steve Pomerantz Episode Summary: In this episode of the Freelancers' Show, the panel talks to Steve Pomerantz, Founder and CEO at Freelance Collection. Steve has worked on projects as a freelancer where he has not been paid and he noticed that there aren't that many resources to help guide freelancers that are in this position. He founded Freelance Collection to help others who are unable to collect payment from their clients. Steve gives guidelines on how to handle such situations and when to hire a professional vs. when to walk away. Steve also reminds that a lot of freelancers have had projects where they have not been paid and the golden rule is to be proactive and take the necessary actions within the first month following the project, as the longer the process drags out the less the probability to collect the total money owed. The panel shares some of their personal experiences where they have had difficulty with clients. Steve then lists some of the red flags that freelancers should watch out for in clients before they start projects. Links: Steve's LinkedIN Freelance Collection Twitter Freelance Collection 20 Types of Nonpaying Clients and Strategies for Getting Paid Picks: Jeremy Green: How to Fight a Hydra Lawgood.io Jeremy Green: Apply to be an Author Dev Community Reuven Lerner: Mission to Zyxx Steve Pomerantz: And Co HelloBonsai.com 20 Types of Nonpaying Clients and Strategies for Getting Paid TMZ Video
Episode 338: TFS 326: Creating Leverage with Systems
Sponsors: Sentry– use the code “devchat” for $100 credit .TECH - Go.tech/Freelancer and use the coupon code “FREELANCER.TECH” and get a 1 year .TECH Domain at $9.99 and 5 Year Domain at $49.99. Hurry! CacheFly Panelists: Erik Dietrich Jonathan Stark Episode Summary: In this episode of the Freelancers' Show, the panel talks about how to put systems in place to thrive as a freelancer. Especially for recurring tasks, creating a procedure enables quality, consistency and sustainability. The panel advises taking the decision making part out of the process as much as possible so there is as little stress as possible when executing that particular task each time. Having set procedures in place also helps handing these tasks off to other employees easier and cuts down on the learning curve. The panel then discusses how to turn these procedures into intellectual property so that it adds value to the business. Listen to the show to find out the what steps to take to begin putting systems in place in your freelance business! Picks: Erik Dietrich: Contain Yourself! Dev's Guide to CaaS Getting Things Done by David Allen The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber Jonathan Stark: Work The System by Sam Carpenter 10-Day Systems Challenge by Jonathan Stark
Episode 337: TFS 325: Getting Overpricing Nervousness
Sponsors: Sentry– use the code “devchat” for 2 months free on Sentry small plan CacheFly Panelists: Jeremy Green Jonathan Stark Erik Dietrich Reuven Lerner Episode Summary: In this episode of the Freelancers' Show, the panel talks about being nervous about pricing the services offered when freelancing. They mention that most of the time, freelancers tend to price their services on the low side due to lack of self confidence. The panel also shares possible scenarios of client feedback and the best responses that justify the price. They discuss setting hourly rates versus results oriented pricing and share tips on how to communicate with the client during the proposal stage to figure out how much the service offered is worth to them. They then advise using this information to help set the price. Listen to the show to find out how to price freelance services with a business mindset. Picks: Jonathan: Learn Your Lines The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker Erik: Apply to be an author AirBNB Experiences Jeremy: Increase Your Consulting Fees Reuven: Asciidoc
Episode 336: TFS 324: Client Schedules and Communication
Sponsors: Sentry use the code “devchat” for 2 months free on Sentry small plan CacheFly Panelists: Jeremy Green Reuven Lerner Episode Summary: In this episode of the Freelancers' Show, the panel shares client communication best practices when freelancing. They give tips on how to word binding proposals to help clarify expectations on both sides and how to make and track project schedules. Listen to the show to find out what to do when new road blocks appear in the project that were not foreseen in the proposal stage. The panel then shares their personal experiences of client communication problems and how they dealt with them. Picks: Jeremy Green: How to Fight a Hydra Reuven Lerner: Thunderbird and its e-mail filters
Episode 335: TFS 323: Getting started in your 40s
Sponsors: Sentry use the code “devchat” for 2 months free on Sentry small plan CacheFly Panel: Jeremy Green Erik Dietrich Reuven Lerner Jonathan Stark Episode Summary: In this episode of the Freelancers' Show, the panel talks about starting freelancing later in life. They share their own freelancing/consulting journeys as well as tips for a smooth transition. They give tips on what signs to look for to round out the services offered such as giving talks at conferences or doing case studies with clients. Listen to the show to find out more about how to correctly price freelancing/consulting services, the difference between price and rate and when/how to negotiate. Links: https://devchat.tv/ Picks: Erik Dietrich: The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michalowicz Hit Subscribe Jeremy Green: Don't Call Yourself A Programmer, And Other Career Advice https://www.remarq.io/ Kai Davis: 80/20 Sales and Marketing by Perry Marshall https://www.remarq.io/ Reuven Lerner: Bag Man https://slate.com/slow-burn https://trainbetter.transistor.fm/ The foreigner's guide to WeChat payments in China by Reuven Lerner
Episode 334: FS 322: Raising Prices Without Raising Eyebrows
Sponsors Sentry use the code “devchat” for 2 months free on Sentry small plan CacheFly Panel: Jeremy Green Erik Dietrich Reuven Lerner Kai Davis Episode Summary: In this episode of the Freelancers' Show, the panel talks about how/when to raise prices when freelancing. The panel advises reviewing services offered quarterly and adjusting prices accordingly. They give tips on what signs to look for to round out the services offered such as giving talks at conferences or doing case studies with clients. Listen to the show to find out more about how to correctly price freelancing/consulting services and when to negotiate. Picks: Erik Dietrich: https://www.amazon.com/Pumpkin-Plan-Strategy-Remarkable-Business Hit Subscribe Jeremy Green: https://www.kalzumeus.com/2011/10/28/dont-call-yourself-a-programmer/ https://www.remarq.io/ Kai Davis: https://www.amazon.com/80-20-Sales-Marketing-Definitive-ebook/dp/B00CGNRVHE/ https://www.remarq.io/ Reuven Lerner: https://www.msnbc.com/bagman https://slate.com/slow-burn https://trainbetter.transistor.fm/ http://blog.lerner.co.il/the-foreigners-guide-to-wechat-payments-in-china/
Episode 333: TFS 321: Planning for 2019
Sponsors Sentry use the code “devchat” for 2 months free on Sentry small plan CacheFly Panelists: Erik Dietrich Jeremy Green Reuven Lerner Kai Davis Episode Summary: In this episode of the Freelancers' Show, the panel talks about their plans for 2019. They describe their processes for planning for the new year and reviewing the past year. They reveal what projects they want to do more of in 2019 and what projects they want to transition out of. The panel advises that in freelance work, declining projects that are not a good fit frees up time for projects that are a good fit.They also recommend quantifying measurements in goals set for the new year. Picks: Erik Dietrich: HubSpot Sales Chrome Plugin la Barbecue Jeremy Green: Increase Your Consulting Fees Company Of One Kai Davis: Kick procrastination's ass: Run a dash TextExpander Reuven Lerner Nine Pints
Episode 332: FS 320: Timeless Sales Strategies
Sponsors Sentry use the code “devchat” for 2 months free on Sentry small plan CacheFly Panelists: Erik Dietrich Jeremy Green Reuven Lerner Kai Davis Special Guest: Liston Witherill Episode Summary: In this episode of the Freelancers' Show, the panel talks to Liston Witherill, sales consultant and founder of Liston Witherill Consulting. Liston specializes in working with AMs, CSMs, and consultants to provide opportunities for client improvement. Liston shares tips on how to approach a sales process and a lists a set of questions that need to be answered about the service offered and its value proposition to the target audience in order for it to be successful. Links: Liston's Website Liston's LinkedIn Liston's Twitter https://devchat.tv Picks: Erik Dietrich: Garmin vívoactive 3 Music | Smartwatch with GPS Apply to Be an Author - Hit Subscribe Jeremy Green: Taking Time Off Kai Davis: 30-Day Meditation Challenge • Kai Davis Reuven Lerner: Announcing a new course: Intro Python - Reuven Lerner Weekly Python Exercise — Reuven Lerner Liston Witherill: Notion SalesIn30 - The Complete Course Liston's Podcasts Consulting Sales Bootcamp fenix 3 | Garmin | Fitness GPS Watch
Episode 331: FS 319: Building Your Better Freelance Business in 2019
Sponsors Sentry use the code “devchat” for 2 months free on Sentry small plan CacheFly Panelists: Erik Dietrich Jeremy Green Kai Davis Episode Summary: In this episode of the Freelancers' Show, the panel talks about good practices and habits to build in freelance business in the year 2019. The panel gives examples of what they focused on while building their own freelance business and share how they approached areas such as self-care, financial planning and client acquisition goals in their business. They discuss what strategies to follow during “feasting” cycle and “famine” cycle of business and share tips on how to save for retirement during each cycle. Listen to the show to find out more on which tools to use for bookkeeping and how to communicate with former clients for repeat business and much more! Links: Company of One by Paul Jarvis Free CRM for Small Businesses - HubSpot The Positioning Manual for Technical Firms by Philip Morgan https://devchat.tv Picks: Erik Dietrich: Free CRM for Small Businesses - HubSpot It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson Jeremy Green: Bench Splice The Positioning Manual for Technical Firms by Philip Morgan Company of One by Paul Jarvis Kai Davis: Calm - Meditation Techniques for Sleep and Stress Reduction
Episode 330: FS 318: Dealing with Contracts
Panel: Reuven Lerner Jeremy Green Erik Dietrich In this episode of the Freelancer’s Show Reuven, Erik, and Jeremy discuss “Dealing with Contracts.” The Freelancers cover a number of important topics that involve contracts, trust agreements, as well as how to read a Master Services Agreement (MSA). This is a great episode to learn more about ways to take control of your contract documents and MASs. In particular, we dive pretty deep on: 0:50 - Reuven opens the show talking about contracts. Reuven said he did not have contracts when he first started his business. But over time he has gotten screwed over. Reuven prefaced that they are not lawyers, so take this as advice only. 3:00 - Reuven talks about things to understand are, who owns the rights, payment, insurance, and statement of work, etc. Reuven going into Master Services Agreements. Reuven asks if his peer use contracts. Erik says he uses master services agreements, and rarely contracts. Erik tries to work based on trust, and there is no motivator for contracts. 5:20 - Jeremy talks about being similar to Erik and rarely using contracts, but only master services agreements and trust. Jeremy says he does sometimes like to get paid up front. Reuven says when he does project work, he then uses a contract. Reuven says when he is doing training he does not use a contract. Reuven says sometime PO or purchase orders do serve as a type of contract. Reuven goes into to project fees and hiring lawyers. 9:30 - Jeremy talks about project fee and specifications of the scope of work and how that may or may not need a contract. Erik says it is important for him to avoid proposals but good for him to agree upon what can be delivered. Again, Erik is fond of the trust agreement. Reuven says for courses he does not need to implement contracts. 13:00 - Jeremy continues with how he implements a flat payment fee, but only when he can agree upon the scope of work. Reuven says he has only once done the pay in advance method once, and it worked great for him. Jeremy says it may be good to work with people and companies who had experience with this. 15:00 - Reuven ask if a client comes to you with their MSA or Statement of Work, how much do you want or can change it? Erik talks about his experience with marking up MSA and statements. Jeremy talks about his experience with marking up an MSA that was an employment document. 18:00 - Erik talks about using a lawyer to look at the agreement to see if that agreement might be hard not to violate. Reuven talks about his experience marking up an agreement and how all of the markups were no approved. Reuven continues with how he was able to get the company to agree to alter their agreement document. Reuven talks about having to acquire insurance to get work. 24:00 - Jeremy and Erik speak on payment terms. Reuven talks about insurance that was not available to him in Israel. Reuven speaks about need Commercial Liability insurance in order to engage in work for certain clients. 28:00 - Reuven talks about how Jonathan Stark is able to get companies to change their terms to pay everything upfront. This discussion goes into payment terms and net 30 or net 60 payment plans. Erik continues negotiating payment. 31:00 - Erick brings up the scenario of hiring a lawyer if you are new to freelancing. Reuven talks about how some can get an agreement document written up for them. The freelancers agree that you only do this if you really need to hire a lawyer for an airtight document. 35:00 - Reuven talks about adding a clause to open source software. Reuven says the client owns the IP but the changes are subject to other owners as they contribute. 36:00 - Reuven talks about a taxes in Israel and how being self-employed works in Israel. Erik asks about how the lawyer help is this situation. Jeremy mentions to pay attention to your very own customs and jurisdictions, in your place of business. 40:00 - Reuven talks about having to change the legal business title in Israel. Reuven talks about how the law is interpreted according to their jurisdiction. Sponsors/affiliates Get a Coder Job Freshbooks Picks: Reuven Bad Blood Jeremy Obi Fernandez's MSA Bundle Erik A Better Ad Blocker
Episode 329: FS 317: Working on Your Business
Panel: Reuven Lerner Jeremy Green In this episode of the Freelancer’s Show Reuven and Jeremy discuss “Working on Your Business.” The discussion covers several topics on how you as a freelancer can carve out time to work on your business. Both Reuven and Jeremy mention how you can learn to start building and maintenance your business for events like retirement and longevity. This is a great episode on learning how to continually stop and take control of tasks your business needs to grow. In particular, we dive pretty deep on: 0:50 - Reuven opens the show by describing what skill are need to be a freelancer and finding the time to work on your business. Jeremy chimes in on trying to find time to work the business by putting time away for business maintenance work. 3:10 - Reuven talks about when he tries to find and fit time into working on his business, like on the train. Jeremy talks about how tasks are sometimes overlooked and take the back seat. But getting a team to help might be the answer to working on your business. 5:00 - Reuven talks about possibly blocking out time during the week or month to work on the business. Or working at night, or before bedtime. Reuven talks about removing the junk and squeezing in the tasks and working on the business. Jeremy talks about juggling client work and building in a business, and how one might want to raise rates to compensate the time. 9:00 - Reuven talks about setting a goal for your income, and raises the question about pension. Revenue task about being satisfied with your income. Reuven talks about a conference with Rob Walling and how Rob talked about buying back your time. 13:30 - Reuven and Jeremy discuss thing you should do after carving out time for working on the business. Jeremy talks about reaching out and expanding for other kinds of great opportunities. 18:00 - Reuven talks about how he likes to expand the business into American companies to grow. Reuven continues with creating products or courses to work on the business. Jeremy mentions how he continually works on the engine of the business, so he does not dread the last two months of the year for paying taxes. 22:00 - Reuven and Jeremy talk about important paperwork they need to get in order to prepare for taxes and documentation. Reuven says another avenue to working on the business is going to conferences or consuming video or blog content to sharpen your business skills. 27:00 - Jeremy mentions creating and doing content marketing in various forms such as blogs, articles, guest writing is another way to market your product and services. Reuven talks about taking care of your website as a way to develop your business. 29:00 - Jeremy mentions writing proposals and taking on project work as another way to develop your business. Jeremy says even though the tasks is time-consuming it is a great way to gain more work. Reuven mentions listening to podcasts as a way to learn more to develop your business. Sponsors/affiliates Get a Coder Job Freshbooks Picks: Reuven New York Times Puzzle Pages Jeremy None
Episode 328: FS 316: How to Target Management or the C-Suite as a Freelancer
Panel: Erik Dietrich In this episode of the Freelancer’s Show Erik, discuss “How to Target Management or the C-Suite as a Freelancer.” The discussion covers how to develop an offer or pitch, and understanding the pain points for leadership roles, and offering value to help them in their business and getting hired. Erik provides several great tactics to warm-up the C-Suite to get a job. In particular, we dive pretty deep on: 1:02 - Erik talks about targeting the manager or C-suite for freelancing. Erik talks about speaking to your peers but not the C-suite, or selling your peers in salary positions. 3:00 - Erik talks about falling into his practice of selling your skill to peers. Erik reminds us that your buyers are not your peers, but the people who have the money to buy app development. Management or the C Suite. 5:00 - Erik breaks down the buying system for tech or application development. Eric continues with vetting. Erik talks about the role of Line Management and their power to spend money on services. 9:33 - Erik talks about the Director role and their power to hire and sign off on hiring. This is important to target that right person to get hire for a job or contract. Erik shares on how to approach each of the composite buyers, VP, CIO and or Line Manager. 12:00 - Erik talks about approaching the VP for a job, but offering a compelling reason to be hired. What does that look like? Erik talks about getting in front of these people with hiring roles. 14:00 - Erik talks about constructing your pitch. But using a persona to help develop your pitch for a job. Erik share the importance of a niche and cross referencing with those who are in the hiring position. 17:55 - Erik says to understand these people with the hiring role. Next is to understand their pain points in their line of business. Erik continues with explaining new role taken by C Suite. How do you approach people in these new roles? 21:55 - Erik mentions how to approach the leadership personnel with tactics to help or lift them in their positions to get hired. Erik call this developing an offering to the leadership. Getting in to their head, and understanding their pain points. 24:00 - Erik say another important point to understand about leadership’s point of view is understanding what doesn’t matter to them. Find out what interest them, and gets them promoted. Erik gives suggestions on how you should view and help their point of view in their role as a leader. This helps you get hired. 28:00 - Erik shares how to target the C Suite in some social setting and find out what interests them in their field of business. Erik shares about refining your elevator pitch and getting an appointment. 30:00 - Erik shares tactics assuming that you appeal to the leaders and gain their interest. Erik talks about letting them know you want to pick their brain. 33:00 - Erik talks about developing your outreach and creating emails focused on them. Make the email about them and understanding their pain points. 35:00 - Erik shares about warming up that leaders seeing who you know in the business. Also asking for referrals and reaching out to other for a second degree introduction. 39:00 - Erik talks about humanizing the leaders and understand their roles and helping their pain points. The way to target them is not to waste their time. Sponsors/affiliates Get a Coder Job Freshbooks Picks: Erik The E-Myth Revisited Developer Hegemony