Longtime web developer, tech executive, startup co-founder, inspirational speaker, and coach Jaimee Newberry joins David and Jason to discuss her own journey, when to go out on your own, when to walk way from projects, and how to deal with unexpected success. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Timing : The automatic time tracking app for macOS. Use this link to save 10% on your purchase. Freshbooks : Online invoicing made easy. Guest Starring: Jaimee Newberry Links and Show Notes: Support ...
May 01, 2018•49 min•Ep. 46
David's home workspace gets invaded by teenagers, Jason reprises his old commute and learns to appreciate the ability to work from anyplace, and a listener reminds us of a classic technique: making promises that your future self has to keep. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Timing : The automatic time tracking app for macOS. Use this link to save 10% on your purchase. Freshbooks : Online invoicing made easy. Links and Show Notes: Support Focused with a Relay FM Membership iPad Air 2 Revi...
Apr 17, 2018•42 min•Ep. 45
You might not realize it, but creative professionals in the entertainment industry are also free agents. In this episode we talk to writer/actor/director David Wain of "Wet Hot American Summer" and "The State" about his life as a free agent, from hitting MTV right out of college to the lean times that followed. Turns out that juggling a busy schedule, learning to say no, and not being able to plan vacations far in advance are all features of his line of work. This episode of Focused is sponsored...
Apr 03, 2018•55 min•Ep. 44
David attended a conference and was asked for advice (or was it permission?) from many potential free agents. When he got home, his professional life was in disarray. What are the lessons to take from that? Jason ponders putting more effort into video. David continues down the path of hyperscheduling. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FREEAGENTS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Freshbooks : Online invoicing made easy. Link...
Mar 20, 2018•49 min•Ep. 43
David and Jason go through the Free Agents Mailbag with observations about the legend of the man who outsourced his own job, taking a hobby to the next level, and the menace of Imposter Syndrome. Then we welcome our guest, Shawn Blanc, creator of The Sweet Setup and shawnblanc.net, to discuss building an independent business with collaborators, solid project planning, and sensible work hours. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FREEAGENTS ...
Mar 06, 2018•58 min•Ep. 42
David has a big birthday and joins Jason in discovering the value of embracing a lull; David's wife gets a new job, leading to changes in working at home; and Team Sparky expands as David gets some help with his business. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FREEAGENTS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Freshbooks : Online invoicing made easy. Links and Show Notes: Support Focused with a Relay FM Membership...
Feb 21, 2018•47 min•Ep. 41
Psychiatrist, writer and musician Kourosh Dini joins us to discuss his long journey to being an independent worker, mixing his various jobs, dealing with the stress of being on your own, and much more. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FREEAGENTS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Freshbooks : Online invoicing made easy. Guest Starring: Kourosh Dini Links and Show Notes: Support Focused with a Relay FM Membership Kourosh Din...
Feb 06, 2018•53 min•Ep. 40
David tries to not work too hard on his European vacation, while Jason tries to do the same in his own house; David's experiments with hyper-scheduling and the Twelve Week Year; Jason performs some drastic office remodeling. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FREEAGENTS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Freshbooks : Online invoicing made easy. Links and Show Notes: Support Focused with a Relay FM Membership Upgrade #170: The...
Jan 23, 2018•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 39
David and Jason talk to artist and writer Thom Zahler, an independent creator for 15 years in indie comics (Love and Capes, Warning Label), licensed comics (My Little Pony), and animated television (Spider Man: Web Warriors, Knights of the Zodiac), about his journey from art school student to freelancer to full-on free agent, and how his business has grown and changed over the years. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FREEAGENTS at checko...
Jan 09, 2018•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 38
We wrap up the year with a discussion of navigating holidays and vacations, David's thoughts about getting projects to completion in the new year, Jason's update to his Not-To-Do List, setting the bar high for taking on new clients, end-of-year appreciation gifts for clients, and holiday seasonality. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Freshbooks : Online invoicing made easy. Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FREEAGENTS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Links...
Dec 26, 2017•54 min•Ep. 37
John Voorhees of MacStories is a brand-new free agent, a lawyer who left his job in Chicago to set out on his own as a writer and app developer. He tells us how he decided to leave the legal profession and go full time as an independent worker. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Freshbooks : Online invoicing made easy. Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FREEAGENTS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Guest Starring: John Voorhees Links and Show Notes: Support Fo...
Dec 12, 2017•40 min•Ep. 36
David and Jason discuss the importance of prep time, resetting your balance, gauging the value of your work, time tracking, managing ongoing commitments, getting sick and keeping clients happy, and the value of uncluttered office space. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Freshbooks : Online invoicing made easy. Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FREEAGENTS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Links and Show Notes: Support Focused with a Relay FM Membership Photo...
Nov 28, 2017•59 min•Ep. 35
App developer, podcaster, analyst, and secret entrepreneur Marco Arment joins us to discuss his journey from college to Tumblr, building Instapaper, getting quit-fired, setting out on his own, and working in bursts of productivity. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Freshbooks : Online invoicing made easy. Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FREEAGENTS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Guest Starring: Marco Arment Links and Show Notes: This episode was audio-s...
Nov 14, 2017•51 min•Ep. 34
On Halloween, David and Jason revamp the podcast with a new format. David struggles with how he's spending his time. Jason tries to figure out when to say no and gets a better perspective about how well his business is doing, prompted by a job inquiry from a former co-worker. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Freshbooks : Online invoicing made easy. Podcast Listener Survey : We rely on advertising as a way to support this show. If you could do us a favor and answer a few short questions, ...
Oct 31, 2017•54 min•Ep. 33
Unicorn Sidekick Kathy Campbell joins us to discuss how she ended up becoming a Free Agent while behind a desk at her "real job," when having her new career discovered her. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Freshbooks : Online invoicing made easy. Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FREEAGENTS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Guest Starring: Kathy Campbell Links and Show Notes: Support Focused with a Relay FM Membership The Unicorn Sidekick...
Oct 17, 2017•47 min•Ep. 32
Relay FM Host and App Launch Map founder Aleen Simms joins us to talk about her accidental fall into freelance work and setting high standards for her clients. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FREEAGENTS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Podcast Listener Survey : We rely on advertising as a way to support this show. If you could do us a favor and answer a few short questions, it would be really helpful to us. Guest Starrin...
Oct 03, 2017•38 min•Ep. 31
So you're working in a house full of kids. Or a partner who is there all the time. It can make working from home difficult to say the least. We discuss the good and bad of working around kids (and others) who are in your house with you. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Freshbooks : Online invoicing made easy. Timing : The automatic time tracking app for macOS. Use this link to get 10% off your purchase of Timing. Links and Show Notes: Support Focused with a Relay FM Membership...
Sep 19, 2017•47 min•Ep. 30
So you're thinking about going out on your own. It's time to build The Spreadsheet, a tool to let you gauge your potential income and expenses and give you a realistic view of what it will take to succeed. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Eero : Never think about WiFi again. Use code FREEAGENTS for free overnight shipping. Freshbooks : Online invoicing made easy. Links and Show Notes: Support Focused with a Relay FM Membership...
Sep 05, 2017•40 min•Ep. 29
Jason asks David to explain where he came from, the background of his career, and what the circumstances were that led him to become an independent worker, and then asks him to reflect on his two-plus years no longer being employed by a law firm. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Freshbooks : Online invoicing made easy. Links and Show Notes: Support Focused with a Relay FM Membership...
Aug 22, 2017•47 min•Ep. 28
Passion projects can be an enjoyable outlet. But how do you balance the work that pays the bills with the work that feeds the soul? This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Freshbooks : Online invoicing made easy. Links and Show Notes: Support Focused with a Relay FM Membership
Aug 08, 2017•44 min•Ep. 27
Telephones and text messaging seem like necessary evils at best, but for many small businesses they're required. You just need to figure out how to use them effectively--and set rules so that they aren't abused. While Jason leaves the phone off the hook, David describes his trial of Google Voice and ultimate decision to use a live receptionist service. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Timing : The automatic time tracking app for OS X. Use code FREEAGENTS for 20% off until the end of July...
Jul 25, 2017•59 min•Ep. 26
Relay FM co-founder Stephen Hackett discusses his origin story, including an abortive attempt at being an Apple blogger, a fateful meeting over tea with Jason and David, how he left his job to become a full-time podcast entrepreneur, and the personal challenges he first encountered when he went independent. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Casper : Because everyone deserves a great night sleep. Get $50 off with the code ‘FREEAGENTS’ Timing : The automatic time tracking app for OS X. Use ...
Jul 11, 2017•57 min•Ep. 25
What happens if you're a lone-wolf independent operator, and then you get sick? Jason was recently out of commission for several days, and David had serious health issues immediately upon going independent. What strategies can help mitigate against illness? How can you avoid getting sick? And what's the deal with disability insurance? This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Freshbooks : Online invoicing made easy. Timing : The automatic time tracking app for OS X. Use code FREEAGENTS for 20% of...
Jun 27, 2017•44 min•Ep. 24
When should you form a corporation, and if so, what kind? David has some broad advice, though you should be sure to consult with a local attorney and your accountant before making any final decisions. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Freshbooks : Online invoicing made easy. Storyworth : A new way to bring the family together. Links and Show Notes: Support Focused with a Relay FM Membership...
Jun 13, 2017•40 min•Ep. 23
One of your great advantages as an independent worker is your agility. While larger companies have more resources, they can be much slower to react to change. David and Jason swap war stories about adapting and changing, including Jason's decision to leave one podcast and start another. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Sanebox : Clean up your inbox in minutes. Sign up for a two-week free trial and a $20 credit. Links and Show Notes: Support Focused with a Relay FM Membership Download - J...
May 30, 2017•28 min•Ep. 22
We're once again answering your letters and tweets In a wide-ranging episode covering all sorts of aspects of being an independent worker. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Sanebox : Clean up your inbox in minutes. Sign up for a two-week free trial and a $20 credit. Freshbooks : Online invoicing made easy. Links and Show Notes: Support Focused with a Relay FM Membership...
May 16, 2017•58 min•Ep. 21
David asks Jason to explain where he came from, the background of his career, and what the circumstances were that led him to become an independent worker, and then asks him to reflect on his two-plus years no longer being employed by a big corporation. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Casper : Because everyone deserves a great night sleep. Get $50 off with the code ‘FREEAGENTS’ Freshbooks : Online invoicing made easy. Links and Show Notes: Support Focused with a Relay FM Membership...
May 03, 2017•1 hr•Ep. 20
Every independent worker will agree that being organized is important. But should you adopt an organizational system? How can these systems help you, and are they worth the investment? Jason and David detail their own personal organization systems and discuss approaches to getting more organized, as well as tools to use to help in the process. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Sanebox : Clean up your inbox in minutes. Sign up for a two-week free trial and a $20 credit. Freshbooks : Online...
Apr 18, 2017•1 hr•Ep. 19
Agile Tortoise's Greg Pierce discusses what he's learned in a decade as an independent developer and consultant. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Sanebox : Clean up your inbox in minutes. Sign up for a two-week free trial and a $20 credit. Freshbooks : Online invoicing made easy. Guest Starring: Greg Pierce Links and Show Notes: Support Focused with a Relay FM Membership Agile Tortoise...
Apr 04, 2017•45 min•Ep. 18
Not all clients are good clients. If you don't manage the herd, you could lose the farm. This is why it's important to consider the right time, and right way, to fire a client. We discuss fireable offenses both obvious and subtle, and the best approach to take when firing a client. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Freshbooks : Online invoicing made easy. Links and Show Notes: Support Focused with a Relay FM Membership...
Mar 21, 2017•29 min•Ep. 17
