Freelancer in Focus for August 2007 - Philippa Hull

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Address: Suffolk Email: philippa@hot-desk.co.uk Telephone: 07860 200535 Area of Expertise: Administration and secretarial services

Description 1. How have you found working freelance? What are the highs and lows, the frustrations and bonuses? I have found working freelance extremely rewarding.  I enjoy the freedom and the opportunity to be involved with a variety of clients, all of whom are completely different people and involved in totally different businesses.  Additionally, the role I play and the service I provide to each one is different, depending on their requirements.  I love the variety, it keeps me motivated.  It is necessary to be flexible, pro-active and resourceful and to constantly seek ways to bring added value to my clients and their businesses.  In other words, trying to stay a step or two ahead of them!  I enjoy the challenge and the rewards are great – not so much financial but in terms of self-satisfaction and happy, appreciative clients! The challenging parts are staying focused and positive while building the business and in times of overload. It takes a great deal of energy, determination and self-belief to start from scratch but if you are confident in yourself and in what you are offering you will succeed.  It takes time to find good clients, to convince them that you are the right person for their business and, most of all, to trust you.  With regard to work flow, it is rarely perfect; I always say to people who are starting out that they need to accept the ‘famine or feast’ syndrome – I have always found it to be like this.  Things may be quiet for a time then everything happens at once! Has Freelancers in the UK helped you? We’d like to think so but how? I have found the information you provide very good and I hope that I shall become more involved in future.  Congratulations on a brilliant idea and an excellent service for freelancers! What are the biggest challenges for you for the rest of 2007? As ever, trying to maintain a work/life balance!  While going the extra mile for my clients and being available ‘out of hours’ when required, it is essential to take time off from the business.  We should be running the business not the other way round!  It is important to enjoy the benefits of being freelance/self-employed as well as dealing with the challenges.  What’s your favourite place in the UK and why?  At present my favourite place is where I live.  I am very fortunate to live in a peaceful location which is located conveniently for my work and my social life.  I am very lucky in this respect.