Shows
Soul TradersSeason Finale: Self-Promotion Q&AFor this final episode of our special season Bo and Tess are taking listener questions. They’re answering all your gripes and grievances... And it turns out that we all have a lot of those when it comes to the frustrations of marketing your business on social media. From the paralysis of comparisonitis to the sheer exhaustion of putting yourself out there again and again and seeing little or no gain from your efforts.
Tess and Bo talk about the tools and strategies they’ve used in their own businesses and lives to create boundaries around social medi...2024-07-0949 minSoul TradersNavigating Changes as a Sole TraderAs a sole trader or freelancer, changes in your personal life can have a huge impact on your business. In this episode, Tess and Bo talk about the risks and rewards of pivots and big leaps as well as small incremental changes across their own businesses and their client work.
From having children to moving interstate, to changing your business name or a global pandemic, internal and external transitions can force us into having to change our business offerings whether we like it or not. Sometimes, it’s appropriate to bring your community with you on that jou...2024-06-2447 minSoul TradersIn Person EventsIn this episode, Tess, Amy and Bo talk about in-person events and why they’re important for relationship building as a smalll business or sole trader.
From attending an event as a punter to organising your own event - we think the informal opportunities for connection are incredible and can help your business in so many ways. People remember unique in person experiences for many years to come.
Tess talks about strategies and ideas for approaching an in person event as an introvert and Bo talks about living regionally and the effort and impact of att...2024-06-1052 minSoul TradersWebsites and SEOIs a website the jewell in your digital marketing crown? We think so. But how do you get the attention of your website visitors and encourage them to take the next step? Amy and Tess discuss our love of a good about-page photograph, what bugs us about inefficient websites, how blogging can boost trust with your customer and draw more people through your website’s doors, and how websites offer space for nuance that social media often can not. Plus, some technical tips and tricks you can implement today too!
DIY SEO: How to optimise your website to...2024-05-2744 minSoul TradersSelf-Initiated ProjectsToday we are discussing the little-known golden nugget that is self initiated projects. For creative business owners, self initiated projects can be a low risk space to test out creative ideas and build new skills. And they can be great tools for marketing your business too.
Bo, Amy and Tess have all had plenty of experience with self initiated creative projects over their careers and have seen how dynamic they can be.
LINKS
Creative Minds
Bo’s ‘Golden State: Afterglow’ project
Tess’s series of books ‘Conversation with Creative Women’
...2024-05-0644 minSoul TradersDigital Marketing TrendsSoul Traders kicks off this special season with Bo and Tess talking about digital marketing trends we’ve noticed in ourselves, our peers, and our clients.
We also commiserate feelings of underperformance as self-marketers, and reminisce about the good ‘ol days when we had more energy to deposit into our social media banks ;)
Plus, ideas for how sole traders can connect more meaningfully with the right people and nurture those relationships on and off-line, and why all the effort you have put into social media to this point won’t go to waste if you choose t...2024-04-2242 minSoul TradersWe’re back for a special season!Listen to Tess’ original interview on Soul Traders
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This podcast is a collaboration between Soul Traders Podcast and Creative Minds.
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please, take a moment to recommend us to a friend by sending them a link to the show.
You can find us online at soultraders.net.au and creativemindshq.com
Tess’s new book Self-Promotion Without Social Media is available at bookstores and independent retailers around Australia, internationally via Amazon, and at creativemindshq.com.
Thanks to Lucy Peach for our music an...2024-04-2203 min
Soul TradersLearning to take breaksWhen you're self employed, taking time away from your business can be challenging. But if you don't integrate rest and downtime into your business, you risk stress, exhaustion and even burnout.
In this episode Bo and Amy discuss the idea of taking breaks as a creative business owner. Bo speaks about the self funded creative sabbatical she's planning for 2022. They also speak about some of the community feedback from the past few episodes and Amy's dramatic u-turn on inbox management.
Links:
Find all the details about the Soul Traders retreat here: http://soultraders.net.au/retreat/
Amy's switched to multiple...2021-11-1854 min
Soul TradersThe lowdown on legals: a Q&A with Riz McDonald from Foundd LegalCreatives tend to be very DIY in spirit with lots of optimism and zero experience in legal agreements. The learning curve for creative business owners is huge and we can find ourselves in tricky waters when it comes to the legal aspects of our business.
Thank goodness for legal brains like Riz McDonald. Riz is the founder and director of Foundd Legal. She's been a lawyer for 16 years and an e-commerce entrepreneur over the last decade. Her mission is to make legalese easier to understand. Bo speaks to Riz about contracts and agreements, what terms like 'moral rights' and 'intellectual...2021-11-0430 min
Soul TradersCreative Wellbeing: a Q&A with craft based designer Kitiya PalaskasKitiya is a craft-based designer who lives in Melbourne. Her work is easily recognisable with its vivid colours and playful designs. She's worked with big names like Adobe, Etsy and Lego producing props, installation and illustrations and facilitating workshops.
She's also an advocate for what she calls 'creative wellbeing'. Initiating important discussions around issues that creatives face including setting boundaries, navigating creative ruts and imposter syndrome.
Links:
Find all the details about the Soul Traders February retreat here: http://soultraders.net.au/retreat/
Find Kitiya online at www.kitiyapalaskas.com You can also sign up for her popular email newsletter...2021-10-2137 min
Soul TradersThe agonies of an overflowing inboxWhen did our inboxes get so out of control? Can we blame the pandemic? Or is this problem much bigger? Thousands of unread messages. Constant interruptions to the focused work we need to get done and the perception that we need to be always on top of our emails. We're calling it inbox overwhelm.
In this episode Bo and Amy discuss email and how they navigate their inboxes. Bo is a proponent of inbox zero. Amy uses tabs and filters. They also discuss the new retreat dates and what they've been listening to, reading and working on.
Links:
Find all...2021-10-0749 min
Soul TradersShared values: a Q&A with Shannon and Bryce of Studio BonumShannon Palmer and Bryce MacDonald of Studio Bonum truly want to make a difference in their community. They are intentional and thoughtful both in the work they produce for their clients but also in their approach to their business.
Amy spoke to Shannon and Bryce about launching a creative business at a time of global uncertainty, the values they bring to their business and how they hope to attract clients with a similar social conscience.
Links:
If you'd like to join Amy and Bo for the Soul Traders retreat in November from the 11th until the 14th head to the...2021-09-0228 min
Soul TradersA Soul Traders retreatExciting news: Bo and Amy are planning their very first in-person retreat!
It will be a nourishing weekend for creative business owners who want to overhaul their businesses, go deep and get clear on what they want and need to happen in 2022.
In this episode Amy and Bo talk about their plans for the retreat including an impactful program of workshops and activities. And food, don't forget about the amazing food. They also describe the incredible venue, New Farm Denmark, and cover the essential details.
If you'd like to join Amy and Bo for the Soul Traders retreat in November...2021-08-2623 min
Soul TradersThe questions we get asked all the timeThe podcast has reached a milestone: 10,000 downloads! Thank you to all our regular listeners for supporting us on our journey.
To celebrate Bo and Amy answer the questions they get asked most frequently about their personal and professional lives.
Links:
Bo reflects on her interview with Kate Stokes from Coco Flip earlier this season.
Amy remembers the episodes Real mistakes we've made and what we've learned along the way and Resisting the call to grow
If you've enjoyed this episode of Soul Traders please, please take a moment to recommend it to a friend. It's the best way to make...2021-08-1928 min
Soul TradersLocal and digital communities: a Q&A with graphic designer Orla LarkinOrla Larkin is an award winning digital designer, strategist and educator. Over her career she's worked across state government, not for profits and education. These days she helps makers, creatives and ethical businesses establish themselves online. Orla is no stranger to remote working, having worked with clients around the world for many years.
In this conversation, Bo talks to Orla about finding ways to connect and create community as a freelancer, the importance of website accessibility, using Tik Tok as a grown up and her take on 'personal branding'.
Links:
Find Orla online at www.orlalarkin.com
If you've enjoyed...2021-08-1230 min
Soul TradersBusiness without the hustle: a Q&A with Fiona Killackey AKA My Daily Business CoachFiona Killackey is a business coach who has worked with many small to medium sized businesses supporting them with practical insights into their marketing, business systems, goal setting and most importantly, working out where their dollars are coming from!
Fiona has a podcast, offers courses and coaching and she's also written a book called 'Passion. Purpose. Profit.' which is an incredibly useful guide for anyone who has a small business or who dreams of starting one.
In this conversation, Amy talks to Fiona about her tips for dealing with uncertainty (and lockdowns!) and the advice she gives her clients...2021-08-0527 min
Soul TradersImposter feelings and creative confidenceImposter feelings, or that nagging voice at the back of your head that whispers 'who do you think you are?' or 'any moment now, people are going to discover you're a fake!' Most of us have them from time to time, no matter how outwardly successful or established we are.
In this episode, Bo and Amy answer a community question about imposter syndrome. They discuss how fears and doubts show up for them and what they've done to build confidence around their work and creative abilities.
Links:
The Soul Traders are online! Check out our new website soultraders...2021-07-2122 min
Soul TradersWearing all the hats, overwhelm and outsourcingThere's no denying working for yourself is a bit of a juggling act most of the time. When you're self employed, you are wearing all the hats: from administration, to accounts, to marketing and of course the actual creative service you are offering.
Sometimes performing all these roles can feel fun and easy, but often it can feel like we're pulled in different directions and we have too much on our plate which can lead to overwhelm and then if we're not careful, burnout.
In this episode Bo and Amy discuss the pros and cons of wearing all the hats...2021-07-1528 min
Soul TradersFollowing your curiosity: a Q&A with graphic designer Tess McCabeTess is a freelance graphic designer with a broad portfolio of work spanning web design, print and publishing. But she has many other strings to her bow: she started publishing company Creative Minds and has written and released several books of her own. She was formerly the coordinator of the Creative Women's Circle and co hosted The New Normal Podcast with friend and fellow small business owner Emma Clark Gratton. Her monthly newsletter Sylloge, a compilation of podcast, blog and book recommendations has a cult following.
Amy asks Tess about her incredibly diverse career and how she manages to wear...2021-07-0838 min
Soul TradersMini episode: attract paying clients on Instagram with Amy SnoekstraIn this short episode Amy shares 10 content ideas for social media that might actually translate into paying clients. Amy recommends an intentional approach to platforms like Instagram, leveraging our innately human need to connect and create community. She discusses the 'know, like, trust' principle and how you might use it as a starting point for your social media content.
If you're a small or solo business owner who feels frustrated by social media, if you aren't seeing the return on the investment of time and energy you put into it, then listen up!
Links:
Listen to our other episodes about...2021-07-0210 min
Soul TradersWhy quitting can be great for your businessThere's no doubt persistence and tenacity are great attributes and essential to running any business. But knowing when and how to quit is also an important and often overlooked skill.
In this episode, Bo and Amy talk about quitting and how it can be a brilliant way to make space in your life and your business, to cut your losses and to move on. Like an old car that will keep draining your time and money, sometimes projects, relationships and even ideas are not worth persevering with. So, while grit and resilience are the buzzwords of the day, Bo and...2021-06-2419 min
Soul TradersMini episode: raising your prices with Bo WongIn this short episode Bo delves into the mystery and magic of pricing your services as a freelancer. Pricing is a dynamic process. As a business of one you need to frequently review, restructure and occasionally raise your prices.
Bo covers the dangers of pricing too low, how to know when you're ready to raise your prices and when to do it. She also gives a few notes on valuing yourself, your time and your expertise. If you've been looking for a pep talk on pricing, this is the episode for you.
Links:
Listen to our season 1 episode about pricing:
...2021-06-1514 min
Soul TradersAre you wasting your time on Instagram?Do you use Instagram to market your business? This week Bo and Amy respond to a question Amy gets asked a lot: 'I spend so much time on Instagram but I'm not seeing results for my business. Why is it that everyone else seems to have so many followers and do so well whereas I just seem to waste time?' They reveal their own approaches to using Instagram to market their services and Bo asks Amy to explain the dreaded Instagram Algorithm (with a capital 'A').
Bo and Amy also talk about their recent experiences: Bo travelling through the...2021-06-1027 min
Soul TradersThe low-key tech systems and software we use in our businessesThere are so many business systems and software subscriptions out there and they make big promises: to free up your time, grow or scale your business and streamline your life. But as freelance business owners who question investment and growth at every step, both Bo and Amy are hesitant to sign up to the latest fad.
In this episode Bo and Amy discuss the systems and software they use in their businesses, including the very straightforward, paper-based ones. They cover productivity and time keeping, communication and collaboration, file storage and backup, photography, accounting and bookkeeping, social media scheduling and email.
...2021-04-2937 min
Soul TradersFind your flow with Haley Berryman of Cool Wow CollectiveAmy speaks to Haley Berryman, a freelance copywriter who works with purpose driven businesses on their communications and strategy. She also facilitates an online community of founders and freelancers called Cool Wow Collective.
Amy asks Haley about flow state, an idea first introduced by positive psychology founder Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. We all know the feeling of being 'in the zone' but how do we cultivate flow? Haley has some great ideas to help us get there.
Links:
You can find Haley online at coolwowcollective.com and haleyberryman.com or on Instagram @coolwowcollective
Read Haley's blog to learn more about flow state...2021-04-2218 min
Soul TradersThe elusive big break: rejection, professional ghosting and resilienceAre you waiting for that much anticipated big break? For most of us in creative industries, it's more a case of small steps rather than giant leaps.
And there's no doubt that rejection is a part of life. We've all experienced that kick-in-the-guts feeling of being rejected: when we've invested so much into a creative project that we feel ultimately doesn't pay off.
In this episode Bo and Amy talk about rejection in the visual arts, design and publishing sectors, sharing stories of professional ghosting, the treadmill of grant and award applications and ultimately, resilience.
Links:
The Countess Report, gender...2021-04-1527 min
Soul TradersBattling loneliness and creating community for freelancersWe all know that as humans, we're hardwired for connection. But for most of us, freelancing or remote working can be a lonely business.
In today's episode Bo and Amy discuss the importance of connection and community to avoid feelings of isolation. The benefits of having a solid community around you as a freelancer are numerous: they might offer a sounding board for ideas, share common gripes and grievances and provide accountability and support as well as friendship.
Bo and Amy talk about how they've overcome isolation in their own working lives and share practical ideas for building up your...2021-03-2529 min
Soul TradersA carefully crafted business: a Q&A with Kate Stokes of Coco FlipBo speaks to Kate Stokes of Coco Flip, a Melbourne based furniture and lighting design studio founded in 2010 and run by Kate and Haslett Grounds.
Bo asks Kate about the values that underpin her business, nurturing long term partnerships with local manufacturers, her approach to slow and considered business growth and her thoughts on the importance of sustainability in the fast paced and glossy design world.
Links:
Find Coco Flip Online and on Instagram as @coco_flip
Find out more about 'Small' a panel discussion as a part of Melbourne Design Week and register here.
If you've enjoyed this episode...2021-03-1130 min
Soul TradersResisting the call to growThere seems to be an assumption out there that a business that is growing, is one that is doing well. But growth isn't always good. Growing your business might look like hiring staff or investing in tools or subscriptions. Sometimes these are necessary and beneficial steps. But often growth like this creates more stress and less flexibility for a soul trader.
Bo and Amy talk about resisting the siren call of growth and maybe even staying deliberately small with examples from their own careers.
Links:
'Company of One; Why Staying Small is the Next Big Thing for Business' by Paul...2021-03-0325 min
Soul TradersEveryone has influence: a Q&A with Sarah Wallwork of BodyschoolAmy speaks to Sarah Wallwork, a fitness trainer based in Fremantle. Sarah is well known for her ability to inspire and energise people into taking action to achieve their fitness goals.
Amy asks Sarah to reveal her approach to goal setting and accountability, how she adapted and responded to the challenges of 2020 and how she's built a vibrant and engaged community around her business.
Links:
You can find out more about Sarah's business, Bodyschool, through her website and Instagram @bodyschool1
As always, if you've enjoyed this episode of Soul Traders please, please take a moment to recommend it to a...2021-02-2428 min
Soul TradersPassion tax - are you paying it?Passion tax. What is it and how does it show up for freelancers, particularly those working in creative industries?
Bo and Amy discuss passion tax or passion exploitation and why people who love the work they do are exposed to it. They discuss their own experiences and share practical ways to maintain healthy financial boundaries in your creative work.
Links:
Adam Grant on how jobs, bosses and firms may improve after the crisis in The Economist
Gillian Welch's song - Everything is Free
Soul Traders season 1 episode: Photo copyright and crediting for creatives: your questions for Bo
Soul Traders season 1...2021-02-1723 min
Soul TradersThe year of the Ox and what it means for you and your businessWelcome to the second season of Soul Traders! Bo and Amy are back with a special episode marking the beginning of the year of the Ox in the Chinese lunar calendar.
What is the year of the Ox and what does it mean for you and your business? Bo and Amy discuss using the Chinese lunar calendar as a framework for setting values based goals you might actually stick to. They detail what you can learn from the Ox and consider how you might nourish and support yourself along the way. It's a very fun episode!
Links:
Listen to our...2021-02-1020 min
Soul TradersCultivating creativity in your business and lifeBo and Amy talk about creativity and how it's naturally woven into the fabric of the way we live and do business as soul traders. Amy and Bo ask if creativity is for everyone, bust the myth of the 'creative genius' and talk about cultivating a creative practice.
In this episode:
•Bo is getting better at saying 'no' as she's fully booked for the rest of the year.
•Amy and Bo ask: can everyone be creative?
•Bo wants to bust the 'creative genius' myth.
•Amy loves the idea of cultivating a creative practice.
•Amy's been reading Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, s...2020-08-3123 min
Soul TradersUnlock the power of your cycle: a Q&A with Lucy Peach, period preacherBo and Amy chat with Lucy Peach: a performer, author, podcaster and self-proclaimed 'period preacher'! Lucy's work is about empowering women to observe and understand their menstrual cycles and hopefully learn to leverage the unique opportunities that come with them.
Bo and I asked Lucy about her creative work, how she manages her energy throughout the month and what advice she would give to soul traders who have a cycle!
Links:
Lucy's book Period Queen is available in bookstores right now or online via Booktopia
Listen to the Period Queen podcast on Spotify.
Find out more about Lucy via her...2020-08-1246 min
Soul TradersMini episode: photography for Instagram, Bo's tipsIn the attention economy of Instagram, good photography is a valuable commodity. You may have something amazing to say, but if your photo doesn't stop people scrolling, they simply won't read it.
In this episode Bo shares her tips for scroll-stopping photography on Instagram, including orientation, framing and composition, lighting and tips for shooting interiors.
Make sure you check out Amy's mini episode about writing captions. It's a great companion to this one. Happy snapping!
Links:
Mini episode: Amy's tips for writing great social media captions
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2lZsKqZoiHpCqQ6TbrZc2Z?si=LARLO5g7SHGsjCPcfO5xZw
Adobe...2020-07-2911 min
Soul TradersGetting paid: Bo & Amy answer a community questionBo and Amy respond to a question from the Soul Traders Podcast community about getting paid as a creative freelancer. They discuss valuing yourself and your time, finding clients that value you, 'scope creep' and payment systems.
Thanks so much for listening! If you enjoyed the episode, please leave us a review and share it with your soul trader mates!
Join our Soul Traders Podcast Community on Facebook (go on!)
Have a question? Email us at soultraderpodcast@gmail.com or tag us on social media using the hashtag #soultraderspodcast. You can also find us on Instagram: Amy's Instagram @amy_snoek...2020-07-2328 min
Soul TradersCompetition and comparison: when it's useful and when it's notHow competitive do we need to be in order to be successful in business? Can competition and comparison be helpful? When do these things become unhelpful or toxic? In this episode Bo and Amy talk about how they've dealt with competition in their working lives and ask the question: is it possible to incorporate a healthy level of competition into your business without comparison dragging you down?
In this episode:
•Bo and Amy want you to imagine them wearing 80's tennis gear while you listen. Think pastels and sweat bands. Okay?
•Amy confesses that she's never been a competitive sort of p...2020-07-1629 min
Soul TradersMini episode: Amy's tips for writing great social media captionsAmy gets asked this question all the time: how do I write engaging captions for social media? In this episode she shares some of her ideas about great writing for social media and tips for writing engaging captions, including what to do when you're stuck for ideas, how to structure a caption and how to create content that is valuable to your audience.
Links:
Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott
If you want to l...2020-07-0908 min
Soul TradersClient relationships and long lasting partnershipsOne of the best things you can do as a freelancer is invest time and energy into creating great relationships with your clients. In this episode Bo and Amy discuss how they create trust with clients, maintain boundaries and foster truly collaborative partnerships.
In this episode:
•Amy is thrilled that her baby is sleeping better and consequently, her creative mojo is returning.
•Bo and Amy discuss the importance of setting boundaries for yourself as a freelancer.
•Amy is excited to share (Queen) Brené Brown's definition of 'boundaries'.
•Bo shares an excellent metaphor about groundwork and horsemanship.
•Bo and Amy discuss the boundar...2020-06-2533 min
Soul TradersManaging your energy and self care for freelancersWhen you're self employed it's down to you to put the wind in your own sails. In this episode Bo and Amy discuss taking breaks and setting boundaries for your time and the various demands on it.
In this episode:
•Bo talks about her decision not to take on any new clients for the remainder of the year.
•Bo and Amy discuss writer and activist Audre Lorde's framing of 'self care' as a radical political act and how commercial the idea has become.
•Amy talks about her second pregnancy and learning how to slow down and prioritise rest.
•Amy explains the Pare...2020-06-1736 min
Soul TradersPhoto copyright and crediting for creatives: your questions for BoPractically every business uses images these days, we need them more than ever to market our businesses, for our websites and social media. But what's the deal with copyright? Who owns those images? What's the etiquette for crediting the photographer? And when you're working with a photographer, do you own the copyright or is that an additional cost?
In this episode, Amy asks Bo a series of questions from our community about copyright and licensing including:
•If a photo already exists on the internet - isn't it free to use?
•I paid a photographer to shoot this - so why don...2020-06-1036 min
Soul TradersMarketing and community building for creatives, without the ick factorEvery business owner knows that marketing is important, so why do creatives find marketing themselves and their products or services so uncomfortable? Amy and Bo talk all things marketing in this episode: how to approach building a community around your business online.
In this episode:
- Bo and Amy discuss what Amy calls the 'marketing ick factor'.
- Bo and Amy ask the question: why are we so uncomfortable about self promotion as creatives?
- Bo wonders if creatives in the music industry are better at marketing themselves than the rest of us.
- Amy outlines the importance of considering...2020-05-2738 min
Soul TradersMini episode: Bo's tips for working with a photographerMost businesses will work with a photographer at some point. Whether it's for publication, digital content, marketing collateral or awards and grant submissions, the principles are roughly the same. Bo shares her tips for getting the most out of your shoot, from planning and briefing, getting comfortable in front of the camera, through to post production and image licensing. She also goes into more detail about 3 scenarios: portrait sessions, artwork and architectural shoots.
Links:
Find out more about working with Bo through her website:
https://www.bowong.com.au/
Thanks so much for listening! If you enjoyed the episode, please...2020-05-2016 min
Soul TradersDo you need a website to be 'present' online?This episode is all about where and how you show up online. Bo and Amy discuss having a presence online and also, importantly, being present online. They also ask: do you need a website?
In this episode:
•Bo and Amy discuss the lean business model of the freelancer - does this model include a website?
•Amy thinks it's important to ask the question: what do you need a website to do for your business?
•Bo discusses her online presence and the various different setups she's had in the past.
•Amy talks about working with clients on websites and what she's learned...2020-05-1430 min
Soul TradersMini episode: Amy's Instagram engagement tipsInstagram can be such a powerful tool for small and solo businesses. In this mini episode Amy shares her top tips to achieve that highly sought after engagement on Instagram.
Links:
Scheduling apps for Instagram Later and Planoly
Sara Tasker's blog article:
https://meandorla.co.uk/8-things-to-measure-instead-of-your-follower-count/
Thanks so much for listening! If you enjoyed the episode, please leave us a review or share it with your soul trader mates! Have a question? Email us at soultraderpodcast@gmail.com or tag us on social media using the hashtag #soultraderspodcast. You can also find us on Instagram: Amy's Instagram @amy_snoek...2020-05-0705 min
Soul TradersReal mistakes we've made and what we learned along the wayEveryone makes mistakes from time to time, it's part of being human. But what happens when you're self employed and there's no one to take the blame but you? Bo and Amy talk through some of the mistakes they've made in their professional lives and most importantly, what they learned from their mistakes.
In this episode:
•Bo and Amy discuss the kind of mistakes, as Bo says, you only ever make once!
•Bo talks through the lessons she's learned from forgetting essential equipment, ahem, like an SD card!
•She's also learned the hard way how to to refine the scope of a p...2020-05-0332 min
Soul TradersCreative collaborations: a Q&A with Tommy SpenderFor this episode Bo is speaking with multi-talented composer, producer, songwriter and performer Tommy Spender about creative collaborations. Tommy is an old hand at this, with many successful collaborations under his belt including an ongoing project with musician and friend Mama Kin. He also produces this podcast (how meta!) and created the original music.
Bo and Tommy discuss:
•Are creatives and artists the ultimate preppers?
•How does Tommy work collaboratively with other songwriters?
•What does the creative process of working with fellow musician Mama Kin look like?
•Do you need to set ground rules (or a safe word?) for collaborations?
•Do creativ...2020-04-1640 min
Soul TradersInstagram and originalityInstagram can be such a valuable tool for small and solo businesses. But using it effectively throws up so many questions. Join Bo and Amy as they discuss this incredible forum for business and creativity and offer tips and techniques for finding and connecting with your community as a soul trader on Instagram.
In this episode:
•Amy and Bo talk about Instagram as a marketing tool when you are your business.
•They ask: do you need to be vulnerable and share personal stuff on social media to gain traction?
•They wonder how to connect with people in a genuine way withou...2020-04-0939 min
Soul TradersAgility and resilience in business, a Q&A with photographer Bo WongBo and Amy are doing something different for this episode. Amy is curious about Bo's 10 years plus in business, what changes in technology and media she's seen in that time, and most importantly how she's responded to these changes and continued to thrive. Bo and Amy are wondering if there are some ideas about agility and resilience in Bo's story that might be useful for us all at this time.
Amy asks Bo:
•What's her secret to success?
•How has Bo dealt with changes in technology? And the rise of social media?
•How has Bo managed her energy in intense period...2020-04-0228 min
Soul TradersBonus episode: Let's all work from home, togetherJoin Bo and Amy for this special episode of Soul Traders. This week the Coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we all live and work for the foreseeable future. For a lot of people, this means working from home, possibly for the first time.
Bo and Amy both have plenty of experience working from home and want to share some of their ideas around structuring your day, creating a great morning routine and avoiding distractions and procrastination.
So tune in from wherever you are in the world and let's remain socially connected (but physically distanced) in what is set to...2020-03-2435 min
Soul TradersSetting values based goals for your businessDo you set goals in your business? Are goals helpful or more of a stick to beat yourself over the head with? Amy and Bo discuss how they set goals in their businesses and how they stay accountable. They share helpful systems they've adapted from productivity gurus and discuss alternatives to the more corporate style SMART goals and KPIs.
In this episode:
•Amy asks Bo if she sets goals in her business.
•They discuss different kinds of goals and which ones are useful for solo business owners (definitely not KPIs!)
•Amy introduces the idea of 'gentle January'.
•Bo talks about using th...2020-03-2424 min
Soul TradersPricing for freelancersPricing for the self employed creative is a very mysterious area. There's a certain level of discomfort around talking about pricing and a lot of secrecy around how service providers land on that final magical figure.
Amy and Bo ask each other about their own pricing journeys, common pitfalls creatives fall into when pricing their services and how they've each arrived at a pricing structure they are comfortable with.
In this episode:
•Amy and Bo ask: why do we find it so difficult to talk about money and pricing?
•Amy asks Bo how she prices her photography services.
•Bo talks about...2020-03-1727 min