Episode 47: The brutal truth: My first five years as a freelance facilitator

This episode is about decision-making in our businesses, the frameworks we use to say yes or no to work and how becoming more conscious in our decision-making is important to cultivate.

In this conversation, Kirsty Lewis and Dave Freeman discuss the journey of transitioning from the corporate world to becoming a freelance facilitator and trainer. They explore the challenges faced in the early stages of building a business, the impact of COVID-19 on the training industry, and the importance of finding a niche. 

Dave shares his experiences, including the ups and downs of his first year, the evolution of his business, and the lessons learned along the way. The conversation emphasizes the importance of community, resilience, and the brutal truth of running a business.

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:29 The Brutal Truth of Business

05:36 Leaving the Corporate World

08:10 Transitioning to Facilitation and Training

10:53 Finding Associate Work

13:40 Auditioning for Associate Roles

16:35 Year One Challenges

19:19 Year two and the Impact of COVID

22:06 Adapting to Virtual Training

24:43 Reflections on the Journey

29:58 The Evolution of a Trainer: Year Two to Year Three

33:06 Narrowing the Focus: Year Four and Niching

42:10 The Balancing Act: Associate vs Direct Work

48:10 Quick Fire Insights: Advice and Recommendations

I invite you to grab a cuppa, join me on the pink seat, and tune in your ears.

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A Facilitator's Journey is the podcast that looks at how you run your business as a facilitator or trainer.

You started this work because you have a passion that you want to share with organisations. However, there is the small detail that you are now running a business and this requires a whole other set of skills and knowledge.

Join me, Kirsty Lewis, Founder of School of Facilitation, as I interview trainers and facilitators about how they manage their businesses. I will explore how people run their finances, price their work, scale up, scale down, decide to retire, market themselves, manage clients, and much much more.

Key Links:

Visit the School of Facilitation website HERE

Discover SOFest HERE

Connect with me on Instagram HERE

Connect with me on Linkedin HERE

contact@schooloffacilitation.com

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