Keen as Mustard: First Month of Self Employment

Last week a friend pointed out that I say “keen as mustard” a lot. Funny how certain phrases quietly set up camp in your vocabulary and refuse to leave. Maybe it’s time to retire it and make way for something new but for my latest reflections, it actually feels rather fitting.

I can’t quite believe how quickly the past month has flown by. I’m genuinely loving the space I’m in right now. That’s not to say everything is perfectly rosy, but it feels good. It feels real. My offer feels valued and, despite the occasional wobble about where the next project will come from and the pain-in-the-backside imposter of doubt that sometimes parks itself on my shoulder, it all feels far steadier than I had anticipated.

And that’s largely down to people. I’ve been blown away by the generosity of others. Every single person I’ve connected with so far has been open, warm and incredibly supportive.

So, in the spirit of paying it forward, I wanted to share a few tips for anyone just starting out offering freelance support in the voluntary and community sector. From surrounding yourself with the right people to carving out some structure in your new working environment, these ideas are aimed at helping you feel, by the end of your first month, just as keen as mustard for the journey ahead.

My tips for getting started

1. Start with the people who already know you.
   Ahead of leaving employment, share your plans with your existing network. These are the people who already know what you’re capable of and often become your earliest champions. LinkedIn is a great place to do this—announce your move, talk about what you’re offering, and invite conversations.

2. Be visible (and consistent).
   Whatever platforms you choose to show up on, try to build some routine into how you engage. Consistency helps grow your network, supports the algorithms so you’re more likely to be seen, and quite frankly just makes you look more professional.

3. Do a bit of practical homework.
   Starting out means getting comfortable with the nuts and bolts of running a business. Check what support is available through your local combined authority or business support organisations. I’ve accessed fully funded bookkeeping training through Enterprise Made Simple (covering Teesside, the North East and North Yorkshire), which has been incredibly useful and means I can confidently manage my books and submit tax returns myself; for now at least.

4. Learn from people who’ve done it before.
   If you’re thinking about freelancing, Emma Cossey’s book The Freelance Lifestyle: Your Friendly Guide to Starting a Freelance Business is a brilliant place to start. It walks through the practical steps of setting up and gives an honest, accessible overview of what freelance life really looks like. You can also get in touch with me, I might not have all the answers but I’m a big believe in supporting others so happy to share my experiences over a cuppa (virtual or in person).

5. Create a bit of structure early on.
   One of the biggest shifts when leaving employment is suddenly being the person responsible for your own time. I’ve found it helpful to build a loose rhythm into my week—time for delivery, time for conversations, and time for the less glamorous admin that keeps the wheels turning.

   I also found a really helpful template shared by Bethany Helliwell-Smith, founder of Awen Coaching, which helps you set out how you work in a way that protects your boundaries, provides clarity and manages expectations for prospective clients.

6. Protect yourself.
   Insurance might not be the most exciting purchase, but it’s important. I use PolicyBee, who specialise in business and charity insurance and explain things in refreshingly plain English. It’s one of those things you hope you never need, but you’ll be glad it’s there if you do. Have a look and identify what cover you might need, you can use my referral link and we both get £20 once you have had your policy for 30+ days (win win): PolicyBee Referral Link

7. Find your version of networking.
   I’ll be honest: “networking” has never been a word that fills me with joy. The idea of walking into a room full of people I don’t know makes me hugely uncomfortable. But I’m learning it doesn’t have to look like that.

   For me, it’s been about connecting with people on LinkedIn and arranging virtual cuppas, or joining online development sessions where you can participate gently without feeling on the spot. The internet opens the door to connecting with people anywhere.

   There are also some fantastic spaces designed specifically to bring charity freelancers together and address the isolation that can sometimes come with self-employment, especially when you’re used to working in a supportive team.

   Carrie Brookes has developed a brilliant bi-monthly co-working space for North East charity freelancers, which I’m really looking forward to attending in the future. Online, Richard Berks hosts Charity Freelancer Chat, a free monthly Zoom meet-up for freelancers and consultants working in the charity sector that’s well worth joining.

   And if there isn’t something like this where you are, perhaps you could even start one.

8. Invest in your development.
   Running your own business isn’t just about the practicalities; it’s also about mindset, confidence and clarity around what you want to build.

   Jane Curtis specialises in supporting charity freelancers to create careers that genuinely light them up while building the income to support the lifestyle they want. I’ve joined a few of Jane’s sessions and found them incredibly helpful in shaping my thinking around structure, self-belief, support networks, vision and money confidence. Her YouTube channel is also packed with useful insights.

A month in, I’m learning that freelancing isn’t just about the work you do, it’s about the people around you, the support you seek out and the small routines that help you keep moving forward.

And right now, I’m still feeling very much keen as mustard about it all… lets see what new phrase I can adopt throughout my second month.