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Leaving London
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7 min read
So you’ve decided to leave London. You’re leaving because the millionaires are being priced out by billionaires. You’re leaving because every high street is boxy, bland, and identical. You’re leaving because the Tories are in charge. You’re leaving because the weather is shit. You’re leaving because it’s the enemy of all human life. You’re leaving because those two dull syllables,…
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Why is UK mobile signal so bad?
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3 min read
Why is the UK 5G network so slow? And can rain really hamper your mobile signal?
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A list of toolkits or resources for people that are new to advocacy and campaigning, or organisations that are considering starting work in this area.
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Peeknote #2
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3 min read
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On human and organisational sensemaking
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2 min read
How organisations define their purpose and as an extension, the positive and negative consequences of relying on purpose as filtering mechanism for current and potential-future employees.
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An Infinite Shortage of Managers
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15 min read
Generative AI integrations appearing in common enterprise software that your organisation is likely already using.
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Some little observation
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2 min read
I hear new news every day, and those ordinary rumours of war, plagues, fires, inundations, thefts, murders, massacres, meteors, comets, spectrums, prodigies, apparitions, of towns taken, cities besieged in France, Germany, Turkey, Persia, Poland, etc. Daily musters and preparations, and such like, which these tempestuous times afford, battles fought, so many men slain, monomachies, shipwrecks,…
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Here’s the text of a speech Bill Watterson gave at Kenyon College, Gambier Ohio, to the 1990 graduating class. SOME THOUGHTS ON THE REAL WORLD BY ONE WHO GLIMPSED IT AND FLEDBill WattersonKenyon College CommencementMay 20, 1990 I have a recurring dream about Kenyon. In it, I’m walking to the post office on the way to…
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The Inconvenient Mind paper on the climate mind and the polycrisis, argues that in times of growing uncertainty, fear and anger we need to move away from facts and seriously start listening and engaging with emotions
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Peeknote #1
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1 min read
It’s the first week of January, so it’s time for a fresh start. I’ve always enjoyed people who regularly write weeknotes, where they post their notes on a weekly basis. Take a look at Web of Weeknotes, Berg, Joe Roberson, Alice Bartlett for examples and helpful tips to get started. I’m not sure I’m disciplined…
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Business Black Holes
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15 min read
Business black holes, the cycles between them and how to jump your business into greater growth. The predictable problem of business black holes Some 20 years ago I interviewed around 700 small businesses to discover whether the growth and stall trends I’d previously been analysing in big business still occurred in the small business market. They certainly…
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Challenges in growing an agency
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9 min read
Once upon a time, marketing agencies were profitable businesses. They were tough to get into and get the first few accounts, but competition was reasonable and the business model provided sufficient profit margins. Today, that is no longer the case. It is very easy to get into the business, but it’s very hard to grow…
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Women’s time has experienced a surge in value
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2 min read
Women’s time has experienced a surge in value. As more women have pursued higher education and stepped into professional roles, their time’s value has more than doubled, incentivizing a substantial reorganization of daily life with consequent transaction costs. It’s expensive for highly educated women to be homemakers but that means substituting the wife’s time for…
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Do doctors live healthier lives?
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2 min read
“The question for me is how to live well inside our short, breakable lives.” Sam Guglani, oncologist There is this idea that doctors live healthier lives because of what we know and encounter through medicine – but I’m not sure this is true, or even what the measure of it is. As an oncologist, it might…
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The best online accounting software for small business and freelancers in 2021 Bookkeeping and financial reporting is not my favourite activity as a freelancer, but thankfully there is a range of fantastic online accounting software to make this stressful part of the job much easier, so you can focus on doing the freelance work you…
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Developing Leadership Skills
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3 min read
Leading a team comes with a unique set of challenges. Managing people comes with a lot of responsibilities too. You need to develop yourself as well as your team. If you want to be a more effective manager, here are three core leadership skills you should use that can help you. Accountability is leadership Holding…
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What are Employee Ownership Trusts?
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4 min read
By moving the ownership of the business into an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), founders can realise financial value over time but preserve the company’s culture, values, and independence for the long run. What are Employee Ownership Trusts? The EOT is a mechanism for transferring the majority of the equity from the owners of the business…
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How to overcome procrastination driven by anxiety
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4 min read
This model for overcoming procrastination driven by anxiety illustrates some of the emotional and behavioural “knots” underlying some forms of procrastination. Solutions for anxiety-driven procrastination The dominant loop here is the cycle of anxiety and overwhelm. Anxiety is difficult to address directly. Thus, we have to look elsewhere for leverage points in this system. I…
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The Last Question by Isaac Asimov
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25 min read
The last question was asked for the first time, half in jest, on May 21, 2061, at a time when humanity first stepped into the light. The question came about as a result of a five dollar bet over highballs, and it happened this way: Alexander Adell and Bertram Lupov were two of the faithful…
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Agency Worker Regulations (AWR): What is AWR?
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17 min read
Agency Workers Regulations aim to combat discrimination of people who work for employment agencies, by stating that agency workers should be no less favourably treated in pay and working time than their full-time counterparts, who do the same work. Similar to IR35, the guidance is designed to ensure fair treatment of contractors and freelancers, and ensure that…
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AI Beginner’s Reading List
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6 min read
This AI Reading List was put together by Jack Soslow and shared as a Google Doc, so I’ve republished here in case that list goes missing. The reading list is aimed towards the AI curious looking to go down the rabbit hole not the AI expert. The original list was list was inspired by The…
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Tips for new fathers (or, how to dad good)
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5 min read
I find most writing on how to be a good father quite patronising. Instead, I’ve collected the most practical advice for new dads into one place. It will grow over time, as will babies and the parents that look after them. Further advice, anecdata, exceptions that prove the rule, etc, are welcome in the comments.…
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4 ways to make Your Business More Sustainable
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3 min read
Businesses of all sizes are becoming more aware of their impact on the world. Business sustainability is now a primary focus for organisations across industries, as companies focus on long-term profitability and cut their carbon footprints. Additionally, consumers are becoming more aware of how businesses treat the environment, which has forced businesses to take action.…
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Rules for good leadership
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9 min read
Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work directly with a number of leaders. I define these as people who lead their own teams and organisations. What makes some of them good leaders? My answer is personal and subjective. Note the “some of them” reference. Being good at your profession does not necessarily…
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Advice for joining the climate justice movement
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3 min read
Advice for joining the climate justice movement from Cynthia Kaufman, author of The Sea is Rising and so are We: a Climate Justice Handbook. I would encourage anyone wanting to do this work to find a group to work with. We need to join with others and use our collective power to get institutions to…
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Writing
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16 min read
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Stats
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1 min read
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Freelance in 30 Days Book: Get the confidence and knowledge to succeed at going freelance
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7 min read
The freelance book that helps you get the confidence and knowledge to thrive in your new freelance career. Do you want to build the confidence to finally go freelance? Do you want the freedom and flexibility that comes from being your own boss? Do you want to be a creative and productive freelancer? Answer "Yes" to these…
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Contact
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1 min read
Email me at [email protected] Follow me at @benrmatthews Connect with me on LinkedIn
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About Ben Matthews
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2 min read
Hello, I’m Ben Matthews Based in London Co-Founder and Director at Empower Brief summary of my story so far: Contact me Want to ask me something? Email me at [email protected] Book My book, Freelance in 30 Days, is out now
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Have you ever tried to share a news story from your site to Twitter and realised there is no picture being pulled through to the Twitter Card? Twitter might have added the wrong image or you might have forgot to add an image and added after publication. Or perhaps the headline has changed and the…
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About
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2 min read
Hello, I’m Ben Matthews Based in London Co-Founder and Director at Empower Brief summary of my story so far: Contact me Want to ask me something? Email me at [email protected] Book My book, Freelance in 30 Days, is out now
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A 334,000 (63 percent) rise in highly-skilled women freelancers has driven the UK’s increasingly female freelance landscape over the last 10 years according to new research from IPSE, the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed. The increase takes the number of senior-level women freelancing in the UK to 863,000. The professions that saw the…
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“What is your best advice for becoming a full time professional freelancer?” That’s a question I get asked all the time. In other words, a lot of people ask me to provide them with a recipe for freelancing success. At the risk of disappointing you, I’ll preface this by saying there is no “one size…
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It takes a lot of good people for an ecommerce business to be successful. And by “people,” we mean those who deal with manufacturing, inventory, marketing, sales, customer service, and more. That’s a lot of work, right? And it also costs a lot of money. That’s the reason business owners prefer to hire freelancers to…
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This freelance marketing proposal template will give you the basics for getting a robust freelance marketing proposal in place for your freelance business. And there’s even a free example proposal template to download. When pitching to new clients, a freelance marketing proposal helps you present your solution, show your credibility, and name a price for…
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Freelance Graphic Design Contract [Free Download]
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4 min read
DISCLAIMER: The information in this Freelance Graphic Design Contract is a sample based on the author’s experience, knowledge, and opinions. Users of this freelance contract template are advised to do their own due diligence when it comes to making business decisions and all information should be independently verified by your own qualified professionals. By reading…
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Finding clients and marketing your freelance business… it’s the biggest struggle for most freelancers. If you’re just getting started then chances are you have no idea how to find new clients or get your name out there in front of the right people. While the task of finding clients and marketing your freelance business can…
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Win Freelance Work With Better Pricing
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9 min read
Like many freelancers, you’re probably insecure about your pricing. How do you accurately price non-commodity work? How do you compare one professional’s work to another? How do you determine what’s fair to charge when you’re dealing with abstract concepts like the effectiveness of writing, the cleanliness of code, or the beauty of a design? Truthfully,…
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Self Promotion – A Freelancer’s Most Important Tool
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9 min read
Self promotion can be hard for many new freelancers, especially if you have only recently made the jump from being a full time employee to running your own freelance business. When you work as an employee for a company, they make sure you have work on your desk. Every day, you come in, sit down,…
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As a freelancer, you have to fight for your position in the industry. Besides a little luck, persistence is one of the key traits you need to succeed. However, most freelancers can feel out of place when they decide to take a venture in the freelance world. You’ve probably had a thought cross your mind…
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Is coworking really worth it for freelancers?
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7 min read
Is coworking really worth it for freelancers? I am sure some folks vote for it, and some others reject this opinion. We will dig deep into this idea to understand the aspects better. Coworking has become the talk of the town for the last few years and its demand has increased amongst freelancers around the…
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Best Tips to Write a Freelance Resume
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7 min read
Most freelance jobs may not need you to have a professional resume; however, many long-term projects or high-paying work may require you to do so. When we talk about copywriting, virtual assistance, professional designing and public relations, a well-written resume is always considered as a plus point for a freelancer. A resume helps you to…
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Report: Online Accounting Software is Too Complicated for Freelancers and Small Business and Owners
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2 min read
Is online accounting software for freelancers and small business owners too difficult to learn and use? That what FreshBooks asked when they surveyed 300 North American-based accountants and bookkeepers with small business clients were asked their opinions about online accounting software for freelancers and small business owners. 71% of respondents to the survey – the…
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The 10 Best Sites to Find Freelance Gigs
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8 min read
More and more employees are turning to freelance jobs, either alongside a full-time freelance job or as their primary career. A gig is a temporary freelance job and is often part-time. Freelance gigs are particularly common in IT and creative industries but can are in almost every industry. People might do one freelance gig at…
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If you want to find a new freelance translator job, don’t use the old CV template. To make a good impression on a prospective client, you should write your resume from scratch. Don’t worry. It’s not half as hard as it seems. Use the following tips for freelancers to make your CV to stand out.…
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When first imagining what it is like to work from home, it is easy to envision this work arrangement as a good alternative to spending your time on a long commute and wasting hours in the office. Statistics shows that more and more specialists follow the same thinking paradigm, and it is hard for humans…
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Modern life is too busy. And it’s not a big surprise that students find it challenging to balance work and study. If you want to start your career in college, the best thing you can do is to find a freelance job. It will allow you to gain your first working experience while having a…
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How freelancers win clients and beat the competition
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5 min read
Being a freelancer is interesting and exciting; it provides an excellent opportunity to work as you wish and earn a handful of income. But, the tight competition makes it tough to succeed in the freelance market. Good numbers of newcomers are really worried about expert freelancers stealing all of the good jobs from the platform.…
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The web development sector is booming, and it provides extensive opportunities for a freelance developer to enjoy the work and earnings. You love to become a freelance developer, and it is the reason why you are here. You better know that there lies tight competition in the freelance web development sectors that prevent you from…
Creating spaces for making positive social impact
