When you’ve got too much work to do.

In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from designer, coder and illustrator Andi Best.

Andi says:

“I can’t go on like this — I think I need to give in and ask for help!

I am inundated with work and the enquiries keep coming, which is a great problem to have, but I don’t know what to do about it.

Previously I’ve mitigated large volumes of work by quoting higher or asserting my unavailability — ultimately turning work away. For a “busy period” that works well, but for the past 6 months I’ve been consistently (too) busy, and I now accept that I need to try something else. I just don’t want to keep saying ‘no’.

I think I need more resource? I don’t want ‘staff’ (insurance, sick leave, payroll? No thanks!) but I do want something more robust than the ad-hoc outsourcing I do now. 

I think I need a firm freelance partnership? Or agency temp?
Or similar arrangement? 

What’s holding me back is a lack of trust in an unknown entity (the quality of the work, sharing client credentials etc.) —  ultimately relinquishing control of the work that’s getting my name attached to it. And also a fear that their rates will exceed the fees already agreed for the work.

Any advice?

Thanks, Andi”