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The Other Side

Jane Curtis

The Charity Freelancer's Podcast | Where Charity Experience meets Freelance Success

The Other Side: The Charity Freelancer's Podcast explores the journey from charity professional to thriving freelancer. Join us for practical tips, real stories, and community connection for anyone considering or already on their freelance journey in the sector.

Jane Curtis chats with individuals who've made the leap to freelance or self employment from the charity sector and in doing so uncovers invaluable practical tips and incredible insights first-hand.

Whether you're considering making the move or you're already on your freelance journey, or you’re just nosey and want to know what goes on behind the scenes of well known freelance businesses… you're in the right place.

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16 episodes
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Avg 39 min
English

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Monday · 39 min
Steve Allman - Build A Sustainable Freelance Life And Bring Hobnobs
Steve Allman discovered the charity sector as a teenage volunteer and loved it so much he never left. Coaching charity leaders and facilitating workshops, he’s designed a freelance life that works around real family needs. We talk about how to make self-employment work after a long charity career: what resilience looks like when you’re responsible for your own income, how to avoid burnout, and why boundaries matter more than hustle. Steve shares how he moved through different freelance phases, from saying yes to almost everything (and undercharging for years) to getting clear on an offer that plays to his strengths and protects his energy. LinkedIn is a big part of Steve’s story. During lockdown he posted daily to tackle professional isolation, and with 45,000 followers he's now well-known for his light-hearted approach to content. We dig into how he finds ideas, why humour can validate tough truths for charity CEOs and managers, and what “being yourself” looks like when you want clients without sounding like every other beige post. - You can connect with Steve on LinkedIn. - If you want practical insight on freelancing in relation to pricing, workload boundaries and LinkedIn content that actually sounds human, you’ll get a lot out of this episode. Please subscribe, share, and leave a review so more charity freelancers can find us. If you're looking to replace your 9 to 5 salary without working 24/7, check out my website where you can sign up to weekly tips to help you earn more doing work you love. Send us Fan Mail Jane Curtis, founder of The Charity Freelancing Course, host of The Other Side Podcast and Co-founder of The Rich & Restored Movement. Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports over 100 charity sector freelancers to build businesses that make more money with joy and integrity. Connect here: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Website
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March 24 · 41 min
Michelle Benson - Using LinkedIn As A Fundraising Engine
Cold outreach can feel like shouting into the void, especially when you’re under pressure to hit ambitious fundraising targets. That’s why this conversation with Michelle Benson lands so well: she’s been a fundraiser, she’s been a funder, and she’s built a thriving business by turning visibility into income. Michelle shares what she learned after moving from charity roles into a trust fund environment. We unpack what happens when charities keep pushing one-to-one tactics while funders build pipelines through research, referrals, and signals of credibility. The result is a gap many fundraisers feel every day: you’re told to raise more money faster, yet the route to decision makers gets less straightforward. We get practical about LinkedIn strategy as Michelle explains her “digital twin” approach, why a one-to-many platform changes the game, and how she uses data to refine what works. We also talk about building a LinkedIn-friendly case for support, improving your profile so you’re easier to trust, and staying consistent so your marketing doesn’t disappear when client work gets busy. Please subscribe, share, and leave a review so more charity professionals can find their way to the other side. - You can connect with Michelle via LinkedIn, or head to her website. - Send us Fan Mail Jane Curtis, founder of The Charity Freelancing Course, host of The Other Side Podcast and Co-founder of The Rich & Restored Movement. Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports over 100 charity sector freelancers to build businesses that make more money with joy and integrity. Connect here: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Website
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March 17 · 48 min
Ceri Sunu - Mastering Your Own Time
Your job can give you purpose, structure, and a handy answer to “what do you do?” but what happens when that label no longer fits? I’m joined by Ceri Sunu, an accidental fundraiser turned entrepreneur and CEO of Brabble, an inclusion consultancy serving arts, culture, heritage, and creative organisations. Ceri shares the real story behind leaving the charity sector, building a portfolio career, and learning how to “master my own time” without letting work take over her identity. She opens up about time poverty, unexpected outcomes, and why creating from rest matters more than forcing productivity. Ceri explains why one-off diversity and inclusion initiatives don't lead to embedded inclusion, why inclusive recruitment needs a repeatable strategy, and how better business modelling and more commercial practices can help charities survive. Subscribe so you don't miss future conversations, and if this resonates please share and leave us a review. What's the one boundary you need to protect to make freelancing sustainable? - You can find more details about The Recruitment Reboot on the Brabble website. - Send us Fan Mail Jane Curtis, founder of The Charity Freelancing Course, host of The Other Side Podcast and Co-founder of The Rich & Restored Movement. Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports over 100 charity sector freelancers to build businesses that make more money with joy and integrity. Connect here: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Website
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March 10 · 37 min
Bethany Helliwell-Smith - From Redundancy To Resilience
What if redundancy wasn’t a setback but your invitation to design work on your terms? We sit down with Bethany Helliwell-Smith, a former fundraiser who turned crisis into clarity, building a coaching practice that helps freelancers and fundraisers do good and be well. We explore the habits that transfer from fundraising to freelancing, diving into the mindset work that frees many charity professionals: deprogramming nine-to-five thinking, moving from time-based pricing to output-based value, and holding boundaries so other people’s urgency doesn’t run your week. Expect practical tips on building community online and offline, protecting your energy from compassion fatigue, and planning your year around rhythms so you can thrive without burning out. Enjoy the conversation, then subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. - Keep in touch with Bethany via LinkedIn, Instagram, or her website. - Send us Fan Mail Jane Curtis, founder of The Charity Freelancing Course, host of The Other Side Podcast and Co-founder of The Rich & Restored Movement. Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports over 100 charity sector freelancers to build businesses that make more money with joy and integrity. Connect here: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Website
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March 3 · 40 min
Rebs Curtis-Moss - Designing A Career That Fits Your Brain And Your Values
Ready to design work that fits your brain, your values, and your life? Jane sits down with Rebs, a digital communications and fundraising specialist who left senior charity roles to build a flexible consultancy. We unpack the practical steps behind a smooth transition: testing services as a side hustle, building a client base before quitting, and shaping a week that blends strategic work with hands-on delivery. Rebs shares how being autistic led them to rethink productivity and energy. We talk candidly about feast-and-famine cycles, why a financial buffer beats bravado, and the one safeguard too many freelancers skip. Rebs also explains the unique value of bridging fundraising with digital comms, especially when social platforms shift under our feet and charities need both quick wins and sustainable systems. Community plays a starring role. From Slack groups to local fundraisers’ meetups and outdoor networking, we explore how to stay connected, visible, and supported. And we look ahead at AI in the charity sector: where it helps, where it risks harm, and why transparent AI policies will soon be standard in contracts and training. Enjoyed the conversation? Subscribe, share it with a colleague who’s freelance-curious, and leave a review to help more people find the show. Got a question or a story about your own leap? Message us on LinkedIn or sign up to the Charity Freelancing course. - Visit Rebs' website or connect with them on LinkedIn. - Send us Fan Mail Jane Curtis, founder of The Charity Freelancing Course, host of The Other Side Podcast and Co-founder of The Rich & Restored Movement. Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports over 100 charity sector freelancers to build businesses that make more money with joy and integrity. Connect here: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Website
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February 24 · 31 min
Analiese Doctrove - How The First Month of Freelancing Really Looks
Thinking about trading a senior charity post for a life with fewer meetings and more meaning? We sit down with fundraiser-turned-freelancer Analiese Doctrove to map a path that balances family, focus, and real sector impact. We get practical about the move: lining up early clients through warm contacts, announcing the shift on LinkedIn, and joining supportive communities that value collaboration over competition. Analiese shares how core fundraising skills translate seamlessly to consulting, while self-promotion needs a fresh mindset. You’ll hear what the first month really feels like: quiet mornings without Slack pings, deep work that finishes on time, and the strange urge to fill every free minute. We unpack how to handle peaks and troughs, when to say no, and why capacity-led planning beats wishful thinking. If you’re a charity professional eyeing up the freelance route, this conversation offers a clear view of what’s possible. Subscribe, share this with a colleague who needs it, and leave a review to help more charity professionals design work that serves their lives and their purpose. Head to Analiese's website to find out more about her work. Send us Fan Mail Jane Curtis, founder of The Charity Freelancing Course, host of The Other Side Podcast and Co-founder of The Rich & Restored Movement. Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports over 100 charity sector freelancers to build businesses that make more money with joy and integrity. Connect here: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Website
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February 17 · 43 min
Craig Linton - What Fundraising Taught Me About Running A Business
We sit down with Craig Linton, co-founder of Thread Fundraising and co-author of Donors for Life, drawing out practical steps for a low-risk move into consulting. Across this candid chat, we dig into the skills that transfer directly from fundraising to business ownership: clear storytelling, supporter care reimagined as client care, and evidence-led decisions. We also grapple with pricing: where generosity meets boundaries, and why working for free can undercut your impact. Craig explains how to build private AI brains from your proven frameworks, using a “critical friend” prompt to catch blindspots, and turning blank pages into first drafts without losing the human aspect that wins trust. Enjoyed this conversation? Subscribe, share with a colleague who’s considering the leap, and leave us a review. Your feedback helps more charity professionals find a path to meaningful, independent work. - You can connect with Craig on LinkedIn, or check out the Thread Fundraising website. Send us Fan Mail Jane Curtis, founder of The Charity Freelancing Course, host of The Other Side Podcast and Co-founder of The Rich & Restored Movement. Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports over 100 charity sector freelancers to build businesses that make more money with joy and integrity. Connect here: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Website
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February 10 · 38 min
Jen McCanna - Why Managing Your Energy Is The Real Edge In Freelancing
Ready to turn a solid charity career into a resilient, human-centred freelance practice? Jane sits down with leadership coach and My Emotional Work Life host, Jen McCanna, to explore how she moved from events fundraising to learning and development and built a coaching business that lasts. Jen shares the underrated skills that still pay off, and how they translate into confident facilitation and trusted delivery. We dig into energy management as strategy, not self-care fluff: the rhythm of client days and desk days, the power of social energy, and the telltale sign she watches for as a cue to reset. If you’re juggling big roles, tough stakeholders, or a leap into freelancing, her tools for noticing early and adjusting fast will help you protect your capacity to lead. We also get practical about finding clients and staying booked. Expect thoughtful insights on designing work around life, shedding old rules, and building a business that feels energising, not draining. Check out My Emotional Work Life here, and you can connect with Jen on LinkedIn and Instagram. Subscribe for more conversations on freelancing, leadership, and meaningful work. If this sparked something for you, share it with a colleague, leave a review, and tell us: what skill from your past role will you leverage first? Send us Fan Mail Jane Curtis, founder of The Charity Freelancing Course, host of The Other Side Podcast and Co-founder of The Rich & Restored Movement. Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports over 100 charity sector freelancers to build businesses that make more money with joy and integrity. Connect here: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Website
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Nov 25, 2025 · 44 min
Simon Scriver - How A Charity Fundraiser Built An Inclusive Training Community Online
In Episode 8 of The Other Side, Simon Scriver shares how two failed ventures shaped a thriving, accessible training community for fundraisers. From street fundraising to global virtual events, Simon breaks down luck vs grit, why boring work matters and how to stop under-pricing your services. We also discuss hiring fears, building a supportive community without burning out and whether the charity sector is ready for the growth in freelance and consultant services. One of my fave episodes to date, listen on all your usual platforms and at the link below. You can connect with Simon on LinkedIn and at https://www.fundraisingeverywhere.com/ Send us Fan Mail Jane Curtis, founder of The Charity Freelancing Course, host of The Other Side Podcast and Co-founder of The Rich & Restored Movement. Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports over 100 charity sector freelancers to build businesses that make more money with joy and integrity. Connect here: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Website
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Nov 18, 2025 · 42 min
Jenny Perez - How A Fundraising Leader Rebuilt A Career On Her Terms
What if the top job isn’t the right job? Jenny Perez spent 30 years in the charity sector, rose to a national CEO role, and discovered that the work she loved most had been buried under daily operations and admin. Her path back to energising work runs through redundancy, a freelance contract in mentoring, and a master’s degree completed while solo parenting. The lesson is not about grit for its own sake, it’s about designing your days around the work that makes you come alive. Jenny shares how she blended PAYE stability with freelance contracts to de-risk the transition, then went fully independent with structure and intention. If you think trust fundraising is just form-filling, think again. Jenny explains how the field has shifted to relationships, clear decision-ready proposals, and smart use of digital touchpoints. Her Think Like A Funder approach helps teams mirror assessment criteria, surface evidence, and tell stories that cut through crowded rounds and early-closing funds. We also get honest about boundaries, pricing, and the urge to say yes to everything. Jenny maps how investing in herself through coaching, communities and a restorative retreat have helped to fast-track confidence, pricing clarity and networks. For anyone curious about a career pivot later in life, her message is clear: experience compounds when you work on your terms, and it’s never too late to choose meaningful work over job titles. Subscribe for more candid journeys from charity professional to thriving freelancer, share this episode with someone planning their leap, and tell us: what would you redesign first: your offer, your routine, or your pricing? - You can connect with Jenny on LinkedIn - Send us Fan Mail Jane Curtis, founder of The Charity Freelancing Course, host of The Other Side Podcast and Co-founder of The Rich & Restored Movement. Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports over 100 charity sector freelancers to build businesses that make more money with joy and integrity. Connect here: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Website
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Nov 11, 2025 · 38 min
Rosie Milsom - Building A Joyful Portfolio Career With Purpose And Self-Worth
Ready to trade a single job title for a life that actually fits? Jane sits down with former grants fundraiser Rosie Milsom to map her rewarding shift from sector employment to a flexible, purpose-led portfolio career. It starts with side projects and a LinkedIn post, winds through a deeply personal fertility journey, and lands on a simple insight with big consequences: self-worth powers everything. Rosie shares the practical moves that made her transition stick: taking on training, launching coaching while employed, and negotiating part-time hours to create space for clients. We unpack the way she uses joy and values to filter opportunities, and the systems she leans on when forecasts wobble. Expect real talk on pricing with confidence, setting boundaries, and building resilience without pretending everything is fine. We also dig into the engine of sustainable growth: relationships. From sector groups to conferences, follow-ups to case studies, Rosie shows how thoughtful outreach compounds into referrals and a reputation. She explains why many purpose-driven women stall despite credentials, and how to rebuild that self-worth foundation so your marketing, offers, and money mindset finally click. - You can connect with Rosie on LinkedIn or visit her website. You can also check out her free confidence block quiz - https://rosiemilsom.scoreapp.com - Send us Fan Mail Jane Curtis, founder of The Charity Freelancing Course, host of The Other Side Podcast and Co-founder of The Rich & Restored Movement. Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports over 100 charity sector freelancers to build businesses that make more money with joy and integrity. Connect here: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Website
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Oct 28, 2025 · 44 min
Rob Woods - From Charity Job To Bright Spot Business
Ready to trade one-off wins for lasting momentum? Bright Spot founder Rob Woods joins us to unpack how charity professionals can build a sustainable, values-led business without burning out or getting lost in feast-or-famine cycles. Rob shares the pivotal moment he moved from training days to the Bright Spot Members Club, creating an environment where fundraisers stay inspired, practise proven techniques, and follow through long after the workshop buzz fades. We talk strategy and structure: how to test offers by teaching, why consistency outperforms talent, and the daily habits that protect deep work. Rob describes the power of choosing one channel, and showing up reliably so trust compounds. He also offers practical guidance for a safer leap: reduce hours before resigning, calculate your financial runway, and treat your new venture as a business from day one. Community is at the core of Rob’s success. From early accountability groups to long-term learning cohorts, he shows how the right relationships shorten the learning curve, normalise ambition, and facilitate decision-making. If you want a clear, human blueprint for moving from charity role to thriving freelancer, built on generous marketing, practical tools, and steady consistency, this conversation delivers. - Check out his website where you can find out more about Corporate Partnerships Mastery, Major Gifts Mastery programs, and Brightspot Members Club, and also listen to his Fundraising Bright Spots Show podcast. - If this resonates, please follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review to help more charity professionals find it. - Send us Fan Mail Jane Curtis, founder of The Charity Freelancing Course, host of The Other Side Podcast and Co-founder of The Rich & Restored Movement. Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports over 100 charity sector freelancers to build businesses that make more money with joy and integrity. Connect here: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Website
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Oct 22, 2025 · 45 min
Vic Hancock Fell - From Charity CEO to Collective Consultancy
This week Jane sits down with former small charity chief exec turned consultant, trainer, and social enterprise co-founder, Vic Hancock Fell. They unpack the power of a long runway, a clear offer, and a values-led business model. Vic shares how a master’s degree exposed the gap in sector support for small charities, and how that insight grew into two distinct paths: a personal consultancy of one-to-many leadership training, and Fair Collective, a not-for-profit matchmaking service connecting social good organisations with trusted freelancers. We dive into the nuts and bolts of the associate model at Fair Collective and we chat about her income mix of front-loaded course enrolments, evergreen e-learning, speaking, and one-to-one work, that creates stability without a 60-hour week. This conversation covers the school-run, ADHD-aware planning, the constant pull to overcommit, and the skill of saying no. You’ll hear practical tactics for building a supportive community, publishing fair prices, and designing a work week where you can thrive not just survive. - You can connect with Vic on: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vichancockfell/ Insta - https://www.instagram.com/vichancockfell/ - Enjoyed this chat? Subscribe, share it with a colleague planning their own freelance journey, and leave a review so more purpose-led charity professionals can find it. - Send us Fan Mail Jane Curtis, founder of The Charity Freelancing Course, host of The Other Side Podcast and Co-founder of The Rich & Restored Movement. Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports over 100 charity sector freelancers to build businesses that make more money with joy and integrity. Connect here: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Website
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Oct 14, 2025 · 32 min
Lesley Pinder - Finding Your Compass in Freelance Life
Jane sits down with Lesley Pinder, founder of Compass, her start up company that explores how charities can make generosity feel great by designing experiences that reflect human behaviour, not tidy funnels. We unpack the moment Lesley chose to leave the 9-5, why specialisation is key, and how “you don’t need a map, you need a compass” became the north star for her consultancy. We talk practicalities too, from shaping consultancy offers from live demand, to carving out routines to protect deep work. Expect honest reflections on recovery after busy roles, the slow path from first chat to signed contract, and the money mindset required to hold your rate without flinching. You’ll take away actionable ideas on donor retention, supporter journeys, and human-centred design. You’ll also hear how mentors and community can accelerate the leap, plus the unglamorous moves that matter early: choosing a clear niche, having a memorable brand, hiring a good accountant, and keeping a savings runway. - If you're looking for support with supporter experience - Lesley's happy to chat even if you're not sure what that means yet. You can connect with Lesley on LinkedIn, head to her website or drop her an email. - Enjoyed the conversation? Subscribe, share with a freelance friend, and leave a quick review so more charity professionals can find the show. - Send us Fan Mail Jane Curtis, founder of The Charity Freelancing Course, host of The Other Side Podcast and Co-founder of The Rich & Restored Movement. Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports over 100 charity sector freelancers to build businesses that make more money with joy and integrity. Connect here: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Website
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Oct 7, 2025 · 27 min
Richard Berks - Turning Charity Comms Into a Sustainable Freelance Career
What happens when a scientist trades lab notes for writing stories that move donors to act? Richard Berks traces his path from research to charity communications to a sustainable freelance career, and the surprising tweet that sparked a community trusted by thousands for connection and clarity. Richard shares the lesson many of us learn too late: offering everything is not a strategy. He breaks down how he narrowed his services to what medical research charities actually buy, offering donor-friendly content that shows how funding changes lives. We talk through shaping a niche without boxing yourself in, validating offers by listening to what clients repeatedly ask for, and setting boundaries that protect family time instead of burning it at conferences and events. There’s practical marketing throughout: simple LinkedIn visibility, a “I’m now freelance” post, nudging ex-colleagues, joining sector directories, and sending respectful cold emails when you have a defined audience. We also explore the human side of freelancing- loneliness, winter slumps, and the mental load of working from home- and how small habits like a 20-minute walk, focus-friendly background audio, and a personal “energy playlist” can turn a slow afternoon into a productive one. You’ll also hear how Charity Freelancer Chat began with a casual coffee invite, and became a monthly anchor for freelancers across the sector. You can connect with Richard and follow Charity Freelancer Chat on LinkedIn. If this episode resonates with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a colleague who’s thinking about their own freelance leap. Send us Fan Mail Jane Curtis, founder of The Charity Freelancing Course, host of The Other Side Podcast and Co-founder of The Rich & Restored Movement. Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports over 100 charity sector freelancers to build businesses that make more money with joy and integrity. Connect here: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Website
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Sep 30, 2025 · 41 min
Cindy Wagman - From Accidental Consultant to Fractional Business Coach
What if you could build a six-figure consulting business while still having time for the life you want? Cindy Wagman takes us on her fascinating journey from charity professional to thriving business coach who's helped over 100 nonprofit consultants create profitable, values-driven practices. Cindy shares how she became an "accidental consultant" during maternity leave when her mentor suggested negotiating a contract instead of accepting a traditional job offer. With remarkable candour, she reveals the moment she shifted from feeling like she needed to "beg" for opportunities to confidently stating her terms—and how this fundamental mindset change transformed her career. The conversation explores Cindy's evolution from running a six-person consultancy to developing her Fractional Fundraiser Academy (soon to be rebranded as the Non-Profit Fractional Operating System). Rather than continuing to grow her team when demand increased, she chose a different path: teaching experienced professionals how to deliver the same services independently. This pivot allowed her to scale her impact without sacrificing the quality of life she'd built. Cindy's practical approach to work-life balance truly stands out. She details her strategy of alternating "CEO weeks" dedicated to deep work with client-facing weeks for meetings and connections. For those struggling with the "always available" mentality common in the charity sector, her framework offers an alternative that prioritises both productivity and personal wellbeing. Cindy's advice on warming up your network, understanding your numbers, and letting go of the "workaholic" identity provides a roadmap for building a sustainable business aligned with your values. As she wisely notes, "focus on what you want, what you need right now out of consulting, and try to quiet the rest of the noise out there." Cindy's always happy to chat with people exploring fractional consulting Connect with her on LinkedIn and check out her private podcast Fracture. - Send us Fan Mail Jane Curtis, founder of The Charity Freelancing Course, host of The Other Side Podcast and Co-founder of The Rich & Restored Movement. Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports over 100 charity sector freelancers to build businesses that make more money with joy and integrity. Connect here: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Website
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