Free Agents
David Sparks and Jason Snell spent their careers working for the establishment. Then one day, they’d had enough. Now they are independent workers, learning what it takes to succeed in the 21st century. They are… free agents.
#23: It's Hard To Get on a Different Train
June 13th, 2017 · 40 minutes
When should you form a corporation, and if so, what kind? David has some broad advice, though you should be sure to consult with a local attorney and your accountant before making any final decisions.
#22: Staying Agile
May 30th, 2017 · 27 minutes
One of your great advantages as an independent worker is your agility. While larger companies have more resources, they can be much slower to react to change. David and Jason swap war stories about adapting and changing, including Jason's decision to leave one podcast and start another.
#21: The Second Feedback Episode
May 16th, 2017 · 57 minutes
We're once again answering your letters and tweets In a wide-ranging episode covering all sorts of aspects of being an independent worker.
#20: Jason's Origin Story
May 3rd, 2017 · 59 minutes
David asks Jason to explain where he came from, the background of his career, and what the circumstances were that led him to become an independent worker, and then asks him to reflect on his two-plus years no longer being employed by a big corporation.
#19: Nobody Grades You on the Scaffolding
April 18th, 2017 · 59 minutes
Every independent worker will agree that being organized is important. But should you adopt an organizational system? How can these systems help you, and are they worth the investment? Jason and David detail their own personal organization systems and discuss approaches to getting more organized, as well as tools to use to help in the process.
#18: A Series of Logical Decisions, with Greg Pierce
April 4th, 2017 · 44 minutes
Agile Tortoise's Greg Pierce discusses what he's learned in a decade as an independent developer and consultant.
#17: Stop Digging
March 21st, 2017 · 28 minutes
Not all clients are good clients. If you don't manage the herd, you could lose the farm. This is why it's important to consider the right time, and right way, to fire a client. We discuss fireable offenses both obvious and subtle, and the best approach to take when firing a client.
#16: R2-D2 on My Desk
March 7th, 2017 · 53 minutes
Jason and David discuss their home-office set-ups and the challenges they face when working in a house they share with other people. When do you lock your doors? How do you "go home" at the end of the day? What gear do they use? And do they admit to their clients that they're working in their pajamas?
#15: Put on the Business Hat
February 21st, 2017 · 41 minutes
You can't earn a living as a Free Agent if you don't get paid. In this episode we discuss why the sign of a true professional is ensuring that they're being compensated. Why is getting paid so hard? How do we handle billing? When you're on your own, you're the one who has to make sure that the money is flowing in. If you don't get paid, you won't …
#14: Putting Numbers in Boxes, with Andrew Carroll
February 7th, 2017 · 38 minutes
A new year brings accounting and tax challenges for independent workers, so we asked accountant and financial advisor Andrew Carroll to join us. Andrew recently went out on his own and now provides tax and financial advice to free agents and entrepreneurs.