Helen Dodd joined Setfords for the freedom and flexibility consultancy offers, and says the reality has matched her expectations. For her, the appeal was having the opportunity to work at a time and in a place that suits her, without someone else making that decision.
Working Life, Her Way
For Helen, being her own boss is less about grand gestures and more about the small freedoms that come with the flexibility of setting her own schedule. When asked what she can do now that she couldn’t in an employed role, her answer leant into one of these small moments:
“Being able to hang the washing out. Or bring it in if it rains. As well as working completely uninterrupted.”
That same independence shapes where she works, not just when. Helen splits her time between a fixed base and her motorhome, choosing whichever suits the day.
“I work from various places in my motorhome, including the forecourt of a garage while waiting for my washing to finish. I often travel to places with beautiful views to glance at while pausing from work.”
A support network of 200+
Before joining Setfords, Helen’s main concern was losing the ability to consult colleagues on ideas and problems in the way she could in an employed role. That worry did not last.
“Setfords’ Compliance team are good at responding to compliance-based questions. For legal assistance, the other consultants are always happy to give guidance.”
Day to day admin and secretarial work are covered by support teams at our Guildford head office which takes further pressure off. This enables Helen to focus almost entirely on her caseload allowing her to have more control over her earnings as a consultant than she did before when she was in an employed role.
“If I want to earn more, I just work more. There is usually more work available for me than I can do.”
Thinking of Making the Move?
Helen’s advice for anyone weighing up the move centres on organisation and self-reliance, along with a few practical lessons learned along the way.
“You need to be organised and self-reliant. Try and work paper free. When I started, I printed a lot off and then became swamped in paperwork when I didn’t need to be. Have two screens too, and remember to take breaks.”
Ready to take control of your career?
