Freelancing Bootcamp mentorship interview: Daniel Yam and Agnes
Earlier this year, CreativesAtWork hosted our signature Freelancing Bootcamp - an all-encompassing 6-week course that included networking, workshops, and mentorship. Based on feedback from past participants, we decided to extend the mentorship to a longer period as opposed to the shorter stints in the past… and we’re so glad we did!
In this article, we feature one of our mentors (Daniel, Filmmaker) and his Mentee (Agnes, Freelance Actress). They share what the experience was like for them, what some of their biggest takeaways were, and delve into their challenges. Read on to find out more!
What growth have you seen in your mentees over the past six weeks?
Daniel: I’ve definitely seen an increase in understanding about their focus as well as their niche. Based on what they’ve mentioned, they’ve also developed a greater awareness surrounding their potential to create the dreams they want. Many of them were able to break through limited beliefs and change some of their behaviours from passive to active.
What was the process like?
Daniel: The sessions were really about creating a close “circle” and safe space for growth. From the very beginning, I established that everyone had experiences (both positive and negative) that would benefit someone in the group.
I encouraged sharing and helping one another as well as mutual trust. I firmly believe that we rise by lifting each other up.
We used the workbook as the main curriculum and followed that structure for the discussions we had. Within the curriculum, I would deep dive into specific details depending on the mentee. This often involves identifying their strengths and weaknesses as well as creating plans for career growth and transformation.
How did you have to adapt your usual coaching style based on your mentees’ different backgrounds and interests?
Daniel: I didn’t feel that I needed to adapt my coaching style for different mentees. I respect that everyone is unique and has different backgrounds/ interests.
Rather, I chose to look at what was a common thread between us: the hunger to grow. At the end of the day, we are all individuals on the same path - just at different stages.
My coaching style involves asking questions with the hope that the mentees will find some of the solutions they’ve been looking for. Often, individuals have the answers within themselves - but it’s my job to be that mirror, to help them dig deeper, and to validate them.
Were there any challenges that you felt were common among the mentees?
Daniel: Definitely. Even though the mentees came from different backgrounds, there were many similar challenges shared as freelancers.
Some common internal struggles include not feeling good enough, holding the view that success isn’t deserved, and hanging on to past failures. In terms of external struggles, some common ones were perceived lack of support from our families, procrastination, and self-sabotaging traits.
How did you help them navigate those challenges?
Daniel: Empathy! I’ve made many of their mistakes before, so I can understand their pain points. I was also able to share how I overcame some of these challenges, help them identify barriers to change, and encourage them to take action.
Sometimes, all we need is a push and support from someone else to get us started - that first step is often the most difficult.
For example, many of my mentees were unwilling to get started on marketing, so I created a video challenge for them to create social media content.
What do you think was the biggest benefit for your mentees when working with you?
Daniel: I think (and hope) I was able to help them reframe some of their beliefs based on their values. I also hope that by sharing my failures and life experiences, they develop a better worldview and deeper insight into their career.
As mentioned above, my main objective was to create a safe space where we were able to trust and encourage each other. I did less talking and more asking - leading them to find their compass and answers.
What was your biggest takeaway?
Daniel: When I had to share my past failures, it reminded me of my own journey and the lessons I’ve learnt.
I firmly believe that when you selflessly share your knowledge and experiences to help others, good things will come back to you. It goes two ways.
Meet Agnes, a freelance actress and writer who joined the bootcamp on a day’s notice to learn from others who have been in the same boat as her. She worked with Daniel for six weeks on skills such as marketing, business development, and reigniting her purpose.
Please give us a brief introduction of yourself.
Agnes: I am currently freelancing as an actress, mainly for screen work. Acting has always been my passion, and I finally took the step to venture into this full-time two years ago. This happened to coincide with the pandemic.
I’ve also turned my experience as a content writer into a freelance career. Whenever I am not acting, I’m turning my creative juices into words. Both are my outlets for storytelling.
Why did you decide to join the freelance bootcamp and the mentorship program?
Agnes: I believe freelancing is about sustainability and growth. After all, how else can I become better at what I do, and increase the value I can give others?
After reflection, I realised how eager I was to learn from others who have been in the same position as I am in.
More importantly, I believe there is beauty and endless possibilities in collaboration. Everyone has something to offer based on their unique experiences. I joined the programme for the opportunity to connect with like-minded people across various aspects of the creative industry.
What were some of your hesitations or fears coming into the program?
Agnes: Honestly, I’ve reached a point where I have decided to hesitate less - and do more. In fact, I made the decision to join the programme just a day after seeing a social media post about it.
At the same time, I did have some uncertainty about networking as it’s not something I do very often. At the end of the day, I told myself to keep an open mind and to believe that everything would turn out well… and it did!
What were some of the challenges you’ve encountered as a freelancer?
Agnes: Being in the media, having a good social media presence matters. While I am familiar with digital platforms, I’ve not invested effort consistently into growing my social media presence. This has been a key challenge.
Also, given that I enjoy doing different things, I have not made my niche known in the scene. While it may be clear to me, it might not be to others.
This program has helped me to “de-clutter” and given me increased clarity on developing my niche - that is, to make it as an actress.
Describe the process and what you thought of it (i.e. working with your mentor)?
Agnes: The first step was really about reaffirming my purpose. What is it that drives me, and what do I want to be remembered for? I know that I’ve always enjoyed storytelling and desire to inspire others with my work. Reflecting on this during the course really helped me become more focused on my niche. After that step, we worked on exploring different possibilities and approaches to hone my craft and market my niche.
I loved how I could bounce ideas off my mentorship team - a collaborative and supportive bunch!
What was your biggest takeaway?
Agnes: My biggest takeaway is self-discovery. I think most of us know why we do what we do, and where we want to be. Yet, we rarely dive deeper into our key driving forces and carve out a roadmap for ourselves.
Once we get more clarity and start manifesting our goals, we will be more motivated to start taking action. As my mentor Daniel reminded us, a dream is only a dream without action. Just do it.
Are you a freelancer looking to connect with like-minded individuals? Or are you interested in starting your freelance career? Wherever you are on your journey, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter or join us on Discord for more upcoming training sessions and events.
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