The Better Mondays Podcast

Rochelle Dallas

The Better Mondays Podcast is your straight-talking weekly check-in for freelancers, consultants, coaches, creators and self-employed people who are running the whole show themselves. Think of it as a virtual line manager in your ears, helping you work out what actually matters this week, what needs doing first and where your time is quietly disappearing. Each short Monday episode tackles the practical stuff that keeps your business moving: priorities, boundaries, decisions, goals and getting out of your own way. Direct, honest and refreshingly useful, it’s for anyone who loves the freedom of working for themselves, but needs more structure.

  1. 5d ago

    Retiring a Client: When a Yes Becomes a Hard No

    Ever seen a client’s name pop up on your phone and thought, “I went freelance for THIS?” In this episode of Better Mondays, Rochelle Dallas shares how to let a client go professionally, even when the thought of having that conversation makes you wince. From scope creep to 9pm WhatsApps, you’ll learn to spot what’s making the relationship hard work and decide whether to end it, scale back the work or renegotiate your fees. Rochelle also covers what to say, how to keep the conversation kind and factual, and what to agree on before you finish, from notice to handover. Because every hour you spend on work you dread is an hour you could give to a client you love. Or to your sofa. Tweak of the week: Save this episode for the next time a yes turns into a hard no, and follow Better Mondays for more straight-talking check-ins on self-employment. #BetterMondays #FreelanceBusiness #ClientBoundaries #SelfEmployment Your next move? Let's keep this going. The podcast might finish here, but running your business certainly doesn't. For more straight-talking advice, practical tips, seasonal guidance and support that's actually relevant to what's happening in your business right now, come and find me over on Instagram. Think of it as your little nudge in the right direction between episodes. And if something's got you stuck, my inbox is open too. Follow @bettermondays.club Because being your own boss shouldn't mean figuring everything out on your own. Here's to better Mondays (and the rest of the week, obviously). Created by AI voice cloning tech in conjunction with the lovely humans at WAVEMAKERS AUDIO

  2. Nov 2

    Graft Marketing: What I’d Do If I Started From Scratch

    Starting a business and wondering how to get noticed? Your phone book is a good place to start. Rochelle shares five practical marketing tips she’s using to launch her new venture. She calls it Graft Marketing: building visibility through existing connections, useful conversations and a bit of old-fashioned legwork. From asking friends for introductions to commenting on social media, distributing flyers, attending networking events and helping people in local Facebook groups, this episode explores how small business owners can build relationships and generate word-of-mouth referrals. This week’s tweak: send a short, friendly text telling your contacts what you offer and who you help. Let the “Palgorithm” get to work. Follow Better Mondays for more straight-talking support for the self-employed. #BetterMondays #SmallBusinessMarketing #SelfEmployed #Networking #WordOfMouthMarketing Your next move? Let's keep this going. The podcast might finish here, but running your business certainly doesn't. For more straight-talking advice, practical tips, seasonal guidance and support that's actually relevant to what's happening in your business right now, come and find me over on Instagram. Think of it as your little nudge in the right direction between episodes. And if something's got you stuck, my inbox is open too. Follow @bettermondays.club Because being your own boss shouldn't mean figuring everything out on your own. Here's to better Mondays (and the rest of the week, obviously). Created by AI voice cloning tech in conjunction with the lovely humans at WAVEMAKERS AUDIO

  3. Oct 26

    Turning Your Instinct Into Invoices

    Ever felt cheeky sending an invoice for something that took you two minutes? Those two minutes might be saving your client five hours. Rochelle tackles the guilt around charging for work that comes easily. She explains why experience and efficiency deserve proper payment, how quick favours quietly eat into your income, and why pricing your services starts with recognising the value you deliver. From minimum charges to monthly bundles, this episode explores practical ways to monetise your expertise. Plus, Rochelle shares a simple exercise to help you calculate what your knowledge could be worth to your clients. What’s the “quick thing” you keep doing for free? Follow The Better Mondays podcast for more straight-talking support for self-employed business owners. #BetterMondays #SelfEmployed #PricingYourServices #ValueYourExpertise Your next move? Let's keep this going. The podcast might finish here, but running your business certainly doesn't. For more straight-talking advice, practical tips, seasonal guidance and support that's actually relevant to what's happening in your business right now, come and find me over on Instagram. Think of it as your little nudge in the right direction between episodes. And if something's got you stuck, my inbox is open too. Follow @bettermondays.club Because being your own boss shouldn't mean figuring everything out on your own. Here's to better Mondays (and the rest of the week, obviously). Created by AI voice cloning tech in conjunction with the lovely humans at WAVEMAKERS AUDIO

  4. Oct 19

    Switch Off Sundays

    You wouldn’t tolerate a boss messaging you at nine o’clock on a Sunday. So why are you being that boss? Rochelle shares her Switch Off Sunday rule: phone off on Saturday night, back on Monday morning. No emails, no WhatsApp and no “quick check” that turns into forty minutes watching someone restore a frying pan. If working for yourself means you’re always available, this episode offers a practical way to set work-life boundaries, reduce mindless scrolling and reclaim your weekend. Find out how Rochelle prepares for a phone-free Sunday, sets an emergency contact route and lets Monday jobs wait until Monday. Your tweak of the week: switch your phone OFF. Silent doesn’t count. When did you last go a whole day without it? Follow The Better Mondays podcast for more straight-talking support for self-employed life. #BetterMondays #SelfEmployed #WorkLifeBalance #SwitchOffSunday #PhoneFree Your next move? Let's keep this going. The podcast might finish here, but running your business certainly doesn't. For more straight-talking advice, practical tips, seasonal guidance and support that's actually relevant to what's happening in your business right now, come and find me over on Instagram. Think of it as your little nudge in the right direction between episodes. And if something's got you stuck, my inbox is open too. Follow @bettermondays.club Because being your own boss shouldn't mean figuring everything out on your own. Here's to better Mondays (and the rest of the week, obviously). Created by AI voice cloning tech in conjunction with the lovely humans at WAVEMAKERS AUDIO

  5. Oct 11

    When Did You Last Give Yourself a Pay Rise?

    Fully booked but still not earning enough? Your prices might need a promotion. Rochelle Dallas tackles undercharging, rising business costs and the price of those “I’ll just do that for you” extras. For freelancers and self-employed business owners, this is a straight-talking reminder that nobody else is handing out your next pay rise. Learn how to calculate your real hourly rate, spot scope creep and review your pricing to cover more than the hours you spend with clients. Rochelle also explains how raising your rates could mean more income with fewer clients, and how to communicate a price increase without an apologetic essay. Follow The Better Mondays podcast for practical weekly check-ins to help you run your business with confidence. #BetterMondays #SelfEmployed #PricingStrategy #RaiseYourRates #SmallBusiness Your next move? Let's keep this going. The podcast might finish here, but running your business certainly doesn't. For more straight-talking advice, practical tips, seasonal guidance and support that's actually relevant to what's happening in your business right now, come and find me over on Instagram. Think of it as your little nudge in the right direction between episodes. And if something's got you stuck, my inbox is open too. Follow @bettermondays.club Because being your own boss shouldn't mean figuring everything out on your own. Here's to better Mondays (and the rest of the week, obviously). Created by AI voice cloning tech in conjunction with the lovely humans at WAVEMAKERS AUDIO

  6. Oct 4

    Two truths and a lie: Never Work With Children, Animals, or Family

    Never work with children, animals… or family? Rochelle Dallas disagrees with that last one. From childhood market stalls to multi-million-pound businesses with her siblings, working with family has been behind some of her most rewarding projects. In this episode of The Better Mondays podcast, Rochelle shares what makes a family business work: honest communication, trust and the maturity to make difficult business decisions without ruining Christmas. She explores the benefits of working with relatives, navigating stressful periods together and building something that raises the whole family up. In this episode: Why working with family can be a strength in business.How communication, trust and honesty support successful business partnerships.Making tough business decisions while respecting family relationships.The benefits of shared goals, understanding and celebrating success together.What to consider before starting a business with a family member. Is there someone in your family you’d love to work with, but you’ve held back because everyone says it’s a bad idea? This week’s check-in might give you a reason to rethink it. Follow The Better Mondays podcast for more straight-talking check-ins with Rochelle, your personal, virtual line manager. Your next move? Let's keep this going. The podcast might finish here, but running your business certainly doesn't. For more straight-talking advice, practical tips, seasonal guidance and support that's actually relevant to what's happening in your business right now, come and find me over on Instagram. Think of it as your little nudge in the right direction between episodes. And if something's got you stuck, my inbox is open too. Follow @bettermondays.club Because being your own boss shouldn't mean figuring everything out on your own. Here's to better Mondays (and the rest of the week, obviously). Created by AI voice cloning tech in conjunction with the lovely humans at WAVEMAKERS AUDIO

  7. Sep 27

    There’s No Compassionate Leave When You’re Self-Employed

    When life hits hard, being self-employed doesn’t come with compassionate leave. In this deeply personal episode, Rochelle shares what has actually helped her keep her business ticking over while grieving the loss of a very close friend. From stricter contact hours and longer turnaround times to pausing growth, delegating more and deliberately lowering the pressure, this episode explores how to create breathing space when there’s nobody else there to protect it for you. Rochelle also talks about accepting the emotional ups and downs, communicating what’s needed without explaining everything, and making proper space to process what’s happened. Follow Better Mondays so you never miss an episode, and check out {DIGITAL PRODUCT NAME AND LINK}. #BetterMondays #SelfEmployment #BusinessBoundaries #GriefAndWork #BusinessOwner Keywords: grief and self-employment, running a business through bereavement, business boundaries, compassionate leave for business owners, managing work during grief Your next move? Let's keep this going. The podcast might finish here, but running your business certainly doesn't. For more straight-talking advice, practical tips, seasonal guidance and support that's actually relevant to what's happening in your business right now, come and find me over on Instagram. Think of it as your little nudge in the right direction between episodes. And if something's got you stuck, my inbox is open too. Follow @bettermondays.club Because being your own boss shouldn't mean figuring everything out on your own. Here's to better Mondays (and the rest of the week, obviously). Created by AI voice cloning tech in conjunction with the lovely humans at WAVEMAKERS AUDIO

  8. Sep 20

    Working Through Your Grief

    Grief doesn’t stop because you’re self-employed. And unfortunately, neither does the work. In this episode, Rochelle talks honestly about working through bereavement when there’s no compassionate leave, no one to cover your workload, and bills that still need paying. She shares what’s helped her through two devastating losses while running a business, including communicating with clients, working with your energy instead of against it, getting out of the house, using work as a healthy distraction, and resisting the pressure to make huge life or business decisions while you’re deep in grief. This isn’t about pushing through. It’s about finding a way to keep things moving while giving yourself space to grieve. Next week, Rochelle shares how to create your own version of compassionate leave when you’re self-employed. Follow Better Mondays so you never miss an episode. Keywords: grief and self employment, bereavement at work, working through grief, self employed business owner, compassionate leave for freelancers, running a business through hard times, freelancer wellbeing, grief and productivity. #BetterMondays #SelfEmployedLife #GriefAndWork #FreelancerLife #BusinessOwner Your next move? Let's keep this going. The podcast might finish here, but running your business certainly doesn't. For more straight-talking advice, practical tips, seasonal guidance and support that's actually relevant to what's happening in your business right now, come and find me over on Instagram. Think of it as your little nudge in the right direction between episodes. And if something's got you stuck, my inbox is open too. Follow @bettermondays.club Because being your own boss shouldn't mean figuring everything out on your own. Here's to better Mondays (and the rest of the week, obviously). Created by AI voice cloning tech in conjunction with the lovely humans at WAVEMAKERS AUDIO

About

The Better Mondays Podcast is your straight-talking weekly check-in for freelancers, consultants, coaches, creators and self-employed people who are running the whole show themselves. Think of it as a virtual line manager in your ears, helping you work out what actually matters this week, what needs doing first and where your time is quietly disappearing. Each short Monday episode tackles the practical stuff that keeps your business moving: priorities, boundaries, decisions, goals and getting out of your own way. Direct, honest and refreshingly useful, it’s for anyone who loves the freedom of working for themselves, but needs more structure.