We were lucky to catch up with Freya Padmore recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Freya with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
Growing up, my mum was a self-employed painter and decorator and not just any painter and decorator. She was one of the very few women in what was (and still is) a very male-dominated industry. She ran her own business while raising three children, and she built everything from the ground up. Watching her juggle it all with such determination and pride made a huge impression on me. She had this incredible sense of drive and independence, and she never shied away from hard work. I’m incredibly proud to call her my mum, and I know that so much of who I am today comes from her example.
That said, I’ve always had that drive in me too. Even back in school, I was the type of person who revised endlessly for exams. I wasn’t one of those people who could just “wing it” and still get good grades. I had to put the work in. But I actually liked that feeling of working hard and achieving something because of it. It gave me a real sense of accomplishment. I’ve always been ambitious and motivated, and I’ve learned that effort is what turns ambition into results.
Now, running my own business, that same mindset carries through every day. Being self-employed means you have to have a strong work ethic. It’s non-negotiable. But, it’s the habits you build that keep things running smoothly. For me, that means living by my calendar. If there’s something I need to do regularly, I set a recurring event. I time-block my days so I know exactly what I’m focusing on, and I rely on automation tools like Zapier, Acuity, and templates to keep everything streamlined. Those systems help me stay consistent and keep my head clear, so I can focus on the creative and strategic parts of my work.
Of course, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. I’ve definitely faced burnout – those times where I’ve pushed so hard that I end up completely drained and uninspired. When that happens, I always come back to one question: What’s going to bring me joy right now? Reconnecting with joy helps me realign my energy and remember why I started my business in the first place. And when I lead with joy again, that’s when everything starts to flow. The motivation. The creativity. The results.
At the heart of it all, my work ethic comes down to a mix of what I learned from my mum and what I’ve built for myself. It’s about drive, structure, and joy – the balance between working hard and making sure the work still feels meaningful. That’s what keeps me showing up every single day.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a website designer for small businesses and online service providers and one of the things that feels most special to me about what I do is helping women learn new skills and feel confident in something that can often seem really overwhelming: tech and websites. I love showing people that building a beautiful, strategic website doesn’t have to be scary or complicated. With the right guidance and a little bit of support, you can absolutely do it yourself.
That’s actually how my membership, The DIY Website Club, came to life. It started out with me running a few workshops here and there, teaching people how to use Squarespace and improve their websites. But I quickly realised that those sessions brought me so much joy. I loved seeing people light up when things started to click and they felt empowered to take charge of their online space. That’s when I decided to turn it into something bigger and more supportive: a full membership experience.
The DIY Website Club is still quite new, but it’s already become such a lovely community. Inside, we do regular co-working calls, so members have dedicated time blocked out in their calendars to actually work on their websites, rather than putting it off for “someday.” There are over 40 video modules that walk you through everything from planning your website to building it on Squarespace, and I’m always adding new and updated content. Plus, members get unlimited “Ask Me Anything” support, so if you ever get stuck, there’s always someone there to help.
For me, it’s not just about building websites, it’s about building confidence. I want every woman who joins to walk away knowing she’s capable, creative, and in control of her online presence. That’s what makes what I do so exciting every single day.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back on my journey, there are three qualities that have really shaped where I am today and they’re all things anyone can develop with the right mindset.
1. Knowing that there’s more than one path
For me, the first and most impactful mindset shift was realising that you don’t have to follow the traditional nine-to-five route. You don’t have to do what’s expected of you or stick to the same routines that everyone else seems to follow. There are so many other ways to build a fulfilling career, but you can’t choose those paths unless you know they exist. So find people who inspire you, who aren’t doing the traditional route, who are taking risks on themselves and learn from them. It’s the classic phrase “you can’t be who you can’t see”.
Once I realised that, I gave myself permission to take risks. I thought, “What’s the worst that can happen? I have to get another nine-to-five? That’s really not the end of the world.” But the upside, building something for myself, creating freedom and flexibility, was so much more exciting. My advice to anyone early in their journey is: you are worth taking the risk on yourself. Get curious, explore what’s possible, and don’t be afraid to carve your own path.
2. A love of learning
The second quality that’s been hugely important is my love of learning. I’ve always been someone who loves diving into new software, tutorials, and ideas. I get genuinely excited about learning new things and that curiosity has helped me grow so much as both a designer and a business owner.
That passion started with websites, but it quickly expanded into entrepreneurship. I found myself wanting to learn about marketing, sales, accounting, automation, everything that could help me run a better business. My biggest piece of advice here is: make learning a regular part of your life. Not just quick tips from Instagram, but deep learning. Courses, long-form YouTube tutorials, books, communities. When you commit to continuous learning, you’ll naturally upskill and open up so many new opportunities for yourself.
3. The confidence to connect with people
And finally, one of the most impactful skills in my journey has been the confidence to put myself out there and meet new people. I quickly learned that business is all about relationships.
For me, that meant saying yes to in-person networking events, introducing myself, and just chatting with people. I found that I loved creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere where people felt comfortable. And those relationships? They’ve led to collaborations, clients, and friendships that have shaped my business.
If you’re just starting out, my advice is simple: don’t hide behind your screen. Reach out. Start conversations. Invite someone for a 20-minute virtual coffee chat. Send voice notes instead of texts. Relationships grow through genuine human connection and that’s what will truly help your business grow too
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed, I always come back to one simple but powerful practice that I call a brain dump. It’s genuinely one of my favourite ways to reset and clear my head.
Here’s how it works: I grab a big blank piece of paper (my notebook is actually A3 size because I like having lots of space) and I just dump everything that’s on my mind onto the page. No structure, no order, no trying to make sense of it. I usually do it as a mind map, because that format feels more natural to me and I can write thoughts wherever they come to me without needing to connect them yet.
The whole point isn’t to organise your thoughts; it’s simply to get them out of your head. So often, we carry around dozens of little thoughts sitting quietly in the background. Things we need to do, ideas we haven’t acted on, messages we haven’t replied to. It’s no wonder our brains start to feel cluttered.
You’ve probably heard that our best ideas often come when we’re doing something else (like in the shower or on a walk) because our brains are always processing in the background. Brain dumping helps bring all that background noise to the surface so you can actually see it. Once it’s out on paper, you can come back later (or even the next day) to sort through it and decide what really needs your attention.
The idea is similar to what David Allen talks about in his book Getting Things Done – capturing everything that’s on your mind so you can make informed, intentional decisions. When you can see everything in front of you, you can immediately spot what’s important and what’s just taking up mental space.
I do this all the time!! My notebook is nearly full of brain dump pages! It’s honestly one of the most effective things I’ve found for managing overwhelm. Once everything’s out of my head and on paper, I always feel lighter, calmer, and clearer about what to do next.
So if you ever feel stuck or overloaded, give brain dumping a go. You might be surprised how much mental clarity it gives you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.freyapadmore.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freyapadmore
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/freyapadmore/
Image Credits
Bethany Lavin
Nicole Engelmann
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