Finding the Balance Between Freelancing and Family
Balancing work and family life can feel like a never-ending challenge, but for our Freelance Contributor, Taryn Pouncett, it’s an adventure she has welcomed with grace and determination. As a part-time public relations professional, Taryn has mastered the art of juggling her career with the roles of a mother, wife, daughter, sister, and friend. Her story is a testament to how creativity, structure, and a little nostalgia can successfully blend personal and professional goals.
The heart behind the hustle
To create a sense of peace amongst the constant bustle of family life, Taryn finds joy in the simpler things in life—whether it’s a walk in her nearby greenbelt, a good book, or a glass of wine at the end of the day. At the heart of her values, she carries gratitude and a spirit of feminism that keeps her grounded in the whirlwind of her family’s schedules and PR deadlines.
While the nature of PR often calls for quick, reactionary decisions, Taryn has learned the importance of setting boundaries. She carves out dedicated time for both her work and family, ensuring she’s fully present in every role she plays. “Balance is more of an aspiration than a daily reality,” she admits, but her approach to balancing both roles is a commitment to time management, being a strong freelancer and present mother.
Adapting and thriving
As with many career journeys, Taryn’s has had its share of challenges. With the decline of traditional media and the rise of digital platforms, she felt somewhat overwhelmed when she returned to the public relations realm after taking time out to focus on her family. However, she has met the challenge with enthusiasm, learning new skills along the way and even growing a makeup business while nurturing her family.
Her adaptability is matched only by her curiosity—like her dream to learn to sing, a skill she jokingly admits she doesn’t quite have, despite her impressive memory for lyrics. It’s these little glimpses into her life that add a personal touch to her professional persona.
Bold aspirations and nostalgia
What makes you nostalgic? For some, it is re-watching shows from the 90s or visiting their hometown, but for Taryn nostalgia exists in old VHS tapes and DVDs. When she speaks about visiting her local video store as a child, there is an infectious enthusiasm that she radiates. While her career is deeply rooted in the present, she admires icon Reese Witherspoon, whose solid work ethic and creativity inspire her professional dreams of attempting to balance her family-life health and professional endeavours that feed her creative spirit.
When the Innocomm team imagines adaptability, dedication, and a heart full of joy, our very own Taryn Pouncett comes to mind. She is proof that through hard work and consistency, you can achieve a balance between freelancing and family. Her story is a reminder that with a little organisation, a lot of heart, and the occasional look back at where we’ve come from, we can have the best of both worlds.
Listen to the podcast
Join us for a captivating conversation with Taryn Pouncett as she shares more about her life, career, and personal passions. Get ready for a blend of heartwarming anecdotes and professional wisdom.
- Taryn’s balancing act as a freelance contributor and a mom.
- Adapting to the changing media landscape in PR.
- Taryn’s unfulfilled wish to learn how to sing.
- Her nostalgic love for VHS tapes and DVDs.
- Rapid-fire “hot or not” takes on current trends.
Links
Transcript
Kami 00:00:03 – 00:00:09
She’s the perfect blend of creativity and precision. Thank you for joining us. Taryn, how are you?
Taryn Pouncett 00:00:09 – 00:00:11
Hey, Kami, thanks so much. Thanks for having me.
Kami 00:00:12 – 00:00:21
Of course, of course. Now, I think to get us started and to have everyone get to know you, tell us who Taryn is and what fuels your inner fire?
Taryn Pouncett 00:00:21 – 00:00:41
Sure. Well, I’m a mother. I’m a wife. I’m a daughter, I’m a sister, and I’m also a friend. I basically consider myself a feminist at heart, and I’d like to think that I’m fueled by the simpler things in life. So, nature, exercise, a good book, and a delicious meal, sometimes a good glass of wine.
Kami 00:00:43 – 00:00:55
That is awesome, Taryn. And that’s a great segue to my next question. How do you balance being a freelance contributor while also managing your role as a mom and wife? I know that can be a lot sometimes. So how do you juggle it all?
Taryn Pouncett 00:00:55 – 00:01:37
So, to be 100% honest, I don’t really think that there is always a good balance. It’s not always 100%. In an ideal world, I’d be able to work just the hours that my children are at school, and then in the afternoon, we would be baking and colouring in. But it doesn’t always work like that. The nature of PR is that we have to be reactionary at times. So no matter how well organised I am, things will never, always go according to place. So what I try to do is sort of block out quite strict on and off time so that whatever situation I’m in, I’m fully in it. So, like, yesterday, I worked all day and I was in it, and this afternoon, I’ll be with my kids.
Kami 00:01:37 – 00:01:50
That’s actually a really great tip, to block out some time for the things that you’re trying to do so you’re fully present. I choose that. What unique skills have you learned since starting your career?
Taryn Pouncett 00:01:50 – 00:02:24
Sure. So I have learned a lot, to be honest. So I’ve learned a lot in the last bit about Google Docs and also just how much the media space has changed, because the last time I was working full time in public relations, you know, we had so many more print publications that were doing well and thriving, and the whole industry has changed. So I took time off between being at a PR agency just to focus on growing my makeup business and my family. And in those five years, the space has just, like, developed rapidly. So there’s been a lot of learning.
Kami 00:02:25 – 00:02:35
And that’s the thing I always say about PR, it’s a consistent learning process just because everything changes so quick. You never. Whenever you feel like you have a handle on things, suddenly there’s, like a whole new thing.
Taryn Pouncett 00:02:35 – 00:02:40
It’s a new system and you’re like “I didn’t know about it,” but luckily you can learn them quickly.
Kami 00:02:40 – 00:02:42
Right. But it keeps us on our toes, so that’s fun.
Taryn Pouncett 00:02:43 – 00:02:43
Yeah.
Kami 00:02:43 – 00:02:49
And then if you could instantly pick up a new skill, what skill would it be and why?
Taryn Pouncett 00:02:49 – 00:03:04
So I don’t think it would really help me in PR, but I would definitely love to sing because I have an amazing memory for lyrics, but I don’t have the voice to support it. So if I could learn to sing, that’d be great.
Kami 00:03:04 – 00:03:23
No, you would be, like, the perfect karaoke partner. I love people like that. Know all the words, and then we just do what we want with the song. Super, super fun. And then if you could put one thing in a time capsule for someone to find, say, 100 years from now, what would it be?
Taryn Pouncett 00:03:23 – 00:03:44
For me, definitely an old fashioned vhs tape and a dvd. Growing up, all of my favourite pastimes, aside from visiting the library and reading Sweet Valley High, Sweet Valley twins going to rent movies or dvd’s over the weekend. As great as streaming is, it just doesn’t have the vibe of a video store.
Kami 00:03:44 – 00:03:44
Right.
Taryn Pouncett 00:03:45 – 00:03:55
What you would get in there, and you knew what you wanted to get, you’re like, damn it, it’s taken. But you had a relationship with the video store owner that doesn’t exist. And I think it’s a real loss.
Kami 00:03:55 – 00:04:11
No, I think so, too. I think I caught that, like, on the back end of it, like, just when video stores were sort of all dying out. And I luckily got to have the experience of, like, going and renting out the same movie for, like, ten times in a row. Then the guy at the counter is like, just buy the dvd.
Taryn Pouncett 00:04:12 – 00:04:22
And also, you know, there used to be specials where, like, obviously the stores would be so big, and you could get, like, seven videos for seven days for 30 rand something. And that was cool.
Kami 00:04:23 – 00:04:25
It was. It really was.
Taryn Pouncett 00:04:25 – 00:04:25
Yeah.
Kami 00:04:26 – 00:04:34
Kind of miss that now and then. Tell me, Taryn, if you could switch lives with someone for ten days, who would it be and why?
Taryn Pouncett 00:04:35 – 00:05:00
It would definitely be Reese Witherspoon. She is my absolute icon. I think she’s just got so much talent and worth. She’s changed the industry for so many women. She is capable, she’s got grit. I adore her book club, her lifestyle brand, and all of the shows that she’s produced. Another thing that I saw yesterday, which is very exciting, is that she’s going to be co authoring her first thriller with Harlan Coban.
Kami 00:05:00 – 00:05:00
Oh.
Taryn Pouncett 00:05:00 – 00:05:04
I mean, yeah, if I could take ten days while she’s writing, that would be cool.
Kami 00:05:06 – 00:05:14
Reese Witherspoon! That’s a good one. That’s actually a really great one. So, Taryn, before we sign off, I’d love to play a game of hot takes with you.
Taryn Pouncett 00:05:15 – 00:05:15
Okay.
Kami 00:05:15 – 00:05:23
All we’re going to do is I’m going to give you a series of rapid fire questions, and you’re just going to answer with hot or not. Okay, you down?
Taryn Pouncett 00:05:23 – 00:05:24
Down.
Kami 00:05:24 – 00:05:32
Awesome. I have the questions right here. Let me pull them up. Okay. So how do you feel about staycations?
Taryn Pouncett 00:05:33 – 00:05:35
Hot! Unless it translates to ten days of cleaning cupboards.
Kami 00:05:35 – 00:05:43
That’s not a staycation at all. Audiobooks?
Taryn Pouncett 00:05:43 – 00:05:44
Not.
Kami 00:05:44 – 00:05:50
Not. How do you feel about pencil thin eyebrows? I know you’re into makeup, so how do you feel about those?
Taryn Pouncett 00:05:50 – 00:05:53
Not hot, that was 90s. Leave it there.
Kami 00:05:53 – 00:06:06
Really? They came back for, like, a second, and I was like, oh, no, no. I think they have their time and place. How do you feel about foodie focused travel?
Taryn Pouncett 00:06:06 – 00:06:07
Hot.
Kami 00:06:07 – 00:06:11
Hot. And book subscription boxes?
Taryn Pouncett 00:06:11 – 00:06:11
Hot.
Kami 00:06:12 – 00:06:15
Okay. Writing retreats and workshops?
Taryn Pouncett 00:06:16 – 00:06:17
Definitely hot.
Kami 00:06:18 – 00:06:19
Have you been on any?
Taryn Pouncett 00:06:19 – 00:06:30
I haven’t. I’d like to go on a yoga retreat combined with a writing retreat, but I don’t know. That still has to be created. Maybe I need to do it
Kami 00:06:30 – 00:06:40
Right! Send me an invitation. I’m definitely down for that. You had me at yoga. And then how do you feel about clear lip gloss?
Taryn Pouncett 00:06:40 – 00:06:40
Hot. It works with any colour!
Kami 00:06:41 – 00:06:46
Right, solo travel?
Taryn Pouncett 00:06:46 – 00:06:47
Hot.
Kami 00:06:47 – 00:06:51
Mm hmm. And then off the beaten path destinations?
Taryn Pouncett 00:06:51 – 00:06:53
Very hot.
Kami 00:06:53 – 00:07:13
Oh, yeah. Nice. Thank you so much, Taryn, for joining us and for sharing your journey with us so far. It’s always really fun working with you, and I think you bring a brilliant balance between creativity and also being very organised with things, and it always shows in the quality of the work that you produce. So shout outs to you, Taryn.
Taryn Pouncett 00:07:13 – 00:07:20
Thank you. That was a really nice thing to hear on a Friday, making me feel good about myself. Thank you for the time, Kami.
Kami 00:07:20 – 00:07:25
Thanks so much, Taryn.