Jack of all trades & master of (n)one?
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 20 seconds
Being a guerrilla freelancer can be tough. But how do you handle it? Are you the micromanaging type who cannot let tasks be done by others or are you free to delegate your tasks and focus on what makes you tick the most? In my previous article I talked about whether or not we should hire a sales staff right away and this post kind of falls in line with that. In this article I want to figure out (with your help) if freelancers are meant to be a jack of all trades or a master of (n)one.
Are you a jack of all trades?
Are you like me? Do you hate knowing you do not have 100% control over things to be done just exactly the way you normally do them? I have that problem. I have found a great stride in doing this and can even go as far to say I am actually productive and focused when I am the jack of all trades – Accounting, Invoiving, Client Relations, Designing, Coding, Troubleshooting, ect. It’s something that has grown on me and something that I have come accustomed to.
However, I am toying with the idea of delegating some of these tasks to others who solely focus on these types of tasks so I can focus on what I like best – designing creative websites. I have to loosen up the grip I have on my freelancing control and let someone else help out – and it scares the hell out of me. Anyone else out there like that or know how to fix it? I’d love your input.
Are you a master of (n)one?
Yes, the (n) is supposed to make it read as NONE and ONE at the same time as I figured we’re all a master at at least one thing. Some of us are amazing illustrators while others are coding wizzes. But is that one skill enough to keep your business afloat? I have never been on this side of the fence so I am hoping that others can chime in and we can get some general ideas of each side in the comments.
If you’re a master of one thing, you’re able to do the one thing you love all day long. But does it feel weird not knowing how the other parts of your business are running (assuming you haven’t gone through the tasks of running everything yourself first and switched over to the one task master later)?
Speak your mind
Drop a comment and let me know what you’re best known for – who knows, maybe you’ll fall into one of the categories that I need to delegate for 
Besides that, it’s always good to brag every now and then, so feel free to do so in the comments.
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I have the same problem. If you try to do everything you have complete control of everything. The problem is that this doesn’t leave you much time for personal projects or, in my case, keeping up with my blog.
Personally, I am in the midst of restructuring my freelance business where I narrow my services down so I can perform them faster while leaving me extra time for my projects. The other stuff, though, like accounting and client relations will have still have to be done by me until another solution to freeing my time of these is found. I don’t see it any time soon.
I’m a pretty good online marketer but am absolutely clueless when it comes to web design. However part of what I preach is that web design is vital because you’re going to spend the time “bringing people home” than you want to make sure that you have clean sheets they can get lost in.
This is why I’ve been “collecting” freelancers to work with and am starting a company that offers web design, Seo social and video optimization, as well as video production. I’m the master of the marketing and am informed enough to be a part of the video production to have enough on my plate and still have some creative influence. I’ve got a good eye for aesthetics and am enough of a critic to be able to judge design to help make it better but am not a designer.
I think what is most important is to always play to your strengths, but to work with people who compliment the areas you lack to fill in the gaps. That way you can form a cohesive unit who collectively is pretty hard to match up against.
I know exactly what your saying. I am slightly experienced in almost every aspect computer wise.
Whether it be Physical (A+), Networking, Exploiting,c Programming,Web Design,Graphic Design etc.
The problem is I am not “fluent” enough in any of them to build a successful job out of. I am currently in school for an Associates in Web Design so hopefully that will narrow it down a little bit.
I am of all trades! I even branded my self like that. I am john from johnofalltype. i wish i could master one but i spread my self everywhere. I like it, it keeps me busy.
Great way to solve this is to concentrate on what you best and partner with other professionals in our field. Most designers dont have pritning presses and warehouses of paper so, but we need printers to do our jobs. I think having a network of other creative professionals on your team works. I have a list of pritners, copy writers, photographers, programmers and other people I call. And there are times when you may get a job that you need extra man power. I refer to thse peopel as vendors or sub contractors, I call them partners because they have an imprtant role in delivering what the client needs.
I just suddenly realized that in this age where specialization is glorified in all places that I am something else, the jack of all traders. I can learn everything quickly but can’t finish things and close them. This makes me great at exploring new technologies, building architectures etc.
So I searched google for people who are on the same boat. This is the first link I stumbled into. Perhaps it’s time to make Jack of All Traders forum to discuss it. Maybe LinkedIn will be the best place?