Freelance Myth #5: Those Who Can’t Do, Teach
I was once watched a totally B-movie about a group of students in film school. Someone was picking them off one by one, the heroine got if off with a mysteriously rakish guy, yada yada yada.
And, when the killer was finally outed, who happened to be the students’ teacher, the heroine furiously said “those who can’t do, teach!” before sending him to tell.
Too bad she was totally wrong.
That’s because freelancers who can teach can definitely do too. Some of the more successful freelancers I’ve met are actually great teachers. They help their fellow contract workers’ careers develop, and enjoy the profile associated with being an authority:
Helping Others Out
As a teacher, these freelancers freely (or not) share advice with others. They probably know the ins and outs of marketing, negotiation, and maximizing productivity. Aside from sharing unique ideas, perspectives, and insights, they also others avoid the mistakes by drawing on years of experience.
The fact that they’ve worked at the job for a long time usually means they’re truly passionate about what they do, a very contagious emotion for willing recipients.
These freelancers also encourage the exchange of ideas crucial to the growth of any field, pushing it to improve. And anybody who can literally and figuratively afford to do that is successful in my book.
The Perks of Authority
An authoritative profile is very attractive to clients, publicists, other freelancers, and so many. That’s because people like to listen to what an authority has to say, approaching him rather than the other way around.
It’s also human nature to want the best. Authority figures are usually experts in their fields, but this obsession with the best can also take a less practical form. A tremendously successful local photographer is a status symbol of sorts; society figures need to have pictures taken by him in order to be considered elite.
Those can can capture the ears of an audience means that he knows what he’s talking about, or at least leaves the impression of his proficiency. Anyone who can pull this off is no doubt successful.
So if you find yourself fielding inquiries from people who want to learn from you, don’t hesitate to take them. At the very least, you’re helping someone else out, which is always a great thing. You also get to build a profile as an authority on the subject.
Related Stories
POSTED IN: Freelance Myths
4 opinions for Freelance Myth #5: Those Who Can’t Do, Teach
Jeremy L. Gaddis
Jun 24, 2007 at 9:17 am
The full phrase is, IIRC, “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.” While I can’t speak for freelancers, in general, I can say that in my experience (I work at an .edu) it is true (at least in the I.T. realm).
I know of a number of faculty (some of which teach courses I have taken) who simply “can’t”. I know CS faculty who are well-educated and extremely “book smart”, but put them in front of a computer and ask them to do the things they “teach” and they’re lost. I’ve seen in firsthand.
I’m sure that this may be an exception, but it’s not very reassuring to me. =)
Rico
Jun 24, 2007 at 7:59 pm
Oh, I think I know what you mean! But what differentiates the people I’m talking about from the “book smart” teachers is that they’re teaching what they do for a living. They “suffer” from the pressures of making a living and meeting deadlines.
So I guess I should also point out that the teachers who can do are those who are really active in their field. :)
helena
Jun 26, 2007 at 12:09 am
Well, I partially agree with the saying but what’s bad about it? Ok, teachers can’t do but they give us knowledge and it is enough to find a job and even start business. I think there should teachers on credit card management with the industry developing so agressively…
Freelance Myth #5a: Teachers Suck
May 27, 2008 at 9:30 am
[…] once argued that teachers are really good at what they do, contrary to the widely held belief that “those who can’t do, […]
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: