Why Fame Doesn’t Matter
(image from Bynum Brigade)
One genre that dominates the Internet right now is the celebrity snark. The formula is pretty simple: Get a picture of a celebrity, infer some deviant or stupid activity from it, and write about your shock at the celebrity’s lack of shame. The wittier the better! Despite this, many people (including freelancers and contract workers) place to much importance on celebrity status and/or fame.
And who could blame them? The general impression is that a freelancer’s potential client base is dependent on how many people know him. Yet it’s a fact of life that, the more noticeable you are, the more you have to deal with.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with engaging in dialog and accepting criticism. But, as the Internet proves, not every sort of public intercourse is that constructive. Why would anyone want to deal with the numerous personal and nonsensical attacks that come with fame?
The same is true for freelancers. If we’re famous among the general public, we’ll find ourselves answering inquiries, comments, and attacks that have practically nothing to do with our craft. Which of course is a waste of time, because it keeps us from concentrating on what we were meant to do.
It should be a case of quality over quantity. Instead of working to become generally famous, why not just concentrate on the right people? In the case of a freelancer, this means building business contacts only with those who have something to contribute to their field, which includes clients, other freelancers in the same industry, established experts, etc. This minimizes the irrelevant interactions, leaving you only with you can use to further your freelance career.
So, as you begin your work week fellow freelancers, we must remember that fame doesn’t matter, because we can go a long way publicizing who we are and what we do only to those who matter.
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