Right now, I am half way between monolithic corporation and free agency. Working for a small consulting firm, you always live in terror of not keeping the pipeline full and staying fully billable. It takes A LOT of work to find clients forward thinking enough to stick their little toe in the social media waters, let alone jump in with gusto.

We are still in the “wild west” phase of social media and everyone is trying to figure it out. Yes, there are some successful social media gunslingers (you, Mitch Joel, and Joe Jaffe among others) who made the big time, but there are a number of “lonesome cowboys” too (i.e. single digit readership like my blog.)

People need to understand: expertise + clients = potential success. Both take time and sweat to build. Neither one can guarentee success.

Eric Seiberling
http://www.itlunatics.com

pointing out this kind of thing for people that are thinking of making a big life change may end up being really valuable to them. these are weird economic times so who knows where the cards will fall, really.

–*Rob

I run a business with several clients who need my help on a daily basis to help them be able to do the important things in their business. There’s not a lot of time for play. I’m nodding my head in agreement with Lynette that it’s not playtime, it’s still a job with concerns. Frankly I work harder now than I did when I worked for another company because I’m the everything in this business. Something anyone should keep in mind if going into business for themselves or with partners.

It’s a lot harder than it sounds, in “social media” or not.

Social media is funny in that you need to be active in it to be a **consumer**. But that does not make most people experts, or give you the talent to be able to direct a corporation in it’s decisions.

I’m a photographer and I love new media.

I know I’m in the right career because, although I make an excellent living, I would do it for free. I know new media is right for me because, well, I do it for free.

I’ve been a photographer for twenty years for magazines, newspapers and corporations. I’ve been involved in new media for over ten years. I first started podcasting in 1999 (audio over internet quicktime and Realplayer) with business tips. Similar to my prosperous artists podcast.

Being a veteran in both old and new media I’m actually excited about the transitions taking place on a daily basis (I sold my newspapers stocks years ago). It’s exciting and the opportunity to combine both old and new is part of a logical progression.

How do you know if your are in the right position? ask yourself, would do your job for free? If you can’t believe you are actually getting paid each day, you are in the right career.

Being an independent photographer, I find nothing scarier then a “secure job”. Too many of my friends are getting laid off and can’t find another “secure job”. I can lose a client or two, but I’m never unemployed. I see the same opportunities in digital media.

Will new media be a career or a job duty? It depends on what you bring to the table. Photography can be either. In a world where anyone can point a camera outside the car window a create a nice image (Nice image CC) you need to offer something not everyone with a digital camera can create.

The same will come from new media. The people that bring unique content or applications to the table will rise to the top and make a great living.

Rosh
http://www.newmediaphotographer.com

That is why recently when someone who was young, single and not that burdened by a mortgage or any other major bills said they were scared to make a change I told them to do it now because the longer you wait the harder it is. When it is only yourself that suffers by not succeeding it is one thing, but once you are a parent it is a whole other thing.

it’s moments like these that make me realize that i am not the big fan of change that i pretend to be, but everything must change at some point or another. i hope and pray that i’m able to find a balance between being adventurous and responsible. at any rate, the pep talk was sorely needed and is already starred in my google reader for future use…cause i’m gonna need it.

thanks again.

Great post. I for one understand the sentiment that people have (having had it myself in the past) of wanting to know what the magic path is? I’ve been there and discovered that there is not such a thing, not in social media and not in any other aspect of life.

I remember as a kid thinking it would be cool to play guitar. I tried for about two weeks (my mom had a guitar) and then gave up because it didn’t just happen. When I was 22 I tried again, this time knowing that there was going to be a lot of work ahead. I played for hours every week, hating every minute of it, I mean really, who enjoys doing scales or chord changes over and over again. Within 6 months, I knew enough to play with the band at Church. Now, I’m actually pretty good and I love to play.

I’m just getting my own feet wet in the blogosphere and social media in general. I have the great privilege of having a job where I am actually getting some time to do some projects that are related. More than anything though, I’ve recognized that the resources are out there, I have a lot to learn and so far I’m loving what I’m doing.

Thanks for all the work you do.

Thorren

The other thing is that while a few early adopters have secured high profile jobs in “Social Media,” in the future, this discipline is far more likely to be viewed as a toolset rather than an occupation. Today, we have replaced pencils, pens and typewriters with computers, but no one gets a job as a computer operator. But they used to. Same thing.

Keep up the great work!!

Rick.