I Got a New Job (or so it seems)…

At some point during the last couple of months, I came to the realization that I got a new job.  I wasn’t necessarily looking for one, and don’t remember applying to be hired anywhere, but somehow I find myself consumed in a very different work environment today than in past years.

This is the year I officially make transition from being a technician to business owner.

My job description has changed dramatically this year from previous years.  These days, the bulk of my time is consumed in email, calls, meetings, project management, networking, marketing, sales, interviewing, bookkeeping, and brainstorming “big picture” ideas.  In a shrinking minority portion of my time are things like coding, designing mockups, and other technician tasks.

That’s not to say I’m no longer involved in creative/production work.  On the client work front- I’m handling most of the creative direction, information architecture, and user experience work.  On personal projects, like my current startup, Skipper, I do all of the UI design, front-end work, and product design.  Then there is my writing and podcasting work on Freelance Jam, and soon to be speaking work, all of which might be classified as a mix of creative and promotional/marketing tasks.

Things are, in a word, crazy.

For the first time in my career, I’m finding it difficult to effectively multitask.  I used to pride myself on my ability to juggle lots of projects at simultaneously.  But these days it’s rapidly becoming more of a challenge.  It’s not so much the number of simultaneous projects I take on (I’ve always kept a full plate).  I think the difference is the number of people I’m in contact with.  Along with keeping in touch my clients, I’m now managing a growing list of subcontractors.  This year, I’m subcontracting or partnering with on average 4-8 people at once, whereas previous years it was 0-3.

No complaints here.

It’s hectic, sometimes stressful, and challenging, but that sums up the job description of an owner of growing business.  The fun part is figuring out how to make it all work, improve the operation, and keep my sanity.

Questions I’m wresting with:

• Is it time to hire full-time employees?
• Is it time to seek partner(s) and if so who?
• Should I continue to grow the client business or focus on the products business?
• Will the New York Mets ever get their act together?