Never Become Too Arrogant to Learn

One of the best things about writing about every topic under the sun is that your brain is constantly adapting. Yesterday, I discovered how much a mining shutdown costs per hour ($185,000 to $275,000) while last week I discovered how ambulance services are run by the police in Abu Dubai. Why? Since they have to clear up after crashes and injured people are part of the equation.

If you think you have a topic that a writer doesn’t understand, then you haven’t met the curious mind of a freelance writer. Discovering new approaches and subject matter doesn’t scare us. We thrive on having our brains expanded by science, business, drama, persuasion and whatever else comes along.

This past spring, I started editing academic papers and loved picking up concepts in physics that had escaped me while in high school. Last summer, a client asked if I could keep track of his jobs on Trello boards and I said, “Yes” – then promptly took a crash course to make sure I could. Since then, I have also learned Loom, Asana, Slack, Upwork and other platforms that clients have in their networks already.

Learning is another part of living as an entrepreneur. If you get stuck in your ways, your brain will not have as much fun in a day. I have friends who just want to stay in their lane; thank goodness they are willing to do repetitive work every day since that type of job would kill me.

Even learning how to pitch takes skill. You have to build your confidence to reach out into the world and take in new ideas. Every travel article takes me to a new place in a different season so I am discovering more hidden gems in Canada, without leaving my desk. What a treat!

When I started editing, I took writers I could take on their books. Little did I know how much I didn’t know, but I am pretty much an expert now. Now, I look forward to more challenges as I take on podcast pitching for a client, food-delivery manuals and heaven knows what else.

My friend Georgia Balogiannis started a hashtag on Linked In for #HireaJournalist since we have become such adaptable expert-for-a-day on countless topics. We ask the right questions and can turn copy around on a dime. Go ahead, try and stump me.