I never was good at fitting into other people’s boxes. Therefore, one of the main reasons I’ve been an independent consultant for about a decade is that independence offers considerable freedom to define myself, my roles, and my work.
This freedom is what’s allowed me to keep working at the forefront of the editorial side of new media, because I can explore new directions, trends, tools, and skills at will. I like being on this edge, because to me the most exciting paths in media are the ones that aren’t yet well worn.
Since I provide a different blend of skills and services that many of my colleagues offer, it makes sense for me to define myself to the working world with a title that, I think, reflects the role and direction I’ve chosen for myself. Consequently, my title has undergone considerable evolution. Currently, I bill myself primarily as a conversational media consultant, and also as a content strategist, writer, and editor. Often in discourse I shorten that to “media consultant” or just “consultant” on first mention, but when I introduce my full title into the discussion that gives me a good opening to describe what I really do.
I’ve worked hard to earn the respect of my colleagues and others. I’m proud of my work. So I’ve got to admit: It rankles me when I see myself referred to as a “self-styled ‘conversational media consultant'” – as if defining myself is somehow a bad or questionable thing…
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