Comments on: Admitting to Limitations

By: Jennifer Williamson

Jennifer Williamson — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:15:00 +0000

I just had an instance like this. A friend of mine wanted me to look over his business plan. Thinking he was looking for general editing and formatting, I said yes. Then he sent me a very formal email cc’d to the president of his company asking what I’d quote to check the financial forecasting in the plan. Um…I have serious moral problems charging people for my puny math skills. I told him it was outside my skill set, even though he probably told his president that he’d found the person who could solve their forecasting problems…oh well. It would have been worse if I’d tried to do it and gotten it wrong.

By: Lori

Lori — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:12:00 +0000

This one did advertise a rate, and it was a nice one. It’s what drew my attention to it – plus the fact I had experience in that area to begin with (just not as specific as they were apparently looking for).

I agree, Devon. The experience comes from the curiosity and the desire to learn more about the topic. I knew nothing about risk management or commercial insurance markets when I was hired to cover both. It became a passion.

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 13:26:00 +0000

I do what you did -- admit it's not my specialty, but that I love to learn new things, and I have a swift learning curve.

I use the America's Cup as an example -- in two weeks from knowing nothing about sailing to learning how to handle a sailboat to covering the America's Cup.

I usually get the gig.

When I don't get gigs, it's usually because they're looking for a low bid, in the $20-$50 range (although they don't say so in the ad, just tell me later) rather than my rate.

By: Eileen Coale

Eileen Coale — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:52:00 +0000

I won’t whitewash lack of specific experience, but I will explain why I can do the job anyway (if I want it). “While I haven’t had a client request that particular thing from me before, I have taken workshops on it.” Or I’ll show samples that require a related skill set even if it’s not exactly what they’re looking for.