To Be Or Not To Be a Generalist

My husband once said something he found absolutely hilarious (I found it obnoxious).

It was in response to my complaint that I was always handing out his business cards, but he was never handing out any of mine. “It’s a two-way street,” I insisted.

“Yes, but my side gets more traffic,” he said, smirking.

It’s times like this I worry that I’m too picky about the work I’m willing to do. It’s a worry that many freelancers wrestle with. Should I settle for little or no payment, or a small-name client, just to build my portfolio? Should I take on every little job I can, even if it’s only peripherally related to my specialty, just to keep my head above water? Should I widen my net? Offer additional services? Find additional areas of expertise?

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