I’m out the door so I didn’t have too much time to listen to the podcast. So why comment right? Well, because you asked: “What do YOU consider yourself to be, and why?” — Jay Moonah

It’s a question I’ve asked myself lately and especially since having launched my new blog. I think I have the beginnings of an answer: I consider myself a student in life. I think I always will. My blog is about empowering others while reflecting on my own experiences…

[Note: I’ll be back to listen to the full podcast.]

@Stevie The amateur/professional thing is interesting, because there are shades of gray there too. On Monday night I earned money as a musician, although it wasn’t enough to pay my bar tab, which is pretty typical for me these days. Am I a “professional” musician? I don’t know. What about guys who are amazing but only play at open stages and never get paid? What about guys who take amazing photos but only post them on flickr? What about bloggers/podcasters… almost NONE of them are paid!

I’m not sure I buy the criminal analogy. If you stole one candy bar, you’re a thief in the eyes of the law, at least in most places. If you start a blog and write one post, are you a blogger? I’m not so sure…

You bring up a couple of interesting points regarding labels and titles, especially those self-applied.

I think right off the bat you have to clarify the difference between professional and amateur. The terms photographer, musician etc tend to apply to careers, not hobbies or “stuff that you can do”. For example: I’ve been doing some home renovation stuff around my house. I can work with wood, but no one would dream of calling me a ‘carpenter’. I play guitar, but you’re a musician. A friend of mine takes REALLY amazing photographs, but he’s a truck driver. Annie Leibovitz is a photographer.

In the new media world I think it starts to get a lot blurrier. Since the concept of a ‘career’ blogger or podcaster is still developing, it muddies things a bit. I believe that’s why people find it easier to bandy around terms like ‘expert’ or ‘consultant’. That’s how they differentiate themselves from people who simply release audio of themselves making farting noises into a microphone…or Oprah Winfrey

Another great label you can use to REALLY muddy things up is the term “artist”. I dated a woman in Guelph who WAS actually an artist - her paintings were fantastic and creative. She would introduce me to her artist friends as an ‘artist’ as well. I used to always have to correct her because I’m just a goofy guy who wrote mostly goofy songs. NOW, having said that, is podcasting art? Is blogging art? If it IS considered art, does that make you now an artist? The Monster Truck style promo I did for Podcasters Across Borders…is THAT art? Argue amongst yourselves

Finally, a point in answer to your question about how OFTEN you have to do something before you can admit yourself to that club (IE how often do you have to publish a podcast or blog before you can say “yes, I’m a podcaster” or “hell yeah I’m a blogger!” I’m going to paraphrase an old friend of mine when we were discussing calling yourself a ’songwriter’ many many years ago. He said to me “Steve, if songwriting was illegal, and you were arrested for it, would they have enough evidence to convict you?”

So, if podcasting and/or blogging was a criminal offense, WOULD they have enough evidence to convict YOU? Then yes, you’re a podcaster or blogger.

I’m just sayin…
Stevie Z

This is something that I’ve been struggling with for a while now. Human beings naturally stereotype and we have trouble with the idea of a person being in one role and then moving to another. It takes time for our brain to accept the change. Sometimes we can do something to solidify and help people accept our new role.

The easiest way to do this is to do whatever it is well. If you are a former musician turned marketer, become a great marketer. People will remember you for what they first knew you as, until you can proof who you are today.

Something else I’ve noticed is that it is hard for people to accept stereotypes that contradict each other. In the advertising industry for example there is generally though to be some tension between the right-brained “creatives” and left-brained account managers and strategists. This is just a stereotype after all. I’m proof of that.

I graduated from college with my BA in advertising design. I also received a minor in marketing. Upon leaving school I immediately started working for a design shop, which is where I still work today. In the beginning I mostly did design work. But since then I’ve slowly evolved into more of a marketing strategist. Now I’m more of a marketing strategist than a designer, even though my title is Designer/Marketing Strategist.

For some reason this is hard for people to wrap their heads around. Many people see or hear “designer”and tend to lump me into their category of what a designer does and they miss the core of what I really do.

Well I don’t know if I’m even on topic at this point. But I thought I would just share everything that I was thinking.

Keep Driving!