Key Skills for an Independent Anthropologist and Corporate Historian
Laurie, an independent consultant, emphasizes self-discipline as crucial for success, stating that "there's no one looking over my shoulder," requiring strong organizational skills and adherence to deadlines. Equally important is shrewd financial management, a necessity given the unpredictable nature of contract work, necessitating careful budgeting and planning to cover expenses between projects.
Discipline, Financial Management, Self-Employment, Client Relations, Project Planning
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Laurie Levin
Anthropologist and Corporate Historian
Independent Consultant
UC Berkeley; Harvard University; UCLA, 1972
Harvard/MA and UCLA abd
Anthropology, Sociology
Healthcare, Medical & Wellness
Creative
Disabled, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Discipline and organization are crucial for independent work, requiring self-motivation and the ability to meet deadlines without direct supervision.
2. Effective money management is essential due to the unpredictable nature of income, necessitating careful budgeting, financial planning, and anxiety management.
3. Strong life skills such as differentiating between needs and wants, and proactively planning for financial security are vital for success as an independent consultant
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
That's a really good question. First of all, I would say being very disciplined. There's no one looking over my shoulder, but I have a deadline schedule and a deliverables schedule.
If I'm going to be asked to continue to participate, I better be on top of that. So, although I'm kind of on my own, I'm also very much aware that I'm responsible for what I promised to deliver. Over the years, this has become part of my DNA.
I'm very structured, very organized, and I'm very cognizant of what my client needs. This helps me satisfy the terms of the agreement and what I promise to deliver. So, discipline is number one.
Number two, on the personal side, is money management. What that means is I'm constantly aware there will be dry spells where I don't know where the money is going to come from, unless I have a huge nest egg, which I don't.
In general terms, it's kind of like life skills. It's not living beyond my means, not living on credit. It's being able to know the difference between what I want and what I actually need.
It's managing my anxiety about where my next job is coming from, with the thought that I'm going to be okay for the next few months. Being an independent contractor means you don't get a paycheck every week that's guaranteed.
It really requires a very keen, very careful consideration of my financial needs and how I can work with those. How can I pay my health insurance? How can I pay my car insurance? How can I pay my rent? Those are the basics, and then I go from there.
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