Your Idea, Client idea | Your implementation, Client Implementation

I saw this great Tweet (yes, that sounds pretentious) on X that describes different leader/operator combinations:

Mark Brooks @markbrooks Visionary, operator, systems thinker, what the heck do these mean? A quick guide to 4 basic work types: 1) My idea / My implementation 2) My idea / Open on implementation 3) Open on idea / My implementation 4) Open on idea / Open on implementation Thread 🧵: 4:28 PM • Jan 31, 2024 13 Retweets 60 Likes Read 8 replies

We all have things we care about at work. I like to generate ideas and am open on execution (though may have some opinions).

That's why growing a small business is nice for my personality type (though challenging).

But if you're a solo 1099, you have a client, and they also have egos and preferences at work.

If you are both married to your ideas and they conflict, you're going to have a problem.

If the conflict is unresolvable, you should find another project.

But if you figure out what your client's type is and you are able to work around it, you will succeed.

For example, if you client is #2 and you are #3, that is a perfect pairing. You can execute the client's idea if you want.

If your client is not super creative (say #3), are you are #2, you may be able to generate a lot of the ideas and then the client can suggest ways that (you) could get it done.

Of course, as a solo 1099, it's probably best to be #4, but sometimes your preferences are too strong to overcome.

This idea/implementation preference awareness can help you navigate your work and your relationships with your clients and make you successful as a solo 1099.

Want the full playbook? Check out Going 1099.