The evolution of a Tech Maven: the leap from generalist to email specialist

This week, I'm diving into the big pivot in my professional journey: the transition from being a tech generalist to embracing specialization.

For a long time, I took pride in being a tech jack-of-all-trades. The thought of limiting myself to a niche, like just being a “Kajabi expert,” felt stifling. I aimed to be the go-to problem solver for a select group of clients, handling everything from Apple Watch setups to troubleshooting API issues. I refused to settle.

But recently, my perspective has shifted. I'm moving towards becoming a "general-ish specialist," focusing on email deliverability. This change was both sudden and gradual, shaped by long-standing personal interests and evolving market demands.

One unexpected benefit of this shift? Content creation has become much less intimidating. Previously, the sheer breadth of potential topics made it excruciating to create content that was personally engaging to me and valuable to you. I'd both anticipate and dread Wednesdays, often finding myself procrastinating (there’s a reason it’s always sent out in the evening). Now, with a narrower focus on email marketing, ideas flow more freely. There's a whole world within this niche, waiting to be explored and shared and I'm genuinely excited about building a newsletter centered on this topic.

I'm also consciously stepping back from being the face of the brand. Instead of "Your Tech Maven," which always felt a bit presumptuous (but good luck finding an available “tech maven” domain and how could I resist that play on words?), I'm channeling my efforts into "Authenticated Marketing." I’m not trying to sell people on “hire me, I’ll be your go-to help desk person” but on “hire me, I can solve this specific problem that may break the email list that you painstakingly built”.

My journey to specialization was certainly not a direct one. It's been a never-ending series of ideating, overthinking, understanding market needs, and trials and so many errors. I’ve learned that it’s less about "doing what you love" and more about discovering what you're good at and what the market values – essentially, "learning to love what you do."

The turning point for me was learning about the upcoming changes in email marketing authentication requirements. It hit the sweet spot of my interests, skills, and a clear market need. This discovery was the catalyst for my decision to specialize.

So, what's the takeaway? Stay open to experimentation, learn to navigate the currents of the market, and be ready to seize opportunities. Your path won't be linear, and that's okay. Keep searching for that sweet spot where your skills, interests, and market demands converge.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. Have you experienced a similar journey in your career? How did you find your niche?