Only Uomo Universale can be a Successful Marketer: True or False?

by TNT011
11 replies
You have probably heard about the concept of the Uomo Universale, haven't you? During the Renaissance period that was a description for a guy who is a perfect match for everything. Or, in plain English, that used to be a description of the most well-known Renaissance man called Leonardo da Vinci. He wasn't only an inventor and a scientist, but also a musician, writer, and an artist. You name it, he can do it.

Now, what da Vinci has to do with marketing? Well, maybe it's just me, but the more I read and learn about marketing, it turns out that a modern marketer, if he wants to succeed has to a little bit of everything: copywriter, salesman, entrepreneur, leader, presenter, motivator, speaker, etc. A modern marketer has to become Uomo Universale in order to survive in the modern business world. In Renaissance, we had a name for these people with more than one extraordinary skill: Uomo Universale. Today, we have another name, but it basically means the same thing - Superman.

Is this too much to ask from a modern marketer, or it is what it is right now? You have to be a multitalented genius, otherwise you can forget about marketing. True or false?
#false #marketer #successful #true #universale #uomo
  • Profile picture of the author davejarvys
    I think it's false.

    At a base level it's good to have an understanding of issues, ideas and practices but when I wanted to take my sales page to the next level I hired a specialist.

    In my mind I have always had the notion that if needed I would want a neurosurgeon to do my brain surgery not my GP.
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    • Profile picture of the author TNT011
      Originally Posted by davejarvys View Post

      I think it's false.

      At a base level it's good to have an understanding of issues, ideas and practices but when I wanted to take my sales page to the next level I hired a specialist.

      In my mind I have always had the notion that if needed I would want a neurosurgeon to do my brain surgery not my GP.
      Guess that a know it all attitude eventually leads to a situation I know a little bit about everything, but not enough to benefit from one thing in particular. Thx.
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  • Profile picture of the author Randy McLean
    I agree. I have had to learn a lot of new skills since I got into this.

    HTML and web design, creating winning headlines, and even studied psychology. At first you have to be a jack of all trades until your business gets off the ground.

    I actually find it quite fun and interesting, but I am nerdy that way for lack of a better word.

    Once you grow however and start making money, I think it's best to let people more qualified than you take over in certain areas.

    One example is e-covers. I tried making my own but suck at them. So I get someone to do it for me.

    Things like this in my estimation will only serve to help you, not hurt you.
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    • Profile picture of the author TNT011
      Originally Posted by Randy McLean View Post

      I agree. I have had to learn a lot of new skills since I got into this.

      HTML and web design, creating winning headlines, and even studied psychology. At first you have to be a jack of all trades until your business gets off the ground.

      I actually find it quite fun and interesting, but I am nerdy that way for lack of a better word.

      Once you grow however and start making money, I think it's best to let people more qualified than you take over in certain areas.

      One example is e-covers. I tried making my own but suck at them. So I get someone to do it for me.

      Things like this in my estimation will only serve to help you, not hurt you.
      I found your approach to be the most logical one. At the beginning, you do all the things you can do by yourself. Later, with more money and success, you can afford to hire experts for specific jobs. Yet, it turns out this start is critical. You either have to know a lot or learn a lot to move to a level when you can actually hire someone. Thx. T
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    It means someone who has a wide range of interests and wide range of knowledge - not someone perfect.

    The other name is not "superman" - it's Renaissance Man.

    To me, this falls under the header of 'esoteric musing' - better in the mind forum.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve B
    Originally Posted by TNT011 View Post

    You have to be a multitalented genius, otherwise you can forget about marketing. True or false?

    Totally false. No one fits your superman definition and it is not required in any field of labor. How many DaVincis come along in anyone's lifetime? DaVinci was a genius. You don't have to be a genius to be a successful marketer.

    Today you specialize and organize. You do the things you can or want to do - the things you are capable of doing - and you find partners, software, assistants, or out-sourced talent to do what you can't.

    How many really successful IMers do every single task in their business by themselves? None that I know.

    Leverage is the name of the game. You find ways to accomplish what you need to do without doing all those things yourself. No one is great at everything . . . but some folks are great at organizing their work and delegating large portions of it elsewhere.

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  • TNT011,

    Originally Posted by TNT011 View Post

    ... A modern marketer has to become Uomo Universale in order to survive in the modern business world ... You have to be a multitalented genius, otherwise you can forget about marketing ... True or false?
    I say false.

    >> After all, Google's Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Microsoft's Bill Gates and Apple's Steve Jobs among others needed a lot of help from others to successfully convert their creative core concepts into realistic solutions, and that includes financial investments and B2B partnerships ...

    >> They needed these things to start something, and they (or their executives) need this stuff now more than ever to continue with what they're doing:

    * The fundamental business logic to identify viable market demand and project significant market movement;

    * The creativity to formulate solutions, back end systems, front end processes and technologies to effectively serve that market; and

    * The drive and ability to identify the right people and motivate them to make those solutions, systems and processes successfully work for the mutual benefit of their target markets and their companies ...

    >> In 2005, my mentor, a client who owns one of the largest corporate network systems firms in the USA, summarized these things down to this:

    PPTs = People. Processes. Technologies.

    >> Of course, you need to have a viable concept first.
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  • Profile picture of the author RefuseToLose
    When you start alone in this business you have to be a jack of all trades because most of the time you can't afford to pay anyone else. However...

    Once you gain all the skills required to start, you should stick to mastering one skill and doing it better than any of your competitors.

    People think being a jack of all trades is what will make you successful. It actually hinders your results because there is no way you can be a master of everything.

    Stick to one skill and excel at it once you get a basic understanding of everything and you will do better than those jack of all trade guys.
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    • Profile picture of the author TNT011
      Originally Posted by RefuseToLose View Post

      When you start alone in this business you have to be a jack of all trades because most of the time you can't afford to pay anyone else. However...

      Once you gain all the skills required to start, you should stick to mastering one skill and doing it better than any of your competitors.

      People think being a jack of all trades is what will make you successful. It actually hinders your results because there is no way you can be a master of everything.

      Stick to one skill and excel at it once you get a basic understanding of everything and you will do better than those jack of all trade guys.
      Had a really strong feeling about this mastering one thing instead of trying to be the best at everything and eventually failing. Thank you. Appreciated.
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  • Profile picture of the author Stanallaire
    These are all great points - the expression "Jack of all trades, master of none" really rings true here when it comes to my business. What I've found is that I can make a living on doing projects where I outsource everything my best skill, and that I can also sell my best skill and make a living on that as well.

    Those two things are of critical importance. You should be good enough at one aspect of your business that you could make money just by selling that skill to other people that don't have it. You should also be able to build a business around that skill - you need to bring some kind of a skill set to what you're doing and the more well-rounded you are, the better off you are. Still, you have to be expert-level in something, whether it's writing, web design, market research, in order to be fully effective.

    Whatever skills you don't have, just make connections and outsource them when you have the money to do so.
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    • Profile picture of the author TNT011
      Originally Posted by Stanallaire View Post

      These are all great points - the expression "Jack of all trades, master of none" really rings true here when it comes to my business. What I've found is that I can make a living on doing projects where I outsource everything my best skill, and that I can also sell my best skill and make a living on that as well.

      Those two things are of critical importance. You should be good enough at one aspect of your business that you could make money just by selling that skill to other people that don't have it. You should also be able to build a business around that skill - you need to bring some kind of a skill set to what you're doing and the more well-rounded you are, the better off you are. Still, you have to be expert-level in something, whether it's writing, web design, market research, in order to be fully effective.

      Whatever skills you don't have, just make connections and outsource them when you have the money to do so.
      You mentioned outsourcing. You made me think. So, I don't have to bother myself learning all necessary things and skills. I can just outsource a thing or two every now and then. At the same time, I have to be successful enough in my main fully specialized field of work, so I can afford to outsource. This is how it is supposed to work. Right?
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