Why I Do a Bit of Everything and Wouldn’t Have It Any Other Way
When people ask what I do, the answer changes depending on where I am. At my BNI chapter, I’m the Web Wizard. The one rescuing websites, fixing spacing issues, and helping businesses look their best online. But outside of BNI, I usually introduce myself as a multimedia specialist.
I like the term. It’s honest. It says I work across different mediums, such as web, video, and design, and that I understand how they connect. But the funny thing is, most people don’t actually know what multimedia means. So lately, I’ve started saying "digital specialist" instead. It seems to land better. Once I add “web, video, and design,” the lightbulb goes on.
My background isn’t the typical creative story. I started in finance, which, believe it or not, has its moments of creativity. But there was always something missing. I kept finding myself drawn to side projects where I could be more hands-on, more visual, more expressive. Eventually, I decided to do something about it.
In the late 2000s, I moved to New Zealand and went to film school. That year was one of the best of my life. I was surrounded by people who spoke the same creative language, and it was energising. After that, I worked in video: at the National TV in NZ, for Sky Sport, and eventually at Warner Bros on reality TV. It sounded like a dream, but it turned out to be more of a nightmare (that story’s for another time). Still, those years taught me how to see stories everywhere.
To make ends meet, I started building websites again. I’d been dabbling in code since the late 90s, back when HTML felt like magic. And over time, those “side gigs” turned into a new kind of career. One where I could bring everything I’d learned about storytelling into the digital space.
That’s the thing that ties it all together for me: storytelling. Whether it’s a video, a website, or a design project, it’s always about shaping how something is told and experienced. It’s about structure, knowing when to hold back and when to lean in. Sometimes that means rearranging a dialogue in an edit so the message lands better. Sometimes it means fixing headings on a website so the story flows more naturally, for both people and search engines. It’s always the same skill, just applied differently.
Working across so many mediums has made me see projects differently. A web designer might stop at layout, and a videographer might stop at visuals, but I think about how the two talk to each other. A great video might belong on a homepage. A strong design choice might influence how a story feels on screen. It’s all connected.
People say “a jack of all trades is a master of none,” but I think that’s only half the saying. The full version is “a jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” I like to think I fit somewhere in there, a master of some.
I’ve always needed variety. It keeps my mind moving and my skills fresh. I love that one day I can be designing a brand, the next editing a short promo video, and the next fine-tuning a website flow. Each project feeds the others.
So why do I do a bit of everything? Because I can’t imagine it any other way. Every skill, every tool, every creative challenge adds a new piece to the puzzle. And when they all come together, that’s when the real magic happens.
Ready to take the next step with your website? Whether you’re starting from scratch or refreshing your current site, I can help you create something that feels right for you and works well for your audience. Get in touch here.
