Tomislav Kozačinski is a long time freelancer, with over 11 years experience he is a talented digital product designer, among other things. In his lecture, he will share his freelance experience, and all dos and don’ts he learned along the way, so let’s dive right in and introduce Tomislav.
We’re glad you’ll be joining us in Zagreb in September. Could you tell us more about yourself?
On the business end, I have over 11 years of freelancing experience, I’ve been involved in all types of projects. Lately, I’ve been working on B2B and SaaS web and mobile apps and managing digital products as a User Experience designer and creative team lead. Over the last three years, I gave numerous talks on a variety of subjects ranging from User Experience, Product Design, and Freelancing. This experience I am now combining into a podcast series “Freelance Talks” that I am starting this Fall with the goal of helping people transition from 9-5 to a freelance / remote career. On the personal side, the same amount of years has gone to doing stand up comedy across the region. I think it’s going OK… 🙂
You and Aleksandar (Aleks) Curać Šarić, also both stand up comedians, were hosts at first WordCamp Croatia in Rijeka, but at WordCamp Zagreb, you’ll be a speaker. Are there common challenges when trying to make an audience laugh or teach them something?
From the perspective of a person on the stage, regardless of what you are doing, you need to have the full attention of the audience if you want to make your point come across. Difference between teaching people something and making them laugh is that with stand up comedy you know immediately if you are any good.
You are experienced designer and this is not your first contact with WordCamps & WordPress community events. In your opinion, why attend WordCamp when you can live-stream it? Is it the same, or is there some other level to it?
If you just want to hear about “this and that” about WordPress and things related to it, then by all means, stay at home and stream it. But, for me, all events of this nature are 30% learning and 70% networking. And being on site and having the opportunity to interact with people from the community and ask a question during talks is far more valuable than staying at home. You never know who you are going to meet, and what you will hear “off stage”.
The flexibility of freelance work is very appealing – being your own boss with flexible work hours, or is there more than it meets the eye?
Yes. So much to it that I can not put it into this short answer. But I will put it into half hour talk at WordCamp, and I hope that people who want to know working for your self actually works will come to the conference.
Did you get your ticket?
If you haven’t already, get your ticket for WordCamp Zagreb today. Tickets are priced at 20€ (around 150 HRK) which will give you entrance to the conference, (first) access to workshops on Friday and to Contributor day on Sunday. You will also get the drinks, lunch, incredible t-shirt and other cool swag from our sponsors.