When the market changes
Or when you are riding a dead horse, dismount
The Scrum Master plays a crucial role in IT and modern project management. As freelancers in this field, we bear a special responsibility: not only for the success of the teams in our projects but also for the adaptability and long-term success of our own business activities.
But what happens when the market in which we operate changes? How do we recognize these changes in time, and how can we prepare ourselves for them?
I have experienced market changes twice now as a freelancer. The first time was in 2013. At that time, I worked as a freelance SAP CRM Consultant. While I initially found projects with ease, by mid-2013, it was nearly impossible. I had tried everything — utilizing the usual project platforms, reaching out to former colleagues, cold calling, etc. — all without success. It wasn’t that there was no longer a demand for CRM consultants, but instead that they were no longer being sought freelance. At that time, I decided to transition to permanent employment despite the challenge of giving up my independence.
Now, or rather since 2020, I am in a similar situation as a freelance Scrum Master. Project acquisition has become lengthy and laborious. In 2016, when I applied for a project tender, the probability of receiving the contract was >90%…
