Freelance to Founder How to Navigate Your First Big Project
Nov 27, 2025
In this conversation, Vijay Rajendran, a founder and startup coach with expertise in AI ventures, shares crucial insights on leading your first big project as a freelancer. He discusses identifying your unique strengths and assembling a complementary team, avoiding the trap of hiring duplicates of yourself. Vijay emphasizes the importance of hiring for diverse roles and leveraging tools like the Working Genius assessment to align team members' work styles. He also warns against the pitfalls of poor communication and suggests testing a short-term team before committing.
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Define Your Zone Of Genius
- Identify your zone of genius and list what you love and are best at doing.
- Delegate tasks in your zone of competence or that you dislike so you can focus on high-impact work.
Don't Hire Clones Of Yourself
- Many founders struggle by defaulting to hiring copies of themselves.
- Hiring complementary skills preserves your ability to focus on your unique strengths.
Match Roles To Work Stages
- Use the Working Genius assessment to map which stages of work energize or frustrate your team.
- Build complementary roles to cover stages you dislike so projects run smoother.
