What is the main difference between a producer and a director?

The producer manages the business side, including funding, scheduling, and hiring key staff, while the director handles the creative execution, guiding actors and visuals to realize the script.

Who has more authority on a film set, the producer or the director?

The producer holds final authority over budget and logistics, whereas the director has creative authority over the artistic vision, so neither is universally superior because their power depends on the specific decision.

Which role is better for a career, being a producer or a director?

Neither role is objectively better because a producer typically earns more stable income from backend deals, while a director gains more public recognition, so your choice should match your tolerance for business versus creative work.

Does it cost more to hire a producer or a director?

Hiring a director usually costs more per project because top directors command premium fees, whereas producers often work for a flat fee plus a percentage of the budget, making their total compensation highly variable.

What is the biggest risk of hiring an inexperienced producer?

The biggest risk is budget mismanagement, which can halt production mid-shoot, because an inexperienced producer may underestimate costs or fail to secure completion funds, leaving the project stranded without resources.

Can a producer and a director work together on the same project?

Yes, producers and directors work together on every project, as the producer secures resources while the director shapes the story, and their collaboration is essential for balancing creative goals with financial constraints.

What is a common beginner mistake when confusing producers and directors?

A common beginner mistake is assuming the director controls the money, but that is false because the producer owns the budget and schedule, while the director only manages the on-set creative team.

Are the roles of producer and director interchangeable?

No, the roles are not interchangeable because the producer's fiduciary duties and the director's artistic duties require different skill sets, and swapping them would cause either financial chaos or a loss of creative coherence.

How do a producer and director work together on a television series?

On a television series, the producer often acts as the showrunner who writes and manages the writers' room, while the director executes individual episodes, meaning the producer's authority extends across the entire season.

Can a director switch to becoming a producer later in their career?

Yes, a director can switch to producing, as many successful directors leverage their on-set experience to secure financing and manage projects, but they must learn new skills in contracts, insurance, and distribution to succeed.

Difference Between

Difference Between Producer and Director

Written byNex Virox Team

Editorial Team

Reviewed byVarshal Nirbhavane

Senior SEO & Organic Growth Professional · 5+ years

Published: August 26, 202619 min read

Quick answer

The main difference between Producer and Director is that the producer manages the business, budget, and logistics, while the director handles the creative vision and on-set storytelling. Producer is the project’s financial and operational leader, while Director is the artistic leader who guides actors and the visual narrative.

Key takeaways

Core distinction: Producer manages budget, schedule, and logistics; director controls creative vision and on-set storytelling.
How each works: Producer hires key staff and secures funding; director guides actors, camera, and script execution daily.
Cost and effort: Producer bears financial risk and long pre-production planning; director invests intense creative energy during shooting.
Best-fit use: Choose producer for business decisions and distribution; choose director for artistic choices and performance quality.
Common mistake: Assuming the director owns the project entirely, while the producer holds final authority over money.

Table of Contents18 sections

Difference Between Producer and Director: Comparison Table

Aspect	Producer	Director
Definition	Business and logistics leader who secures funding, hires key staff, and manages the project's budget and schedule.	Creative leader who translates the script into visuals, guides actors' performances, and shapes the final artistic vision.
Primary Purpose	Ensures the project is completed on time and within budget while delivering a return on investment for financiers.	Ensures the story is told effectively with emotional impact, visual coherence, and narrative clarity for the audience.
Core Mechanism	Contracts, financial controls, resource allocation, and risk management drive every decision from pre-production through delivery.	Shot composition, blocking, lighting choices, and performance direction translate the written word into moving images.
Employment Start	Begins work at project inception, often years before filming, developing the concept and acquiring rights to source material.	Typically joins after the producer greenlights the project, once the script is finalized and financing is largely secured.
Employment End	Remains active through delivery, marketing, and distribution, overseeing final cut approval and commercial release strategy.	Finishes principal photography and post-production supervision, with work concluding once the director's cut is delivered.
Budget Authority	Controls the master budget, approves all major expenditures, and reallocates funds between departments as production demands shift.	Requests funds for creative elements like additional shooting days, visual effects, or reshoots, but requires producer approval.
Hiring Power	Hires the director, lead cast, department heads, and key crew members, negotiating salaries and contractual terms.	Selects supporting cast, cinematographer, editor, and department specialists, subject to producer confirmation and budget limits.
Daily Oversight	Monitors daily call sheets, production reports, and budget burn rates, solving logistical problems that threaten the schedule.	Runs the set, directing each scene, camera placement, and actor performance from first rehearsal to final take.
Creative Control	Holds final approval over major creative decisions including script changes, casting choices, and the final theatrical cut.	Controls on-set creative execution and the director's cut, though the producer can request changes before final release.
Reporting Line	Answers to financiers, studios, and investors, providing regular progress updates and financial forecasts.	Answers to the producer, delivering creative results within the agreed schedule and budget constraints.
Decision Speed	Makes high-stakes financial decisions in days or weeks, requiring stakeholder consultation and contract negotiation.	Makes rapid on-set decisions in seconds or minutes, adjusting shots and performances to maintain shooting momentum.
Cost Focus	Prioritizes cost containment, contingency reserves, and cost-per-minute ratios to protect the project's profitability.	Prioritizes production value, pushing for higher spend on visuals, locations, and effects when creative impact justifies it.
Time Horizon	Operates across the entire multi-year project lifecycle, from initial concept through theatrical release and beyond.	Focuses intensely on the production window, typically lasting 40 to 120 shooting days for a feature film.
Failure Risk	Bears financial risk, potentially losing investor capital if the project exceeds budget or fails commercially at the box office.	Bears reputational risk, with poor creative choices damaging career standing even when the project remains profitable.
Success Metric	Measures success through profitability, return on investment, and delivery against schedule and budget targets.	Measures success through critical reception, festival selections, awards, and audience emotional engagement with the story.
Script Authority	Approves the final shooting script, hires screenwriters, and controls rights to the underlying intellectual property.	Interprets the approved script, may request rewrites, and shapes scene pacing, dialogue delivery, and subtext.
Cast Selection	Approves lead casting, negotiates actor salaries, and manages contractual obligations including exclusivity and promotional commitments.	Auditions actors, directs screen tests, and selects performers based on creative fit, chemistry, and directorial vision.
Location Choice	Approves locations based on cost, permits, tax incentives, and logistical accessibility for crew and equipment transport.	Selects locations for visual storytelling value, lighting potential, and atmospheric contribution to the narrative.
Equipment Access	Rents or purchases cameras, lighting, and sound gear, negotiating vendor contracts and managing equipment insurance.	Specifies camera formats, lenses, and lighting rigs based on the desired visual aesthetic and technical requirements.
Post-Production	Oversees delivery timelines, visual effects budgets, and final cut approval, managing studio expectations and release dates.	Supervises editing, color grading, sound mixing, and visual effects to achieve the intended narrative and emotional tone.
Legal Liability	Signs contracts, carries production insurance, and assumes legal responsibility for clearances, permits, and union compliance.	Works under producer authority, with liability limited to professional conduct and adherence to agreed creative parameters.
Industry Entry	Often enters through business, law, or finance backgrounds, building networks through development deals and financing connections.	Often enters through film school, assistant roles, or independent projects, building a portfolio through short films and music videos.
Typical Income	Earns a producer fee plus backend participation, with total compensation tied directly to the project's commercial performance.	Earns a negotiated flat fee or day rate, with top directors commanding multi-million-dollar salaries plus profit points.
Work Environment	Splits time between offices, phone calls, and set visits, managing relationships with financiers, agents, and studio executives.	Works primarily on set and in editing suites, surrounded by crew and cast, maintaining intense focus during long shooting days.
Stress Source	Faces pressure from budget overruns, schedule slippage, and financier demands for profitability and commercial viability.	Faces pressure from creative compromise, time constraints, and the weight of delivering a cohesive artistic vision.
Typical Output	Delivers a completed, commercially releasable product with distribution deals, marketing plans, and revenue projections in place.	Delivers a finished film or episode with a distinct visual style, coherent narrative, and performances matching the creative brief.
Common Examples	Kevin Feige at Marvel Studios and Kathleen Kennedy at Lucasfilm exemplify producers who manage massive franchise portfolios.	Christopher Nolan and Greta Gerwig exemplify directors whose distinct visual and narrative styles define their films' identities.
Primary Limitation	Cannot dictate on-set creative execution, relying on the director's interpretation to bring the approved script to life.	Cannot exceed the approved budget or schedule, requiring creative solutions within fixed financial and temporal constraints.
Best-Fit Scenario	Ideal for projects requiring complex financing, multiple stakeholders, or franchise management where business acumen drives success.	Ideal for auteur-driven projects, character studies, or visually ambitious works where singular creative vision is essential.

What Is Producer?

Producer is the business and logistics leader of a film or show. The producer secures funding, hires key staff, and manages schedules and budgets. The producer exists to turn a creative idea into a workable, financed project that can actually be completed on time.

Definition of Producer

Producer is the individual or entity responsible for overseeing the financial, operational, and administrative aspects of a media production. The producer initiates, coordinates, supervises, and controls all business matters from development through delivery, while managing risk and resource allocation. This role ensures the project remains viable and commercially accountable.

Key Characteristics of Producer

Characteristic	What It Means in Practice
Financial control	Manages the budget, approves expenditures, and secures funding from investors or studios.
Project initiation	Acquires scripts or pitches, assembles the package, and gets the project greenlit.
Hiring authority	Selects and contracts the director, lead cast, and department heads for the production.
Schedule ownership	Builds the shooting timeline and ensures daily progress matches the production calendar.
Risk mitigation	Arranges insurance, handles legal contracts, and solves problems before they stop filming.
Stakeholder liaison	Communicates between the studio, distributors, and the creative team on set.
Marketing oversight	Coordinates promotion, distribution deals, and festival submissions for the finished product.
Resource allocation	Distributes funds across departments like camera, art, and post-production fairly.
Legal accountability	Signs contracts, clears rights, and ensures union compliance across the crew.
Creative arbitration	Steps in to settle disputes between the director and financiers over scope or cost.

Common Examples of Producer

Kevin Feige – President of Marvel Studios who oversees the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe slate and its interconnected productions.
Kathleen Kennedy – Long-time Lucasfilm president and producer behind the Star Wars sequel trilogy and Indiana Jones films.
Jerry Bruckheimer – Veteran action producer known for blockbuster franchises like Pirates of the Caribbean and Top Gun.
Emma Thomas – Frequent collaborator with Christopher Nolan, producing Inception, Dunkirk, and Oppenheimer.
Scott Rudin – Prolific producer of acclaimed dramas such as The Social Network and No Country for Old Men.
David Heyman – Producer of all eight Harry Potter films and the Fantastic Beasts series for Warner Bros.
Brian Grazer – Co-founder of Imagine Entertainment, producing hits like A Beautiful Mind and Apollo 13.
Shonda Rhimes – Television producer who created and executive-produced Grey's Anatomy and Bridgerton.
Dick Wolf – Executive producer behind the Law & Order franchise and the Chicago series on NBC.
Oprah Winfrey – Producer of Selma, The Color Purple, and numerous documentary features through Harpo Productions.

Advantages and Limitations of Producer

Advantages	Limitations
Keeps the project financially solvent so filming never stops due to cash flow issues.	Often removed from daily on-set creative decisions, leading to a disconnect with the cast.
Provides a single point of accountability for investors and studios to trust.	Can overrule creative choices purely on cost grounds, damaging artistic quality.
Handles complex legal and insurance paperwork that most directors lack time for.	Faces immense pressure from financiers to cut corners on safety or shooting days.
Builds long-term industry relationships that open doors for future projects.	May prioritise commercial appeal over risk-taking, producing formulaic content.
Manages the schedule so the crew works predictable hours and avoids burnout.	Frequently blamed for failures even when the creative vision itself was flawed.
Negotiates distribution deals that maximise the film's reach and revenue.	Conflicts with directors over final cut rights can delay release or cause reshoots.
Shields the director from studio interference during the actual shoot.	Job security is low; a single flop can end a producer's career momentum.
Identifies marketable concepts early based on audience data and trends.	Rarely receives public recognition or awards compared to the director's fame.
Coordinates post-production vendors, VFX houses, and sound studios efficiently.	Must answer to multiple bosses, including studio executives and private investors.
Ensures the project reaches completion even when the director leaves mid-shoot.	Requires constant availability; producers often work 12-hour days for months straight.

What Is Director?

A director is the creative leader of a film, show, or play who translates a script into a visual story. The director guides actors, camera, and sound to shape the final experience audiences see.

Definition of Director

A director is the principal creative authority responsible for interpreting a screenplay and orchestrating all on-screen elements. The director controls performances, shot composition, pacing, and tone to realise a unified artistic vision from pre-production through final cut.

Key Characteristics of Director

Characteristic	What It Means in Practice
Creative vision	Defines the film's visual style, mood, and emotional tone from the first read-through to final edit.
Actor direction	Guides performers on delivery, blocking, and emotional beats to achieve authentic, compelling performances.
Shot composition	Chooses camera angles, framing, lens choices, and movement to tell the story visually.
Pacing control	Sets the rhythm of scenes and edits to manage tension, comedy, or drama effectively.
Script interpretation	Decides which themes, subtext, and character motivations to emphasise from the written material.
Decision authority	Holds final creative calls on set when multiple valid options conflict during production.
Collaboration hub	Synchronises cinematographers, editors, designers, and sound teams toward one coherent outcome.
Problem solving	Adapts quickly to weather, budget cuts, actor illness, or technical failures without losing momentum.
Tone consistency	Maintains a unified emotional register across hundreds of individually filmed moments.
Story ownership	Assumes accountability for whether the finished film actually works as a narrative.

Common Examples of Director

Steven Spielberg - Directed Jaws and Schindler's List, showing mastery of both blockbuster suspense and historical drama.
Christopher Nolan - Directed Inception and Oppenheimer, known for complex narratives and practical visual effects.
Greta Gerwig - Directed Lady Bird and Barbie, blending intimate character study with mainstream commercial appeal.
Martin Scorsese - Directed Goodfellas and Taxi Driver, defining modern crime cinema with kinetic camera work.
Kathryn Bigelow - Directed The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty, delivering tense, realistic war films.
Hayao Miyazaki - Directed Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro, pioneering hand-drawn animated storytelling.
Alfred Hitchcock - Directed Psycho and Rear Window, earning the title of master of cinematic suspense.
Chloé Zhao - Directed Nomadland and Eternals, blending documentary realism with studio-scale production.
Jordan Peele - Directed Get Out and Us, using horror to explore social themes with sharp originality.
Denis Villeneuve - Directed Dune and Arrival, crafting large-scale science fiction with emotional depth.

Advantages and Limitations of Director

Advantages	Limitations
Exercises full creative control over the final artistic product from script to screen.	Bears sole blame when a film fails critically or commercially, regardless of external factors.
Builds a distinctive personal style that attracts loyal audiences and studio backing.	Faces constant pressure from studios, financiers, and producers who demand commercial compromises.
Directs actors toward performances that can define careers and win major awards.	Works extremely long hours on set and in post-production, often for months without breaks.
Translates abstract written words into concrete, emotionally powerful visual sequences.	Depends heavily on crew competence; a weak cinematographer or editor can undermine the vision.
Gains recognition and career momentum from a single successful feature film.	Struggles with studio-imposed recuts that remove control over the final released version.
Collaborates with top talent across acting, design, and technical crafts on every project.	Makes hundreds of rapid decisions daily, increasing risk of costly judgment errors.
Shapes cultural conversations by choosing which stories reach mass audiences.	Faces typecasting, making it hard to pivot between genres after establishing a niche.
Retains creative rights through contracts that protect the director's cut in many deals.	Handles immense stress from budget overruns, scheduling conflicts, and on-set emergencies.
Builds a repeatable methodology that speeds up production on subsequent projects.	Isolates creatively, as the role carries ultimate responsibility without shared accountability.
Creates lasting cultural artefacts that can outlive the director's own lifetime.	Requires constant reinvention to stay relevant as audience tastes and technology evolve.

Similarities Between Producer and Director

Shared Aspect	How Producer and Director Are Alike
Core Objective	Both producer and director ultimately work to complete a successful film project.
Industry Category	Producer and director both hold senior creative and managerial roles within filmmaking.
Primary Input	Producer and director both rely on a script as their foundational source material.
Human Input	Producer and director both depend on actors and crew to execute their vision.
Financial Input	Producer and director both require a budget to fund production activities.
Equipment Input	Producer and director both need cameras, lighting, and sound gear.
Time Input	Producer and director both commit months of time from pre-production to post.
Output Product	Producer and director both generate a finished motion picture as their deliverable.
Output Medium	Producer and director both produce content for theatrical, streaming, or television release.
Output Format	Producer and director both deliver their work in standard video file formats.
End User	Producer and director both create their film for an audience of viewers.
Stakeholder	Producer and director both answer to a studio or financing entity.
Workflow Phase	Producer and director both participate actively in pre-production planning stages.
Workflow Execution	Producer and director both work on set during principal photography.
Workflow Review	Producer and director both review footage during the editing phase.
Quality Standard	Producer and director both aim for a coherent, engaging, professional final product.
Safety Standard	Producer and director both follow workplace safety protocols on set.
Legal Standard	Producer and director both comply with entertainment industry labor laws.
Contractual Constraint	Producer and director both work within union agreement restrictions.
Schedule Constraint	Producer and director both operate under fixed shooting deadlines.
Budget Constraint	Producer and director both must respect a predetermined spending limit.
Creative Cost	Producer and director both sacrifice personal time for demanding production schedules.
Financial Cost	Producer and director both incur expenses for travel and per diems.
Career Risk	Producer and director both risk their reputation on a film's performance.
Project Risk	Producer and director both face potential failure if production stalls.
Performance Metric	Producer and director both measure success through box office revenue.
Quality Metric	Producer and director both track success via critical reviews.
Audience Metric	Producer and director both gauge success through viewer ratings.
Maintenance Task	Producer and director both manage ongoing communication with their team.
Long-Term Outcome	Producer and director both build lasting careers through repeated collaborations.

Producer or Director: Which Should You Choose?

Your answer hinges on one variable: control over money versus control over the screen. If you want to own budgets, contracts, and schedules, choose Producer. If you want to own performances, shots, and storytelling, choose Director. Most people decide based on which pressure they handle better.

When to Use Producer

Choose Producer when you manage the money, the timeline, or the legal contracts. Producers own fundraising, hiring key crew, and distribution deals. You need this role when the project has a strict budget, when investors require a single accountable leader, or when you excel at logistics over aesthetics.

When to Use Director

Choose Director when you control the creative vision on set, including actor performances and camera angles. You need this role when the script demands a specific visual style, when you must make rapid on-set decisions, or when your strength is translating a page into emotion rather than managing spreadsheets.

Common Misconceptions About Producer and Director

Common Myth	The Reality
The director is the boss of the entire film production.	The producer holds final authority over budget, schedule, and hiring, while the director leads creative decisions on set.
The producer just handles money and never touches creative work.	Producers shape the script, select the director, approve casting, and influence major creative choices throughout production.
The director writes the screenplay for every movie they direct.	Directors interpret and visualize an existing script; the producer often secures the script and hires writers to develop it.
One person can easily do both producer and director jobs simultaneously.	Combining both roles risks conflicts of interest because the producer protects budget while the director protects artistic vision.
The producer is always on set giving actors directions.	Producers typically work off-set managing logistics, financing, and distribution, while directors give actors their performance directions.
The director controls the film's final editing process completely.	Producers often hold final cut authority and can override the director's edit to satisfy financiers or test audiences.
Producers only work after filming finishes to sell the movie.	Producers start before pre-production by financing, packaging talent, and securing rights, then continue through distribution after release.
The director hires the entire crew including the cinematographer.	The producer approves and often hires key crew like the cinematographer, balancing the director's preference against budget constraints.
Producers must have film school degrees to be successful.	Producers succeed through business acumen, networking, and fundraising skills, with many top producers lacking formal film education.
The director owns the finished film and its copyright.	The producer or production company owns the copyright, while the director typically retains only a contractual credit and fee.
Directors always have the final say on casting choices.	Producers approve final casting because actors affect budget, insurance, and marketability, so they can veto director preferences.
Producers never appear in film credits or receive public recognition.	Producers receive prominent credits and awards, including the Academy Award for Best Picture, which goes to producers.
The director's main job is to operate the camera.	Directors guide performances, blocking, and visual storytelling, while the cinematographer technically operates and lights the camera.
Producers personally invest their own money into every project.	Producers raise funds from studios, investors, and distributors, and they rarely fund entire productions from personal wealth.
Directors work only during principal photography on set.	Directors work months before shooting in prep and months after in post-production, overseeing edits, sound, and visual effects.
Producers and directors always have a hostile working relationship.	Most productions succeed through collaboration, with the producer enabling the director's vision within practical financial limits.
The director is responsible for the movie's marketing campaign.	Producers oversee marketing and distribution strategy, while directors may only participate in press junkets and promotional interviews.
Producers don't need to understand storytelling or narrative structure.	Producers evaluate scripts for marketability and audience appeal, so they must understand story structure to greenlight viable projects.
Directors handle all legal contracts and union negotiations personally.	Producers manage contracts, union agreements, and legal clearances, while directors focus on creative execution without legal duties.
Becoming a producer requires less experience than becoming a director.	Producers need years of experience in finance, law, and management, making their career path equally demanding as directing.
The director decides the film's release date and distribution plan.	Producers and distributors determine release dates and distribution windows based on market timing, not the director's preference.
Producers only work on big-budget Hollywood studio films.	Producers work across all scales, from indie micro-budget films to documentaries, commercials, and streaming content worldwide.
Directors are always creative geniuses who hate business decisions.	Many directors understand budgets and schedules deeply, and they collaborate with producers on resource allocation for their vision.
The producer's job ends when the movie starts filming.	Producers remain active through production solving crises, managing cash flow, and then shift to post-production and delivery duties.
Directors get credit for the film's success while producers stay invisible.	Producers receive producer credits, guild recognition, and festival awards, making them visible industry figures alongside directors.
Producers force directors to compromise artistic integrity on every project.	Producers negotiate compromises only when necessary for budget survival, and they often protect directors from unreasonable financier demands.
The director chooses the film's location and sets without producer input.	Producers approve locations based on tax incentives, permits, and costs, so they have significant veto power over director choices.
Producers are interchangeable and any producer can manage any film.	Producers specialize in genres, budgets, or regions, and a horror producer may lack skills needed for animated family features.
Directors make more money than producers on every film project.	Producers often earn backend profits and producing fees that exceed director salaries, especially on commercially successful films.
The director's vision is always the single most important factor for success.	Producer-led decisions on timing, casting, and marketing frequently determine box office outcomes as much as the director's creative work.

Conclusion

Difference Between Producer and Director comes down to money versus vision. Producers secure funding, manage budgets, and handle logistics. Directors own creative decisions, guiding actors and shots. Choose a producer role if you excel at business and organization. Choose directing if your strength is storytelling and visual artistry.

FAQs on Difference Between Producer and Director

What is the main difference between a producer and a director?: The producer manages the business side, including funding, scheduling, and hiring key staff, while the director handles the creative execution, guiding actors and visuals to realize the script.
Who has more authority on a film set, the producer or the director?: The producer holds final authority over budget and logistics, whereas the director has creative authority over the artistic vision, so neither is universally superior because their power depends on the specific decision.
Which role is better for a career, being a producer or a director?: Neither role is objectively better because a producer typically earns more stable income from backend deals, while a director gains more public recognition, so your choice should match your tolerance for business versus creative work.
Does it cost more to hire a producer or a director?: Hiring a director usually costs more per project because top directors command premium fees, whereas producers often work for a flat fee plus a percentage of the budget, making their total compensation highly variable.
What is the biggest risk of hiring an inexperienced producer?: The biggest risk is budget mismanagement, which can halt production mid-shoot, because an inexperienced producer may underestimate costs or fail to secure completion funds, leaving the project stranded without resources.
Can a producer and a director work together on the same project?: Yes, producers and directors work together on every project, as the producer secures resources while the director shapes the story, and their collaboration is essential for balancing creative goals with financial constraints.
What is a common beginner mistake when confusing producers and directors?: A common beginner mistake is assuming the director controls the money, but that is false because the producer owns the budget and schedule, while the director only manages the on-set creative team.
Are the roles of producer and director interchangeable?: No, the roles are not interchangeable because the producer's fiduciary duties and the director's artistic duties require different skill sets, and swapping them would cause either financial chaos or a loss of creative coherence.
How do a producer and director work together on a television series?: On a television series, the producer often acts as the showrunner who writes and manages the writers' room, while the director executes individual episodes, meaning the producer's authority extends across the entire season.
Can a director switch to becoming a producer later in their career?: Yes, a director can switch to producing, as many successful directors leverage their on-set experience to secure financing and manage projects, but they must learn new skills in contracts, insurance, and distribution to succeed.