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Trends to Watch in the final 365 days of the Decade by @SBSLEducSoltns

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by SJ Barakony | Featured Contributor

 

2019 awaits. How ready are you & your business for these 13 trends?

 

Can you believe it?! Yes, its true: we’re less than 2 weeks away from another New Years’ Day; so, let’s dedicate a toast to our businesses, our families, & friends!

Not only that … did you notice?  It’s also the last year of the first decade of the ‘new’ century.

 

Where were you on 01 Jan, 2010?

 

Was your business even open?

How did you communicate with your clientele?

Have you rebranded since then?

 

…  That’s NINE years ago, believe that!

 

The Mindset of the Futurist

 

“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”  — Buckminster Fuller

 

#quotestoliveby #futurist 

( Click to Tweet the above )

 

Many thought leaders, chief amongst them the futurists, visionaries, and creative disrupters, know of Fuller. He laid this cornerstone of thought and its now part of his legacy, to be embraced by generations not yet born. It is from this core thesis that we’ll push ahead – unveiling a market basket of trends that your business will be impacted by in some manner in 2019 ( & beyond. )

 

 

A Bakers’ Dozen

 

Laying out 13 that I, as a futurist, am personally invested in tracking; each of these are invigorating and, in the hands of the benevolent & bold, will usher in as yet unknown amounts of potential energy to our nation(s), states/provinces, and localities:

 

Mobile revolution

Smart Cities

Blockchain / Crypto currencies

Gig Economy ( Conceptual Age )

Automation ( AI, Machine Learning, Robots )

Autonomous Vehicles \ Drones

Holistic Wellness ( > sickcare )

Decentralized [ social & news ] media

Self directed education & learning ( schooling & credential seeking )

Communities / tribes

Social enterprises ( modern mutual aid societies )

Principles > politics

Holocracy ( future of ‘work’/places )

 

 

In pursuit of a deeper understanding of the bright future which awaits

 

Even a rudimentary understanding of 1, some, or perhaps all of the 13 trends shared above won’t be embraced at deeper levels of awareness, acceptance, and consciousness without continually reading, listening ( podcasts, audio books ), & watching ( videos, webinars )

 

Two #mustread books in this space are linked below, to further illuminate your path.

I wholeheartedly suggest investing in them as a holiday/Christmas present for yourself & for those whom you hold most dear.

 

A Whole New Mind

The Code of the Extraordinary Mind

 

Suggested Follows out in the ‘Twitter’verse

 

Futurist Rankings by Ross Dawson

Generations Timeline – After the Millennials by Anne Boysen

Gold vs. Cryptos: Invest or divest … Here … from Gerald Celente

4 questions to test your intellectual humility via Daniel Pink

 

 

Don’t Argue, nor Debate

 

Instead, as we see, hear, and experience more & more creative disruption which impacts our professional sphere ( inc. our business’ cashflow, income streams, etc. ), shall we abandon the negativity, time loss, & win/lose (or worse, lose/lose) outcomes from arguing & debating?

I propose an equivalent swap of the above two non futurist, consumerist terms for those that produce & add value:   Discussion & rational discourse.

 

As 2019 dawns, I thoughtfully (channeling one of my many informal mentors, Mr. Dale Carnegie), throw down a challenge:

 

Whether with yourself ( self talk ), your staff, clientele/customers, or a prospect, engage in thought provoking win/win discussion or a structured rational discourse with him/her/them in the next several weeks

 

Word Play: Choices to make to embrace the transformation underway in our workplaces  

 

As we ascend the ladder from unconscious incompetence on up to unconscious competence, let’s fully embrace how exciting each of these trends will be in our ongoing entrepreneurial journeys & resolve to learn new words

Some which are becoming anchored to the past as these 13 futuristic trends continue to evolve, expand, & replicate:  ‘employee’ ; ‘hierarchy’ ; ‘college for all’ ; ‘health care’ ; ‘cash’.

Does this indicate that these (let alone others) will disappear forever? Not necessarily. Yet, the early adopters in our business networks will already grasp the above, and quite a number more will eventually ‘see’ as you have/will!

 

 

Websites, articles, blogs, & organizations: Learn More & Take Action

 

Define. Learn. (then) Do.

We’ve defined a vision for 2019 & beyond. With numerous resources are embedded in the post already, let’s expand your learning zone:, what if you want to self educate even more?!

 

Ever more important, investing time in additional concrete steps to ‘future’ prep your business venture would be wise. I’m applauding you proactively, if you choose to do so!

 

 

Trends Research

Future Frontiers

A-speakers

Mind Valley

 

Future Today

AdWeek.com

Visual Capitalist

Futurism Blogs

 

In short …

 

  • 9 years down, 1 to go in the decade #ThinkItOver
  • Suggested Twitterverse follows
  • A bakers’ dozen trends
  • The futurist rankings & further resources to dig into
  • Don’t argue, debate, or fight the existing; discuss & set time for rational discourse
  • Word swaps:  let’s ‘play’ on a 2020’s field
  • What’s coming is exciting & transformational; fear not!  Embrace. Encourage. Uplift.

 

Thank YOU for reading!

& …

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Time = Gold (and … money = silver) by @SBSLEducSoltns

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by SJ Barakony | Featured Contributor

Putting Productivity ahead of Busy-ness in Business

 

“I’m so busy!”

“How are you? How’s business?  Busy!”

 

There are mild variants,  yet, the theme is constant: The individual is … say it with me now …. B-u-s-y.

Since when did our nation’s backbone, entrepreneurs, decide that this status was the end all, be all, in conversation, let alone in practice?

Let’s reframe. First, though, empathy & grace are necessary.

I know: There’s a LOT on your plate;  I’m sure many of these are on your calendar, scribbled on sticky notes, and/or are pop up reminders on your smart device:  Payroll. Review insurance coverage. Talk to the V.A; accountant; and/or financial advisor. Respond to client messages. Etc …

Still, we shouldn’t aspire to busy-ness; when we stop, if merely for a moment & reflect, we realize that as entrepreneurs, we’re solution providers & producers.

Thus, the more we produce, the more pro-ductive we are: it’s productivity which we should strive for, a 1:1 replacement for the ‘busyness’ that is our default answer to so many questions.

Painting a picture to aid in this mindset shift, we revisit the 1st few words …

 

Time = Gold.

 

… and now can move to implement this truth in our business first ( self-leadership ), then, model it for staff + customers, lastly, replicating it to other entrepreneurs in our network.

 

Those who are wise won’t be busy, and those who are too busy can’t be wise.”
― Lin Yutang

Click to Tweet

Lin Yutang #quote

 

 

Precious Metals

 

Gold :  

Time is an irreplaceable asset, just like gold. Gold is finite & very rare: Its value has held firm for thousands of years & once was used regularly in commerce worldwide. Just like there’s always been a 24 hour day, the amount of gold available for mining is constant; fluctuation in the ‘price’ of gold is due to the underlying currencies, just like your productivity ties to how well you lead yourself.

Silver :

Money is a reflection, a flag, which signals how much value you’ve added to the marketplace; your monetized service, product, &/or specialized knowledge is your entrepreneurial bridge b/w problem identified & solution provided. We look to silver now, as its value is also stable, yet it’s more abundant in nature than gold. So, with an abundance mentality x growth mindset, you know you can grow your share of this not fixed pie.

 

 

Two must read books

Without a shred of doubt, I wholeheartedly recommend both. Each has a high ceiling of potential energy which can be tapped to lead to dramatic improvements in your productivity & reduced busy-ness.

 

E-Myth: Revisited

The Fifth Discipline

 

Stephen R. Covey

He passed away over 6 years ago, gone & not forgotten as a pioneer; through his off the charts levels of contribution, we have much to tap into. The 4 quadrants is something to study often, & implement in short order.

 

Covey’s Time Management Matrix, in the written word

Or perhaps you’d learn better from a visual?

 

 

Suggested ‘Twitterverse’ Follows

 

A Helpful Guide to Becoming Unbusy by Joshua Becker

How to Stop Being Busy All the Time from Gus Razzetti

4 Ways to Break Free From Being “Too Busy” penned by Rikki Rogers , culled from The Muse

 

Leverage = Legacy

 

This concept is transformational.  Pulling from the vastness of the internet, here are two marvelous resources. Once you take this small two-step seriously, my advice is to keep going!

 

Kelly Azevedo

Amanda Abella


Systems Thinking?  

 

Its powerful.  In a previous post, you learned all about the power of principled self education.

Here’s a superb opportunity to practice what you read by visiting Donella Meadows ‘s website.

And if you haven’t yet bumped into this infographic, please, I implore you, dive in over the next 24 hours. Your income can become systems driven wealth through active application of this business truism.

 

In my ongoing discovery, I’ve repeatedly shared these maxims with those whom I mentor, in coffee 1:1’s, & elsewhere: Why? They’ve allowed me to run multiple business ventures at the same time, all while making strides towards being productive = gold = time & (more) passive = silver = money.

 

Next steps:

 

 

What can Westminster Abbey teach about implementing this content?!  

 

This inscription, when understood at a deeper level, reflects the ongoing value of lifelong learning.

 

Action Time

 

As with anything you choose to read, listen to, or watch, the truest formula = what you do next, how you proceed, & why?

Reflect, through meditation, prayer, yoga, or in a moment(s) of silence on this post, please, & thank you for reading!

 

In short …

 

  • A producer is productive; a consumer is busy. ‘Busy’ shouldn’t be a status, symbol, or state of being for the wise entrepreneur
  • Time = gold.  Money = silver.  Prioritize your irreplaceable asset;  focus on it and not on money (income, wealth) as #1.
  • Review the links to invest in 2 highly recommended books
  • Covey’s quadrants/matrix is a terrific tool in and by itself
  • Suggested Twitter follows & some of their scholarly tweets. #MustReads
  • Understand systems & leverage in your entrepreneurship education
  • Leadership starts with self

 

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The Ultimate Guide To Embracing Life As A Successful Nomad Entrepreneur by @XLConsultingGro

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by Elaine Slatter | Featured Contributor

Nomad Entrepreneur

What Is A Nomad Entrepreneur?

You could say I’m a digital nomad entrepreneur.  I travel almost six months of the year while at the same time working.  Recently I spent time in England, Gran Canaria, Florida, and Cuba.  I can do this because all I need to work successfully is having access to a great internet connection.  Well, that does rule out Cuba, because most places don’t have easy access to free wi-fi yet.  So while I’m in Cuba I am truly electronically disconnected, but I can still look for interesting stories for future projects and therefore am technically working!

In today’s wired world, many companies are allowing employees to work remotely. Entrepreneurs have even more flexibility.  Jobs that previously were anchored in a specific location now have the freedom to move around the world, still serving clients.

From my travel/work experiences, there are some key points to factor in if you would like to try this lifestyle.

1)  Plan Ahead – Country Research

Depending on your citizenship, you may or may not be restricted to working in your country of choice. For example, as a Canadian citizen, I am not allowed to work in the UK and can only visit for six months. As a digital worker, with a business registered in Canada, I’m ok, but if I was a fashion designer and wanted to open a pop-up shop in the UK, for example, that would not be ok.  If you were born in the UK as I was, you could re-apply for a British passport and then you would be able to work. In Gran Canaria (a Spanish entity) there was no such restriction.

Some countries, such as France, require you to register for a ‘titre de séjour’ for an extended stay if you are not an EU resident.    Summing up, expat rules are different for each country, therefore it is important to check these out first.

2)  Taking Care of Your Health

Nothing is worse than being sick abroad.  It could be a simple problem due to dietary changes or a more complex situation requiring a hospital stay.  No matter what the situation, having the right plan to help you while traveling is critical.  You don’t want to be facing a mountain of bills because don’t have the right health coverage.

3)  Financial Security

Will your business run uninterrupted while you work in a different country?  Will your cash flow be continuous and can you access your cash whenever you need it?  Taking care of your banking as efficiently as possible is another key factor in living abroad.  Exchange rates can be a killer if you are receiving funds in your home country but living in a country where the exchange rate is not in your favour.

4)  Cultural Adaptability & Having Fun

Living abroad isn’t always the utopia as advertised, especially if you haven’t had much travel experience. Before you make the decision to travel to a foreign country and commit for a long-term stay, why not do a sample trip to see if this lifestyle is for you.

Companies such as Venture With Impact specialize in setting up work/travel arrangements where you can also make an impact by helping the local community.  These one month stays in either Colombia, Mexico, Thailand or Portugal can be a lot of fun, because the research has been done for you.  To learn more about this, check out our podcast with founder Ann Davis.

For fitting into your new home, expat culture expert, Rachel Smets, specializes in training individuals and teams on how to fit in culturally abroad.  Check out her advice here.

5)  Permanent Move

After a trial run experiencing different countries or even different parts of your own country, you may decide to make a permanent move.  Now it’s important to do a more in-depth study of your new location, especially if it involves more than just you. Up front, research can save you a whole bunch of heartache down the road because making the wrong move could be very expensive and hard to reverse.  Relocation expert, Margaret Vandergriff, gives 6 great tips on how to relocate successfully.

If you are still in the planning stages of changing your life to move from your home to become a nomad entrepreneur, you can still do lots of online research to find the perfect location.  Travel magazines such as Wanderlust have many articles for you to explore travel life.

A website such as  Expat Focus gives detailed information on different countries that are very useful for expats to consider before they move.

Living in different countries or exploring new parts of your own country is exciting.  You can become a nomad entrepreneur if you are open to new experiences.  Travel can be addictive.  There are so many places in the world to explore and travel is the best education and experience in the world on so many levels.

nomad entrepreneur sitting at a cafeWhat is my favourite thing to do on my adventures?  Try new coffee shops!  Coffee shops are often the hangouts for fellow nomad entrepreneurs.  Sipping a coffee and having a treat while chatting with someone from another country is the highlight of my day.

Why not embrace change and explore new cultures as a nomad entrepreneur it will change your life forever!

If you are already a nomad entrepreneur, tell us about your travel experiences.  We would love to know how you navigated a successful transition to become a nomad entrepreneur.

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Soft Skills aren’t ‘Soft’ by @SBSLEducSoltns

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by SJ Barakony | Featured Contributor

“Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast” … and …. soft skills are the breakfast of  winners!

 

Did that subtitled quote ( thank YOU to the late Peter Drucker ) catch your eye?!

Good!

(It was meant to do just that, dear readers.)

 

We now dive into a deep pool …

In truth, an entire online library could conceivably be dedicated to nothing but them!

Thought leaders all across the globe, including many in your LinkedIn network, have spoken of their past experiences, spun stories, & shared wisdom nuggets through books, webinars, podcasts, & even created whole curricula focusing on these immensely valuable skills.

So, we’re just skimming the surface: Becoming self educated, role modeling a better ‘You, Inc.’ to your staff, clientele, & fellow entrepreneurs & revisiting your business culture would each be forward thinking outcomes.

 

Foundational Definitions

 

Soft Skills :  

Please click here , here , & here.

You might already be asking …  Are these the same as people … interpersonal … or life skills?      Yes.

 

Culture :

Excellent articles

1 … 2 … & … 3

 

 

Let’s now briefly discuss the inexorable connection between culture & soft skills in your business(es).

 

Are soft skills a necessary part of a vibrant entrepreneurial [workplace], culture?

 

A great number of signs point to a clear, resounding ‘yes’, since these skills are so often not taught in classrooms in all ‘tracks’ ( K-12, up to & including graduate level studies )

An entrepreneur is likely to become a magnet to others if she offers them as part of ongoing professional development for her staff, regardless of industry. If you’re dealing with confounding challenges that coaching or some other service pro hasn’t yet solved, or, maybe you just seek to expand, laser focus here;  you are onto something BIG.

 

What do others say?

 

Here’s a post well worth reading …

 

And this author comes to a like conclusion.

 

A personal story & opportunity to serve

 

My own entrepreneurial journey wouldn’t be nearly as rich without the visceral impact of these skills on my own ventures.

 

Through the fall of last year, I had the high honor of being a member of a nationwide committee

And, for that same organization, I was asked to be a co-panelist on this webinar.

 

If you’re offered anything similar, what’s commonly known as an influencer, as I was, please, I implore you: take it!

 

Our discourse at networking events, in business dealings with peers, levels of customer service, engagement & satisfaction amongst your staff, decreased turnover:

I truly believe all would benefit positively.

 

A Sampling of @Twitter Thoughts [from across the ‘Twitterverse’]

 

Future Learn

Vala Afshar

Scott Hartley

 

What soft skills should I focus on to improve my business’ culture?   

 

The answers will vary considerably from venture to venture, industry to industry. After all, this field is not barren; it is richly blossoming in content of all kinds which you can surely beta test, or go all in & fully invest your development dollars from the get-go.

 

 

Should I hire, fire, outsource, and/or promote with these skills as the key determinant?

 

Yes.

You can always get someone up to speed on ‘harder’ (read: technical) skills if you have an individual who understands how to prioritize ( time management ); whom has a good attitude;  who can work on any team and contribute; who knows how to resolve a conflict; and whom can build her leadership abilities through influence, vision, & service rather than expecting others to follow a title, or positional authority.

 

What’s the best way to deliver them?    

 

This, too, is flexible.

In a hyper competitive industry (e.g., real estate, insurance, financial services, banking), encouraging your staff, & leaving room in your own day for lifelong learning would be smart. Many of these professions already require ‘CE’ , however, incentivizing ongoing development of soft skills through ‘comp time’, bonuses, etc., will offer you a clear edge. Everyone else is aware of the former, while you also recognize the latter = difference maker.

Finding ways to collaborate with a services professional who offers group facilitation, mentorship, business coaching, or a consultant with focused training program would be a clear win:win.

 

Next steps:

Take action!  The Gig (Sharing/P2P) Economy moves infinitely faster than its predecessor eras. And, expecting that the conventional schooling institutions will begin to offer these skills so you won’t have to invest wouldn’t be advisable.

 

Learn more. If this post & the related links doesn’t yet convince you of their importance, attend a conference, lunch & learn, register for a webinar, or listen to a podcast that discusses professional development.

 

In short …

 

  • Soft skills should be taken very seriously
  • Culture is a foundational necessity.
  • If offered an opportunity to spread the word about soft skills, accept it with a smile
  • Fundamental challenges ( i.e., turnover, satisfaction, engagement ) can be solved at the root
  • Reconsider your standards for hiring, firing, and promoting staff.
  • Delivering soft skills into your culture can be done in numerous ways
  • Don’t stand still

 

________

Thank YOU for reading!

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3 Reasons Your Confidence Fuels Your Entrepreneurial Spirit

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Building a new business is exciting! Your vision become a reality in business is an empowering boss move! Passion and purpose are the main ingredients to a great business. Your confidence fuels your entrepreneurial spirit! Inspire your boss moves with three reasons your confidence fuels your entrepreneurial spirit.

Ashley Terrell

 

  • Focus fuels your entrepreneurial spirit! Focus is key when building your business or brand. Your confidence fuels your entrepreneurship spirit when you’re focus on strengthening what encourages you to stand tall! Confidence knowing your brand’s advantages and goals fuel for your entrepreneurial spirit. First, focus on building valuable relationships, not business relationships that aren’t fruitful. Secondly, check your local newspaper or social media networks for clubs, communities or interest groups.  Social media community boards are great for workshops that will allow your confidence to fuel your entrepreneurial spirit. Visit your local library branch for publications and periodicals to fuel your entrepreneurial spirit.

  • Use your confidence to set your brand apart from the “competition”.  Think about this: difference highlights your brand’s many abilities to serve your customers. Entrepreneurs view fellow businesses as competition.  Use your brand’s difference to spotlight why your business or brand is to be considered important. Business development can be responsible for critical thinking of entrepreneurs. “Their business is like mine” is a phrase all entrepreneurs have heard when building their business or brand. Think about like this: brand recognition is a business acknowledging there’s businesses and brands of the same liking. On the other hand, brand awareness is your business’s drill sergeant. Brand awareness keeps an entrepreneur mindful of the necessity to build their brand at all times.

  • Overturning customer’s rejection fuels your entrepreneurial spirit. Lastly, fuel your entrepreneurship spirit with customer service experience. The “engagement-and-interacting skill” will aid your confidence to fuel your entrepreneurship spirit.  Emphasize COACH, not HINDRANCE. Rejection of a brand can allow us to see the client doesn’t have a necessity for what you’re selling.  Confidence and customer service allows you the ability to level with a customer and sell from another angle. For example, your greeting card company wants to print stationary for a prospect. The prospect wants to use your services, but you don’t have their choice of paper. Would you refer the prospect or accommodate by ordering the paper?

Most importantly, confidence reigns loudest during the early stages of establishing a brand. Your confidence level is reason to fuel your entrepreneurial spirit and mind! Begin your day with our She Owns It tips, relax and feel the difference! Furthermore, energize your entrepreneurial spirit and recharge your mind with the inspiring reads below:

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Why Your Side Business Isn’t Growing and What To Do About It by Caz Wilson of @socialkitchenlv

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by Caz Wilson | Featured Contributor 

If you’re reading this then there’s a good chance that you have a side hustle, a passion project, something which you hope to leave your soul-crushing day job for. I applaud you, friend. By starting a side hustle, you are walking down a path which will have mountains, valleys, and the occasional angel and evil villain thrown in there, just for good measure!

I know this path well. It was just a few months ago that I was right there, walking it with you. In June of 2017, I began building my social media business on the side of an intensely stressful brand marketing job in a very corporate, grey office.

My journey down this path took lots of personal sacrifices (think very little sleep, any sort of self-care going right out of the window, along with a social life and anything which fell under the category of “fun”).

As with most challenging journeys, the path was not always an easy well-laid track. In the beginning, when it seemed like nothing was happening, I took a good hard look at what I was doing. The truth was, I was making a crucial mistake which kept me stuck in one place. The fact is, in order to get your side hustle moving, you need to get out there and get visible, failing to do so will significantly hinder your progress. Here are some things I implemented and almost immediately, I saw a shift in momentum

  1. I became very visible when I made the decision to commit to my new business and I made the decision that I was not going to hide what I was doing on social media.I had done my research and knew the parameters of starting a side hustle while at my 9-to-5 and I recommend you do the same. You may find that you may not be able to start your side hustle while in your current role as there may be conflicts. Ask your HR department in confidence, or check your company’s handbook. Presuming there are no conflicts, it’s time to get visible and let the world know about your journey.
  2. I added my new venture to my Facebook personal profile, my LinkedIn and my Instagram bio. It is imperative that you start getting the word out that this is what you are doing and by adding this to your social media, you are are showing the world that you are serious about your new venture.
  3. I then put a post out on my Facebook personal profile that this was something new I was starting and that I would love to help any friends or family with their social media. At the time, I was gaining testimonials and experience, so I offered my services for free to close family for a set amount of time and I recommend doing this in the beginning. Not only can you gain valuable testimonials this way, but it will help to build your confidence and qualify your idea.
  4. I began acting as if my side hustle was my full-time job. Although this can be challenging, at some point, you have to make the mindset flip. You’re an entrepreneur now sister, you have to step into those gorgeous shoes, and doing so sooner rather than later is how you’re going to make the strides you need. For me, I printed business cards, I began attending local networking events and meeting local entrepreneurs. Any conferences I went to, I lead with the side hustle first.

The chances are very slim that you will bump into anyone from your 9-to-5 and even if you do, if you have done your due diligence there is nothing wrong with having a part-time source of income as long as it is within company parameters. What you must understand is that this side hustle is your future, you need to adjust your mindset accordingly.

Being invisible is a very risky strategy in any profession, but particularly in the entrepreneurial world. Visibility is what gets you clients and is what build your business. If nobody knows about you it is impossible to build a successful business.

Building a business on the side of my corporate job was one of the most challenging times in my life. It stretched me beyond what I believed my capabilities were and forced me to grow in ways that I know I never would have done if I had stayed in the corporate role. It can be tough, there will be many days that you want to quit, but perseverance and a commitment to being visible is what will turn that dream into a reality and lead you to the pot of gold at the end of your path.

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Your Simple Plan to Jump from Side Hustle to Full-Time Business by @lieshapetrovich

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by Liesha Petrovich

A side hustle can be so much more than a weekend gig.

Maybe your business is a way to pay for a cool hobby, like pottery or jewelry making. Or maybe your one tiny idea evolves into the next Apple (they started in a garage!). And it all depends on what your goal may be.

If your goal is to take the leap from weekend business owner to full-time business professional, one pathway is choosing a side business that’s scalable.

You’re Creating a Brand

It’s hard to build a brand. That takes time, strategy and consistency. But adding a new profit stream to an existing brand is pretty easy. Think of your favorite authors. Buying the first book is always an unknown, but now you pre-order books because you’re already a fan. That’s the whole idea behind choosing a scalable side-business.

Start with deciding what you want your brand to look like. It’s a lot more than choosing a logo, but that’s a decent place to start. In How to create a brand book. Guide and Examples, the author suggests adding the following visual information into your own brand book: logo, brandmark, colors, typography, photography, and any other graphics. Maybe you want your brand to be stylish, professional, fun, quirky, modest, or even sexy. Choose the right visuals to convey that image to your customers.

Once you’ve started building your brand, it won’t be so hard to add a new profit stream since you already have the major pieces of the puzzle in place. Now you’re simply adding another layer to your existing brand’s image.

Choose an Industry, Not One Idea

Let’s say you’re a writer. That may be your official title, but you’re much more than a writer. You’re also a researcher, networker, sales professional, marketer, and maybe even an editor.

In 105 Side Business Ideas You Can Start Today, Nicole Yingling lists tons of profit stream ideas including selling online courses. Here’s an idea for experienced writers to teach others how to write an article pitch:

“Not everyone knows how to do this, and they may be missing key elements when they try. This is where you come in. If other writers see that you are consistently successful in your professional writing work, they will likely pay to learn your personal tricks of the trade.”

So you start as a writer. With the right planning, you easily grow your business to include several different profit streams including creating courses, mentoring or even managing other authors. The idea is to choose a business that has lots of opportunities to branch out and allows you to sell multiple products/services within the same industry.

Build On Your Success

You start as a dog walker. But soon you’re offering grooming services, boarding and maybe a line of irresistible pet treats. Or you start as a wedding planner, and now plan baby showers, anniversary parties, and corporate retreats.

There isn’t one right way to build a business and many side businesses don’t make enough for you to quit your day-job. Yet, why stop at just one side-hustle? Build the foundation and keep adding more profit streams until you’re ready to make your weekend business your full-time profession.

—————————————————————————-

Liesha’s a freelancer by day and Kyokushin Black Belt by night. Liesha’s the author of Killing Rapunzel: Learning How to Save Yourself Through Determination, Grit, and Self-Employment (her mother hates the title – but it’s a metaphor mom!). She talks freelancing adventures at Microbusiness Essentials and grassroots movements at Kat Tales.

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How many Side Hustles does it Take to Make a Career by @ChristyCareer

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by Christy Williams | Featured Contributor

Five, that’s how many.

No—six! Because I’m still looking for one more.

Have you seen those articles? The ones that encourage you to pick up a side hustle while you’re working your main job?

It could be that you are still in the beginning stages of working towards your dream career while working your steady 9-to-5 job, and your side hustle is the passion project you do on the side. Or it could be that you’re already working your dream job, but you need a side hustle to keep things afloat while that dream career starts to pull its own weight in the payday department.

Either way, that side hustle helps you make it through until you can do the one thing you really want to do full time.

Or—maybe not.

Maybe you’re like me and you have so many passions that you’re not really sure you want to do just one thing.

I certainly felt that way in the majority of the jobs I held in corporate America. Proofreading direct mail campaigns for an advertising agency my first year out of college certainly didn’t offer the variety I needed. Maybe it would have helped if the clients had some of the more “sexy” products, like the Reebok pitch I got to work on as an intern during my senior year spring break. But the rest of our clients were mostly banks. And I’m not sure anyone cares less about money than I do, so it wasn’t the greatest fit.

As I progressed through my career, I learned that as soon as I ramped up in any new position and learned how to do the job, I got bored. I am so thankful for the people out there who can do the repetitive tasks that are needed in any company, because I am not that person.

And I am definitely not that person who stays with the same organization for 20 years—or even 10 for that matter. If I’m not learning something new or being challenged, then I start watching the clock—and that’s when I know it’s time to go.

So it is so thrilling for me to have five different passion projects that I can jump between. I can imagine that it gets confusing for my connections on LinkedIn. Every time I start writing for a new publication, I get all the same people sending me messages congratulating me on the new job. They must think I’m changing jobs every month!

I even had a girlfriend shout her congratulations to me across the parking lot a few weeks ago before asking, “Exactly how many jobs do you have?!” And the truth is that if they went out to my profile, they would see that I am doing all of these things at the same time. And happily so.

Because here’s the thing. I would work ten side hustles or passion projects if I needed to, in order to be doing my soul work.

At this point in my life, not only do I need massive amounts of flexibility in my schedule to do the three hours of school carpooling I need to do every day for my kids—but I also can’t not do my soul work anymore.

It is so fantastic to be able to write an article about current events or some cause that I am passionate about, and then be able to switch gears and edit articles about sparkles and magic. To then decide I want to write about careers and helping people find their own soul work. And then write a piece about my encounter with a homeless man for a publication about enlightened masculinity.

Every day, I have the luxury to choose what I want to focus on that day—depending on my mood, my schedule, and what’s going on in the world. And I’m not sure I can think of any one job that will allow me to do more than I am doing now.

I’m not going to lie and say it doesn’t get frustrating some days, because that certainly comes with the territory. When you are cobbling together a career from all your different passions, you don’t have a consistent paycheck and a theoretical pat on the back from your boss.

But then again, I’m my own boss. I am the one who gets to decide when I take time off, and whether or not I want to look for another side hustle. Like I do now. Because as any writer or editor knows, we get paid mostly in peanuts and bylines. Which I will take, gladly. But a cash-cow side hustle that allows me to pay for my daughter’s dance, my son’s sports, and, oh yeah—food? I would gladly take that, too.

Just as long as I have variety and you know you’re not the boss of me, we’ll get along just fine.

 

Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

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The Dark Side of a Side Gig by @dianarchin

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by Diana Chin | Featured Contributor

Side gigs – it makes us feel pretty rebellious, empowered and gives off a sense of high that you’re making money on your own terms. No matter the age bracket, you’ll be sure to encounter someone who may have nonchalantly spoke about their side hustles while working at a day job. For most of us, we have a reason to take up a side gig. Thanks to the wonderful world wide web, finding ways of making money is a no brainer. Websites like Upwork, Fiverr and Etsy offers unlimited amount of potential in creating another source of income.

While there isn’t a rule book on how many side gigs you should take upon, there are some of us that may have encountered the negative side effects on having a side gig. I had the pleasure in speaking with Aileen Maria, SAG/AFTRA Actress & Model who was kind enough on sharing her thoughts about her modeling and acting projects while working at her day job. Here are my points below on what makes a side gig go sour:

Not Being Treated Fairly

When I asked Aileen about the working conditions on her modeling and acting gigs, she recalled a moment sometime in September 2016 that during her shoot was uncomfortable since they were forced to sit on the crates while the weather was extremely hot. She found out that they were planning to do three modeling shoots, instead of one as advertised. To make matters worse, one of the cameras hit her along with another model. While she was paid for the duration, she received a letter two weeks later that management overpaid them and was asked to return the amount back to the agency.

Be wary of side gigs that ask you to do more than what is intended. I always say that it’s best to document and provide the receipts on what should go down during the project. Trust your gut if something doesn’t feel right.

Total Burnout On Your Project(s)

Ever hear the saying “Biting off more than what you can chew”? Our side hustles can easily turn into a mess if we’re not able to prioritize which one needs to be completed on the list. During my time as a professional tarot reader, I started to become overwhelmed on the amount of clients asking for my services while working at my full time job. Aside from stress and depression, it made me feel inadequate. It took some courage (and some truth bombs) from my support group that I decided to walk away from my business and focus on my self care.

Remember – your physical and mental health is more important. If you feel that your side gigs are risking your health, it’s time to take a break. Give yourself a vacation from the hustle, instead of being a slave to it. You’re no good if you’re constantly running on empty and not producing the results that you want.

Your Debt Keeps Rising

When we receive our first pay from our side gigs, the temptation of spending it right away to reward ourselves for the hard-earned work is a normal feeling. Yet, you’re staring at your credit card bill and wonder if you’ll ever pay it down. If one of the main reasons for taking upon a side gig is to pay off your debt, stick to the plan! Otherwise, it defeats the purpose of having a side gig in the first place. Budget to the best of your ability and make sure that the amount that you receive from your side projects goes towards your debt.

Have you encountered a moment where your side gigs didn’t live up to your potential? Got any stories to share? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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When the Need for Work Flexibility Leads to Entrepreneurship by @ChristyCareer

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by Christy Williams | Featured Contributor

I have been a passionate evangelist of flexible work for as long as I can remember. Certainly, long before I had children of my own.

But I am only now realizing how this absolute requirement in my life is leading me, and many others, to become unexpected entrepreneurs.

I remember vividly the day that I had a visceral reaction to inflexible companies, their policies, and the impact they have on our families.

I had been in marketing for about seven years and had recently followed my beloved Marketing Director to a new company as her Senior Marketing Manager. I had already worked for this woman for a few years, and in addition to being one of the best managers I have ever had, she had become a valued mentor and trusted friend.

We were close enough that I knew she and her husband had been struggling with infertility and had more than one pregnancy that ended in heartbreak. So I was thrilled when she was finally able to realize her dreams of motherhood and adopted a beautiful, redheaded, one-year-old boy.

Unfortunately for my friend, she had only been at this new company for a few months, so she was not eligible to take any paid leave in order to be home with her new son to bond with him.

I couldn’t even wrap my brain around that. After all this woman had been through, she finally became a mother…and had to go right back to work the next day, like nothing had happened.

She might have taken some vacation time or unpaid leave. To be honest, I don’t remember. But that wasn’t the point. I can only imagine how crucial the bonding process is when adopting a one-year-old child, and bells and whistles were going off for me that this was just not right.

I became obsessed with this work-life topic. So much so, that once I realized how passionate I was about the subject—and how bored I was in corporate healthcare marketing—I made the transition from my marketing career to human resources in order to be able to change things from the inside out.

I became a Work-Life Generalist for a company I had previously worked for, and managed to make great strides in implementing policies that helped employees balance their work and personal lives. We created flexible work arrangement policies; offered errand-running services to help employees with all those day-to-day duties; and even created a Mother’s Room, where lactating mothers could pump in a private space instead of a company bathroom.

Fast forward almost 20 years and I am so happy to see the strides that corporate America has made towards flexible work policies.

Now that I have children of my own—not to mention aging parents—flexible work is not only a necessity, it has led me—and many others like me—to unexpected careers as entrepreneurs, in large part because of the flexibility that it can offer.

There is a part of me that would love the so-called stability of a full-time job, working for someone else who would hand me a paycheck every other week.

But the reality of my daily life doesn’t even begin to fit into that unyielding, structured box.

I have two children who go to different schools—neither of which have buses—so not only am I faced with figuring out how to get both kids to their schools at the exact same time in the morning, I then have to leave by 2:15 to pick up my high school freshman by 2:45. After running her home and picking up my son at 3:30 and getting home by 4:00, after-school activities start around 4:30 and run throughout the evening.

But just because I have a busy family life doesn’t mean I don’t want to work. In fact, it’s more of a need at this point in my life than a want. And that need is as much for personal fulfillment as for the income.

I know my situation is not unique and there are thousands—if not millions—of other people who are faced with the same challenges.

So for those of us who can’t find the holy grail of flexible work—the work-from-home position where you can set your own schedule—the next best thing is to create your own flexible work.

Sure, it might be more of a hustle to generate steady income at first, but that’s why freelance work was created. So we have another income stream while we grow our businesses.

But I will happily take on some freelance writing and coaching gigs on the side if it allows me to build a business where I can be my own boss, set my own hours, and allow me to make my work fit my life, instead of the other way around.

Now that I think about it, maybe entrepreneurship is the holy grail after all.

 

Image: Brooke Lark on Unsplash

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