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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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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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Principled and Phenomenal Self Directed Education: Podcasts by @SBSLEducSoltns

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by SJ Barakony | Featured Contributor

The ‘Why, Whom, How, When, & Where’ of Listening to Podcasts

Podcasting is a phenomenal medium for entrepreneurs in so many ways that it stood out to me as an ideal ‘sequel’ post to last month’s focus on self directed education.

Over a decade ago, as the entrepreneurial, “E” pathway in America quietly criss-crossed with the “C” pathway ( Corporate ), thereby becoming more viable & available to the masses than it had been since the latter decades in the 19th century; in parallel, many new educational options emerged to enable us to constantly learn outside of a classroom’s credentialized learning environment:

  • Webinars
  • Networking & business development combined [ e.g., H7 Network ]
  • audio books [ Audible & others ]
  • Seminars [ usually in person ]
  • Blogging
  • Podcasting
  • E-books

We’ve become more blessed than ever before, since its crucially important to be constantly feeding yourself the very best ‘brain‘ food as you pursue your dreams, turn those ideas into actionable strategies, goals, & plans, and, of course, serve your clients/customers thereby solving their problems, challenges, roadblocks, & pain points.

Mr. Chris Hewitt spoke of “‘The 4 P’s of Podcasting’ : Permission; Personality; Passion; Profit.”

[ ClicktoTweet this; it’s catchy!: https://ctt.ac/dSJUe ]

Here’s the fantastic article from the spring of 2018 which discusses these 4 P’s in far greater detail:  How to Turn your Idea into an Audio Hit – it’s well worth reading.

Why should I listen to podcasts?

Building further on the foundation of those P’s , podcasts are:

 

  • Highly portable’ via any smart device that huge majorities of us carry everywhere.
  • Their content “seeps in” easier during more ‘mindless’ activities, like many household chores.
  • They’re easier to adopt and grow a lifelong learning mindset than sitting down to read.
  • A majority of hosts & their created/curated content is NOT taught in conventional schooling courses/curricula.

 

Where & When to listen?

From my own story, I encourage everyone to listen anywhere & anytime they possibly can; you might be surprised at the opportunities in ‘cracks’ of time that you’ve not thought of!

 

  • Grocery shopping & other errands
  • While driving
  • During solo meals
  • Household chores as a positive add-on ; replace mind numbing television with a podcast episode or three.
  • Working out

 

How might I listen?   I’m so ‘busy’ !?

 

That’s one of the oldest mantras you’ll hear, and likely have used many times; let’s toss it aside, since we all have had the exact same number of seconds, minutes, & hours in our days since the beginning of time.

Trust me in this:  If you bucket your day into what we might call ‘time investments‘; ‘time expenditures‘; and ‘time wasters‘, you’ll be able to find and/or create the time to answer this to your own satisfaction.

 

Whom should I listen to?  

The number of options are mind blowing!

 

  • Over 550,000 active shows
  • 18.5+ million episodes
  • 100+ languages

Source & all credit to:   https://www.podcastinsights.com/podcast-statistics/

 

Whom?  Part 2 : Top 10(+1) List

 

With that many options, it’s beyond clear that this post is only scratching the tiniest portion of the surface of what’s available.

Yet, I’m confident that each of these are well worth your time investment; please either listen to an episode from the below sample &/or subscribe right away. I heartily welcome your feedback, both on this post and/or through my social channels, after you’ve done so.

 

 

The Rich Dad Radio Show w/ Robert Kiyosaki

  • Jan 31 (2018) : Blockchain will Change Everything in Business ; July 4 (2018) : Find out How Financial Education Sets You Free

How I Built This w/ Guy Raz

  • June 25 (2018) : Lyft: John Zimmer ; March 26 (2018) : Atari & Chuck E. Cheese’s: Nolan Bushnell

Igniting Souls w/ Kary Oberbrunner

  • July 27 (2018) : Why podcasts grow your … (Jeff Brown interview) ; August 3 (2018) : Why your freedom, finances, & fulfillment … ( David Branderhorst interview )

The Go Giver w/ Bob Burg

  • 120 : My New Favorite Story ; 086 : Business is for Kids – JJ Ramberg

Entre Leadership

  • 267: Gary Kelly – Leading Through Tragedy ; 262 : Daymond John – Rise & Grind

Isaac Moorehouse

  • 138 : Bryan Caplan on The Case Against Education ; 128 : Robert Murphy on Austrian Business Cycle Theory

Success to Significance hosted by Rick Coplin **

  • StS035: How to be an Extraordinary, Life Centered Mentor ; StS001: Get Out Before They Carry You Out

** the podcast is on hiatus & will resume with season II

School Sucks

  • 567: Noah Tetzner – The Unschooler Podcast Star ; 550-51 : Blake Boles – What It Means to Be Educated

Our Modern Heritage

  • 023: The Importance of Soft Skills to Prepare for the Future ; 035: Kirstynn Evans – Starting a Business with Your Child

Conversations on Communications w/ Joel Kessel

  • 033: Let’s Not Lose Sight of Basic Fundamentals ; 028 : The Most Damaging Thing to a Child

Columbus Entrepreneurs

  • 026: Claire Coder of Aunt Flow ; 006: David Butcher , FlyBy Entrepreneurship

 

In short …

  • There are so many ways to be self educated; create & expand your lifelong learning culture & related habits.
  • Know of the 4 P’s to podcasting.
  • The answers to the Why, When, & Where Q’s are more valuable than How.
  • Feel welcome to start, or grow, your podcasting habit by listening in to any of the ten/10 recommended hosts & sample episodes above.

________

Thank YOU for reading!

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It’s ‘Back to School’ … Self-Education never went, or goes, on Vacation by @SBSLEducSoltns

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by SJ Barakony | Featured Contributor

Why your education always should be in a ‘state of beta’

From coast to coast, and border to border, parents & students across America have been singing a familiar refrain:

What’s that, you ask?

Back to school season!

The mompreneurs amongst us, family businesses who hire their children, and businesses, online & off, which cater to this century plus old tradition are a-buzz; credit card terminals are working overtime, banks & credit unions are aflutter, & certain aisles at your favorite stores are packed with humanity!

Yet, we need to put up a BIG stop sign.

Why?!

Because, education never went, or goes, on vacation, and is ALWAYS in season. [ ClicktoTweet this : https://ctt.ac/86sc7 ]

Are education & school the same, or are they, in fact, different?   

Different.

History & etymology show us:

School’s definition

Education’s is clearly not the same:  Click here to see.

Are education & entrepreneurship inseparable?  How, if at all, does school fit in?

I put forth that they are. And, perhaps.

When you are running a business of any size, in any industry, and with any amount of experience, you should be constantly educating yourself. No one owner or founder knows anywhere close to what she needs at any given time. The world of entrepreneurship is not nearly as risky as it once was ( the internet’s ‘leveling effect’ deeply disrupted this old paradigm ), yet you’ll not prosper if you operate your business like an employee, or as a consumer.

Does education need to take place in a classroom?

No.

Again, the internet’s massive scale, & breadth is the answer to the ‘why?’ question that might be on your lips.

While discussions & rational discourse have, are, and will continue in the future on this subjective topic, this blog takes the position that these two ‘E”s are tightly intertwined, therefore, the requirement for school’s classrooms, and the credentials they offer, isn’t necessary.

What if I’ve taken a vacation from education?    

That’s not a dis qualifier; you may rest easy.

MANY citizens have, and a great deal of them didn’t know any better; they fell into their familiar zones, a metaphysical stage that led them to cling to nostalgia, conventional ‘wisdom’, and assumptions that no longer hold true.

The vacation(s), you have taken, or are presently on should now come to an end. And, you’ll want, and truly should, become a student again. This time, a lifelong one.

Pursue information that, with discernment and application over time, undergoes a metamorphosis into knowledge. Your business’ clients/customers, staff ( if any ), and your own future self will thank you.

What kind of question(s) should I ask about my self-education?  

Start with these, once you’ve returned from vacation:

  1. Do I have a ‘line item’ in my budget for investment ( it’s NOT spending, or an expense. ) ?

  2. Whether ‘yes’ , or ‘no’, to #1, how much $ should I put aside?

  3. What resources are out there?

  4. When & where can I access them?

  5. How can I measure progress?

Be the example ( *whether you have staff, or if you’re a solo-preneur )

There’s really no difference.

If you’re on your own, a case can be made that your self education is even more valuable, that is, unless you have a volunteer ‘board’ of advisors/mentors to lean on.

Yet, if you already delegate to others, wish to replicate yourself in someone else  ( ‘replacement driven’ leadership – click HERE ), and/or are in the process of systematizing your business **, you should always expect more of yourself; diving in deeply to the education(al) “pool” will inspire those whom you want to lead to follow you, voluntarily & with a spring in their step.

( ** unclear what this means?  Here’s a great starting point. )

Should I be requiring school(‘ing’)?  

You’ve arrived! Your profits are growing, your cash flow is strong; expansion of your physical space is afoot; more product is shipping than ever before; And, you need more staff to keep up: Yesterday. Now.

Let’s be clear:  Putting a ‘credentialized collar’ on this process, in the modern (circa 2006) ‘Conceptual Age’ is a big step backwards in time to a past era.

Listen & watch for signs of those whom are self educated & have come home from their vacation(s).

You’ll recognize them:   When you interview, review their application , or ask questions at an event, they’ll excitedly talk about …

 

… Books that they love & have, or are, read(ing).

….. Networking events that they’ve attended, or are a part of.

……. Podcasts that they listen to, or about their Audible subscription.

………. The speaker whom they heard live, on a webinar, or via YouTube/Vimeo.

 

Seek out these people: They are your difference makers!

In short …

Education & school are unique concepts.

A great many of us in business were, or are still  are, on vacation from education.

Entrepreneurship & education are inter-linked.

Self leadership & self education are very similar.

Bring on those who are educating themselves & don’t require credentials as you grow & prosper in your business ventures.

________

Thank YOU for reading!

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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.

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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 To Thrive As A Freelancer While Avoiding Burnout by @dianarchin

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How To Thrive As A Freelancer While Avoiding Burnout

by Diana Chin | Featured Contributor

Freelancing is not a glamorous path.

There, I said it.

For many years while working at different jobs, I was freelancing on a part time basis. No matter the niche I was exploring, I found myself constantly learning what works, what doesn’t work and where to avoid situations that could put me in a drastic financial debt.

And yet, I still have folks asking me how I’ve managed to have my stuff together, without appearing like I’ve lost my mind. I wish I can tell you that the whole process would involve witchcraft and plenty of sacrifices (although, that would be completely asinine and unethical).

After a couple of setbacks, hard realisations, copious amount of coffee/tea and over one thousand diaper changes, I’ve compiled up a list of tips on how to save yourself from burning out while freelancing (whether if you’re doing this full or part time).

Don’t Expect To Know All Niches

When you’re a freelancer, the common misperception is that you’ll be able to have free time in learning all sorts of skill professions. Last time I’ve checked, this only applies if you’re playing The Sims (hello, cheat codes). I remember making my Sims character know all sorts of skill sets (i.e. cooking, reading, learning programming, karate, etc.) just to help her advance in all of the different career fields being offered. Pretty much, she was in Goddess mode throughout the game. Sadly, our lives are not as parallel as our game counterparts. But, we must realise that each of us are born with unique abilities in what drives us to pursue our passions.

If you’re having trouble on how to categorise which areas of services you’re able to provide to your clients, try listing two columns. First column indicates your strongest niche set (i.e the bread and butter to what you do on a daily basis). Second column indicates your niche that you’re constantly improving. As an example, my primary niche is being a web developer & designer. Developing websites and logo designs for small businesses is my money maker. My second niche is being a writer. While I’ve published articles and books, I’m constantly learning how to channel my voice so that my audience can understand my viewpoints.

Don’t Be Afraid To Refer Clients Somewhere Else

There were a couple of occasions where I had to politely decline project offers. As much as the monetary amount sounded great, I knew that my current skill set wouldn’t fit with their potential project. Some may argue that I’m either setting my expectations way too low or that I’m not taking enough risks to pursue a life-changing project.

I want to remind all of you that being a freelancer (by itself) is a risk to partake. Remember – you’re doing this on your own terms. That means a higher chance of liability and financial risks. It’s okay to be selective with your potential clients. You can’t expect to work with every person that you meet, whether online or offline. Most importantly, you can’t be a doormat where folks can undercut your budget just for the sake of getting something for free.

Trust your intuition. If you feel that you and the other party aren’t a perfect match, don’t be afraid to refer him/her somewhere else. Not only you’re helping out a fellow person in the industry, but you’re reducing the risk in being stuck with a sticky situation that you can’t get out.

Set A Schedule

No matter how much work I’ve encountered, I always made sure to set time for my family. When you’re freelancing, it’s nice that you can work whatever hours you want. However, it’s important to make sure that you don’t stretch yourself out thin to the point where you won’t make time for your self care. I’ve seen folks who would overly dedicate their craft to the point of running themselves sick. That’s not the direction you want to go for when running your business.

Since I began my freelancing career this past year, I’ve adopted a five hour schedule, from Monday through Fridays. I utilise the weekends as my way to decompress and unplug from social media. It also gives me time to set out my goals for the upcoming week so that I don’t feel like I’m gathering straws from the haystack.

Are you a freelancer (whether new or seasoned) and want to share your tips on how you’re thriving without burnout? Let me know in the comments!

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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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