The Keys to Mastering a 'Portfolio' Life
Confessions of a Multi-hyphenate, Multi-faceted, Multi-(insert adjective here) individual
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What do you mean you have a full-time job?
I’ve heard this sentiment on a regular basis - perhaps a bit more in the past few months. It is typically followed by:
When are you going to quit your full-time job?
How do you find the time to do it all?
How are you coping?
As someone who is both quite competent and easily-distracted, I like having a varied lifestyle. I like having different things to do, which challenge and stretch me in multiple ways. I also refuse to have my life fit into a specific typecast just because it is socially acceptable. I don’t quite fit into the ‘9-5 worker’ as I’m the co-founder of a creative business, and freelance on the side. I don’t quite fit into the illustrious ‘entrepreneur’ category either, as I mysteriously find time in my 24 hours to fit in a full-time job.
The reality? I’m a portfolio life babe. My career is composed of different aspects which ultimately make up investments in my trajectory. The same is true in other parts of my life too - a patchwork of really cool things and people I get to call my life.
Of course, whilst I do many things at once, I don’t do everything at once. Plus, there’s a whole bucket list of things I still want to do that I haven’t even scratched the surface of. If you’re anything like me, and are ready to embrace the reality of being a multifaceted individual, here are some tips to help you start, maintain, and flourish in the portfolio life.
Selectivity.
You need to be selective with what you choose to give your time to. You can only give a finite amount of energy to each commitment, so make sure what you choose makes sense.
Don’t do it because it’ll make you look good, or because you think it’s what you need to be validated by other people. After all, it’s your life and you’re in the driver’s seat.
Does this bring me closer or further away from the vision I have of the person I want to be?
Will this add, or take away, significant resources from me? Is it a worthwhile investment?
Does it bring me joy, or does it bring me unhappiness? Is this for a season, or for a lifetime?
I personally refuse to do or participate in anything which does not add value to my life and trajectory. Even if the opportunity seems amazing (and trust me, I’ve fallen victim to this in the past), it isn’t worth it if it doesn’t align with your vision and values.
The offer of a salary increase might be attractive at a new role, but if the role actually doesn’t support the growth trajectory for my chosen career, then it doesn’t make sense.
Aside from a relatively stable income, I work a full-time job because it is specifically in the field and area I need to develop expertise in, to support me with my long-term vision of directing a research institute.
It’s incredibly difficult to do this without some form of academic and professional experience under your belt, and it’s a great way to network and build some long-lasting bonds. My job is extremely flexible (more so than quite a few comparable) and full of great benefits, and brings me a lot of joy to be a part of.
It’s easy to say I was ‘lucky’, and to a degree, I am. But I was also incredibly selective. I spent months looking for, and applying only, to roles that would fulfil this criteria. Being selective ensures alignment and means you don’t feel stuck later down the line.
Starting.
You have to start. I like to have ‘trial’ or probation periods were I try a version of something alongside my pre-existing commitments, and tweak to suit me.
So, you said you want to start a business on the side. What have you done to make that happen? Have you spent time learning core entrepreneurial skills?
So you said you want to start a new hobby. Have you actually dedicated at least an hour to taking up this skill every week?
So you said you’re interested in taking your health seriously. Have you committed to monitoring and increasing your water intake?
It’s very easy to get discouraged by the ‘bigness’ of what we set out to achieve. What you need to do, is take your big goal, break it down into actionable steps, and implement it slowly over time. Test and see if it actually works with your commitments, or if something has to give.
Sequencing.
It’s tempting to do everything at once. In fact, your impatience is often the biggest reason why you may fail at this at first. You have an idea of what you want to do, and jump headfirst into it - not considering if this is the right time, or if you have the right resourcing to help you to succeed in it.
Sequencing has become one of my favourite words. You may have multiple dreams, but not every dream has to run side by side. They can equally run one after the other.
I always knew I wanted to be on a non-executive board. Being a trustee, and involvement at that level of an organisation was a big aspiration, because I loved developing strategy for companies.
Rather than go straight for a non-exec role alongside multiple commitments I was juggling, I participated in a trustee training programme and finished up a super intensive entrepreneurship accelerator programme, before making an application.
Energy is a finite resource. The more things which require your energy, the more your energy will be far stretched. Sometimes you need to finish something completely - a course, your schooling, your job, your business - before adding another load onto your plate.
Everything doesn’t have to be in chapter one of your life book.
Stacking.
You need to stack your commitments. Just like a house of cards, your foundation must be firm before you add another layer. Are you operating efficiently, and well, in your other commitments?
If you’re working a 9-5 and exploring a side hustle, are you giving your best efforts to your main job, or are you coasting and hoping that you can focus your productive energy on growing your side hustle into a business? No tea no shade, but those who cannot be an employee for a time, will not model the good character and understanding to be a boss in another time.
The standard of excellence cannot simply exist in one sphere. It is necessary to ensure excellence in one sphere, before adding another. Much like a house of cards, your attempt to lead a portfolio, multifaceted life will crumble into dust if you do not take care building solid foundations.
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💡 Recap:
Select. Start. Sequence. Stack.
🎯 Select: Write a list of all the things you’d like to achieve in the next 90 days. Highlight the three you’d like to prioritise.
🎯 Start: Choose one thing you’ve been putting off doing, and commit do doing it at least 3x per week for 30 minutes.
🎯 Sequence: From the list of three you wrote earlier, dedicate one month in the next quarter to focus on each, stacking one after the other.
🎯 Stack: Review how much you are giving 100% to your current workload. Get feedback from family, friends and colleagues. Only add more once you have sufficient data that you’re working at optimum.
May the odds be in your favour. Hoping you have a wonderful, multi-faceted last quarter of 2023.
❤️ If you liked this, you’ll love:
“As you grow older, your whole life becomes very rich, multifaceted.” - Francesca Annis