Body of Work

by Pamela Slim

  As she describes it on her website, putty like.com:

  You’ve spent your whole life flitting from interest to interest, maybe pursuing a handful of projects at any one time. You’ve owned a catering business, worked at a medical clinic, trained dogs, taught yoga, played cello in a chamber group. . . .

  All of this jumping around has felt amazing. But if you stop to ponder your path for too long, it starts to worry you. . . .

  And then you discover that you are a multipotentialite.

  Suddenly it all makes sense. You realize that you are not broken or noncommittal or afraid of your own success. The reason you can’t find your One True Calling is because you don’t have a singular calling, you have many. The zigzagging, the sporadic obsessions, the weird interdisciplinary projects, they all now fit now. They make sense.

  If you fit in this category (which makes me chuckle, since I know that many multipotentialites do not like to be put in one category), know that you will most likely be experimenting with many different work modes.

  Your body of work may be a bit more eclectic and diverse than those with a more singular craft or career focus.

  Knowing when to switch work modes: the loathing scale

  In my work with corporate clients who want to leave their job to start a business, I often make reference to a loathing scale.

  This is a quick indicator of how critical it is to make short-term plans to leave a job, versus staying on a more long-term path.

  Remember that your journey doesn’t have to end with your starting your own business. The loathing scale can also be used to determine when you need to change positions, companies, or industries.

  Imagine a ruler from one to ten. One is the low end, and ten is the high end.

  The chill range: one to four

  In the chill range, you may not be in the best possible job for your skills, but there are a lot of things you like about it. You can comfortably see staying in your job for one to two years as you slowly work on your side business.

  The danger of the chill range is that you may be lulled into staying somewhere comfortable for many years if you aren’t given enough incentive to change your situation.

  The angst range: five to eight

  There are a lot of things that bother you in the angst range. You may not like your job. Or the company culture. Perhaps you have a really bad boss. Or you are killing yourself working extra hours and it is eating into family or social time.

  Physically, you notice your energy goes up and down. You have some high-energy good days when you get stuff done, but overall you feel from slightly annoyed to highly stressed when you head to the office.

  In this range, you want to take your side business plans seriously, since small changes in your job can push you from the angst to the run-screaming stage.

  The run-screaming range: nine to ten

  People in the run-screaming range feel physically sick walking into their office building. Symptoms include low energy, depression, high blood pressure, frequent respiratory illnesses, or other stress-related symptoms.

  It is very difficult to work on a side business in this range, since you are either so exhausted or so angry that your best creative work doesn’t flow.

  Obviously, this is not a scientific test, so you will need to do a lot of reflection to see which range feels the most accurate for your situation.

  But if you find yourself on the high end of the loathing scale, chances are you will either shut down physically (by getting really sick), throw red staplers in a rage while screaming obscenities in the middle of a company meeting (otherwise known as losing your mind), or get yourself fired (the essential self is very effective at inciting poor performance if it feels under attack or threatened).

  Even if you are planning on starting a business in the long run, you may want to take an interim step by changing jobs or companies if you are not in a financial place where you are able to earn your full income yet in your new business.

  Hating your job intensely is not a business plan or a life plan.

  The body doesn’t lie. Pay attention to the loathing scale.

  Expand your comfort zone

  Isn’t it wonderful to get to a place in your business or career where you don’t have to struggle so much every day to make a happy, healthy living?

  Jim Collins calls it the “sweet spot,” and Martha Beck calls it the “Promised Land” in her four-square model of change.

  I call it dangerous.

  If you don’t pay attention, one of two things will happen:

  Without challenge, the competence you have worked so hard to develop will soon become boring and stale, leading to dissatisfaction.

  Without notice, you will get laid off or the market will fall, and because you have gotten too comfortable, you won’t have an adequate backup plan.

  I don’t mean to sound like an alarmist, but before you start to creep up on the loathing scale, you need to start to expand your comfort zone.

  My friend Michele Woodward has a definition of growth that I like better than “get outside of your comfort zone.” She calls it “expanding your comfort zone.”

  If you are a small-business owner, are you ready to stretch yourself and grow your market base or business model? If you are an employee, are you ready for a new challenge?

  How do you know when you are ready?

  You look at the content you have created and realize that many more people could use it than the market you are currently serving.

  You are a bit fatigued at putting all your energy into the “build it and they will come” model of content marketing and are ready for some bigger moves.

  You have built significant visibility and trust in your market or workplace.

  You have your basic business operations and systems in place, and have a clean and efficient way of serving your current customers.

  Questions to ask yourself to help find new markets (assuming they are aligned with your roots and that you can really put your ingredients to work)

  Is there a larger company that serves my market and has something that would truly help my customers grow and develop?

  Is there something I have to offer a larger company that serves their market and could offer a significant value to their customers?

  Are there opportunities in government contracts that I could take advantage of because of interest, affiliation, or business designation? (For example, woman-, veteran-, or minority- owned, et cetera—you can find detailed information here: http://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/contracting/contracting-opportunities.)

  Is there a nonprofit organization or cause that is aligned with my core business that I could serve with my skills or contacts, and that could expose me to new peers or partners?

  If I work primarily in online business, are their local businesses or organizations that could use my expertise or services, perhaps in a live configuration instead of an online one?

  Would I consider selling my business? If so, what should I begin to prepare?

  What to expect people will ask for when you start to grow markets

  When you start to reach out into new markets, particularly with larger partners, you need to frame the story of your business in a new way. You need to prepare:

  Statistics that demonstrate your market reach (Twitter followers, blog readers, newsletter subscribers, Facebook fans, total number of customers served, annual sales, et cetera).

  A succinct vision of your business that describes what you are about and what makes you unique, how you have grown your business to this stage, where you plan to go in the next twelve to twenty-four months, whom you want to partner with and why.

  A powerful story that gets partners excited about the business vision. Why are you excited about growing your business (beyond making money)? Lauryn Ballesteros, wh
o has worked to secure large partnerships for Seth Godin’s Domino Project and Squidoo, told me that a passionate, compelling story is a huge part of successful sponsor sales.

  A path of trust and credibility. Who can vouch for you? What do your customers say about you? What do peers and mentors think about your work? What does Google pull up with your name in the search box? Now is a great time to galvanize your community behind you so that your growth benefits everyone in your ecosystem, not just your own business.

  Moving from one work mode to the next

  In the old world of work, we described specific career paths, such as doctor, lawyer, entrepreneur, or writer.

  In today’s world of work, due to either personal choice or circumstances outside of your control, there is a great chance that you will change your work mode at least once in your career. More likely multiple times.

  The era of the side hustle

  A few years ago, my friend’s teenage daughter informed her that she was enrolling in a nail-technician class at high school.

  The friend, who has been prepping her daughter for a good college education since she was a toddler, was less than thrilled.

  “Why are you taking a beauty-school class instead of an advanced-placement academic class? Wouldn’t that be better for college?”

  “Mom,” she said in an exasperated tone that only teenagers do perfectly, “doing nails is my side hustle to help pay for college. I can do it anytime, in the dorms, and there is a ready market if I need some extra cash.”

  My friend went from worry to admiration for the enterprising spirit of her daughter.

  We all need a side hustle.

  If you are still working in a corporate job, a side hustle is a great way to test and try new business ideas. It can also be part of your backup plan in case you lose your job. Examples of side hustles I have seen from corporate employee clients and friends over the years:

  Web design

  Home organizing

  Writing and editing

  Computer maintenance

  Massage

  Tax preparation

  Yoga

  Catering

  Photography

  A good side hustle will have the following characteristics:

  You enjoy doing it.

  You are good at it.

  You are very clear about who your market is (for example, if you are good with computers, you could offer your services to other homeowners in your neighborhood on your community bulletin board or in a newsletter).

  You can generate a decent amount of quick cash in a short period of time.

  It does not require an extensive website or ongoing brand-building efforts like a more substantial small business. But more substantial businesses can and do emerge from side hustles.

  It will not get you thrown in jail (dealing crack, while profitable and possible from your home, is not recommended).

  The side hustle does not only apply to corporate employees; it can also be a great backup for small-business owners affected by shifting markets or slow sales.

  During the decade I spent as a consultant developing and delivering programs and management training for corporations, I met many hardworking employees with no contingency plan in the off chance they were laid off one day.

  I always encouraged them to change their mind-set and adopt my mantra: “We are all self-employed.” Even if they intended to stay in the corporate world, I explained, they’d be safer if they viewed their employer as a client.

  A side hustle is a form of career insurance.

  Even if you’re happy in your career, you want to have a backup plan in case you hit a bumpy stretch of road. It’s also a way to experiment with new ideas and fields, keeping your brain fresh and active, and it can provide a financial cushion, bringing in extra revenue for whatever goal you deem important, from paying down debt to saving for a vacation or bolstering your retirement account.

  In today’s work world, you never know when your job may change dramatically or completely vanish. In order to prepare for the unexpected and continue to develop your interests and skills, always have at least one side hustle. Not only will it help pad your bank account, but you will be able to strengthen your all-important list of ingredients and broaden your body of work.

  How to prepare for a side hustle

  From a sales perspective, all you need to kick-start your side hustle is a clear description of your product or service, a place where people can buy what you’re selling (like a website), and a way to get paid (like PayPal or Square).

  You’ll want to be sure not to run afoul of state and local laws for small businesses where you live. Most local government small-business associations can help you avoid such problems.

  The free nonprofit resource SCORE will also assist you. Check out score.org to find a mentor.

  Steps to launch a side hustle

  These are the key steps you’ll need to take to set up a side hustle.

  Choose a legal structure for your business. In the United States, most people with side hustles operate them as sole proprietors or limited liability corporations (LLCs), but there may be a reason to choose a different structure, such as an S or C corporation. A SCORE mentor can help you figure out which legal structure is best for you and explain how to create it.

  Get any necessary business licenses and permits. The U.S. Small Business Administration’s website (sba.gov) can walk you through the process.

  Set up a business bank account. Even if you have a tiny side business, it is best to keep that money separate from your personal bank account.

  Check to see if you need business insurance. Some professions require liability insurance. If you need coverage, you can probably get it for a reasonable monthly fee. Read the U.S. Small Business Administration website’s primer on business insurance for details (http://www.sba.gov/content/business-insurance).

  Check with a CPA to learn the tax requirements. You’ll want to know which expenses are deductible as well as when and how to file your business taxes.

  Three potential side hustle dangers

  Although I’m a huge proponent of side hustles, you need to watch out for these potential problems.

  1. Violation of employment policies. If you’re a full-time employee, check with your employer before starting a side hustle to be sure you’re not prohibited from outside work. You don’t want to do anything that could jeopardize your job.

  2. Overcommitment. Be careful not to take on so much side work that you become stressed and overwhelmed.

  3. Planning too much, doing too little. A side hustle is a way to have fun trying something new. If you find yourself creating a thirty-page business plan, you’re missing the point.

  Start small. Then, once you see real promise developing, you can invest more effort planning and expanding.

  Wading into entrepreneurial waters with a side hustle can be exciting, invigorating, and lucrative. Better still: if you wind up with the misfortune of being handed a cardboard box and twenty minutes to pack, you’ll breathe easier knowing that you have a backup plan ready to go.

  FREELANCE AND VIRTUAL ASSISTANT SITES

  More and more sites are popping up to offer side-hustle employment opportunities to freelancers and to provide talent to global organizations of all sizes.

  Freelance Sites

  Craigslist—craigslist.org

  Freelancer—www.freelancer.com

  FreelanceSwitch—http://freelanceswitch.com

  Gorkana Jobs alerts—www.gorkanajobs.com/alerts

  Guru—www.guru.com

  oDesk—www.odesk.com

  Thumbtack—www.thumbtack.com

  Virtual Assistant Sites

  eaHELP—www.eahelp.com

  Get Friday—www.getfriday.com

  Hire My Mom�
�http://hiremymom.com

  International Virtual Assistants Organization—www.ivaa.org

  Online Business Manager—http://online businessmanager.com

  VAnetworking—www.vanetworking.com

  Virtual Assistants—http://virtualassistants .com

  Designer and Developer Sites

  Smashing Jobs (via Smashing Magazine)—http://jobs.smashingmagazine.com

  37signals—http://jobs.37signals.com

  Artist Sites

  Behance—www.behance.net

  Etsy—www.etsy.com

  Writing Sites

  Morning Coffee—www.freelancewriting .com/newsletters/morning-coffee-freelance-writing-jobs.php

  Problogger—http://jobs.problogger.net

  Because the Web continually changes and grows, this is a partial list. For an updated list, and to suggest sites I have missed, visit pamelaslim.com/bodyofwork.

  The more time goes on, the more diversity we will see in work modes, work flexibility, and multiple-pronged career paths.

  I want to stress two very important points, as you think about your body of work:

  1. The world of work is not stable. You cannot count on any one work mode to deliver ongoing creative and financial stability.

  2. Even if you choose to stay in one field, or with one company, be prepared to have a backup plan. Start a side hustle. Investigate freelance options. Share your body of work with a much bigger audience through a website or blog. And make sure that you have a cross-pollinated network so if you need to make a leap, you will have a net of people to catch you.

  Exercise: How to Explore and Switch Work Modes

  In my work with Escape from Cubicle Nation, I have seen people make dramatic shifts in their careers. Kelly Newsome went from lawyer to yoga teacher and women’s wellness expert, and Ivan Martinez went from sales and marketing manager to professional photographer.

  If you want to try a new work mode in order to build your body of work, answer these questions.