Beware: Side Hustle to Real Hurdle

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the idea of a side hustle has become more than just a trend—it has become a movement.

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The idea is simple: convert spare time into extra value. Whether it’s selling handmade crafts, launching an online consulting service, or engaging in freelance gigs, professionals across Africa have embraced side hustles to cushion themselves from economic uncertainty.

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In countries like Nigeria where inflation is high and salaries barely keep up with the rising cost of living, having an extra stream of income is not just smart; it feels necessary.

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But what started as an empowering financial strategy has, for many, turned into a hurdle rather than a helping hand. Instead of securing financial freedom, some people find themselves entrapped between two competing commitments, unable to give their best to either.

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Their focus at work has thinned, their performance has dropped, and their employers have started to notice. The same side hustle that was meant to be a safety net is now the very thing dragging them down.

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The Illusion of Effortless Extra Income

Side hustles are often marketed as an easy way to make money on the side while keeping your main job intact. But the reality is different.

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Running a successful side hustle requires time, strategy, and commitment, things that are already in short supply for full-time employees. What many fail to realize is that stretching oneself too thin between two demanding roles leads to neither business flourishing.

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Take, for example, a mid-level banker in Lagos who started an online clothing store to supplement her income.

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At first, it seemed manageable, responding to inquiries after work and fulfilling orders on weekends. But soon, customer demands increased, suppliers delayed deliveries, and before she knew it, she was answering business calls during office hours.

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Productivity at her banking job dropped, and when promotions were being considered, she was overlooked, not because she wasn’t talented, but because she wasn’t present where it mattered.

The Impact on Workplace Productivity and Focus

Companies across Africa are beginning to feel the effects of side hustles creeping into work hours. Meetings are filled with distracted employees responding to personal business messages.

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Reports are submitted half-baked because attention is split between two obligations. Employers who once encouraged entrepreneurial thinking are now worried that divided loyalty is creating inefficiencies.

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A CEO in Nairobi lamented how one of his top-performing employees lost their edge when they started a side business. "He was one of my sharpest minds. But suddenly, he started missing deadlines, coming late to work, and always seemed preoccupied. Eventually, I had to let him go. The irony? His side hustle failed within months, and now he’s struggling to rebuild his career."

The Hidden Costs to Company Culture and Intellectual Property

Beyond lost productivity, side hustles can bring ethical dilemmas into the workplace. Employees with access to sensitive company information might unknowingly—or deliberately—use that knowledge for personal gain.

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Consider a software developer in Cape Town working for a financial tech company who also builds similar applications as a freelancer. Is there a conflict of interest? What happens when ideas and resources begin to overlap?

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Loyalty to an employer is not just about signing a contract; it is about commitment to a shared vision. When employees prioritize their side hustle over their primary job, company culture suffers.

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A workplace where people are half-engaged creates an environment where innovation slows, collaboration weakens, and ultimately, business suffers. Employers are left wondering whether they are investing in employees who are, in reality, working for themselves during company time.

The Manager’s Role in Addressing Side Hustle Dynamics

Managers have a tough role in all of this. While it is unfair to ask employees to abandon all external income opportunities, it is also necessary to set boundaries.

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Some businesses have started implementing clear policies on side gigs by prohibiting any work that directly competes with the company’s interests and limiting the use of company resources like laptops and company-issued phones and vehicles for personal business activities.

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However, policies alone will not solve the issue. Leaders must have honest conversations with their teams about ambition, focus, and career progression.

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If an employee’s side hustle is interfering with their primary role, the discussion should not start with punishment but rather with clarity: What is the end goal? Are they still committed to their current job, or is it time for them to transition fully into entrepreneurship?

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If your side hustle is strong enough to demand your full attention, then maybe it’s time to make a choice. But if you want both, you must learn to balance without compromising your value to either.

Long-Term Career Implications for Employees

There is nothing wrong with wanting more. The problem arises when "more" comes at the cost of excellence.

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Employees who let side hustles distract them from excelling in their primary job risk stalling their career growth. Promotions go to those who are committed, present, and adding measurable value. A side hustle should be an asset, not a liability.

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If it is causing you to be average at your job, struggling in your business, and unable to manage either effectively, then it is not a side hustle—it is a real hurdle. And hurdles don’t just slow you down; they trip you up and can make you fall hard.

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African and Nigerian professionals, in particular must rethink how they engage in side businesses. It is possible to have multiple streams of income without sacrificing career growth, but it requires discipline.

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If your side hustle is stopping you from being excellent, then it is time to reassess. Are you truly moving forward, or are you just busy moving in circles?

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The real question is not whether you should have a side hustle. It is whether your side hustle is helping you build or slowly pulling you apart.