Which pathway will you take? Is now the time to test new waters?

One of the things that came up in the conversation recently was a desire for change mixed with a little trepidation, especially when you've held a position for a long time. After spending so much time in a corporate environment, a few people I spoke to are desperate to break free and do work with more purpose. I believe there has never been a more perfect time to build a portfolio career as a bridge between entrepreneurship and employment.

Why do I say this? Well, I’m always on the hunt for insights from companies that are crafting unique flexi-work opportunities in this post-Covid world. Normally, it’s all the funky start-ups that are either embracing remote or hybrid working. But I came across this example below from a well known global bank:

1. Hybrid, full-time, and fully flexible working – you fix two locations (e.g. home and office), and the number of hours, but agree on the specific hours and days in each location periodically
2. Hybrid, full-time and fixed hours – your contract would specify the two locations and specific hours per week (either standard or non-standard)
3. Part-time – you work reduced hours in a day, reduced days in a week, or a combination of both, in comparison to the full-time equivalent number of hours for the same role
4. Work permanently from home – work from home as part of your normal working pattern either with fixed hours or fully flexible
5. Work permanently from the office or a branch – work from the office/branch as part of your normal working pattern

I mean...that’s a lot of options for you to pick and mix your work patterns! When I first started out talking about portfolio careers, companies rarely offered these options. If there has ever been a better time to start plotting out your portfolio career and still have some bread and butter money coming in every month, it’s time to look at your options.?

Most companies are tweaking their working patterns to stay competitive and strategic and keep their best talent. I’m not saying it will be easy, but now could be the time for you to take advantage of these flexible options to step into your dreams? What kind of portfolio career might be right for you?

• Renegotiating your hours of work and starting your nutrition training?
• Ditch the tired commute to the law office completely and start to weave together IP consulting and coaching for startups and your bespoke carpentry business?
• Maybe it’s going from 5 days to 4 days in your social media management job and finally using your Yin Yoga and happiness consulting training to support young women to build careers with mind, body, and soul? (That’s actually one of my awesome students in our current Changemaker Certification!)

If you are caught at a crossroads and are ready for something new, how can working in a new way give you the space to try and test a hobby or a new business idea? My mission is to help you design a happier way of working with more purpose, fire, and passion. So what will you do?