Are you cheating your employer by using working hours on side hustle ?

Managing a business start-up is surely one of the most beautiful experiences in my life, full of ups and down, and an adventure where #unlearning, #learning and #relearning happens almost daily.

After spending 8 years in the nonprofit sector, I finally decided to step into the for-profit or private sector in 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19. Taking that decision wasn't easy, especially because of the excellent working conditions and colleagues I had at West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) . It's easy to resign from a company with a toxic environment, where one is not growing or frustrated. But when all is running well and better, thinking about leaving becomes more difficult.

But I sensed it was the right time to step down as the demands from my supervisors were increasing and even though I could have met them, it would have required me to abandon or deprioritize some of my side hustle and personal initiatives such as Muna Kalati and Christian Elongue Consulting (CEC). I remember a meeting I had with my supervisor where he clearly expressed his expectations from me, his confidence in my ability of delivering more qualitative and quantitatively. Within myself, my love for children books was clashing with my passion for supporting and capacitating West African NGOs through knowledge management.

The only way out for me to have peace with my conscience was to be honest with myself and my supervisors. Using working hours for personal project, no matter how small it could be, is seen as cheating before God. No matter the excuse that I brought, my conscience and the Holy Spirit were both convicting me to take a stand and assume it:

1. Either to stay with my employer and be more faithful, dedicating all my focus, time and energy to its growth.

2. Or to leave and focus on my passions, whose demand over my time was growing.

Obviously, you know by now, what I did. I painfully choose to step down, realizing that you can't faithfully serve two masters at the same time, without one being cheated.

Three years down the line, I'm glad I did it and I'm grateful to my supervisors by then, Jimm Chick , Charles Kojo Vandyck , Franck A. Sombo for their understanding during the transition process.

Today I'm fully dedicating my time running my nonprofit Muna Kalati , whose impact has been significantly increased with over 4017 children impacted in #Cameroon, #Ghana, #Togo and #IvoryCoast through our various reading and cultural workshops.

To generate enough financial resources to fund our nonprofit activities, Kabod Group was set up as a parent company with a business purpose, providing services in #localization (#translation, #interpretation etc.), #knowledgemanagement and #research.

Even though the decision to step down was a difficult season in my career, I'm more fulfilled, at peace with my conscience, God, my former colleagues (now clients) and my employee. I learned that:

1. Don't cheat your employer by stealing your working time on your personal projects or side hustle.

2. Be honest with your supervisor when having difficult decision making challenges related to your career. Some have good listening ears and can provide good counsel.

3. There is no gain without pain. No reward without risk. You can eat fried eggs without breaking them.

4. Don't expect #loyalty from your staff if you weren't loyal also.?You reap what you sow.

Now, let me ask you:

1. Are you using your work time for your side hustle? If yes, is it approved by your organisation policy?

2. Have you ever been in a similar dilemna where you passions were clashing? How did you go about it?

I would be pleased learning from your story/experience also, if willing to share in comment ??