This is the fifth in a series of 6 blog posts by Simon Strong about his portfolio career. Reading how people have created their own portfolio career can be useful to inspire you to create one yourself.
In case you missed them, here are parts 1, 2, 3 & 4:
Here is part 1:
https://liberateyourtalent.wordpress.com/2015/04/11/simon-strongs-portfolio-career-1/
Here is part 2:
https://liberateyourtalent.wordpress.com/2015/04/16/simon-strongs-portfolio-career-2/
Here is part 3:
https://liberateyourtalent.wordpress.com/2015/05/04/simon-strongs-portfolio-career-3/
Here is part 4:
https://liberateyourtalent.wordpress.com/2015/05/22/simon-strongs-portfolio-career-4/
The rest of this blog is in Simon’s own words.
What do you most love about having a portfolio career?
I’m always busy, stimulated, and being challenged. I find every project provides new insight and perspective on the other projects I have on the go.
What are the challenges of having a portfolio career?
I’ve no idea what I’m doing. I have so many balls in the air that whenever I stop to think I get terrified that I’m forgetting something important. I sometimes want to stop the bus so I can get off and take a moment to do nothing. But then, when I’ve got a moment to myself I have another idea which excites me and off I go again! I’ve got so many things that I want to do. I suppose my main challenge is myself.
I’ve begun to realise how important it is to surround yourself with great people. I couldn’t do this stuff on my own.
Commitment is the most under rated quality in people you want to work with. There are lots of flakes out there who will be happy to jump on the bandwagon once they know that something will be a success. But the really valuable people are the ones who are willing to put effort into something because it’s interesting before they know if it’ll work.
However, you’re the only one who can make it happen. Don’t expect anyone else to go out of their way to help you. It doesn’t matter how good your ideas are (contrary to popular myth, good ideas are really, really, really easy to come by, and you don’t have to be super smart to have them) – it’s your responsibility to make it work. If it fails – it’s your fault, and yours alone.
Who or what helps you to manage your portfolio career?
My wife. I always know when I’ve had a stinker of an idea – she ignores it. She gently nudges me towards the most fertile territories. She dissuades me from my worst excess, and is my number one cheerleader.
And my business partner Adam. We work really well together. We have very complimentary skill sets. We bounce off each other incredibly productively. He shoulders so much of the stuff that I’m not good at and lets me get on with what I am good at. I hope he thinks that I do the stuff he doesn’t like so he can get on with the stuff he’s good at…!
Part 6 of Simon’s 6 part guest blog series coming soon.
View Simon Strong’s LinkedIn profile:
http://https//uk.linkedin.com/in/simonstrong
View the Human Zoo web site:
http://www.humanzoo.biz/
What could your portfolio career be made up of? We help our clients create, market and manage their portfolio career.
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