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Christina Blacklaws’ guest blog about her portfolio career part 2

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This is a 2-part blog for Energise – The Talent Liberation Company by Christina Blacklaws. This is part 2.

Read part 1: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/christina-blacklaws-guest-blog-about-her-portfolio-career-part-1/

Biog

Christina studied Jurisprudence at Oxford and qualified as a solicitor in 1991.  She now runs her own consultancy business advising domestic and international law firms and legal businesses, speaking globally and holding a number of non-executive directorships. She holds a range of public appointments including chairing both the LawTech Delivery Panel for the Ministry of Justice and Innovate UK’s Next Generation Services Advisory Board and sits on the Ministry of Justice’s Legal Support Advisory Group. She is an advisory board member for Elevate, 20-First and Thompson Reuter’s Women in Leadership in Law programme.

Christina is the Simon Professional and Industrial Fellow at the Alliance Manchester Business School. Christina was President of the Law Society of England and Wales until July 2019 and continues to represent the Women Lawyers Division on Council and the UK on the International Bar Association Council.

She is passionate about diversity and inclusion, technology and access to justice and uses every opportunity to advocate and progress positive change in these areas. Christina is a multi-award-winning published author, lecturer and frequent media commentator.

What do you most love about having a portfolio career?

Being my own boss and in control of my life. If I don’t like a particular role, then I can move on without any major issues. I can take time off when I want without feeling guilty, and I can influence my own work life balance.

A portfolio career is endlessly interesting and challenging and every day is a ‘school day’!

What are the challenges of having a portfolio career?

In many ways, the same as the opportunities! It’s difficult to manage your time, you don’t have much support and you don’t have the stability of full-time paid employment.

Also, you can never really have a day when you’re not on top form. People are paying for you to be fabulous – and this means you have to plan in some downtime into your routine.

Who or what helps you to manage your portfolio career?

I have an amazing bookkeeper; Rachel Brushfield has given me some sterling advice and I am currently investigating employing a virtual PA.

Personally, I try hard to create space when I’m not working and reflect often about the mix of work and whether it suits me and what I want to achieve.

How do you approach marketing your portfolio career?

I have been fortunate in that the work has come to me. However, I use social media (LinkedIn and Twitter) to publicise my speaking engagements and thought leadership work and, if I have time, I write articles too.

What 5 tips can you share for people considering a portfolio career?

1 Think carefully before you embark on a portfolio career, especially if you will be leaving a secure, full time role and craft out exactly what you want your portfolio career to look like.

2 Speak to others who have experience in the relevant areas who will be able to give you advice and insight and reality check your plans.

3 Make your intentions known widely – get others to be on the lookout for you be your ambassadors.

4 Start or ramp up your social media engagement/ presence and start to produce some output in your chosen areas

5 Just do it. I’ve loved every minute and encourage others to take the plunge!

More

Christina’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinablacklaws/

Our book for the Law Society ‘Career management for lawyers. Practical strategies to plan your next chapter’ is available now in the on-line book shop: https://bookshop.lawsociety.org.uk/p/career-management-for-lawyers-practi-paperback/

Interested in a portfolio career for yourself?

E mail us to request your copy of our free report ‘Discover portfolio careers’: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/portfolio/connect/

Christina Blacklaws’ guest blog about her portfolio career part 1

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This is a 2-part blog for Energise – The Talent Liberation Company by Christina Blacklaws. This is part 1.

Biog

Christina studied Jurisprudence at Oxford and qualified as a solicitor in 1991.  She now runs her own consultancy business advising domestic and international law firms and legal businesses, speaking globally and holding a number of non-executive directorships. She holds a range of public appointments including chairing both the LawTech Delivery Panel for the Ministry of Justice and Innovate UK’s Next Generation Services Advisory Board and sits on the Ministry of Justice’s Legal Support Advisory Group. She is an advisory board member for Elevate, 20-First and Thompson Reuter’s Women in Leadership in Law programme.

Christina is the Simon Professional and Industrial Fellow at the Alliance Manchester Business School. Christina was President of the Law Society of England and Wales until July 2019 and continues to represent the Women Lawyers Division on Council and the UK on the International Bar Association Council.

She is passionate about diversity and inclusion, technology and access to justice and uses every opportunity to advocate and progress positive change in these areas. Christina is a multi-award-winning published author, lecturer and frequent media commentator.

The rest of this guest blog is in Christina’s own words.

What are the components of your portfolio career e.g. study, paid freelance work, part time job, volunteering etc.?

I have a wide variety of roles, many voluntary, including a lot of engagement with universities, speaking at events, my Law Society and government roles.

My paid roles include 4 non-executive directorships with 3 law firms and one LawTech business. In addition, I undertake paid speaking events globally and provide ad hoc advice and training to law firms and legal businesses around the world.

How did your portfolio career come about?

When I finished as President of the Law Society in July 2019, I decided I wanted to maintain my independence and the wonderful variety of different things I had become involved in, during my presidency, so a portfolio career seemed an obvious choice!

When people ask you ‘what do you do?’ – what do you reply?

Lots of different things! I am a NED, chair, speaker, campaigner and thinker.

To what extent did your portfolio career happen by chance/luck and to what extent was it planned?

It’s rare, in my experience, to know when your job will finish from the moment you start it (the presidency of the Law Society is for 1 year), and this was the case with the Law Society. It gave me plenty of opportunity and time to think about what I wanted to do next, so I did plan the shape of my current career.

Having said that, I am fortunate in that interesting and unsought opportunities come my way on a regular basis so there is also a good degree of ‘happenstance’.

Watch out for part 2 of Christina Blacklaws’ guest blog about her portfolio career, including 5 tips for aspiring portfolio careerists.

More

Christina’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinablacklaws/

Our book for the Law Society ‘Career management for lawyers. Practical strategies to plan your next chapter’ is available now in the on-line book shop: https://bookshop.lawsociety.org.uk/p/career-management-for-lawyers-practi-paperback/

Interested in a portfolio career for yourself?

E mail us to arrange your free 20-minute consultation about whether a portfolio career is right for you: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/portfolio/connect/

Hayley Monk’s guest blog about her portfolio career

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This is a guest blog by Hayley Monks about her portfolio career.

I am an associate consultant of Hayley’s company ‘Think Inspire Create’ and invited her to share her story about her portfolio career. Thanks to Hayley for making the time for this.

Biog

Hayley is a highly motivated, professional, passionate, inspirational and energetic individual who sets high standards in all that she does.  With a strong commercial acumen combined with creative thinking, she thrives on driving and delivering transformation through strong leadership and by creating effective follow-ship and positive engagement. Combined with agility and a ‘can do’ attitude, she can contribute significantly at every level from strategy to delivery. Having worked in senior executive roles, she understands what ‘good’ looks like. In 2015, she founded Think, Inspire & Create, a people centric training and consultancy company using her experience and capability to lead a hand-picked team who work with businesses across the UK, helping them to optimise their organisation. As an experienced facilitator, Hayley works with leadership teams in organisations that are going through change, helping them to positively work through the change, to develop innovative solutions and refine delivery plans that can transform their business. She is also passionate about people development – believing this is the key to success in organisations and always looks at opportunities to coach new and up-coming talent, as well as continually reflect on her own development and personal growth.

The rest of this blog is in Hayley’s own words.  

What are the components of your portfolio career e.g. study, paid freelance work, part time job, volunteering etc.?

  • Running my company Think Inspire Create Limited (‘TICL’).
  • Founding member of the Women’s Utility Network https://thewun.co.uk/, a not for profit group that support women’s development in the utilities sector.
  • Non-exec role for a Utility tech start-up – 1 day per month.
  • Public speaker on female leadership.
  • Mentoring & Coaching.

How did your portfolio career come about?

Organically! Having left full time corporate work, I was asked to help businesses, to speak and also volunteer. Having had so much personal sponsorship and support myself in my career, I wanted to ‘pass it on’.

How has your portfolio career changed over time?

At first I wanted to ‘yes’ to everything and had the time to do so. After 4 years, I simply can’t do that, I just get too many requests! It’s difficult to choose what to do and where to help – I don’t have a method, I just go on instinct.

When people ask you ‘what do you do?’ – what do you reply?

I run my own business, helping other people.

To what extent did your portfolio career happen by chance/luck and to what extent was it planned?

As above – organically.

What do you most love about having a portfolio career?

Being in control of my time and what I do. I say ‘yes’ to what and when. It’s a sort of freedom that is liberating!

What are the challenges of having a portfolio career?

Spinning plates! Sometimes my mind can ‘whirl’, as the things I am involved with can be quite diverse.

Who or what helps you to manage your portfolio career?

Being organised helps and technology these days provides excellent aids for expediency. I also have a virtual PA who can help with the things that need to be done, but I don’t need to do myself. I was once told, only do what only YOU can do. I am not the only one who can iron in my house ?!

How do you approach marketing your portfolio career?

Through networking – largely word of mouth but also taking opportunities to put myself in front of the right people. It means doing paid and unpaid work. It’s all about choices.

What advice would you give to someone considering a portfolio career?

Fully understand your purpose for choosing a portfolio career. Is it lifestyle, financial, desire for variety and new learning, to create a future-proof career etc.? You can better plan your approach and choices if you are clear on your purpose for having a portfolio career.

What benefits do portfolio careers bring specifically to women and mothers, rather than to men?

I think this depends on who the primary carer is. A portfolio career can bring flexibility, so if you have children, it can be really useful for either gender.

What 5 tips can you share for people considering a portfolio career?

1 Have a clear purpose

2 Plan

3 Be prepared for it to be a challenge / uncomfortable at times

4 Be patient – it can take time to develop

5 Don’t be afraid to say ‘no’, ‘not yet’, ‘not now’ etc.

More

View Hayley’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-monks-mcicm-grad-4262a817/

Browse the Think Inspire Create web site: https://www.thinkinspireandcreate.co.uk/

Interested in creating a portfolio career for yourself?

E mail Rachel Brushfield for a free 20-minute telephone consultation and to receive your copy of our free report ‘Discover Portfolio Careers’. https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/portfolio/connect/

An event to celebrate International Women’s Day #IWD2020

I will be facilitating an interactive session at the Think Inspire Create event celebrating International Women’s Day, 8am to midday on Friday 6 March 2020 in Cowley Oxford.

Book your early bird ticket now: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/international-womens-day-2020-tickets-90922171663

Taking the experience of a portfolio career into the future

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This is a guest blog from Mike Foster to inspire entrepreneurs for the new decade. The rest of this blog is in Mike’s own words.

Over the last decade, 2010-2020, I have been developing my expertise, skills and knowledge with experience of having a portfolio career. My network tell me that I am personally known for having the true desire to help and support others. They’re right.

Over those ten years, my portfolio career has comprised senior employed roles such as a Commercial Director, voluntary roles with local education providers, chairing one of Oxfordshire’s largest events VentureFest, delivering business networking events and running my own various businesses and networks. These activities have all included mentoring and supporting numerous other business owners to start and develop their own business. This is what really motivates me personally and I am passionate about.

As an entrepreneur, running my own businesses has given me invaluable experience to now help my clients. My own businesses have been very different in nature, giving breadth as well as depth of business experience:

  • a bookkeeping business that we franchised;
  • a membership organisation;
  • a training business; and
  • a soft play centre.

I have really enjoyed my career journey so far – the variety of businesses I have worked with, the individual characters I have supported, and who have supported me, and the different challenges I have faced with them. I love business and helping people.

Today, as we begin a new decade, I am the Managing Director of Modus Accountants, a disruptive accountancy practice in Oxfordshire, bringing all my career experience to date to create disruption and add value to dynamic small business owners wanting more than just an ‘off the shelf’ accountancy service, but to benefit from finance mentoring, structure and business reviews and first class business support throughout the financial year, not just once a year.

My portfolio career experience in the past, has provided me with the knowledge and various skills across the many different areas/departments essential to run a successful business. Although the establishment of my own portfolio career was initially by accident, in fact I had never heard of the phrase until recently, in recent years my career goal and CPD has been very focused indeed.

My career goal has been to be in a position to lead a business or chair a board, whereby no one would be able to ‘pull the wool over my eyes’, due to my well-rounded knowledge of the business functions. I have achieved my career goal. Goals are important.

Today, at Modus Accountants, I am using my diverse experience and knowledge from my portfolio career gained over 24 years to advise business owners on how to structure and build their own business, whilst also leading the growth of our own firm and its people. Exciting times! I am relishing 2020. 

We may all now live in VUCA world (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous), but I know that the choices I have made in the past have put me in good stead in the future to help our clients thrive in increasingly disrupted and fast changing markets. 

“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” Abraham Lincoln.

We are doing some free strategy seminars in January 2020 in Oxfordshire, 23 January in Witney and 29 January in Abingdon, to give you a taster of the benefits of our approach, so that you can start 2020 as you mean to go on, focused and with expert support. If you are interested in finding out more, please e mail me. Limited places. mike@modus-accountants.co.uk

My 6 tips for people considering a portfolio career:

  1. Do what you are passionate about and don’t be distracted without a plan.
  2. Have great and supportive people around you at all times.
  3. Clearly communicate what you can and want to offer.
  4. Keep focused on what you want to be known for.
  5. Enjoy every day and if you’re not enjoying every day, identify why this is in order to fix and change it.
  6. Seeking the support of an experienced coach or mentor is time and money well spent.

More

Modus Accountants

https://modus-accountants.co.uk/

Oxford Business Community Network (OBCN)

Home

Mike Foster on Twitter

Mike Foster LinkedIn profile

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikefosteroxford/

Interested in a portfolio career for yourself, to define a compelling career goal and create a future-proof career? Get in touch with Rachel Brushfield ‘The Talent Liberator’ for a no-obligation chat to find out more and receive your personal copy of our free Energise report ‘Discover Portfolio Careers’.

https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/portfolio/connect/

Videos about portfolio careers

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I don’t know about you, but sometimes I forget about content I have already created!

These videos about different aspects of portfolio careers are useful quick ways to tune into the topic.

There are 6 short videos to view. Videos are all the rage at the moment.

What is a portfolio career & why are they growing:  https://vimeo.com/189923412/17eb9e783b

Who are portfolio careers for:  https://vimeo.com/189923414/746b19b9e2

How do you create a portfolio career: https://vimeo.com/189923413/0c70f11f05

How do you evolve a portfolio career: https://vimeo.com/189923417/6b1105ace7

How do you manage a portfolio career:  https://vimeo.com/189923419/870aa46833

How do you market a portfolio career:  https://vimeo.com/186409954/a92cbbe363

Hope you find them useful.

Interested in a portfolio career for yourself? We help our clients to create, edit and market their portfolio career. Get in touch for a no-obligation chat about how we can help you. https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/portfolio/connect/

Sian O’Neill’s guest blog about her portfolio career part 2

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Biog

I like books and was given the opportunity to set up a new books division, Globe Law and Business, in 2005 where we set out to create law books which are sufficiently high level to be of real use to the experienced professional, yet still accessible. In 2015, I was part of a management buyout/buy-in of the books division when Globe Law and Business was sold to a management team including me. I believe that there is a future in high quality, lovingly produced books with the utmost attention paid to the editorial, design and production processes. For authors, I aim to offer a professional service, with a personal touch- for you to enjoy the experience of being published and bringing your works to the global market. Outside of publishing, I am a British Wheel of Yoga accredited yoga teacher. I teach a hatha flow class, incorporating breath awareness, attention to alignment and mindful flow. In today’s ever-connected, super-stressed world, yoga offers a way to de-stress and to relax and clear the mind. I also write and have also edited two books with Jessica Kingsley Publishers: ‘Yoga Teaching Handbook’ and the new ‘Yoga Student Handbook’.

Read part 1 https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/sian-onialls-guest-blog-about-her-portfolio-career-part-1/

Who or what helps you to manage your portfolio career?

I think I have a strong sense of why I am doing both- I am genuinely passionate about both publishing and yoga. Careers can develop, though, so it is worth checking in regularly to ensure you are still where you would like to be. I think being part of the management of a smaller organisation involves quite a bit of work around understanding yourself, your own motivators and strengths/weaknesses etc. I have really enjoyed the book ‘Build, Believe, Become’ by the inspirational founders of The Allbright, the private members’ club of which I am a member- the book includes helpful sections on these points around self-awareness.

How do you approach marketing your portfolio career?

I think I am not a very good marketer of myself! I have a good network and I enjoy people connections but I am not sure I make the most of marketing opportunities for myself!

What advice would you give to someone considering a portfolio career?

I would advise people to go with what they genuinely enjoy. If you are considering a portfolio career, it’s good to keep organised so you don’t take on too much. It’s also quite a broad term so it can mean different things to different people. You can flex the balance as you see fit according to the time in your life.

What 5 tips can you share for people considering a portfolio career?

1 Keep organised!

2 Pursue the things you enjoy.

3 Don’t worry about fitting into labels of who you think you should be.

4 Make sure you look after yourself.

5 Have a clear sense of why you are doing it- what motivates you.

More

View Sian’s LinkedIn profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/sian-o-neill-0b3567a/

Browse Sian’s yoga web site https://www.yogawithsian.co.uk/

Browse the Globe Law and Business web site https://www.globelawandbusiness.com/

Interested in a portfolio career for yourself? Contact us https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/portfolio/connect/

Sian O’Neill’s guest blog about her portfolio career part 1

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Biog

I like books and was given the opportunity to set up a new books division, Globe Law and Business, in 2005 where we set out to create law books which are sufficiently high level to be of real use to the experienced professional, yet still accessible. In 2015, I was part of a management buyout/buy-in of the books division when Globe Law and Business was sold to a management team including me. I believe that there is a future in high quality, lovingly produced books with the utmost attention paid to the editorial, design and production processes. For authors, I aim to offer a professional service, with a personal touch – for you to enjoy the experience of being published and bringing your works to the global market. Outside of publishing, I am a British Wheel of Yoga accredited yoga teacher. I teach a hatha flow class, incorporating breath awareness, attention to alignment and mindful flow. In today’s ever-connected, super-stressed world, yoga offers a way to de-stress, to relax and clear the mind. I also write and have also edited two books with Jessica Kingsley Publishers: ‘Yoga Teaching Handbook’ and the new ‘Yoga Student Handbook’.

How did your portfolio career come about?

I think what is interesting is that I didn’t make a conscious decision to have a portfolio career. I had been in publishing a good few years when I first started to practise yoga. I became more interested in what this thing called yoga actually is and embarked on the first course, the British Wheel of Yoga Foundation Course. From there, there was no turning back and I started the yoga teacher training! I qualified around seven years ago and have continued my learning through regular workshops and further trainings. I continue to have a full-time and busy role as MD of an independent publisher, so at the moment, I teach the one weekly corporate class and regular covers which are easier to fit in when I am available and seasonal workshops. I am also a mentor (contact teacher) on a yoga teacher training.

When people ask you ‘what do you do?’ – what do you reply?

It is a good question as it can be tempting to have one main reply so as not to complicate things for the listener! But I do now generally say ‘publisher and yoga teacher’.

What do you most love about having a portfolio career?

The phrase ‘a change is as good as a break’ comes to mind here as I find both aspects of my professional life benefit the other. One thing that has surprised me has been the degree to which the yoga activities have benefited the day job- including eg finding your voice and holding a room which I have certainly taken in to meetings in professional settings. I have really enjoyed combining yoga and publishing in editing the two books with Singing Dragon (part of Jessica Kingsley Publishers) – it feels a privilege and energising. I think that separate, serious interests help in a number of ways including expanding the mind and eg helping you to see connections which you might not have previously.

What are the challenges of having a portfolio career?

I think you need to be really organised. There are times when I feel pulled in different directions. But I know both aspects are important to me. I think you do need to be careful regarding what you accept to make sure you have room for everything and literally have the time. I heard a piece of advice today from a project management expert, Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez, that you should give something up when you take on something new. I think that is an interesting concept. I have been guilty of just accepting something new and squeezing it in somewhere such as in evenings and weekends (although I actually rather like evening working!).

More

View Sian’s LinkedIn profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/sian-o-neill-0b3567a/

Browse Sian’s yoga web site http:// https://www.yogawithsian.co.uk/

Browse the Globe Law and Business web site https://www.globelawandbusiness.com/

Interested in a portfolio career for yourself? Get in touch https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/portfolio/connect/

What are my talents?

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Many people, especially women, find it really hard to say ‘I am really good at’…

Are you one of them?

It is really important to know yourself well so that you can maximise your potential or ‘liberate all of your talent’. This is especially important for flexible working and portfolio careers.

In future, according to Lynda Gratton, author of ‘The 100 year life’: https://www.amazon.co.uk/100-Year-Life-Living-working-longevity/dp/1472930150

and

‘The Shift – the future of work is already here’: https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=the+shift+lynda+gratton&hvadid=80676697514840&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&tag=mh0a9-21&ref=pd_sl_60k0s27bxu_e

making sure that your skills are fit for purpose for what is needed in tomorrow’s world of work as well as today’s, is really important. She talks about having a mastery area and 5 different talent areas that you can flex.

Q) So how do you know what your talents are?

A) It is a mixture of insights from internal and external sources.  

Internal insights

Ask yourself these self-reflective questions:

·       What tasks gives me energy?

·       What can I not stop myself from doing?

·       What am I really good at? (many people find it really hard to answer this one and/or feel boastful!)

People can get so close to themselves that they find it hard to see their talents. If this is you, try this:

·       Put a chair in front of you and imagine that the person sitting in it is you. What talents do you see in the person in the chair?

External insights

·       Do some personality and/or psychometric tests for new insights

·       Ask for feedback from people who know you well

·       Reflect on this question: “What activity is it that I am doing when people say ‘thank you’/show me appreciation?”

·       Answer this question: “If I was a ‘consultant to myself’, what would I notice?”

A portfolio career is a bit like cooking. The more ingredients (talents) you have, the more recipes you can create over time for a fulfilling future-proof portfolio career. This is why it is so important to invest in your Continual Personal and Professional Development (CPD).

My portfolio career is changing all the time.

Reflection and percolation is important to give yourself time and space to allow insights to emerge. Coaching is a great way to achieve this, so is attending an event.

More

Interested in a portfolio career? Get in touch for a free no-obligation chat:

https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/portfolio/connect/

Want a career with more flexibility and a better work life balance? Our joint event with Attune Jobs sponsored by Slater and Gordon is for you.Book your ticket now, limited availability.

6-8pm Wednesday 16 October London. ‘Flex your work and future proof your career:’ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/flex-your-work-and-future-proof-your-career-book-now-limited-spaces-tickets-69627260009


Joe Reevy’s guest blog about his portfolio career part 2

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This is the second of a 2 part guest blog by Joe Reevy about his portfolio career. Read part 1: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/joe-reevys-portfolio-career-part-1/

How do you approach marketing your portfolio career?

I don’t. I have never sought work or asked for a promotion or pay rise. However, in the early days I did a lot of public speaking, which works really well… if you have done anything long enough at a senior enough level to have a good bank of stories to tell. Now I am super connected on LinkedIn…but I haven’t said yes to anything in quite a long time.

What if any, is the personal brand used for your portfolio career?

Just little old me. My style is intentionally confrontational when I do talks etc. If 10% of the room think I am a jackass/crazy I don’t care, as long as a bigger percentage think I am fab/challenging. I’ll join the debate with anyone. Your biggest enemy is being anodyne.

What advice would you give to someone considering a portfolio career?

Don’t. Join a really big business or government, get to the top, mess it up and then take the tons of lolly they give you for failure – then do something fun.  OR…get a REAL and believable CV to prove expertise, get in front of a lot of people and make friends. Helping others is the best way to do that in business (and life).

What benefits do portfolio careers bring specifically to women and mothers, rather than to men?

I don’t know, I’m a man… although the flexibility re time is a boon and would be especially so for those with young children.

What 5 tips can you share for people considering a portfolio career?

  1. Be damned good at something
  2. Listen and listen some more
  3. Be super organised
  4. You’ll catch a lot more bees with honey than salt. Kindness and generosity beget kindness and generosity.
  5. Learn to speak your client’s language (all industries have them… read their press etc).

PS

Always take a little time to remember everything you have to be grateful for and to marvel at the wonders of nature. Slow is better.

If you are asked to give a talk, practice it in real time at least 4 times.

More

View Joe Reevy’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joereevy/

Interested in creating a portfolio career for yourself? Contact Rachel Brushfield for a confidential chat: https://www.energiselegal.com/contact-us/get-in-touch/

Joe Reevy’s portfolio career part 1

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Joe Reevy

I came to the UK at 10.

I got into Exeter University at 16 – studied psychology, then an MSc Southampton University (Institute of Sound and Vibration Research). When the government pulled my PhD funding because I am foreign, I did a couple of years in Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) and then trained as a Chartered Accountant with Grant Thornton (that’s how people become Chartered Accountants), starting my first (Mail-order hi-fi) business at the same time.

I moved back to Devon and within 3 years was a full equity partner in a good local firm. I grew that firm and then quit in my early 40s and started my portfolio career. At the start, I consulted for lots of (mainly) law firms and was managing editor of LawZone, which was sold to The Lawyer in 2003. I became chairman of a forensic science company. I founded Words4Business in 2001, LegalRSS in 2010 (both sold 2019) and Crosselerator in 2017. I have been an NED of Timber Milling plc since 2004.

What are the components of your portfolio career e.g. study, paid freelance work, part time job, volunteering etc.?

I am currently Director of Crosselerator Ltd, Director of Hoppings Softwood Products plc and informal mentor to a few small businesses. In the past I dabbled at a part-time PhD, was on the audit committee of Exeter University for several years and was lead trustee of a charity which gave more than £600k to good causes.

How did your portfolio career come about?

I was always a ‘Mr Fixit’ type, not a conventional audit/tax accountant. I really like challenges and am really good at looking forward. When the challenge goes, so do I. An awful lot of jobs are really part-time jobs with people turning them into full-time jobs.

How has your portfolio career changed over time?

When I have solved the problem(s) I was brought in to solve, I always fired myself, but the big strategic roles last a long time. I pretty much gave up working outside our family businesses and my long-term Non Executive Director role in 2008.

When people ask you ‘what do you do?’ – what do you reply?

I think a lot and have ideas and people find them useful enough to want to have me around.

To what extent did your portfolio career happen by chance/luck and to what extent was it planned?

Quitting my practice was planned:  my partners were driving me crazy. I didn’t have anything to go to when I gave notice, but getting work was always really easy. When we founded Words4Busness, we built that quickly enough to not worry about the other stuff, which we have progressively rolled off since 2008. If a really interesting thing comes along, I’ll look at it, but unless it is interesting, no amount of money would get me on board.

What do you most love about having a portfolio career?

I pick my own work and people to work with. We can live in gorgeous Devon and don’t have to go to the big city (London).

What are the challenges of having a portfolio career?

If you are very direct (business shouldn’t be a game or an ego-trip), some people (especially men) don’t take criticism well, no matter how necessary or well-intended. The hardest thing is telling people they (or people they work with) have to go for the good of the business.

Who or what helps you to manage your portfolio career?

My faithful desk diary keeps my schedule sorted. Carrie (my wife) keeps me sane and is a much better negotiator than I.

Part 2 of Joe Reevy’s guest blog about his portfolio career coming soon.

Interested in finding out more about a portfolio career for yourself? Get in touch:

https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/portfolio/connect/