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

October 3, 2019 By // by Rachel Brushfield

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?

September 28, 2019 By // by Rachel Brushfield

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

September 5, 2019 By // by Rachel Brushfield

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?

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

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

August 29, 2019 By // by Rachel Brushfield

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/

Juliet Russell’s guest blog about her portfolio part 3

May 8, 2019 By // by Rachel Brushfield

Biog

Specialising in artist development, Juliet has also worked with Grammy, BRiT, MTV Europe and MOBO award winning artists. She has performed with innovative artists including Damon Albarn, Imogen Heap, alt-J and Paloma Faith, most recently writing the vocal arrangement and leading the #ThankYouMidwife choir on Paloma’s beautiful rendition of Silent Night, in association with Pampers UK. Juliet has composed and arranged music for film, television and radio. She leads the Portobello Live Choir, a community choir in West London and Assemble professional choir. www.julietrussell.com

Who or what helps you to manage your portfolio career?

Meditating. Having brilliant friends, family and a lovely partner. Exercise. Eating well. Sleeping well. Ideally, being organised with things that support you – from financial systems to technology. I love what I do so that helps a lot. The people I work with are usually inspiring, even when they don’t realise it. I’m never bored and I really appreciate that I get to sing every day as my job.

How do you approach marketing your portfolio career?

I am generally terrible at marketing and promoting myself. It’s much easier when someone else does it. I’m more of a “do my best and then someone notices or recommends me” marketer!

I do the basics… I have a website, social media and a body of work, but I’m not a social media guru and I could probably be a lot better at this.

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

I don’t know! I’ve been doing what I do for a long time so I think now I have a reputation. I hope I bring a high level of musical and technical skill, and also a lot of joy and passion. It has to be enjoyable. I always want to give the best of myself and to bring the best out of others, whatever I am doing.

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

It is completely possible to make a career out of lots of different elements. Mine have linked themes – singing and events, but equally it’s possible to combine teaching French and a dog grooming business or selling antiques and being an accountant. Why not? If you have something that you are good at, passionate about and motivated to see come to fruition, this helps a lot. Things I could have done better earlier on include realistic pricing and really having a handle on the finances. Understanding what your overheads are, what you need to generate, what you ideally want to generate and what your bottom line is are all essential. Use technology to support you, not to distract you. Also, be better than me at marketing.

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

That’s a good question. On the plus side, I think flexibility, autonomy and independence. However, as we know, working for yourself does not necessarily mean working less and it can mean making financial compromises, especially earlier in the process. Also, the gender pay gap is real. I’m not a mum so I haven’t had to balance family and work in that way, but I looked after my Mum before she was in care and as women we do still tend to be the main caregivers. Balancing everything can be tricky. Thanks to Salon London I’ve been reading Burnout by Drs Emily and Amelia Nagoski and their argument that stress is political is a really interesting one, as is Prof. Gina Rippon’s recent book about The Gendered Brain.

I think women are still expected to have multiple roles and often to facilitate others. Of course, this can bring great strength and to an extent I think we are all on this earth to help each other. However this only works if we are all helping each other (and simultaneously being given help)! My first business was run by a group of amazing women and I run Salon with an amazing woman. We can make great allies, great pioneers and great business leaders. I think it’s important that we know our own value and don’t settle for less financially or undersell ourselves through lack of confidence. Trailblazing can be tiring, but it can also be energising, either way, it needs to be done and a portfolio career is one way of doing it.

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

1. Follow your passion and it will never feel boring

2. People and relationships are your greatest asset

3. Learn to be excellent at what you do

4. Understand your finances and your value

5. Give back. Be aware of what’s needed and what you can bring.

More

Juliet Russell’s LinkedIn profile :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliet-russell-b37739a/

Also Festival : https://www.also-festival.com\

Salon London : http://www.salon-london.com

Music Gurus: https://www.musicgurus.com/course/learn-essential-skills-for-singers-foundation-level

Follow Juliet Russell on Twitter @JulietRussell

Interested in a portfolio career for yourself?

Get in touch for a no obligation chat with Rachel Brushfield, The Talent Liberator: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/portfolio/connect/

Read our client testimonials for the different parts of our portfolio career: https://liberateyourtalent.wordpress.com/energise-client-testimonials/

Juliet Russell’s guest blog about her portfolio part 2

May 5, 2019 By // by Rachel Brushfield

This is a 3-part guest blog by Juliet Russell for Energise – The Talent Liberation Company. This is part 2.

Read part 1 https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/juliet-russells-guest-blog-about-her-portfolio-part/

Biog

Juliet Russell is a singer, composer, vocal coach and choir director. She is also a creative director of Also festival and co-founder of Salon London, alongside Helen Bagnall. Passionate about supporting individuals and communities to develop their voices and creativity, Juliet is also the vocal coach on two of the UK’s biggest entertainment shows, ITV’s The Voice and BBC1’s Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, where she prepares the Unexpected Stars for the performance of their lives. Specialising in artist development, Juliet has also worked with Grammy, BRiT, MTV Europe and MOBO award winning artists. She has performed with innovative artists including Damon Albarn, Imogen Heap, alt-J and Paloma Faith, most recently writing the vocal arrangement and leading the #ThankYouMidwife choir on Paloma’s beautiful rendition of Silent Night, in association with Pampers UK. Juliet has composed and arranged music for film, television and radio. She leads the Portobello Live Choir, a community choir in West London and Assemble professional choir. www.julietrussell.com

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

I’d say a bit of both. I’ve never had a full-time job and I’ve never really considered that as an option. I read something recently in Unsafe Thinking by Jonah Sachs, where he was exploring Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s work on flow state. He explains that to be successful you need a high level of skill and a high level of challenge. We grow when the level of challenge slightly exceeds our level of skill. I would say that as my skills have improved so have my opportunities. I do set intentions and I do work towards goals, but also I’m very instinctive about what I do. It has to feel right. I’m not scared to say no if it doesn’t.

What do you most love about having a portfolio career?

Definitely the people. I get to meet interesting people all the time and this can happen on the bus as much as it can happen at work. I love seeing people grow in confidence as they learn to sing or find a whole new level of creative expression. For me singing is our birthright. It is an incredibly human way of expressing ourselves and connecting with each other. It upsets me when people get told that they can’t sing and then lose touch with that part of themselves. Fair enough if you choose not to sing, but if you want to, go for it. Join a choir, get up at a karaoke night or learn to sing. Our voices are as unique as we are. All the humans who are around today evolved as singers and every human culture that exists or is ever known to have existed has made music.

What are the challenges of having a portfolio career?

It’s definitely easier now, but being overwhelmed with busyness / business and low income have both been things I have struggled with previously. Even though money has never been my main motivation, I have probably lived on a lot less than salaried peers would have considered at times and have been quite dogged in making something work when maybe I should have walked away earlier. That’s probably been the best lesson too though as this was partly to do with how I valued myself. I am also aware that we live in an incredibly privileged part of the world, and even so some people live on the streets, so equally I don’t take what I have for granted and sometimes you don’t need as much as you think you do. For me, a portfolio career brings more rewards than it brings challenges. Also, I like a challenge!

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

1. Follow your passion and it will never feel boring

2. People and relationships are your greatest asset

3. Learn to be excellent at what you do

4. Understand your finances and your value

5. Give back. Be aware of what’s needed and what you can bring.

More

Juliet Russell’s LinkedIn profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliet-russell-b37739a/

Also Festival https://www.also-festival.com\

Salon London http://www.salon-london.com

Music Gurus https://www.musicgurus.com/course/learn-essential-skills-for-singers-foundation-level

Follow Juliet on Twitter @JulietRussell

Interested in a portfolio career for yourself?

Get in touch for a no obligation chat with Rachel Brushfield, The Talent Liberator https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/portfolio/connect/

Read our client testimonials for the different parts of our portfolio career https://liberateyourtalent.wordpress.com/energise-client-testimonials/

Juliet Russell’s guest blog about her portfolio part 1

May 5, 2019 By // by Rachel Brushfield

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

At the moment my portfolio consists of my private practice; I have a vocal studio in west London, freelance television work, composing, arranging choral music and co-curating the Also festival and Salon London. I host events and give talks. I recently launched my first online singing course with Music Gurus and I give masterclasses all over the country at festivals, for businesses, choirs, colleges and industry events. I sing in a trio with a guitarist and a philosopher. I’m the creative director of Assemble, a contemporary professional choir and Portobello Live Choir, a community choir which is free for local people. I am a national trainer for the British Lung Foundation’s Singing for Lung Health programme and I’m also studying for a research-based MA in vocal pedagogy.

How did your portfolio career come about?

I think the creative industries have had a portfolio model for a long time and it’s something I have always done. When I was young I used part-time jobs as a way of funding my creative aspirations and I did everything from working on the door of a club to making clothes then started promoting bands and events. I’ve always had a spirit of entrepreneurism; I started my first business when I was 25 and have worked since I was 14, babysitting and child minding. I even sold underwear on a local market stall, which lasted two weeks!

How has your portfolio career changed over time?

It has got better! I used to hustle a lot more – approaching people for work and building lots of projects from scratch. I still do the latter, but now a lot more opportunities also come to me. That is something that has definitely grown over time.

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

I usually say I’m a singer and vocal coach. Being a singer completely informs how I coach. I think of myself more as a Creative Director though. I love to create music and projects and to see them come to life – I’ve worked with 5,000 children, young people and their teachers and families on a project called Sing Up Greenwich and 100+ singers at Sing Late at the V&A and I love big participation projects that connect people to music and each other.

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

1. Follow your passion and it will never feel boring

2. People and relationships are your greatest asset

3. Learn to be excellent at what you do

4. Understand your finances and your value

5. Give back. Be aware of what’s needed and what you can bring.

More

Juliet Russell’s LinkedIn profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliet-russell-b37739a/

Also Festival https://www.also-festival.com\

Salon London http://www.salon-london.com

Music Gurus https://www.musicgurus.com/course/learn-essential-skills-for-singers-foundation-level

Follow Juliet on Twitter @JulietRussell

Interested in a portfolio career for yourself?

Get in touch for a no obligation chat with Rachel Brushfield, The Talent Liberator https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/portfolio/connect/

Read our client testimonials for the different parts of our portfolio career https://liberateyourtalent.wordpress.com/energise-client-testimonials/

Comfortable self-marketing for women

April 17, 2019 By // by Rachel Brushfield

Most women dislike ‘blowing their own trumpet’ (marketing themselves)

This is normal.

How you feel is typical for women.

BUT #balanceforbetter, the theme of 2019 International Women’s month, will not happen until women feel more comfortable and competent ‘blowing their own trumpet’.

Many women simply don’t ask for what they really want.

Why is ‘blowing your own trumpet’ important?

This subject is really really important because:

•Women live longer on average than men

•Lifespans are increasing so the issue is becoming more significant

•Many women take time off the career ladder, magnifying the effect

•Women naturally worry and focus on others at the expense of themselves

Women stop their own success by NOT ‘blowing their own trumpet’.

What crafty ways do you use to AVOID ‘blowing your own trumpet’?!

Common methods women use to avoid ‘blowing their own trumpet’

•‘Oh it was nothing really’

•‘Just part of the job’

•‘You’ not ‘me’

•‘We’ not ‘I’

•‘Anyone would have done the same’

•Bad hair day

•Focusing on others

•Assuming their hard work will be noticed

•Working harder

•Keeping busy

•Displacement/distraction techniques

Insights about women

I have done many events on this topic – these are observations having heard women talk about this subject.

•Women generally worry and are anxious, lacking in confidence

•Women fear rejection

•Women lawyers worry even more than an average woman, because their job is to spot risks!

•Women alleviate worry by focusing on others

•Women do a higher than average proportion of household management and childcare/caring responsibilities, so they have less time to market themselves, especially if they work part time

•Women focus on doing the work and doing it we

•Women find marketing themselves uncomfortable, so avoid it

•Women are still in the minority of senior decision making positions

•Women lack sponsors

•Women are not men. They think differently. Yet differences between men and women are not acknowledged to avoid stereotypes.

4 useful practical tips to make blowing your own trumpet more comfortable

•Tip 1) Give an example i.e. evidence to back it up e.g. I am really good at x because the client said y

•Tip 2) ‘Blow your own trumpet’ indirectly – it feels more comfortable for women e.g. write an article

•Tip 3) Think of the benefits of ‘blowing your own trumpet’ to others e.g. being a good role model for your daughter or niece

•Tip 4) Find 1 way that does feel comfortable and do it more e.g. if you like networking, do more of it

We’ll be exploring these 4 tips in more depth in future blogs.

You CAN become more comfortable ‘blowing your own trumpet’, I promise.

How can we help you ‘Blow your own trumpet’ to achieve a career breakthrough?

Get in touch for a free 20 minute telephone consultation: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/portfolio/connect/

Stephen Poole’s guest blog part 3 of 3 about his portfolio career

April 14, 2019 By // by Rachel Brushfield

This is a three-part guest blog by Stephen Poole for Energise, The Talent Liberation Company. This is part 3

Read part 1: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/stephen-pooles-guest-blog-part-1-of-3-about-his-portfolio-career/

Read part 2: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/stephen-pooles-guest-blog-part-2-of-3-about-his-portfolio-career/

Biog

Stephen Poole is a self-employed, award-winning values driven Project Management and Learning & Development professional delivering solutions with passion, drive and with a talent for bringing people together to build relationships. He uses a blend of empathy, creativity and customer focus to deliver results. He possesses a substantial delivery track record in the international trade and development, UK logistics, not for profit sectors and the UK Civil Service. He has delivered in complex, high profile and politically sensitive roles and programmes directly contributing to; London bidding for and winning the 2012 Olympics, the rebuilding of Wembley Stadium, Social Care Learning & Development operations and building capacity in Governments overseas. Engaging with ease and diplomacy with all stakeholders, the many roles undertaken have directly supported members of the public, Top Civil Servants, Cabinet Ministers, Senior Business representatives and Governments across the world. Committed to delivering sustainable outcomes, Stephen began building a portfolio career in the Summer of 2016.

Who or what helps you to manage your portfolio career?

Who? My supportive partner, who initially had concerns about the sudden loss of income certainty from a salary, but who has since seen me happier overall, whilst meeting my commitments.

What? For me, it is my values and the changes I have made to my own behaviour. Overcoming very entrenched fears around certainty, particularly financial, have been addressed by sufficiently planning ahead and trying to build reserves has enabled me not to get stressed, and to be proactive if I do become concerned. This has been a major influence in my ability to manage a portfolio of diverse activities. Today I could not imagine taking on a permanent role, it is just not who I am.

I do not take myself too seriously. I do not take the view that everything I do must be at a certain level or remuneration…. I am senior therefore everything I do should be senior (I used to hear that in the Civil Service..:‘Stephen it is not good value for money for you to be doing your own photocopying’. Note: when I left, we all did our own typing and photocopying!). At one point last year, I took part in a International Video Seminar working with a major international donor organisation and was leading a presentation and discussion on an aspect of UK Civil Service reform with a Government Minister and his team. Visible above my desk, shirt and tie. Unseen, under my desk, cycling shoes and shorts as I had to go straight out when the seminar was complete. Use all your talent I say!

How do you approach marketing your portfolio career?

I use LinkedIn and personal networking. A chance conversation can be a door opener, but they do need to know a bit about what you do now or have done – so powerful content can help keep that door open. I know that there is constantly room for improvement – this is my next target development area – changing my behaviour around this. Rachel also helps her clients to market themselves, so this is useful as part of what she gives as a coach.

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

Personal branding is an area I need to look into.

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

If you feel something is wrong with your current career…it is. If you have an idea, or even better an opportunity waiting – go for it, but in a way that suits your circumstances and comfort zone. Don’t get me wrong, you will need to challenge your comfort zone, but not to the point where you set yourself up to fail.

The world of work is changing rapidly. Employers are thinking more creatively and using technology to resource their businesses… so opportunities are being created in place of more traditional employee or employer relationships, which are diminishing. For example, the food delivery business I work in manages the business operations, scheduling, communication and payroll through a telephone app.

Variety as they say is ‘the spice of life’!

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

1 Gradual transition – do something in addition to your paid employment.

2 If you do it – love what you do, do what you love – it will show.

3 Plan for the unexpected – even projects with certainty can move.

4 Allocate time in your week to plan for 3 and look for opportunities at 2.

5 Be flexible and open to exploring your ideas.

More

View Stephen Poole’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stpoole/

Contact Rachel Brushfield for a no-obligation chat about creating, marketing and managing your portfolio career: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/portfolio/connect/

Thanks alot to Stephen Poole for making the time to share his portfolio career.

Stephen Poole’s guest blog part 2 of 3 about his portfolio career

April 9, 2019 By // by Rachel Brushfield

This is a three-part guest blog by Stephen Poole for Energise, The Talent Liberation Company. This is part 2

Biog

Read part 1:

https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/stephen-pooles-guest-blog-part-1-of-3-about-his-portfolio-career/

How has your portfolio career changed over time?

My first reaction to this question was yes it has changed, but then I changed my mind. It has always been governed firstly by my values – doing what I love and loving what I do, but secondly by not being prescriptive about what I do as long as it met the first (and I could afford to live). That remains my strategy.

I left my Learning & Development Manager role within a year to focus on International Development work in 2017. I began to learn that the nature of such work could mean a timeline could change – often at a day’s notice, and so securing financial security became important, as an income profile was just a curvy line on a chart not a bank balance. I looked around… I loved cycling and had heard that the new ‘gig’ economy was creating opportunities to become self-employed, to work when I wanted, how much I wanted. So I signed up in 2017 and get paid to cycle about 200 miles a week! No gym subscription for me! My Postman role too came about because of signing up to be a Christmas casual in 2018 – a way of life that looks for those little opportunities to create an income stream by doing something I knew I would enjoy.

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

‘A bit of this and a bit of that’. If I am being serious, I will say I support overseas Civil Servants by helping them to learn from my own experience as a Civil Servant, feed local people and most recently have added – ensure they get their post each day! It all depends on who I am talking to.

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

I took me some time to build the confidence to move from direct employment to self-employment. During my coaching, I had identified that the latter was the place I needed to be happy. The opportunity, when it came, was by chance – it started with a conversation with a great friend who worked in International Development. She was very supportive, and I still work with her today. As those opportunities played out and the nature of how they come about and evolve has taught me the importance of looking and planning 3 – 6 months ahead.

What do you most love about having a portfolio career?

Doing work I really enjoy, choosing what to do and just having control over that. I earn less than my previous career, but I am happier, not stressed, never get that ‘Monday morning feeling’ and feel a sense of delivering against my values!

What are the challenges of having a portfolio career?

The life of an L&D contractor is somewhat uncertain – dates change, the nature of the opportunity changes so keeping an eye on my financial security is important. In looking ahead, there could be a lot of work / investment that is needed to land a contract, but also it is important to invest time in continual professional development (CPD). Building and striking this balance of earning/learning and investment of time to secure paid work is my biggest challenge.

More

View Stephen Poole’s LinkedIn profile:

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

Find out common times in a career when people choose a portfolio career: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/when/

Contact Rachel Brushfield for a no-obligation chat about creating, marketing and managing your portfolio career: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/portfolio/connect/