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Portfolio career

Shall we dance? And fight injustice?

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Good news!

I wanted to share the achievements and celebrate the dedication of my client Olivia Streater who is based in Switzerland.

Olivia, who is Anglo-Turkish, was born in London, is multilingual, started her career at Amnesty International and qualified as a solicitor at Clifford Chance, a top global law firm.

She trained as a dancer, and being curious, embarked on a personal development journey.

How to combine these very different interests in a job or career?

I met Olivia on the Law Society Returners course in 2012, whicj I have supported for over a decade.

Olivia decided that she wanted to become a dance and movement therapist, helping people who had experienced trauma and combine this with her human rights work.

Recently, she has completed her Master of the Arts (MA) in Dance Movement Therapy, obtaining the German equivalent to a First and received a prize for achieving the top grade of her cohort and was nominated for an innovation award for her mixed methods thesis studying DMT interventions for trauma.

Talent doesn’t always fit in one neat box.

What talents do you have that need liberating?

A portfolio career is ideal for people with eclectic talents and interests like Olivia Streater.

More about Olivia- view her LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliviastreaterlavizzari/

E mail us to receive your free copy of our report ‘Discover Portfolio Careers’: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/contact-us/

A portfolio career is like Dim Sum

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Being a foodie (!), I find food a useful metaphor for portfolio careers……

A portfolio career is also like Tapas or Dim Sum – the enjoyment is partly the varied textures and flavours.

My clients are seeking clarity, fulfilment and sufficient certainty/security for peace of mind.

Especially in uncertain times.

I help them to find clarity on what their unique ‘career recipe’ is and what the ingredients of their ideal portfolio career could be.

A part time job is an ideal ‘staple’ part of a potential portfolio career, just as rice, pasta, bread or potatoes are a staple part of a diet.

Many portfolio careerists like variety, challenge and learning and for them, eating all ‘staple foods’ (one full time job) simply isn’t appetizing.

Too much stodge!

A part time job or retainer is a good portion size of a ‘staple’.

It provides a great springboard to try new additional types of ‘food’ and ‘seasonings’ to make a more tasty career, and start a portfolio career.

If you would like a copy of our free report: ‘Discover Portfolio Careers’ which includes a 15 question self-completion suitability questionnaire, please e mail me. https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/contact-us/

Chris Jones guest blog about his portfolio career part 2

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This is a 2-part guest blog by Chris Jones for Energise – The Talent Liberation Company about his portfolio career. This is part 2. 

Biog

Chris Jones is a multiple business owner based in Oxford. His current businesses are:

  • Glooo: digital analytics
  • Boys and Girls Promotions: events staffing business
  • Boys and Girls Events: events management business
  • Oxford Influencers: Oxford Instagram solution

His events business, both Corporate and Private events, provide event design and staff in #Oxfordshire and #London. Clients include: The University of Oxford, Blenheim Palace, Soho Farmhouse, Oxford City Council, The Westgate Shopping Centre and many colleges and venues.

Chris is husband to Julie, father of 2 young adults finishing University, and a social butterfly.

Read part 1:https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/chris-jones-guest-blog-about-his-portfolio-career-part-1/

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

What do you most love about having a portfolio career?

My portfolio career and the whole digital world growth happened at the same time.

I.T. developed off the back of IBM and Microsoft delivering personal computing solutions and from 1983 web sites developed at a rapid rate.

It was very interesting being at the forefront of PC / website delivery in the UK.

What are the challenges of having a portfolio career?

The continued changes and improvements to the digital world, so it is always been a learning curve of new technologies and solutions. 

My ‘skill’ for want of a better word is that I’m very good at understanding technology and seeing where it can be implemented. 

Who or what helps you to manage your portfolio career?

I think it’s a ‘self-improvement’ journey, either in a broad format for your whole industry or specialisation in specific areas.

How do you approach marketing your portfolio career?

It always will be for me working in the digital world (although a marketing mix is important) first and foremost and then backed up with networking. I network 2 3 evenings per week. LinkedIn is our key social media platform for my businesses.

Image below: Boys and Girls Promotions doing the ticketing for Countryfile Live at Blenheim – one of our greatest achievements in winning the work and delivering on the 3 days of the event.  

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

Have fun, be professional, and deliver on promises. That’s it!

I won’t work with people who are going to be difficult (don’t tell the bank manager!)  and I need to enjoy and be inspired by my work.

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

“The journey is long, don’t worry about things you can’t control.“

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

1 Gain in-depth knowledge of your sector

2 Have an individual career plan a), b) and c)

3 Work with likeminded people, and be easy to work with

4 Always trust your ‘gut’

5 Value yourself and don’t compromise

More

View Chris Jones LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jones-8a88b05a/

Browse the Boys and girls promotions web site: https://www.boysandgirlspromotions.co.uk/

Want to discuss a future face to face event? E mail Chris Jones: chris@boysandgirlspromotions.co.uk

Interested in a portfolio career yourself? Contact us for your free report ‘Discover Portfolio Careers’: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/portfolio/connect/

Thanks to Chris Jones for making the time to write a guest blog about his portfolio career for Energise. We are looking forward to his future original events, when the world returns to normal socialising and networking, post lock-down!

Chris Jones guest blog about his portfolio career part 1

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This is a 2-part guest blog by Chris Jones for Energise – The Talent Liberation Company about his portfolio career. This is part 1

Biog

Chris Jones is a multiple business owner based in Oxford. His current businesses are:

·       Glooo: digital analytics – new web site being created at present in this fast moving dynamic business area

·       Boys and Girls Promotions: events staffing business

·       Boys and Girls Events: events management business

·       Oxford Influencers: Oxford Instagram solution

His events business, both corporate and private events, provide event design and staff in #Oxfordshire and #London.

Clients include: The University of Oxford, Blenheim Palace, Soho Farmhouse, Oxford City Council, The Westgate Shopping Centre and many colleges and venues.

Image below: Event managing the opening of the Westgate shopping centre in central #Oxford. “It was wonderful to win the business, as a local business owner and deliver on a venue of importance to the City of Oxford.” Chris Jones.

Chris is husband to Julie, father of 2 young adults finishing University, and a social butterfly.

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

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

This is such a massive question!

First and foremost, my career journey hasn’t and isn’t a planned/classic career path. It had no planning, direction, or reasoning, after School, O levels /College ONC. My list of jobs has included:

·       I.T.

·       Accountants

·       I.T.

·       Web Developer

·       I.T.

·       Then self-employment

The accountants’ role was pure desperation for a job and lasted for 3 months and ended after I suffered bullying. (I didn’t realise it was at the time, and only realised when told 20 years later by a colleague).

The I.T. companies were a range of distribution, channel, reseller and manufacturer, all roles in ‘business development’ and ‘account management’ roles. The web developer role was again business development – this rounded off my digital/I.T. journey.

I have been sacked, made redundant and chosen to leave companies, but I always felt I maintained relationships with the businesses, which is weird and good in equal measure.

How did your portfolio career come about?

As stated above, my career bumped from pillar to post sometimes by necessity, and sometimes by choice. The phrase I use now is that “at 53, I’m totally unemployable!“. With hindsight, I think I was unemployable at 20! Due to that fact that a) I always did a lot of research and training for jobs so put myself in a strong position but b) I didn’t suffer fools and found a good percentage of my bosses stuck in archaic ways of doing business.

How has your portfolio career changed over time?

It has changed with experience and knowledge, but I still had a clear vision of what I wanted to achieve based on the job requirements, but this didn’t always align again with line managers/owners.

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

“I have a digital business, an events staffing/management business and an online Influencer website.”

Depending on the environment/network, I might only mention one of the businesses as I don’t really want the entrepreneur ‘label’. I’m an operational business owner not a visionary.

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

My journey has weaved!

I was always very good at getting jobs, being quite personable and strong in my knowledge base.

The second part of Chris’ portfolio career will include his tips for aspiring portfolio careerists.

More 

View Chris Jones LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jones-8a88b05a/

Browse the Boys and girls events web site: https://www.boysandgirlspromotions.co.uk/

Want to discuss a future face to face event post lockdown? E mail Chris Jones: chris@boysandgirlspromotions.co.uk

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

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/