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Supporting our network

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We’ve been writing an article a day on LinkedIn as well as sharing an inspiring quote to support our network. Here are a selection:

Insight mining

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/insight-mining-rachel-brushfield-the-talent-liberator/

Saying yes more to saying ‘no’

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/saying-yes-more-rachel-brushfield-the-talent-liberator/

Successful difficult conversations https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/successful-difficult-conversations-the-talent-liberator/

What creates trust?

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-creates-trust-rachel-brushfield-the-talent-liberator/

For the latest articles, check our postings on our LinkedIn profile. https://www.linkedin.com/in/energiseliberateyourtalent/

If you have any specific topics that you would like us to write about, please e mail us: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/portfolio/connect/

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/

Emotional resilience

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The dictionary defines emotion as ‘any feeling that disturbs or excites the mind.’

Some people are naturally more emotional than others with more highs and lows than people who are more logical and analytical. Likewise, some people are more positive and see the glass as half full, whereas others see the glass as half empty. Life and work can present us with situations and people that we find challenging and sometimes threatening.

The good news is that how we react to these situations is within our control. Nelson Mandela and how he handled his confinement is an example of being in a hugely difficult situation, and coming up trumps.  Emotions are often created by thoughts so having self-awareness of your values, motivations and insecurities can help you to have emotional resilience.

Unless we are very lucky, we don’t get taught how to be emotionally resilient, but learn it as we go along and using shopping, alcohol, drugs and busyness can be an easy way to anaesthetise difficult emotions.

We can learn to be more resilient and challenging situations have a lot of gifts, even if we don’t see them at the time, e.g. opportunity to be more creative, assertive etc 

What situations test our emotional resilience?

Coping well in one area and struggling in another is normal. 

  • The Coronavirus period
  • Redundancy and unemployment
  • Mergers over which we have no choice
  • No pay rises over a period of time
  • People pulling rank
  • Lack of planning by others affecting us
  • Unreasonable behaviour and bullying
  • Bosses and employers with values different to our own
  • Trauma and crisis e.g. end of a relationship, death of someone we are close to
  • Financial pressure and hardship
  • Covert undermining behaviour e.g. passive aggressive

5 FREE tips to maximise your emotional resilience

  1. What’s the worse thing that can happen and what is the likelihood of it happening?
  2. Ask yourself ‘What are the positives of my challenging situation?’
  3. Ask yourself what qualities and resources you have to help you to deal with the challenge you face
  4. Focus on what you can influence not what you can’t
  5. Map out vicious circles of the thoughts and emotions and work out how you can create virtuous circles 

Self-reflective question

“When have I been most emotionally resilient and what enabled me to do this?”

More

A portfolio career is a resilient career. Why? Because it is made up of different components, so you can change direction or ‘pivot’ as external trends change or your own circumstances change.

Contact us to receive your 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/

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 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/

Stuart McHale’s guest blog about his portfolio career

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Mini biog

I am a business consultant, advisor and NED with ambitious and growing businesses. Over 35 years I have managed growth in excess of £160m organically and through acquisitions; business start-ups including franchising and internet trading; and business restructuring including disposals. My early career was marketing products and customer development, progressing into strategy and planning. I gained experience in procurement, supplier partnerships and supply chain management along the way. I moved into general management with my first acquisition of a multi-site distribution business and then was Managing Director of a multi-site manufacturing and distribution business. I have broad sector and market experience working in automotive, rail, leasing, capital equipment, technology and consumer goods.  Geographic experience includes several European markets, North America, Asia (including India, Japan, Korea) and Australia.

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

Currently I am a director and shareholder in three businesses and provide consulting services to two further businesses. I have recently started volunteering with Young-Enterprise as a business advisor.

How did your portfolio career come about?

In 2011 I completed a significant business disposal resulting in an opportunity to evaluate what career challenge I wanted to embrace next.  At the time due to family circumstances, I decided to pursue a portfolio career.  This enabled me to reduce my working hours and gave me significant flexibility around my work.

How has your portfolio career changed over time?

Since 2012 I have seen a consistent flow of challenges from clients all seeking help to overcome hurdles that they found difficult (in some cases impossible) without assistance.

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

“Less than I use to” but still helping business owners and leaders to overcome challenges and solve problems.

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

My switch to a portfolio career was not planned. It was the response to family circumstances which were outside of my control.

What do you most love about having a portfolio career?

The aspects of a portfolio career that I enjoy most are the variety of challenges, the flexibility in terms of time management and being able to spend a lot more time working from home.

What are the challenges of having a portfolio career?

A portfolio career can bring some uncertainty in terms of regular income. Working with typically five businesses at a time, it does require the need for a discipline of time management and of being focussed.

Who or what helps you to manage your portfolio career?

Self-discipline.

How do you approach marketing your portfolio career?

I am fortunate in that I spend little time marketing myself.  The engagements I get come from referrals, people I know and have worked with or worked for and who know what I can do and how I do it.  Staying in touch with a network of colleagues is important so that they are aware I am still active and occasionally available.

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

I work with a group of consultants at HEART of business and this alongside my own name are the “brands” I have become known by.

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

Careful planning is required for those considering a portfolio career and ensuring that it provides remuneration from the early stages, or they have a financial cushion in place to enable it to have time to grow. Also planning the services you will provide and to whom, working capital requirements, collaboration with trusted associates and how you will manage taking on the running of a business yourself.  Ideally find a mentor or coach or a supportive group who can help you.

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

1       It is not for everyone, do an honest assessment of your skills and capabilities and of your strengths and weaknesses.

2       Make a plan.  You will be running a business.

3       Be clear how you are going to win business, doing what and for whom.

4       Know how you will make yourself distinctive and able to compete.

5       Collaborate, build (or join) a team you can trust.

More

View Stuart McHale’s LinkedIn profile:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuart-mchale/

Browse the No Limits Creative web site:

https://www.nolimitscreative.co.uk/

Read about the Heart of Business (HOB) network:

https://heart-of-business.co.uk/

Visit the Partner in Business web site:

http://www.partner-in-business.co.uk/

Interested in creating your own portfolio career? E mail Energise to arrange your free 20-minute telephone consultation:

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

10 pros of a portfolio career

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A career portfolio or portfolio career has many pros. I have thought of over 70. Here are 10 of mine for now:

  1. Doing what I want
  2. No week ever the same
  3. Always learning
  4. Planning my own tasks around the sunny weather
  5. The ability to be spontaneous
  6. Taking a day off if I feel like it
  7. Avoiding rush hour
  8. Avoiding queues and busy times in shops
  9. The variety and stimulation of varied work
  10. Getting better value train fares from travelling off peak

What would be your biggest pro from a portfolio career?

https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/who-has-portfolio-careers/ Download your copy of our free report ‘Discover portfolio careers’:

Doug Glenwright’s guest blog about his portfolio career part 1

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Doug Glenwright mini biog

Innovative Customer Centric Propositions. Multiple award-winning leader with 20 years’ transformation experience across retail and leisure. Passionate about customers and transforming tangible experiences by developing a strategic vision and delivering it holistically and with integrity. Visionary, vivacious and versatile with strong communication skills and creative flair, balancing commercial and customer needs whilst engaging people with a sense of fun.

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

Paid freelance work (plus a little dabbling in creative art)

How did your portfolio career come about?

I was very lucky to be offered redundancy following the relocation of my office after 14 years in a corporate role. After so long in one business,  this was a scary prospect and I was fortunate to be offered a seconded role which allowed me to test my new commute (and ultimately prove I didn’t want to be spending so much “wasted” time in the car) and allowed me to prepare myself for a significant change, by working with Rachel Brushfield as a coach to understand more about the value I bring to a role and what I was looking for at the time of change. I did not seek out a portfolio career and was perhaps even a little resistant to it – this felt so different from the structure and (perceived) control of a regular career – however I tried to remain open to it as one of a number of possibilities. After a month or so off, I started talking to contacts and was approached to be an SME for a top consultancy firm as they developed the strategy for a Middle Eastern travel company; there was no contract, there was no job description and ultimately there was no risk, it was 2 to 3 days a week, which still left me time to apply for other roles, so I agreed… To an extent, I do believe we make our own luck, however I was fortunate to know of some big projects coming up in various businesses and was therefore able to position myself well to be of assistance.

How has your portfolio career changed over time?

During this initial assignment I was still actively applying for permanent roles, going to interviews and even got offered a few positions, but each time I compared them to what I was currently doing and proactively chose the instability, flexibility and variety of a potential portfolio career – however it cannot be a portfolio with one role, right? So I started reaching out to other contacts to understand if there were things I could help with. Mostly this led to nothing, which can be disheartening, but I reassured myself that it did remind people I was here and available and hopefully keeping me front of mind – a good marketing strategy; I picked up some piecemeal jobs and learnt more about my processes, what I enjoy, what I actively need to avoid and I started juggling larger projects.

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

Knowing what to call yourself is one of the challenges I have faced since I stopped working in a full time corporate career – we are all capable of much more than our job titles give us credit for, then there is what we are known or famous for and then there is what role you are being asked to play within each assignment…whilst you want to be flexible enough to adapt to the needs of any assignment, it is still important to have a clear sense of self, what your unique selling points are and what you can personally deliver for that role. At a high level when describing my role, I tend to use the term “Customer Centric Contractor” but this is a really grey area with many different disciplines focusing on customer experience, so this still doesn’t feel that ownable, but I explain this as “delivering strategic propositions and holistic transformation whilst balancing both customer and commercial needs”.

What do you most love about having a portfolio career?

I love getting the 3+ hours back in my day when I was previously commuting and using this time for something constructive – exercise, art or even chores. That said, I do still feel guilty when I take off time in the middle of the day to enjoy a sunny walk… it’s interesting how ingrained the corporate structure has been in my life!

Coming soon, part 2 of Doug Glenwright’s guest blog about his portfolio career.

More

View Doug Glenwright’s LinkedIn profile:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-glenwright-18a2234/

Browse Doug Glenwright’s web site:

http://www.dougglenwright.com/

Interested in a portfolio career for yourself?

Download your copy of our free report ‘Discover Portfolio Careers’:

https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/who-has-portfolio-careers/

 

The ‘push me’, ‘pull you’ of a portfolio career

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Question for you.

How do you know when to edit or evolve your portfolio career?

I was reflecting on this recently during a career retreat and came to the conclusion that there are ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors.

‘Push’ factors are negative things that cause you to re-evaluate.  ‘Pull’ factors are things that attract you so ‘pull’ you to want to change the mix of your portfolio career.

Top 11 ‘Push’ factors

  • Low satisfaction or fulfillment
  • Doesn’t help you to progress or grow
  • Poor money for the effort/time
  • More competition for work
  • Doesn’t fit your career vision
  • Bored of doing the same work
  • Technology replacing demand
  • Trend to in-house from freelance
  • Stressful or feels like hassle
  • Doesn’t fit with your personal values
  • Unreasonable deadlines or demands

Top 11 ‘Pull’ factors

  • Builds your career capital
  • Learn a new skill
  • Stimulating new challenge
  • Broaden your network
  • Good money
  • Emerging new work area
  • Work you can do flexibly
  • Work you can do from home
  • Project with people you like
  • New ‘string to your bow’
  • Aligns with your longer-term vision

What would be your top 3 ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors?

Defining your own portfolio career ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors helps you to screen work options and feel clear about what projects you say ‘yes’ to and ‘no’ to.

Interested in a portfolio career?

Download our free report ‘Discover Portfolio Careers’:

Who is a portfolio career for?