Portfolio Careers- Are You Ready?

I have written about Portfolio careers before and I was asked the other day how to go about starting a portfolio. 

Before we go there, let me say, it may not be for everyone.  Here are some characteristics of people who might do well pursuing this type of option.  The list comes from Portfolio Careers

• Self-starters
  
• Excellent time managers who organize their lives very well Live with ambiguity and often find little difference between their work and free time
• They are largely in control of their own destiny
• Do not like to be bossed ie. have a need for independence
• High energy
• Prepared to market themselves and actually enjoy networking
• Like change and variety
• Not afraid to take risks
• Cope well with stress and pressure
• Feel positive about themselves
• Enjoy deadlines
• Love to learn
• Not driven purely by money & not over anxious if they have insufficient amounts at some times
• Like to be in control generally
• Assertive
• Multi-taskers

If many of these describe you, start thinking about what you love doing.  Then ask if you can do it on a part time basis? Per gig basis?  Contract basis?  Is there a book in it?  Could you blog about it?  Could you sell it on-line?

If you are really great at helping coordinate events (volunteer or paid), who might need you on a part time or per event basis?  Colleges, non-profits, corporate?  All of them. 

JibberJobber has Friday posts dedicated to describing the multiple income streams of Jason Alba.  It can also provide ideas on how you can find opportunities.

The next step is to do your research and find out why they need to purchase your services. Talk to people in the industry.  Ask what their challenges are around this area you are interested in. 

Construct a list of company names who would be likely to benefit.  Think more than one company...greater odds of success. 

Then develop a convincing proposal and followup persistently.  The proposal might contain:

• Introduction/Summary of Skills
• Supporting research/data for the use of your services
• Proposed Scope of Work
• Cost

There is another source who discusses the topic frequently over at Employment Digest.  Take a look!