Portfolio Careers- One Year Later

It was exactly one year ago that I wrote this.  It is time to bring it up front again.  My friend and fellow blogger across the pond, Dr. Barrie Hopson co-wrote a book on portfolio careers, And What Do You Do? 10 steps to creating a portfolio career  It is now available in the US on Amazon! 

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 posts dedicated to describing the multiple income streams of Jason Alba and others.  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 where the topic is frequently address at Employment Digest.  Take a look!

Comments

[careersherpa]

Carol:
I've been thinking about you...thank you for being a poster child for portfolio careers! I appreciate you providing additional points to consider when embarking on a portfolio career! Gathering a team and identifying weaknesses are excellent reminders, as is your entire comment! I appreciate and value your thoughts!

[Carol White Llewellyn]

Hi Hannah -

I can't believe it's been a full year since you first talked about portfolio careers.

As a career portfolioist myself (having started only shortly before you spoke about it), one of the things that I've found most amazing is that if you believe you can do something, others will believe you can too!

Unlike with a job, where very often you must have the exact experience the employer is seeking, if you are a career portfolioist and you tell someone, "I can do this for you and I can do that..." people believe you can as long as YOU know you can do it. That is not to suggest one should take on projects that are completely beyond their scope of experience, but stretching your skills is a good thing!

A few other parameters for those considering a portfolio career:
~ You must be a good networker
~ You must be comfortable asking for money and valuing your services
~ You must be willing to pick up the phone and make the ask.
~ It's helpful to have some sales experience. If you don't have it and aren't comfortable selling, either go for training immediately, or figure out another way to market your services.
~ Be aware that there is a very fine line before you can become overextended and then either your clients or your personal life suffers.
~ Gather "your team" in advance of people you trust to help you on the aspects of a job that you can't do.

Best of luck!

[rosas de almeida fernando]

Site interessant je le confirme!

[Career Sherpa]

Thanks for noticing this Wise Step! I have fixed it! BTW, interesting website and service you're offering.

[Wise Step]

ooops ! Portfolio careers is pointing me to a dead link :-/)