5 Reasons Why You Should Start a Side Hustle
I was on the phone to a client this week and after having an interesting discussion about their career and current recruitment trends, they asked me one final question at the end of our call.
“I just wanted to ask you one last thing if that is, ok?” they said cautiously
“I have had this idea to start [insert idea here], do you know anyone who does anything similar just now?” they said, almost with a nervousness about even daring to ask me.
“That is a really good question” I said reassuringly.
“What a great idea!”
The conversation at the end of the call was almost more interesting than the rest of it.
Entrepreneurial spirit is something I personally love seeing in people and has never been easier to start your own side hustle. I have by launching Once Upon A Tech Recruiter and you can too.
Why start a side hustle?
The world of work has changed. A ”job for life” is a thing of the past. Take a moment to consider your household income as a business. Are you comfortable relying on only one source for all of your income and financial security? Or maybe the pandemic has made you reassess your career?
There has never been a better time free yourself and explore new opportunities:
1: There is no such thing as a job for life
When companies need to cut costs, redundancies happen. If you think the person looking at the numbers deciding how many people they need to lose knows about the extra hours you have worked, the early alarms, the late finishes, the socials you have missed, you are probably mistaken.
At that point you are just a number on a page.
If you are not convinced, have a look at the UK labour market reports; you’ll recognise patterns in there directly aligned with the economy, which is out of your control.
2: If your household income was a business, would you rely on one single customer?
I have built businesses and interviewed hundreds of business owners over the years.
When you’re running a business you have to balance the customers you have with attracting new ones, because as much as you value your loyal customers you have to spread the risk. What if one of your customers was sold over night? Or closed down? If they are your only customer, you could be in big trouble.
It is the same with your income.
If your employer is your household income’s only customer, what happens if your employer sells, goes into administration, or does a restructure? Your household’s income could disappear overnight.
It makes sense to spread the risk and start a side hustle.
Imagine if one day, you don’t have to worry about job security, because you have made your own?
3: You don’t have to rely on others to live the life you want
You don’t need anyone else to start a side hustle, just yourself. You’ll have full control over what you do with it.
Do you have a hobby you could start to make money from?
Do you have knowledge or a skill you can use to help others?
People have made money with side hustles doing everything from selling things they have crafted at home, self-publishing books, taking photos, to recommending products online.
It only takes a few clicks to become an Amazon Associate and make money recommending some of your favourite things.
There is no wrong choice, you can do anything you want.
You might even end up being able to make a living out of it.
Can you imagine getting up every day and doing something you love?
4: Would you like to learn new skills?
Countless people learn and grow in ways they could never have imagined through having a side hustle. For some people it has changed their lives, for others it has given them a hobby to occupy themselves with, meet new people and learn new things.
I have personally loved learning different writing techniques. It is really empowering to be able to have a positive impact with your own written words.
I got amazing feedback last when I posted this blog and it made my day:
“Your writing style is bang on, I LOVE IT!! It’s punchy, easy to read, and best of all it comes to life in full colour in my mind. ”
5: It’s time to set yourself free
The pandemic has restricted our lives for 18 months and counting. Set yourself free from the limitations and start your own side-hustle now.
I’ve never heard anyone say:
“I wish I had waited before I started my own….”
Lots of people say:
“I wish I had done it sooner”
Whatever your idea is, start it now, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Free yourself; only you can.
Here’s some of the latest statistics showing that there was a new company formed every minute over the last year.
Why I started my side hustle
I started Once Upon a Tech Recruiter as a side hustle to continue to change lives, just like the first recruiter I met helped me change mine; and challenge assumptions about what really goes on behind the desk of a tech recruiter.
I hope to inspire people like you, through my stories, dispelling the myths about tech recruiters and the tech industry; empowering you to pursue the career you dream of.
I love that being a recruiter means I can change people’s lives.
No feeling quite matches the one you get when you have helped someone find their dream job or, realise their true purpose in life.
Take your first step
Take your first step on your journey now; there’s nothing more liberating than controlling your own destiny.
Have you got a side hustle idea you have been thinking about? Or are you considering your career options?
Contact me here, I would love to help:
