Learnings from 2 years of part-time content creation: managing a side hustle without jeopardizing your career
Yes!
Creating on the side can hurt your career if you don’t do it right.
Here’s what I’ve learned from over 2 years of part-time content creation.
During the screening call, I always make it clear that I have side projects that are super important to me, and I’m only interested in moving forward with my job application if I can keep working on my side hustle.
If the company is not okay with this, I won’t continue the interview process.
I always get their approval in writing before proceeding any further.
People might think you’re not loyal enough when you have a side project alongside your full-time job.
I had to learn to manage these perceptions to avoid any negative impact on my career:
That’s why an initial conversation about your side gigs is crucial, so they know what they get when hiring you and how you operate your side gig.
I usually discuss how I establish boundaries between my job and my side gig. This manages perceptions and demonstrates my commitment. Remember, it’s a 2-way street, and you can’t go wrong with open communication and honesty upfront.
What you leave behind on the internet is even more important if you’re an active social media user.
If I want to post at 9.43 AM on a Monday, luckily, I have a scheduling tool that helps me do it. But be aware when you post replies because it can bite you back.
If you work remotely, your employer might monitor your computer.
If you use a computer managed by your employer, you can be 100% sure they can audit your computer and track every keystroke you make on that thing.
I avoid using my work computer for personal projects. For me, it’s not just about privacy but professionalism, too.
Be careful never to use your working time as your creator time. You need to create off hours.
Pick your ‘tortoise enclosure,’ the sacred time and space for your creative endeavours in a way that is distinctly separate from your work life.
Ask yourself:
Use a pen name if the answer is yes to the first question or no to the second question.
Pick an ambiguous or non-revealing profile picture if you fear that workmates will discover you and it’ll reflect on you poorly.
I feel that authenticity is such an overused word nowadays, and we’re not even clear on what it really means. So whatever it means to you, do you!
If you feel using your real name won’t allow you to have the freedom to express yourself fully, again, use a pen name.
If you feel that you won’t be perceived as authentic if you hide behind a pen name, use your real name and picture, but consider the topics you address and whether they might conflict with your professional image.
Not connecting with colleagues on platforms like Instagram can be a strategic move to maintain a separation between your 9-to-5 and content creator lives.
I usually only befriend my colleagues on LinkedIn once I stop working with them (except when they send me a connection request).
If you’re not connected with your colleagues on socials, it’s unlikely that they will ever see your content.
You might be able to be more honest than you think, so check out your employment contract to see what you can and can’t do and follow those rules.
My biggest challenge when it comes to creating on the side is energy management.
Even though I like my job, it is a full-time job. I work remotely, but I work at least 8 hours with about an hour break for lunch and a walk outside.
So, if I leave my high-energy-demanding creative side gig after work, that’ll leave little room for quality creativity.
Most days, I’m drained after work. I can’t produce quality writing or focus on final editing.
At work, I switch contexts multiple times a day, I engage with different people (different personalities), I lead meetings, I need to deal with complexity and ambiguity, and I write tons. That’s just how it is.
I have one advice for people who create on the side while having a full-time job: don’t compromise your paycheck that pays your mortgage and car, puts food on the table, pays for school for your kids & toys for your pets, and your family holidays.
Don’t let creating on the side distract you from your 9-to-5.
Create on the side by having your tortoise enclosure in place.
Have a system that lets you do your side hustle in a way that doesn’t compromise your main job. Recognize your limits and respect them.
Prioritizing your full-time job is perfectly okay because it’s the financial backbone that supports your life. Your content creation shouldn’t come at the cost of your primary source of income.
As your creator path evolves, your side hustle will take different forms.
You might balance it with your full-time job for a long time, reduce your job hours and go part-time, or even transition into a full-time creator when financially viable.
No one path works for everyone.
You need to have a vision for your side gig where you want it to go because you won’t get there if you’re unclear on the goal. It’s as simple as that.
Writing and making digital products & videos on the side doesn’t distance me from my full-time work.
In fact, they’ve made me more effective and appreciative of my 9-to-5 in tech, which in turn supports my creative pursuits.
If I didn’t have that, I wouldn’t be able to focus on creating because I’d be too stressed about how I cover my living situation.
Just as nothing can stop a doctor from healing or a writer from writing, nothing can stop a creator from creating.
If you’re anything like me, you have an innate drive that’s fundamental and transcends the boundaries of your professional obligations.
I learned that if I wanted to fulfill my personal passions while maintaining my professional commitments, I had to find a balance that didn’t drive me crazy and leave me with FOMO or feel inadequate during the weekdays.
While balancing a side hustle with a full-time job can be challenging, it’s not impossible.
I might be a late bloomer, or my priorities weren’t clear enough, but I’m just starting to figure out what works for me after being in the game for over 2 years. It might take some trial and error to figure out what works for you, too.
Be prepared to plan, set clear boundaries, and deeply understand your priorities and capacities.
Remember, the goal isn’t just to succeed in your content creation but to do so without undermining the stability of your 9-to-5 career. And have fun while doing that!