Portfolio Careers maybe the way ahead in the future. What is it ?

Portfolio careers are usually built around a collection of skills and interests, though the only consistent theme is one of career self-management. With a portfolio career you no longer have one job, one employer, but multiple jobs and employers within one or more professions.

I have always had a multitude of interests. And, loved doing lots of things.In many of them i am at a professional level of expertise – these aren’t hobbies or passing fancies, but stuff i can earn a living with. Part of my issues with full time employment is the fact that time, and energy, to do other things apart from what you are paid for, is non existent. And, rightly so. I have been lucky enough to do the work i like, and command the wage that i want, in different, yet linked areas.

At my core i am a communications professional – having formally studied Communication Policy Studies at my Masters, prior to which I graduated in Economics & Management Studies. I have a good theoretical foundation, and structure – helped by some fantastic teachers who made both come alive. And, i have kept update with the latest in both spheres, by three methods, reading meeting professionals who work in the area and discussing, and through the process of reading industry papers in the area. More for communications, than for economics. I also work extensively in the broad area of ‘communications’ – from the micro level of writing a show or a pitch, or an article; to the macro – running media companies, in entertainment, education, and news (thankfully, not at the same time). And, i write. And, i consult to companies on communication, content, and strategy. Teaching/Training/Writing/Consulting , this is how I earn my living.

It got rather difficult to explain to people what i did. I do ‘many things’ sounds weird, and unsure, and boastful – none of which i am.  Till i came across the term, portfolio careers – the term used to describe people like me with multiple careers built around skills and interests. Those who follow a path of portfolio careers are also called slashers – a term i had always associated with a blood and gore film (think nightmare on elm street). Essentially people who use a slash between their professions. Writer/Teacher/Film Maker/Trainer – people like me.

source : here

Historically people (usually men) from a certain (elite) background were usually slashers – had multiple interests. People like Benjamin Franklin – lots of professions, he was equally adept at. or people like Da Vinci. At the time of independence, the leaders of the independence movement could be considered slashers – lawyers (mostly), politicians, writers. People like KM Munshi or Azad were also teachers, as were people like Tilak and Gokhale. Even Nehru. It was an era where a ‘liberal’ education was possible. And, when i use the term liberal here, i am not using it in a 2017 context – i am using it in the context of not being super specialised or blinkered in a single area. That you read a paper in physics, and in philosophy, read poetry and political science; interacted with random strangers (with achievements) through letters – all of it allowed people this huge ability to experiment with areas of work, and find their passion(s).

However, an increased specialised world has seen this decrease. To give you a simple example, when i joined the media business, a new comer like me would do everything. We would write, plan, produce, shoot, edit, figure camera, figure costumes, sets, costs, turn up for meetings, make spreadsheets, presentations and the rest. It is this experience that has stood in good stead for me, and has kept me current and relevant 20 years after i started my career. That it helped me develop my visual skills, my story telling skills, my planning skills, and my execution skills. And, overtime i just honed them. At that time it felt like death by over work – but, i just learned so much. By 2000, the era of super specialisation had begun. The good news, when the going is good super specialists make tons of money. But, usually ‘good times’ are maybe 5-7 years, after which the role itself becomes obsolete. And, most people don’t learn more than one skill. They think the world, as it exists today, will last for ever. It doesn’t.

There are the joys of a portfolio career

Leave behind the strain, messiness and day-in, day-out concerns of full-time corporate life for a curated and interesting medley of part-time roles — board seats, adjunct professorships, consulting roles, some lectures, some writing, maybe even a book contract —and you’ll still be in the career game, still earning money, but happier, more intellectually fulfilled, and with infinitely more flexibility…

If you have multiple interests, have professional level skills in those areas – and are ok with a bit of swing in income – there are great months and there are lean months – then you could consider this as an option.

If you want stability, this may not be the path for you. But, and this is something everyone who is in their 40’s must consider, how long will your role last, and can you be replaced by someone cheaper. And, therefore how do you mitigate income risks, and how do you diversify yourself into areas that will provide regular income streams.

In the coming decades, i see the future of work, for people like me, to be more and more in the Portfolio Careers space, and less and less in the formal employment space. It is fun, it is immensely fulfilling, it keeps you away from overall organisational silliness, and, finally, it is relatively risk free given you aren’t putting all your eggs in one basket. For most my age, and experience, especially the men – they need to get over the hard coding that work means a single 9-5 job or a career. You have many careers and you can choose between them. In the years to come it is this multi dimensional experience that is going to come in handy, rather than looking at the world through a single lens.

On the flip side – the best projects i have led, in terms of scale and scope, have been in the corporate space. It would be difficult to run those as part of a portfolio career. i also, get great joy in a project well implemented – that is rare in this mode – you work much more in a consultative mode. So to actually fill this gap in my life – i am starting up. The plans are in place, i have the partnerships needed to roll out the business. The only thing i am waiting for is the Government to get its GST act in order – i am not running multiple careers, starting a business, and filing 37 returns in a year.

If you haven’t, you must read this book “One Person Multiple Careers” –