Working while side-hustling is a real challenge. I’m doing it right now working as a sub-editor and writing for Glam Observer. Living in a city like London I realised, like me, a lot of people have side-hustles. And they are no hobby but real businesses like Vanessa Kanaiza whom we had on the podcast telling us about how she juggles between her PR job and her accessories brand Kanaiza.
There is no fixed agenda to know how to deal with both as it is quite a personal process. Some people will have fixed days dedicated to their project while others will fill every second of their free time with theirs and take breaks from it from time to time. In any case, it’s all about finding that rhythm that will make you efficient for your side-hustle without burning out.
I am certainly not perfect at it but I have found out that having a job while side-hustling can be a way to grow – until a certain extent – and feed in your business.
Working for someone else can help you understand the structure of a business
I don’t think I am saying something amazing there but that’s a part I feel is too often forgotten. I have been working in different companies and even though I don’t have that entrepreneurial vibe, I find most interesting observing the structure of each place I have worked in. How the teams are divided, what is the job of each team, what is the culture of the company, what are the initiatives taken to develop their employees etc…there are so many ways working within a structure will help you lay the foundation of your business.
I am no business owner but all the content I have been writing on GO is the result of spending time observing how fashion businesses operate as well as observing how employees work and interact with each other, their manager and HR.
In an era in which entrepreneurship has become the new cool career, I believe it is really important to say you don’t need to be a girlboss from the get-go. If Sophia Amouroso became what she is today without working in a corporate environment, good for her, but that won’t be the case for everyone.
Some people discover they have an entrepreneurial mindset only while working within a company. They need such a structure and a certain amount of time to develop their idea until it becomes a business. The time spent working for someone else will not only help them financing their project but also guide them into shaping their business. There is no better way to understanding how a business work than working for one.
Working in a company will help you build a network of professionals
The great thing about working in a company is that you meet people. Friends, inspirational and aspirational co-workers and maybe future business partners – a company is a place gathering like-minded people so think of your working place as a networking space.
Founders of Blazé Milano Corrada Rodriguez d’Acri, Delfina Pinardi and Sole Torlonia, all met working at Elle Italia and went their own ways before creating their fashion brand. So see, working relationships and keeping them after leaving a job are really important.
Working in a company can help you feel inspired
As someone writing about working in fashion, I find utterly inspiring working in a company within the same field. Being in such an environment enables me to understand the needs of an employee as well as how a business is taking care of its employees.
Some people who side-hustle are bored by their daily job and can’t wait to leave it to focus 100% on their project. I understand this point of view but I also think you could find back some motivation at your job if you were looking at the ways it could benefit your business. Even when you think the company you are working for is doing something wrong. Seeing that could just motivate to not do the same for your own business or find ways to avoid the challenges your working place is facing when you will be your own boss.
Lastly, we all lack something to make our side-hustle a better business. Is it knowledge about marketing? Is it something about PR? Whatever the case, get involved with people from different teams to understand what they do and how they do it so that you can implement all these elements to your venture.
Side-hustling is tough but I definitely feel having a full-time job is one of the many ways to nurture your business.
Are you a side-hustler? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.
