As a fellow multi-hyphenate, I absolutely get how you feel! I started my journey as one after a retirement from a 23 year career in policing. I had this golden ticket to turning one of my many creative passions into something but had no idea what I should pursue. So I let my curiosity lead me and boy did I ever try a lot of things! Virtual sourdough classes in the middle of the pandemic, I did florals for a wedding in my dining room, I created a huge graze table that fed over 250 people, I helped friends host a culinary trip at a Chateau in Bordeau France, I hosted creative workshops…I think you get the picture! And then out of nowhere I landed on what eventually became my dream job. While styling a photoshoot for a magazine I was being featured in, an interior designer asked if I would come help with her interior portfolio shoots. I didn’t even know the title for this job but I instantly knew it was my dream job! Fast forward a year and a half or so later and I have been loving styling photo shoots for a number of interior design projects. It was a great culmination of all that I love. Sometimes you just have to follow your heart and you never know where it might lead you!
I love this Lilliane! Thanks so much for sharing❤️ I think you definitely had the right idea to lead with your curiosity and try as many things as possible! I might do a post on it in the future, but I feel like this is where I personally have found myself stuck; getting too much in my head before taking action! Hoping to change that and start trying things/taking steps forward even without knowing where they’ll lead.
Wow, what a magnificent turn of events!! Love this peek into your story, Lilliane.
And I'm so glad I stumbled upon your writing, Maddy! I'm one of your fellow multifaceted folks, so much so that I'm creating my substack around that whole idea ☺️
Here's hoping all the new voices out here can down out the ones about sticking to just one thing!
I'm so happy that you see yourself in my experience. There are so many of us out there (particular ex founders) who are looking for a career structure that offers the flexibility and freedom, and the ability to build something meaningful, without having to sacrifice everything else in your life. I love that we're on a similar journey! Thank you for sharing this ❤️
I love that people are talking about this more! I recently wrote about this as well (my outlook on life as a generalist). It’s nice to read that I’m not the only one and I love that more people are viewing this as a positive! 💕
I loved reading about your experience so much and really appreciate the other Substack recommendations!
I have always pursued several projects and interests at the same time. When I was still in university, this was really easy - I had a part-time job at a startup, I volunteered for varying non-profits, I took one or two new sports classes every semester. When I started working, I immediately realized that I was in “trouble.” Having a full-time job and only pursuing other interests as little side hobbies was not gonna work in the long run. Especially as I’m an engineer, this was difficult since my job was taking up much more than 40 hours a week and requiring me to travel and commute to different sites. I started a YouTube channel on the side 3 months after I started working full time which has been the best thing I ever did and helped me “make it” in full time work as long as I did. But I always had the goal of working for myself and allowing myself to pursue multiple things at the same time (which I personally think can be a benefit & strength instead of a disadvantage).
Now I’m in a somewhat similar boat as you. I just lost my job and decided to finally allow myself to try building the kind of career I actually want. I also found Anna’s Substack recently which feels really reassuring and inspiring. Like, I’m not just doing random things. I’m building a portfolio of pursuits! I’m also experimenting with freelance consulting and writing as well as trying to build my YouTube channel into a business.
I would love to read more about your next steps and experiments! ❤️
Hi Anna! Thanks so much for reading along and thoughtfully sharing about your personal journey pursuing a portfolio career! I’m sorry to hear about losing your job, but it sounds like it’s making space for your other pursuits. Overall, I think the word “experimenting” is key here!
This is such beautifully thoughtful piece, Maddy! I'm so inspired by how you're entering this new season with flexibility and self-embracement (is that a word? now it is!) at the core. I love how you wrote: "...and instead will lead with my unique perspective and follow the ideas and projects that light me up." Yes! Thrilled to be mentioned, and to follow along as you go.❣️
Thanks so much for reading along and for your thoughtful response Cate!❤️ Loved the last part of your recent series and the exercises you included as well!
Absolutely loved this issue, Maddy! I've always identified as a multi-hyphenate and have been attempting to build a successful portfolio career for the last couple of years. It's been so refreshing to see more talk about them lately. I put The Portfolio Life on my TBR, too! Thanks!
Thanks Kayli! I love how you’ve always embraced your multi-hyphenate self! I feel like the portfolio career route may be a bit more sustainable and fulfilling than my previous go-to strategy which was burning down one business to start another🤣 you’ll have to let me know how your portfolio career journey is going!
You have no idea how much this has resonated with me. Thanks to you, I’ve discovered this (new for me) concept and feel more seen than ever! So so so happy to have stumbled across this post ♥️ will look into every one of your recs!
Hi Rosa! I’m so glad this post made its way to you and that you’ve been introduced to this portfolio approach! I know for me it was such an eye opening and validating experience when I first came across this concept. Good luck to you on your journey!
My daughter will be starting preschool next year, around the same time we will be welcoming baby number two, and I am at a similar crossroads in my career journey. My work has shifted a lot since entering motherhood, and I'm feeling pulled to reevaluate my next steps as I enter a new era of both motherhood and my studio. I love your take on leaning into what you're most passionate about as well as what makes sense for you in this season of life, and creating a portfolio career out of those things. It can be challenging to tune out the noise from professionals or industry leaders, but sometimes it's what necessary to move forward on a path that best suits your unique passions and talents! I'll definitely have to check out more of what the professor you've mentioned has to say on the topic.
Hi Amanda! Thanks so much for reading and sharing your experience🤍 And congrats on your growing family! It’s definitely a challenge to anticipate how life (and career) will change when adding another baby to the family. It’s personally been such a big transition for us! It’s great that you’re recognizing the need to reevaluate and that you’re approaching this new season with an open mind. The unknown and change might be scary, but there’s simultaneously so much excitement and potential in this next season of life and career too!
I love love love this perspective! It's exactly where I have been struggling as well. Such an interesting point on permission as well - I know I'm not looking for permission but it's oddly comforting when I feel like I've gotten it (which I have here!).
Thank you so much for reading Ryan! I am so happy that this resonated with you, and that you found some comfort in knowing you’re not alone in this multi-hyphenate approach!
Great post, Maddy! And thanks for linking the other articles, as I’m always looking for other multi-hyphenates to follow / connect with!
I, too, am multi-passionate, and have tried on MANY ideas, throughout the years (my journey, thus far: https://open.substack.com/pub/jscreative/p/how-do-you-choose-a-path ), finally landing on a combination of Brand Strategy (for multi-passionates!) and Infopreneurship (creating lots of digital downloads).
You’re right in what you said in another comment… it’s all about experimenting to find what works best for YOU!
As a fellow multi-hyphenate, I absolutely get how you feel! I started my journey as one after a retirement from a 23 year career in policing. I had this golden ticket to turning one of my many creative passions into something but had no idea what I should pursue. So I let my curiosity lead me and boy did I ever try a lot of things! Virtual sourdough classes in the middle of the pandemic, I did florals for a wedding in my dining room, I created a huge graze table that fed over 250 people, I helped friends host a culinary trip at a Chateau in Bordeau France, I hosted creative workshops…I think you get the picture! And then out of nowhere I landed on what eventually became my dream job. While styling a photoshoot for a magazine I was being featured in, an interior designer asked if I would come help with her interior portfolio shoots. I didn’t even know the title for this job but I instantly knew it was my dream job! Fast forward a year and a half or so later and I have been loving styling photo shoots for a number of interior design projects. It was a great culmination of all that I love. Sometimes you just have to follow your heart and you never know where it might lead you!
I love this Lilliane! Thanks so much for sharing❤️ I think you definitely had the right idea to lead with your curiosity and try as many things as possible! I might do a post on it in the future, but I feel like this is where I personally have found myself stuck; getting too much in my head before taking action! Hoping to change that and start trying things/taking steps forward even without knowing where they’ll lead.
Wow, what a magnificent turn of events!! Love this peek into your story, Lilliane.
And I'm so glad I stumbled upon your writing, Maddy! I'm one of your fellow multifaceted folks, so much so that I'm creating my substack around that whole idea ☺️
Here's hoping all the new voices out here can down out the ones about sticking to just one thing!
Hi Jess! That’s awesome to hear. Can’t wait to hear your insights on the topic🙌
I'm so happy that you see yourself in my experience. There are so many of us out there (particular ex founders) who are looking for a career structure that offers the flexibility and freedom, and the ability to build something meaningful, without having to sacrifice everything else in your life. I love that we're on a similar journey! Thank you for sharing this ❤️
Totally agree. Thanks so much for reading along and for always sharing your thoughtful insights!🤍
I love that people are talking about this more! I recently wrote about this as well (my outlook on life as a generalist). It’s nice to read that I’m not the only one and I love that more people are viewing this as a positive! 💕
Thanks for reading Anna! I need to give your recent post a read as well. I’d love to hear your personal perspective on things!
I loved reading about your experience so much and really appreciate the other Substack recommendations!
I have always pursued several projects and interests at the same time. When I was still in university, this was really easy - I had a part-time job at a startup, I volunteered for varying non-profits, I took one or two new sports classes every semester. When I started working, I immediately realized that I was in “trouble.” Having a full-time job and only pursuing other interests as little side hobbies was not gonna work in the long run. Especially as I’m an engineer, this was difficult since my job was taking up much more than 40 hours a week and requiring me to travel and commute to different sites. I started a YouTube channel on the side 3 months after I started working full time which has been the best thing I ever did and helped me “make it” in full time work as long as I did. But I always had the goal of working for myself and allowing myself to pursue multiple things at the same time (which I personally think can be a benefit & strength instead of a disadvantage).
Now I’m in a somewhat similar boat as you. I just lost my job and decided to finally allow myself to try building the kind of career I actually want. I also found Anna’s Substack recently which feels really reassuring and inspiring. Like, I’m not just doing random things. I’m building a portfolio of pursuits! I’m also experimenting with freelance consulting and writing as well as trying to build my YouTube channel into a business.
I would love to read more about your next steps and experiments! ❤️
Hi Anna! Thanks so much for reading along and thoughtfully sharing about your personal journey pursuing a portfolio career! I’m sorry to hear about losing your job, but it sounds like it’s making space for your other pursuits. Overall, I think the word “experimenting” is key here!
Thanks Maddy, that’s exactly how I feel! Really excited to get experimenting :)
This is such beautifully thoughtful piece, Maddy! I'm so inspired by how you're entering this new season with flexibility and self-embracement (is that a word? now it is!) at the core. I love how you wrote: "...and instead will lead with my unique perspective and follow the ideas and projects that light me up." Yes! Thrilled to be mentioned, and to follow along as you go.❣️
Thanks so much for reading along and for your thoughtful response Cate!❤️ Loved the last part of your recent series and the exercises you included as well!
Oh, I'm so happy to hear it!
Thanks so much for the mention Maddy. Best of luck on this new kind of adventure!
Of course! Thank you❤️
Absolutely loved this issue, Maddy! I've always identified as a multi-hyphenate and have been attempting to build a successful portfolio career for the last couple of years. It's been so refreshing to see more talk about them lately. I put The Portfolio Life on my TBR, too! Thanks!
Thanks Kayli! I love how you’ve always embraced your multi-hyphenate self! I feel like the portfolio career route may be a bit more sustainable and fulfilling than my previous go-to strategy which was burning down one business to start another🤣 you’ll have to let me know how your portfolio career journey is going!
You have no idea how much this has resonated with me. Thanks to you, I’ve discovered this (new for me) concept and feel more seen than ever! So so so happy to have stumbled across this post ♥️ will look into every one of your recs!
Hi Rosa! I’m so glad this post made its way to you and that you’ve been introduced to this portfolio approach! I know for me it was such an eye opening and validating experience when I first came across this concept. Good luck to you on your journey!
My daughter will be starting preschool next year, around the same time we will be welcoming baby number two, and I am at a similar crossroads in my career journey. My work has shifted a lot since entering motherhood, and I'm feeling pulled to reevaluate my next steps as I enter a new era of both motherhood and my studio. I love your take on leaning into what you're most passionate about as well as what makes sense for you in this season of life, and creating a portfolio career out of those things. It can be challenging to tune out the noise from professionals or industry leaders, but sometimes it's what necessary to move forward on a path that best suits your unique passions and talents! I'll definitely have to check out more of what the professor you've mentioned has to say on the topic.
Hi Amanda! Thanks so much for reading and sharing your experience🤍 And congrats on your growing family! It’s definitely a challenge to anticipate how life (and career) will change when adding another baby to the family. It’s personally been such a big transition for us! It’s great that you’re recognizing the need to reevaluate and that you’re approaching this new season with an open mind. The unknown and change might be scary, but there’s simultaneously so much excitement and potential in this next season of life and career too!
I love love love this perspective! It's exactly where I have been struggling as well. Such an interesting point on permission as well - I know I'm not looking for permission but it's oddly comforting when I feel like I've gotten it (which I have here!).
Thank you so much for reading Ryan! I am so happy that this resonated with you, and that you found some comfort in knowing you’re not alone in this multi-hyphenate approach!
Loved these observations! Very relatable, curious to follow your journey!
Thank you for reading along Auste!
Great post, Maddy! And thanks for linking the other articles, as I’m always looking for other multi-hyphenates to follow / connect with!
I, too, am multi-passionate, and have tried on MANY ideas, throughout the years (my journey, thus far: https://open.substack.com/pub/jscreative/p/how-do-you-choose-a-path ), finally landing on a combination of Brand Strategy (for multi-passionates!) and Infopreneurship (creating lots of digital downloads).
You’re right in what you said in another comment… it’s all about experimenting to find what works best for YOU!