Why Have A Portfolio Career?

I don’t think I ever really knew what a portfolio careers was.  I worked full time for 24 years and always for one employer.  I remember some years back as a young and keen supervisor encouraging an older (than me) but part time member of staff to apply for a full time position as she was forever running between 2 jobs and would be less stressed and have more money.  She did and was happy thankfully.

Yet here I am – with a stressful life and a portfolio career.  Essentially I have 3 business interests.  I’m financially worse off at the moment and have much more stress.  I also struggle some days to fit everything in.  So why do I do it?

Well actually I’m happier.  I largely choose when to work and when to take time off.  When I’m stressed, I’m stressed because I’m trying to fit a week’s work into 4 days to give myself some well deserved time off and if I want to take a couple of hours out to go and book a holiday I damn well do so.

What’s money anyway?  Well it does serve in paying for holidays, but when I sit down and work it all out, as long as I can fund holidays I don’t need a top of the range car.  As long as I can pay my mortgage I’m happy to shop in budget supermarkets – although I am partial to the odd nice latte in a nice cafe.  Somehow it all kind of works for me and that is what matters.

So what do I do?

1. Well if you’re reading this blog – there is a good chance you’ve already had a look at my website and that tells you all about my coaching business.  I work with personal clients, predominantly ladies who want to figure out in a few short weeks what it took me 5 years to figure – exactly how I wanted to live and work my life.  Sometimes with that there’s some self esteem or confidence work that needs to be done.  Sometimes it’s about having proper goals.
2. I’m a consultant for Neal’s Yard Remedies.  It’s a direct/network marketing business which allows me to work as much or as little as I want to.  It’s about helping people make healthy and ethical choices and feel better on the outside, whilst my coaching helps them inside.  There’s too much to go into right here but check out the website if you want to know more.
3. Then I support my husband with his photography business.  I market my own businesses so it is sensible use of time to market his too.  Although I have been known to occasionally take a camera out.  We specialise in freelance and commercial which covers most things so it’s varied and interesting.

In fact my whole week is varied and interesting as I jump from one thing to the next.  How do I manage?

Well I need to be strict with my diary to make sure there’s time for  everything and learning to juggle is a must but I manage because I have to.

If you want to know more about how Reflections Coaching can help your career,  contact Carolyn on 07714 216388 or email caro@reflectionscoaching.co.uk.

words & pictures copyright Reflections Coaching (2015)