5 Reasons Why Side Jobs Rule
Ever since 2009, I’ve held a side job. (Back then, I applied to (and got accepted) to a tutoring company here in LA and have steadily worked since then (whether I had a solid corporate job or not)).
I know that the average American probably feels overworked with one job. But I take more of a real estate metaphor here; in a home plan, if traditional work is a full bathroom, side work is like a half-bath. It requires less work, so it takes up less space in your brain. If you get side work that's working in your strengths (and invigorates you), then it doesn't feel like work at all.
That being said, here are five benefits of side jobs:
Side jobs diversify your income streams. Proverbial investment advice dictates that one should diversify assets for maximum return. Why doesn't anyone say anything about diversifying income streams? Through experience, I've found that if one stream goes down (due to a layoff or what-have-you), there's always a back-up.
Side jobs diversify your skills. At any given job, you’ll have a set amount of roles and responsibilities. Why not learn something new by trying something new? My ten years of tutoring DEFINITELY influenced my choice to become a coach because I found that I worked best with helping people one-on-one AND when it came time to peer coach in coaching school, I wasn’t scared. (When you’re used to meeting strangers in their homes to help them boost their SAT/ACT scores, you gain a bit of fearlessness).
Side jobs increase your contacts and circle of friends. So the tutoring company I have worked for? Their holiday parties are kind of off the chain. Part of the reason why I’ve stuck around so long is because I’ve met new friends and acquaintances who have similar backgrounds and experiences.
Side jobs help you reach your financial goals faster. I could not have paid down $80K worth of student loan debt if i hadn’t tutored so much (and don’t worry, the irony of tutoring to pay down loans is not lost on me). I also wouldn’t have been able to build up a fully-funded emergency fund or help pay for my father’s end of life expenses.
If you don’t like a side job, you can always quit. You can make your side job as big or as little as you want. If you find that it’s not serving your needs, getting out of one is usually easier than, say, quitting a full-time job.