Flipping houses or rental properties. Cryptos and day trading. Working multiple jobs, running a social media platform, launching a business. It's a daily conversation I see and hear of a generation infatuated with being their own boss, passive revenue streams, and retiring by age 40 or 50. It's also a generation that while has the most information at their fingertips, is one of the most blind and naive because of how deceiving the news and social media can portray reality.
I wanted to share an honest story of how I've tripled my income in seven years-no Ponzi schemes or side hustles.
It's called investing in my career. You see, when others were worried about all those other things, I was spending extra hours at work asking for development opportunities and pursuing additional education and certifications-all which the company paid for. I didn't have a mentor at first but I sure wasn't shy asking successful colleagues for help (a topic I'll write separately on for how to ask better questions in networking sessions). I identified broken windows and raised solutions. Then put in the time to bring the solution to life-all while digging in to do my current job the absolute best I could.
This earned me my first promotion in six months in the company. A year later, I received my second. In seven years, I've been promoted four times all which included salary increases and 401(k) increases-a little future vehicle folks forget often to factor in. I don't take for granted I work for a great company with upward mobility-but I was intentional when I choose them from the gate. I also don't take for granted the bosses I've had. All who invested their time to give me meaningful feedback, help connect me, and consistently gave me credit for my work at higher levels. That hard work also meant sacrifices. Longer hours which meant less time on other things like friends during a work week.
The uncomfortable feeling I have writing this on such a personal journey that is counter to the culture created is worth it-the toxic culture created of side hustles and overnight entrepreneurs scare me. Don't get me wrong--they are important or we wouldn't have Amazon, Spanx, some of the local restaurants I most love, and I could go on but recognizing those are often the rare not the norm.
I'm not trying to say you shouldn't pursue your dream-I just want to challenge you to ask if your dream is the right one. My dream isn't just financial stability and work fulfillment-it's also work/life balance, support if I need time away, and stability that if in unexpected times I won't be laid off-all which contribute to my positive mental health.
So I ask you: Is that side hustle worth the hassle? Perhaps alternatively, you can find that same fulfillment by choosing the right company and career that could give the same motivations you're craving while having stability and balance.
