Getting a side gig can be beneficial to your life in so many ways.
It can be of particular benefit for those who feel like they are in a bad place in their career and would like to be doing something different.
Depending on the survey you look at, as many as 70% of workers dislike their jobs today. That’s a huge percentage!
I was in that boat not too long ago. More than I hated my job, I despised the downward spiral my career was in. Then, I started a side gig, and it was a huge game changer for me. My side gig eventually turned into my day job doing something I love.
Here are my top five reasons why I believe almost everyone working a regular 9-5 job should consider getting a side gig.
#1. Job stability is not what it once was.
A side gig gives you something to fall back on. According to Metlife‘s annual employee benefits trend survey, 51% of employees are extremely concerned about job security.
With layoffs as common as they are these days, without a moment’s notice, you can be let go for a multitude of reasons. A side gig can help provide you with income in the interim and bridge the gap to new employment opportunities.
#2. Develop the skills you need to advance your career.
“The biggest mistake that you can make is to believe that you are working for somebody else. Job security is gone. The driving force of a career must come from the individual. Remember: Jobs are owned by the company, you own your career!”- Earl Nightingale.
Jobs and careers are completely different beasts. My career kept getting stalled by my job. In other words, I got passed over for promotions. Then, I hit a wall in my position. I stopped learning and developing new skills. I needed a way to break out of the mold that was being cast around me.
To continue reading click on over to my column on Inc. Magazine
