A while back, I read a book predicting that the very foundations of the work world would be shaken.

In the future, it suggested, you would be  a free agent, your work would be more project-based, flexible, on your own terms.

This book was published in 1999.

As the loyal company man who knew nothing else, the thought of being my own brand made me uneasy, but the idea of having some control was alluring.

Fast forward to today and lifelong careers in the same company are out, the gig economy is in, in all its forms: free lancing, Influencing, short term contracts…

Tom Peters was right. Work has profoundly changed. And there’s more change to come.

There is nothing permanent except change.

Heraclitus

In normal times,  putting all your eggs in one basket is risky. Loyalty can no longer be expected. It’s all about the bottom line. Employees are just a number.

It’s even more so with the current all round economic uncertainty.

The living costs crisis, the interest rates hikes, inflation make life hard for both businesses and individuals.

That translates into wages stagnation, even pay cuts and massive lay offs.

Any alternative to waiting until it’s our time to get chopped?

That’s where side hustles come in.

If you can spend 8 hours building someone else’s dream, you can spend 1 hour building your own.

Dan Koe

Starting a side hustle often requires little to no upfront capital.  Maybe you have experimented with this:
Online surveys, market research gigs, food delivery…

Here’s my favourite resource of the moment regarding side hustles.

These are all possible ways to supplement  your income or act as a back up.

In addition, there are many tools available that allow you to start something closer to your heart, that you can see yourself doing long term.

If you have a creative passion or hobby, now is the time to get serious about turning it into a hustle.

Whether it’s making jewelry, painting, writing, graphic design, video production, artwork, there is a market out there for almost anything.

By leveraging the power of social media and online marketplaces, you can reach a global audience with your creations.

Another reason why now is the perfect time is that there are countless AI tools coming available that can help you.

I have been using Chat GPT to help my writing . I have used Dall.e and Leonardo. AI to come up with Art covers for my music. I intend to create music videos with AI when the technology has improved enough for what I have in mind.

My experience is that these applications still need improvement but they are catching up fast.

Whatever your art, or area of expertise, chances are there is an AI application out there that is about to or is already able to make your tasks easier. Here’s a resource to check for yourself .

Ask yourself:

Can you be an early adopter or would you rather wait until the bulk of the issues have been ironed out before you explore the possibilities out there?

I’m not going to dish out a false dichotomy here and suggest that you will be automatically left behind if you don’t jump on the band wagon early. It’s a risk, either way.

You do you.

However, it seems AI is here to stay. The genie is out the bottle. Why not make your wish?

What if it’s your time to create your dream life?

Reflect, Redefine, Rise!

R