Become A Multi-Hyphenate (A What?!)
A what?
A multi-hyphenate. It’s nothing to do with punctuation and is a lot more colourful than it sounds.
A multi-hyphenate, aka a slashie, career chameleon and portfolio careerist, is someone with several strings to their career bow. Instead of having just one career, they split their time between different professions and passions. They might have a nine-to-five job in nursing and an online store selling vintage homewares on the side. Or work as a marketing director three days a week and a freelance graphic designer the other two. Or be a full-time accountant who teaches yoga on the weekend and also makes and sells knitwear.
Being an MH is all about creating a life around the things which bring you joy and meaning.
I’m an MH. I’m a mum, children’s author and entrepreneur. And one day, when I’m done looking after my little people, I have dreams of becoming a pattern designer, opening an animal sanctuary and adding one or two other strings.
How and why did you become a multi-hyphenate?
In a messy, roundabout way with lots of twists and wrong turns! Growing up, I totally bought into the message from teachers and career advisors/leaflets/tests that the golden prize for working hard at school and university was a nine-to-five job which would fill my days, earn me a living and be fulfilling, especially as I moved up the ladder. And in my twenties, I landed sought-after roles in advertising and at tech start-ups. But I felt miserable and unfulfilled - like I wasn’t being or expressing myself.
I realised that what was actually making me happy were the things I was doing in my spare time – creative writing, exploring wellbeing through food and fitness and getting outdoors whenever I could. So I started exploring and developing some passion projects, two of which grew legs and have become Rainbowtarian and my children’s books! Even though it has its crazy moments, becoming a mum and wanting to be hands-on with my children without giving up my passions and sacrificing my sense of self only made me embrace being an MH more.
But one job is more than enough, why on earth would you or I want another one?!
Because it’s a golden ticket to a colourful and fulfilled Rainbowtarian life. Let me explain.
The sheer fun of it. For someone like me who gets bored easily and loves trying new things and rising to new challenges, being tied to one job and doing the same thing day after day is a form of slow torture. I relish the fun and hat-swapping that comes with being an MH. No two days are ever the same and each string in my bow takes me on different adventures. One minute I’ll be on the phone with my illustrator and the next I’ll be giving a talk to a roomful of people. I’m driven by a profound sense that there are so many amazing experiences to be had in life and we should get out there and grab them by the horns, not limit and box ourselves in to one calling. I’m intrigued and excited to discover where life can take me and all the possible versions of myself I can become.
The incredible sense of fulfilment. Having my finger in several pies means I get to be wholly me - to express and explore different strands of myself. Writing my children’s books scratches my creative itch and channels my entrepreneurial spirit whilst doing Rainbowtarian indulges my passion for wellbeing and satisfies my desire to make a difference and bring something new to the world. Like anyone, I’m a multi-dimensional creature with lots of interests, hobbies, skills and values that I hold dear. No single job can be an outlet for them all (and in fact, work in general can’t and shouldn’t be either – that’s what family, friends and other areas of life are for) but being an MH lets me nurture the ones that matter most. Given how much of my life I’m going to dedicate to work, I want it to be meaningful and nourish my soul.
The freedom to live life on my terms. Being an MH speaks to the free spirit in me – the one that bends rules and is very bad at being told what to do! I love shaping my life according to my unique passions and being master of my own time; I’m free to set my own pace and dial my projects up or down depending on the ebb and flow of family life. As someone who wants to pursue my passions and be a hands-on Mum, this is the closest I can get to having it all. I feel very lucky to be living at a time when technology gives us so much flexibility.
The creative outlet. Being an MH is one of the main ways I channel my creativity. I have tons of creative energy and if I don’t use it up during the day, I know about it at night when I can’t get to sleep - much like a kid who hasn’t burned off enough steam. It’s not enough for me to be a cog in someone else’s machine and bring their masterpiece to life – I want to create my own and bring a piece of me into the world. Each of my pursuits is a creative outlet in itself and then setting up, shaping and steering them all forwards demands a creative entrepreneurial spirit.
Any downsides to being a slashie?
Being an MH isn’t for everyone, not least anyone happily immersed in their solo profession. It can be hard not making any money initially and having to make sacrifices on that front. A lot comes down to personality type too because the MH life can be full-on; you’re always juggling several balls so it can be hard to switch off and stop the line between your personal and professional life getting blurred. I often find myself burning the midnight oil which I don’t mind - I’m a total night owl, it’s amazing when everyone is tucked up and the house is quiet! - but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. So long as I set strong boundaries – like not answering emails after 5pm – and carve out time for my wellbeing (getting out to eat, going for a run etc), I thrive on this way of life.
What tips would you give to someone starting out?
Decide what your dream life looks like. The point of being an MH is to live life on your terms, spending your days doing what you love. If you want to work part-time and run a soup kitchen the rest of the week, do it. If you want to work for six months to fund your travels the other half of the year, go for it. Listen to your gut and don’t be swayed by or compare yourself to others – they have their path and you have your very unique one.
Have the courage of your conviction. Becoming an MH takes guts. You’re veering off the traditional track into uncharted waters and defying the expectations of your parents, friends, society. But don’t let fear or self-doubt stand in your way. Stay focused and aim to take one little step forwards every day – make a phone call, register the domain for your start-up, do twenty minutes of research. Each brick in the wall will build your confidence and motivate you to keep going.
Get to work. Start by doing your research. Learn from others who have turned similar passions into a side project or profession. Read their blogs, find out where and how they’re selling their products/services and to whom, join relevant social media groups, speak to people. Do you need to take a course to brush up on rusty skills or fill in gaps? Is there any equipment you need? Are there legal boxes you need to tick? The deeper you delve in, the more you’ll get a sense of direction.
Speak to people. Get out there and talk about your idea to anyone who will listen. Everyone can help you along your way, even in some small way – an opinion, a tidbit of information, an angle you hadn’t considered. Family and friends will want to see you succeed and spur you on with ideas, encouragement, feedback (make sure it’s honest), the details of helpful contacts. And look up people you may have lost touch with like old schoolmates and ex-colleagues – they may be doing jobs which, or have connections who, can help.
Be realistic. Reinventing your career won’t happen overnight. Whether you want to monetise your passion for interior design, become a social media consultant or turn your homemade jam into a business, it’ll take time for the pieces of your new life to fall into place and make steady money, especially if you have your hands full with young children and/or a busy job. Be patient. Don’t quit your job and cut off your income too early on; use the stability to explore and make plans in your own time.