The Career Connection Blog

Moonlight Isn’t Necessarily At Night

Turn your hobby into your next job. Sound like a far-fetched idea? What else can you be doing to earn a few extra bucks? An interesting FB comment the other day from Barbara Winter - getting you to think about how you made money 10 years ago, your income earning now and in the future. Barbara says, “it’s time to add to the one revenue model.” A model that you’ve probably had for a life time! I definitely agree… it’s not only time to consider… it’s time to add it NOW!

Seth Godin had an interesting Blog post as well about the changes we are facing – “The forever recession.” I always said, “change is good, and with change we shape our future.” With all the shift and chaos going on, start getting the coffee percolating (if you don’t mind my metaphor).

Are you part of the Core Workforce? Do you work for one company? Are you employed; unemployed; under-employed? Regardless of your income, you probably want to make some more money… everybody does! And in this tight economy, making a few extra bucks helps out in the long run. Who does it help? You, your family, and those who buy your products or services. It helps a long list of people you are not aware of – including the suppliers of your products and services you use as a result of extra income. It stimulates the economy as well – surprisingly! If you only have one source of income from an employer, it’s time to join the ranks of thousands who moonlight. Part time gigs are now socially acceptable. Moonlight jobs supplement your life and your pocket. Here are just a few who do and have multiple streams of income as a result:

Chris –works for the USPS for the last 15 years and moonlights painting houses on his days off. Gets jobs through referrals and whoever he paints for knows he’s only working on certain days.

Kerri – has a business boarding horses on her property. And walks dogs throughout the day (and around the horse caring schedule).

Dad (now deceased) – ran a dry cleaning business during the week and played music on the weekends (his entire life).

Flora – substitute teacher and sells rare and antique books online.

My business covers coaching, resume writing and contract work (all at different times of the year using the ebb and flow model). From October to December, I sell jewelry and some of my art.

The list is endless, and the stories are plenty. Ask around and you will find people moonlight, work PT, have a side business, work on the side…. Or whatever other term you want to call it.

Working FT and PT has been the way of the world for years, to fill in the gaps, add a little cash to the kitty, pay off bills or save up for a big expense. Now, we are in a world where it is time to join the ranks and you too have something you are doing – on the side that pays you some kind of income. In her book, “Making A Living Without A Job,” author Barbara Winter talks about Multiple Profit Centers. She not only talks about having them, she gives you suggestions on how to build them. I strongly urge you to start taking a look at junk you need to clear out. Sell it on Ebay, or have someone do it for you (and you still get a percentage); take unwanted items to recycle shops – ultimately for cash; teach a class, sell jewelry; baby sit or dog walk… The holidays are coming and you could bake a few pies and sell them… oh! The list is endless as Barbara points out in her book.

The world has changed and the core workforce is shrinking quickly (along with the benefits of working FT for one employer). So, start looking at cash builders. You may add $100, $1,000 or $10,000 to your pocket. In the end, it’s a PT job with a pretty good hourly rate. Find what you are passionate about and turn it into your next job. Or, consider taking your hobby and turning it into cash. Remember, hauling trash out of someone’s basement into your truck can add a few bucks to your pocket and a feeling of relief to the one with the basement.

Start thinking and if you are at a total loss, read Barbara Winter’s book. She sparks quite a few ideas. Then get moving, because all of this doesn’t mean anything unless you take action!

In the Spirit of Love and Light

Rosemary Augustine - Author and Career Coach

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