Living Your YouSP™️: Do you have a Portfolio Business? ❤️
I have always been someone who has had quite a big toolbag, always the person wanting to learn and dive deep into things that interest me, find ways to perfect systems and make them efficient.
When I worked in my corporate career, I volunteered to help teams in other departments and always felt restricted when I was politely asked to remain where I was :)
When I started to grow my own companies I found myself wearing all of the hats from marketing, to sales to finance and operations and everything in between. But instead of shrinking from all of these responsibilities I found myself thriving, excited, wanting to do more.
When I started to step out into Consulting to help founders market and grow their businesses, I found myself (possibly slightly annoying) saying “I know!” an awful lot and I did .. I knew, because I have spent 25 years crafting a world of work that I absolutely love and deepening my skillset and broadening my experience via many different modalities.
I soon discovered that I wasn’t alone ..
When I scroll through my Instagram feed, do you know what I see?
Founders building their business, alongside a full time or part time career.
I see parents building a business whilst raising their beautiful families.
I see people with the words “Fractional” in their job titles, trying to build a multi-faceted career.
I watch those in a corporate role, build a business alongside their “day to day”
And here on substack, I see writers selling digital products and coaching services alongside their core income generating work.
We no longer have to prescribe to doing “one thing”
We can use all of our:
Talents
Skills
Life experiences
Passions
Hobbies
to build something that feeds our vitality - and we can earn a pretty good living doing it too.
Enter .. Portfolio Business:
There is a formal name for this vibrant array of “everything you want to do” - It’s called a “Portfolio Business” and it isn’t limited to those in the corporate world, it’s open to everyone 😊
I suspect many of you are building a portfolio business without even realising it.
Does this sound familiar?
I am building a product business alongside my teaching role and I have created a digital course to share my knowledge with more people.
I am a Marketer, a writer, a public speaker and I have a passive income stream too.
I am an Airbnb host in between my nursing career and I make jewellery which I sell on Etsy.
This isn’t a “spray and I hope it hits something” approach, you have stacked what you love, one on top of another and found a way to make it work in your life. It’s YOU telling YOU that you need more, that you want more, that more excites you.
You are your YouSP™️
For so long we have described a portfolio business as “multiple revenue streams” and yes that’s the outcome - to have more money in our lives, so that we can do more of what we love - the discipline itself is a “Portfolio Business” and it isn’t one to be sniffed at.
Portfolio businesses take energy, organisation, focus - powered by your experience, your bumps and bruises, your triumphs and accolades - you are your YouSP™️
I spent SO many years trying to fit into boxes, trying to brand myself as one thing. In the end, I couldn’t do it anymore, I was stopping myself from doing work I love and showing up as who I truly am. Those boxes were trying to bind 90% of my life and work experience into a one size “but doesn’t quite fit” label.
You are your YouSP™️ isn’t just a clever use of words (though I have to admit I have impressed myself with this one 😂) it’s permission to grant yourself the grace to live and express all of you, to tap into everything that you love - if that involves 3 hobbies and 2 businesses and it fuels your vitality and shines your light - then amazing, why not do more of it :)
There has never been an easier time to express your multi-passionate nature. We have more platforms, tools and even coaches than ever to help you start and grow anything your heart desires.
As I end (what I had originally intended to be a short note) I would like to ask you this ..
“What has your life and work experience cost you?”
Think about that for a moment ..
To date my experience has cost me £100,000’s, time away from my family, time away from my daughter, sleep, my health, working on holidays, working on Christmas day and in one chapter of my life - my home.
I owe it to myself to take all of my experiences, all of my knowledge and build a business and career I love - and I have.
Today I have a thriving business and marketing consultancy, I coach founders, I sit on boards as a non-exec, i’m an author and shortly two new businesses are set to flourish. My income enables me to live a life full of experiences and many fun adventures :) I have honoured all of the gifts I have been given by tapping into everything that makes up me unapologetically 😊
I want that for you too …
Much Love
Effie ❤️
When your ready here are a few ways I can help:
You are your YouSP™️ Coaching: One 2 One Business coaching sessions to help you build a sustainable portfolio career which uses all of your talents and skills.
Business & Marketing Support: Tap into my Marketing superpower to help you grow your business and thrive in your chosen market.