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14 June 2010

Comments

Kiwikungfu

Solid gold, I'm a fan of Jim's points here. The multiple revenue stream model is sustainable, and allows people to avoid CYA decisions and be more present in what they choose to align themselves with. This is also an argument for savings, living below our means, and avoid waste in our households. But more to Jim's business oriented points, aligned well with "Real Option Theory" and weighing the cost in options lost versus the gains, helps make a more informed decision. Cheers!

Barrie Hopson

I am somewhat biased as I have just written a book on portfolio careers, “And What Do You Do?: 10 Steps to Creating a Portfolio Career”, A&C Black. What my co-author, Katie Ledger and I have found from interviewing a large selection of portfolio workers is that hardly any would even consider returning to what I call a single track career. They actually report feeling more secure in a recession as they are not reliant on only one job. Attitudes towards this growing phenomenon amongst employers are proving fascinating. Even the CBI in a recent report say that our concepts of work and employment are going to have to change with organisations relying more on a small core workforce supplemented by an army of temporary or project workers. Portfolio workers typically are self motivated, self starters and reliable. They have to be as they will not survive unless they are excellent time managers and organisers. They will be increasingly attractive as employees. We are just beginning a programme of interviewing a wide range of employers to check out their attitudes to this growing group of workers. We reckon that there are already over a million of us. Yes – we are portfolio workers too! Follow our project on www.portfoliocareers.net

Ed Vielmetti

Jim -

One of the things that's damaging to a portfolio career that anyone planning one needs to account for is the presence of non-disclosure and (especially) non-compete clauses in contracts. Both get in the way of building equity in yourself. This is particularly tricky for people who are in work-for-hire situations and then suddenly find their employer wanting to do a grab for whatever skills they themselves brought to the table.

been there,

Ed

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