The Nerdist Way_ How to Reach the Next Level (In Real Life) - Chris Hardwick [83]
CHARACTERCIZE
Are you currently working on something you wish you had said no to?
Write down the pain of the project to remind you to be more mindful of what you agree to next time.
BUILD YOUR WORKFOLIO
Diversify!” That’s what investment people always tell us. I think. I don’t hang out with a lot of investment people. No particular reason. I’m sure they’re all friendly and smell nice. The reasons for diversifying your stock portfolio are pretty obvious. It’s the ol’ “Don’t throw all of your eggs in one basket” idea. It makes sense (unless you’re literally a farmer with a basket fetish who strips nude while placing single eggs into fifty baskets—that is weird). Diversification makes sense and is a principle that should be applied to our work life. I firmly believe, especially in today’s financial climate, it is IMPERATIVE to spin multiple plates. It’s actually RISKIER to only have one job, as many people found out in the last few years. I’m not suggesting you run out and get a bunch of retail jobs. Instead, design a system and arrange your time so that it fills your soul as well as your bank account.
My work is the patchwork of a bunch of part-time jobs, all sewn together to form a career. My jobs are able to form this unified career because they are all in the same business sector and revolve around one point of view. You certainly don’t have to do that. You could work on a handful of completely disparate jobs, just because they interest you. The trick to this juggling act is that it’s not a juggling act. You’re not valuating each job equally. Instead, you’re creating more of a Tetris board. You have the power to pick and choose the kinds of things you want to do and to decide with each job the level of compromise you’re willing to make.
THE MALL ANALOGY
Despite its superficial facade and food court pizza odor, the American mall is actually a meticulously crafted organism. There are algorithms employed that predict that if, for a baseless example, you buy an ironic T-shirt from Hot Topic, you are likely to want those tiger-faced Ed Hardy Ugg boots as well. In light of this data, those two stores will be placed in close proximity to one another, making the separation of you from your money more facile. This particular example also MATHEMATICALLY proves you are a douche.
The point here is that in order to function smoothly and successfully, a mall has to have a good balance of stores that complement and support each other. This is an EXCELLENT model for your career. When designing your work life/career, try to look at the jobs you have or want as retail categories: large-chain department store, medium-sized shoe depot, and niche specialty shoppe.
DEPARTMENT STORE
This is the financial juggernaut that will anchor your business. It may be the heartless giant that keeps you afloat. You don’t have to love this type of job, but you don’t necessarily have to hate it either. As long as you recognize its role in your life, you might be more tolerant of its existence. Because you take this one for the cash, you should be willing to compromise creatively on it. Also it very well may consume the lion’s share of your time. If it happens to be something that you love as well, then buy yourself a cake with the word “Huzzah!” written on it in red icing.
THE SHOE DEPOT
Shoe stores are usually midrange franchises that appeal to a wide variety of feet. The analogy here is that you need not devote as much time toward this job, and the pay is good but not amazing. If you are lacking a department store in your workscape, combining several shoe depots can help you maintain a comfy living.
NICHE SPECIALTY SHOPPE
The Pipe Store. A kite kiosk. A cart full of ceramic cat faces. These are the SUPERspecific products that represent VERY individual tastes. For your purposes, this is the passion project. A mall can’t survive on these alone, but at least one of these