Articles, insights, and advice to help direct your portfolio career in the right direction
I will never forget a conversation I had about twelve years ago. I was working in a central booking service, spending my days stuffing envelopes and passing letters between departments. A new starter joined the team. When I asked him about his background, he casually mentioned he had just finished a PhD in genetics or…
Let me repeat that again: Do you want the bag, or do you want to be that guy? In other words, do you want to make more money or do you simply want to be known? We love the idea of being known. It ignites the ego. We see people on social media who seem…
The traditional career ladder is vanishing. In its place is a more dynamic, varied, and potentially liberating landscape: the portfolio career. But what exactly is it, and more importantly, how do you build one successfully without getting overwhelmed? A portfolio career isn’t necessarily about inventing an entirely new professional existence. It is essentially the career…
Introduction There was a time when I genuinely believed that being busy was proof I was doing something right. A former rugby teacher even reinforced it: “You’re most successful when you’re busiest.” At fifteen, that sounded like wisdom. Years later, it felt more like a quiet curse. The calendar is filled. The to-do list grew….
The Illusion of More A few years ago, I fell into a familiar trap, the chase for “more.” You know the one. Everywhere you turn, someone is talking about having seven streams of income, passive earnings, or financial freedom through endless side hustles. It sounded exciting at first. I was running my consultancy, working on…
When you scroll through LinkedIn or Instagram, it feels like everyone’s shouting about their “seven figure journey” or how they’ve “quit their 9 to 5 to live life on their own terms.” It’s tempting, isn’t it? You start asking yourself: Am I doing enough? Should I be building my own thing? Is playing it safe…
Are you still climbing the corporate ladder, wondering why it feels more like a cage than a career? I know that feeling well. At one point, I was burned out in the NHS, frustrated by toxic cultures, and questioning whether I had more to give. I realised the traditional path wasn’t built for everyone, especially…
Let me ask you a tough question: When you look at your career, does it feel like a ladder or a cage? Are you climbing step by step toward something meaningful, or do you feel trapped, waiting for someone to retire or, worse, for life to happen before you can move up? If you’ve ever…
Ever feel like you’re earning more on paper, but somehow your bank account isn’t getting the memo? You’re not alone. In fact, it’s not your imagination; it’s the system. Whether you’re in a traditional 9-5, running a consultancy, or somewhere in-between, many professionals across the UK are feeling the pinch. And it’s not just inflation…
Is this a budget built for working people or a fiscal formula trying to tick boxes? That’s the question I’ve been asking myself ever since Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered the Spring Budget 2025. As someone who operates in the trenches of public sector transformation and supports others in their move into independent consulting, I couldn’t…
Are You Juggling Too Much? Here’s How to Stay in Control Ever felt like you’re spinning too many plates at once? One moment you’re working on a client project, the next you’re mentoring a colleague, and before you know it, you’re squeezing in family time while checking emails. It’s easy to feel like you’re constantly…
Introduction: The Career Question No One’s Asking What if everything you’ve been told about career success is outdated? What if climbing the traditional corporate ladder isn’t the ultimate goal, but rather a limiting framework that boxes you into a version of success defined by someone else? Today, we’re flipping that narrative. As an independent programme…
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