The Niche Movement’s Leap of Faith series features stories about big life changes and major pivots, focusing on the courage it takes to commit to the leap. This week’s blog features Carmen Vernon’s decision to take the leap before joining The Niche Movement team as Chief Editor. Read on to learn how Carmen utilizes her side hustle to grow professionally and personally.
One year ago, I was stuck. In more ways than one . . .
I did not enjoy my job.
I did not have enough creativity in my life.
And I did not have a meaningful way to grow soft and hard skills outside the confines of rigid client projects at my 9 to 5 job.
*Cue entrance from The Niche Movement last October*
One of my colleagues at work was familiar with The Niche Movement and knew its Founder well. (Shoutout to, Kev, for forming this community!)
Knowing my interest in writing, that colleague saw an opening on The Niche Movement team and forwarded me the newsletter announcement.
Before submitting my resume, I debated whether I wanted to take on an additional project outside of work. Looking back, I’m so glad my initial pros and cons list for this side hustle had significantly more pros than cons.
I took on this side hustle to grow. Originally, I thought I would be growing my digital marketing skill-set, setting me up to transition jobs in DC. In reality, I’ve grown my ability to write and distill real-life experiences into tangible advice that our audience can use in their journey to find a job they love.
You never know where your side hustle will lead, or what your side hustle will teach you. Although the lessons learned might not be what you expect, the journey is worth it.
Start a side hustle for the creative outlet. The connections formed. And the skills gained.
Here are the top three ways my side hustle at The Niche Movement has impacted me over the past year.
Find Your Unique Style
Side hustles give you a more flexible space than your day job. Side hustles are a place for experimentation, not just product experimentation, but professional experimentation.
As a fundraising consultant in my 9 to 5 job, I have to conduct myself in a way that is conducive to company culture. My organization has a particular consulting style . . . from the way we draft emails to the way we structure client meetings, everything is uniform. Our office is a machine, and there is little deviation from the structure.
Now as a highly organized person, I LOVE structure. But when you’re trying to find yourself and your workstyle immediately post-college, it’s nice to leave a little room for experimentation and errors.
My side hustle with The Niche Movement gave me the space to explore my unique style--even during the application and interview process. Check out my first email to The Niche Movement below . . . which has a tone I would never use in client emails.
The email above is the real me--silly, slightly dramatic, quietly over the top--and it feels good to have a professional setting where I can be 100% authentic.
Grow Your Unique Skills
Side hustles give you the opportunity to pursue experiences you wouldn’t normally get to in your day job.
If there’s something you want to learn, strengthen, or become an expert in, use your time outside your 9 to 5 to dig in. Once you grow the skillset, you could pivot a couple of different ways:
Continue to expand the reach and depth of your side hustle
Take your newfound skills and find a new 9 to 5 job that is better aligned with your passions
Go to the next level and flip your side hustle into a full blown business
I won’t be starting a business anytime soon, but I will take my newfound skills to find a career path that is better aligned to my passions.
Discover Your Unique Niche
Side hustles draw on a person's strengths, interests, and available time. It’s the perfect storm to discover your niche. After all, we all have a calling.
With the help of The Niche Movement, I’ve learned that my calling is to work in a helping profession.
On the phone with Kev a few weeks ago, I told him how much I’ve appreciated being a part of The Niche Movement team.
It’s been my first writing job where I haven’t gotten bored.
I attribute that feat to the mission of The Niche Movement.
At the core of every blog post, social media post, and newsletter blast is the mission to help young professionals find the work they love. Our pieces aren’t about publicity. They aren’t about business development. And they aren’t about being the most notable thought leaders in the space.
At the end of the day, we’re here to be a valuable resource for our community. Each piece we write is for the benefit of our community’s professional or personal growth.
So over the course of the last year, I haven’t become an expert digital marketer, but I have learned that I love to be a resource to others. And that’s been the most valuable lesson of them all.
My side hustle gave me the space to reflect and grow. How has your side hustle shaped your life?