This is a three-part guest blog by Stephen Poole for Energise, The Talent Liberation Company. This is part 2
Biog
Stephen Poole is a self-employed, award-winning values driven Project Management and Learning & Development professional delivering solutions with passion, drive and with a talent for bringing people together to build relationships. He uses a blend of empathy, creativity and customer focus to deliver results. He possesses a substantial delivery track record in the international trade and development, UK logistics, not for profit sectors and the UK Civil Service. He has delivered in complex, high profile and politically sensitive roles and programmes directly contributing to; London bidding for and winning the 2012 Olympics, the rebuilding of Wembley Stadium, Social Care Learning & Development operations and building capacity in Governments overseas. Engaging with ease and diplomacy with all stakeholders, the many roles undertaken have directly supported members of the public, Top Civil Servants, Cabinet Ministers, Senior Business representatives and Governments across the world. Committed to delivering sustainable outcomes, Stephen began building a portfolio career in the Summer of 2016.
Read part 1:
How has your portfolio career changed over time?
My first reaction to this question was yes it has changed, but then I changed my mind. It has always been governed firstly by my values – doing what I love and loving what I do, but secondly by not being prescriptive about what I do as long as it met the first (and I could afford to live). That remains my strategy.
I left my Learning & Development Manager role within a year to focus on International Development work in 2017. I began to learn that the nature of such work could mean a timeline could change – often at a day’s notice, and so securing financial security became important, as an income profile was just a curvy line on a chart not a bank balance. I looked around… I loved cycling and had heard that the new ‘gig’ economy was creating opportunities to become self-employed, to work when I wanted, how much I wanted. So I signed up in 2017 and get paid to cycle about 200 miles a week! No gym subscription for me! My Postman role too came about because of signing up to be a Christmas casual in 2018 – a way of life that looks for those little opportunities to create an income stream by doing something I knew I would enjoy.
When people ask you ‘what do you do?’ – what do you reply?
‘A bit of this and a bit of that’. If I am being serious, I will say I support overseas Civil Servants by helping them to learn from my own experience as a Civil Servant, feed local people and most recently have added – ensure they get their post each day! It all depends on who I am talking to.
To what extent did your portfolio career happen by chance/luck and to what extent was it planned?
I took me some time to build the confidence to move from direct employment to self-employment. During my coaching, I had identified that the latter was the place I needed to be happy. The opportunity, when it came, was by chance – it started with a conversation with a great friend who worked in International Development. She was very supportive, and I still work with her today. As those opportunities played out and the nature of how they come about and evolve has taught me the importance of looking and planning 3 – 6 months ahead.
What do you most love about having a portfolio career?
Doing work I really enjoy, choosing what to do and just having control over that. I earn less than my previous career, but I am happier, not stressed, never get that ‘Monday morning feeling’ and feel a sense of delivering against my values!
What are the challenges of having a portfolio career?
The life of an L&D contractor is somewhat uncertain – dates change, the nature of the opportunity changes so keeping an eye on my financial security is important. In looking ahead, there could be a lot of work / investment that is needed to land a contract, but also it is important to invest time in continual professional development (CPD). Building and striking this balance of earning/learning and investment of time to secure paid work is my biggest challenge.
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View Stephen Poole’s LinkedIn profile:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stpoole/
Find out common times in a career when people choose a portfolio career: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/when/
Contact Rachel Brushfield for a no-obligation chat about creating, marketing and managing your portfolio career: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/portfolio/connect/