This is a guest blog by Hayley Monks about her portfolio career.
I am an associate consultant of Hayley’s company ‘Think Inspire Create’ and invited her to share her story about her portfolio career. Thanks to Hayley for making the time for this.
Biog
Hayley is a highly motivated, professional, passionate, inspirational and energetic individual who sets high standards in all that she does. With a strong commercial acumen combined with creative thinking, she thrives on driving and delivering transformation through strong leadership and by creating effective follow-ship and positive engagement. Combined with agility and a ‘can do’ attitude, she can contribute significantly at every level from strategy to delivery. Having worked in senior executive roles, she understands what ‘good’ looks like. In 2015, she founded Think, Inspire & Create, a people centric training and consultancy company using her experience and capability to lead a hand-picked team who work with businesses across the UK, helping them to optimise their organisation. As an experienced facilitator, Hayley works with leadership teams in organisations that are going through change, helping them to positively work through the change, to develop innovative solutions and refine delivery plans that can transform their business. She is also passionate about people development – believing this is the key to success in organisations and always looks at opportunities to coach new and up-coming talent, as well as continually reflect on her own development and personal growth.
The rest of this blog is in Hayley’s own words.
What are the components of your portfolio career e.g. study, paid freelance work, part time job, volunteering etc.?
- Running my company Think Inspire Create Limited (‘TICL’).
- Founding member of the Women’s Utility Network https://thewun.co.uk/, a not for profit group that support women’s development in the utilities sector.
- Non-exec role for a Utility tech start-up – 1 day per month.
- Public speaker on female leadership.
- Mentoring & Coaching.
How did your portfolio career come about?
Organically! Having left full time corporate work, I was asked to help businesses, to speak and also volunteer. Having had so much personal sponsorship and support myself in my career, I wanted to ‘pass it on’.
How has your portfolio career changed over time?
At first I wanted to ‘yes’ to everything and had the time to do so. After 4 years, I simply can’t do that, I just get too many requests! It’s difficult to choose what to do and where to help – I don’t have a method, I just go on instinct.
When people ask you ‘what do you do?’ – what do you reply?
I run my own business, helping other people.
To what extent did your portfolio career happen by chance/luck and to what extent was it planned?
As above – organically.
What do you most love about having a portfolio career?
Being in control of my time and what I do. I say ‘yes’ to what and when. It’s a sort of freedom that is liberating!
What are the challenges of having a portfolio career?
Spinning plates! Sometimes my mind can ‘whirl’, as the things I am involved with can be quite diverse.
Who or what helps you to manage your portfolio career?
Being organised helps and technology these days provides excellent aids for expediency. I also have a virtual PA who can help with the things that need to be done, but I don’t need to do myself. I was once told, only do what only YOU can do. I am not the only one who can iron in my house ?!
How do you approach marketing your portfolio career?
Through networking – largely word of mouth but also taking opportunities to put myself in front of the right people. It means doing paid and unpaid work. It’s all about choices.
What advice would you give to someone considering a portfolio career?
Fully understand your purpose for choosing a portfolio career. Is it lifestyle, financial, desire for variety and new learning, to create a future-proof career etc.? You can better plan your approach and choices if you are clear on your purpose for having a portfolio career.
What benefits do portfolio careers bring specifically to women and mothers, rather than to men?
I think this depends on who the primary carer is. A portfolio career can bring flexibility, so if you have children, it can be really useful for either gender.
What 5 tips can you share for people considering a portfolio career?
1 Have a clear purpose
2 Plan
3 Be prepared for it to be a challenge / uncomfortable at times
4 Be patient – it can take time to develop
5 Don’t be afraid to say ‘no’, ‘not yet’, ‘not now’ etc.
More
View Hayley’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-monks-mcicm-grad-4262a817/
Browse the Think Inspire Create web site: https://www.thinkinspireandcreate.co.uk/
Interested in creating a portfolio career for yourself?
E mail Rachel Brushfield for a free 20-minute telephone consultation and to receive your copy of our free report ‘Discover Portfolio Careers’. https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/portfolio/connect/
An event to celebrate International Women’s Day #IWD2020
I will be facilitating an interactive session at the Think Inspire Create event celebrating International Women’s Day, 8am to midday on Friday 6 March 2020 in Cowley Oxford.
Book your early bird ticket now: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/international-womens-day-2020-tickets-90922171663