Jobs, Work and Side Hustles
By: Nemo Kimani
Tags: Work, Side Hustle, Jobs, Purpose Driven Life, Decision Making

“I have “x” amount of money. Please advise what kind of side hustle I can start”.

You see this statement on social media a lot.

Which begs the question, are employees getting less than they bargained for, or it’s a deep-rooted desire to move from a job to work?

Let’s analyze, shall we? But just before a couple of questions;

How much time if any, do you spend fantasizing you were doing something different, or you were somewhere else other than your desk?

When was the last time you felt challenged by your daily duties?

How much time do you spend discussing how your boss should do things differently?

When was the last time you gave an idea to improve performance even just your own?

How often do you look at the clock wishing it was 5 pm?

The “Friday feeling” -TGIF-, when does it check-in for you?

You know those long holidays. Especially the long weekend ones. How often do you wish they would come?

Now, not to say that these questions automatically call for resignation or looking for that side hustle.

They are a reflection of an underlying conflict.

A job will make you feel all the above. Why? Cause the driving factor is to get paid and meet the never-ending vicious cycle of obligations.

It’s a mental prison — no other added value. The only thing binding both parties is a piece of paper.

That place you go to, and if you miss for a week, they are already thinking of a replacement. That ladies and gentlemen is a job. Look at it this way; a job is what you do for someone else with your time in exchange for money or a salary as they call it.

This compensation you get is mostly a hindrance to your full potential.

On the other hand, work will make you give up everything, including food(you need the strength) to make it succeed.

Work aligns with your purpose.

It gives you a moral obligation — which is the binding contract. It’s an agreement with yourself.

That activity that you would do 24/7, 12 Months a year and still want some more months to see it withstanding the waves and tides.

Work will make you think beyond your location, time, associations but most importantly, beyond yourself.

Work will make you appreciate a one shilling profit cause you worked, strategized and found a way of multiplying your input.

See, if you wake up every morning and the first thought is ”when will this day end” you need to look for work.

That force from within that pushes you to limits you never thought you had. Yes, early raisers are gold.

The thing you can talk about with anyone, anytime wherever without the fear of being judged or looking silly.

The one that pushes you to climb the mountain alone.

The thing that occurs naturally to you.

So before you venture into that side hustle, look at your current employment affairs.

Analyze why you feel the need to start something else.

Only then will you be sure if it’s the right thing to do.

No business can sail through its initial stages without the owner being around or at least none you’ve seen.

It’s not just opening shop and bam! Things run on their own.

You see all those decisions you were discussing with your colleagues, yes those; you will make them even in your side hustle.

Simply Put

Do a personal audit before you deep yourself and hard-earned money into murky waters with no return.

The heavens forbid you to acquire a loan in the name of a side hustle.

The best side hustle is your work because you eventually leave your job for it.

It gives satisfaction and no time to ask around. Why? Deep down, you know it’s what you want and needs to be doing.