STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

i had no idea they had a "name" for this! the only thing that might be troubling is dealing with health insurance and other benefits that come with working full time for one employer.

well it's good to know that a "portfolio career" exists as an option for you. especially when you do marry your bf with excellent insurance benefits. in the mean time you could make the leap and just spring for insurance.

i am actually a "portfolio career" employee right now and loving it. just this afternoon i recieved an offer to add "stylist" to my list of job titles. i've been able to branch out into so many areas that i used to not have time for as a full time employee.

thanks for posting this article. i think it's inspirational.

NB, i apologize this is way too long...

all of my new "careers" have branched out from my former full-time gig through a little networking, a little luck and a ton of patience. i quit my full time job about two years not knowing what my future held career-wise (i was 8 months pregnant and had had enough 14 hour days so i didn't really care what the future held career-wise at the time). 6 months later i started freelancing for my former employer and have been on and off ever since. i have really good relationships with much of the senior staff over there and i recently told them that i had decided to hang it up as an art director, which is what they had been hiring me for but also mentioned that i was interested in art consulting and styling. i've had two offers within a week... one for each type of work. i did this rather strategically as i knew that they seriously might hire me if i mentioned that i was interested. i went out on a limb. that one might be tough to pull advice from only because i am in tight with the staff, so a lot of it was based on past working relationships. i am going a little out of my comfort zone with the styling thing, but they're putting their faith in me... so maybe that's something to think about... is there anyone you could drop a little hint to? a local boutique owner? maybe start as a volunteer at an arts organization and network a bit? maybe you already have some connections... start there and mention your interests. you never know... but that's where the patience part comes in. i have been fortunate enough to have the time to let the pieces fall into place for me. i've been at home for the past 2+ years so that i can be with my son and i would freelance when gigs come up. work is not steady by any means, but we have my husband's income to fall back on so i don't need to be working every week or even every month. i've also been working on a little side-business of my own designing stationary/cards/journals etc. so it's really turned into a juggling act. i like my life this way however, so this type of crazy unsteadyness suits me.

i hope this helps you in some small way. even if it just encourages you to try it. but if you have any other questions feel free to PM me so that i'm not clogging up valuable stylethread forum space with my blather.