Sarahism™ : The Successful Side Hustle

“You’ve Got Six Sides… Now Roll the Dice”: The Key to the Successful Side Hustle.

Has anyone ever stop to look at a passion fruit? Study what it’s formed of?  Feels like a bit of a silly question, I know.  After all, its primary purpose is to be eaten, or juiced, but indulge me for a minute.  A typical passion fruit is dark purple, almost bruised to black in its exterior, and hard to the touch, but once you tap, tap, tap inside that shell, oooo…  A rich, exquisite aroma is released, with the overflow of seeds inside each encased within a sun-rich golden web. We are like that.  Yes, you, reading this, and me, writing this, are epitomes of a passion fruit.  Why?  Because, under the hard exterior of life, lessons and the ‘logistics of society’ lies love.  In context, within each and every person living on this earth lies a passion passions, just waiting to burst out.

I come to you writing this article as I embark on a new ‘chapter’ ( I use the term loosely as it’s something that always been in my life) which I have fondly named PFW.  Now, although I won’t indulge in what PFW stands for just yet (a lady must have some secrets *winks*) what I won’t keep hidden is that it is a concept to sharpen my exploration of what I love.  Whether you know me, wish to or not, one thing you will gather if we were to have an initial conversation is: 

1. I talk like a chat show host on speed

2. I experiment with different styles like the wind blows through the trees

& if we really get on

3. At least once, we are going to share the experience that is known as the “Sky-High-Picture-With-a-SarahPout^©”

Having concluded that this is how God made me, and I will shimmy into every situation with enthusiasm in buckets and spades, I figured “Why not turn this unashamed adoration of my quirks into something more tangible?”.   Thus, GGB was conceived and born, every lens, word and fabric of her.  To say I have analysed, over analysed and scenario-built every possible issue I could face with this is an understatement; the fear used to get my heart racing immeasurably.  Effectively, I am starting a collation of pieces on my blog, covering many avenues and places, like I have never been burdened with the tag ‘com-pli-ca-ted’ numerous times;  this will to help shake that off (!)  But then I remembered something; I love style but I never claimed to be Anna, writing courses through my veins but Moira trail-blazed and photography is within my aura but Annie evoked a new art form (Wintour, Stewart and Leibovitz respectively).  I don’t seek this as a career path; all I wish is to emerge myself into these forms of expressions that excite me…and yes, I can be greedy with it.  In saying that, following to my throwing every excuse in the book about ‘not wanting to turn professional’ at my photographer friend during her critical analysis of my recent shoot (more on that soon), I have to admit that I am human.  I would love the opportunity to style an editorial shoot, write for a national newspaper or shadow an amazing photographer.  It may not be my chosen choice of occupation but, simply put, I can’t just hone my extra-curricular passions into something tangible without setting a goal beyond the comfort of my blog.  After all, emotions die through fear of the word ‘try’.

My sudden burst of motivation started me thinking about the development of the 20-something year old and, in particular, that age-old tradition:  The Side Hustle.  To create more austerity people refer to as ‘freelance work’ or ‘diversified portfolio of income’[1] but, my dears.. Come. On. We all know that, really, it’s just another wily way to add a hefty branch to the proverbial money tree, even for those who don’t conform to the ‘9 to 5’ requirements.  Whilst planning PFW in its earlier stages I was watching the Brits and I could not help but admire artists such as Tinie Tempah and Plan B.  After the initial shock and reluctant transition from ‘Wifey’ to ‘Written In The Stars’ and ‘Charmaine’ to ‘The Recluse’ respectively, there began an underlying understanding for their need to swim in the ocean of musicality in all its freeness rather than to continue keeping just their toes into the pool of one genre, as many believed they should.  More importantly, their fearless walk into the unguaranteed paid off and has allowed them to build on their additional fascinations, bringing further to the forefront a new type of  what I have now identified as ESH – ‘The Eclectic Side Hustle’.

The Eclectic Side Hustle (ESH) can’t even be described as the Side Hustle’s younger, more open sibling; in its entirety the ESH is the enhanced revival of the Side Hustle, deeming the use of the original near obsolete. In an article published by Essence[2], it outlines the ESH’s emerging prominence with celebrities; for example, Brandy owns several lines of weaves and haircare products, Will.I.Am is the Director of Creative Innovation at Intel,  both Kanye West and P. Diddy own restaurants and Swiss Beats is a lecturer and the Producer-In-Residence for New York University.  Even on our own British soil, we have people like presenter Reggie Yates who has a photography canvas collection with wall artistry design house Graham & Brown.  To add further validity to the ESH’s true popularity, recent news has seen Kanye West complete an internship at Fendi to develop his clothing range and Serena Williams train to be a nail technican as part of her development of a nail range with US Company HairTech.  The key to their successes is evident; even at their heightened level of fame these celebrities work hard and push for what really enlivens them, allowing them to productively build on their passions, no matter how much they diverged from their line of work.  Even on a day-to-day level I know people who have studied a language at degree level but also pursuing a trichology qualification (the study of hair loss and hair care treatment) and fashion-orientated career focused with an upstart bakery business, making the ESH a true force to be reckoned with.

Now, please note, the ESH is NOT for everyone. It is not by force that you are studying a perfectly good English degree, which you love, but invest in an ESH doing club promotion because you do a mean Dougie when you’d rather be chilling at home listening to music and watching TV.  Even if you put in ‘work’ hustling the partygoers into going to your event, the development of yourself and your ‘chosen’ ESH won’t be as significant, purely because there is a lack of foundational passion there  - you do it because you can, not because you want to and, honestly, it’ll wind down to a half-life (you know it’s true).  Going back to Tinie Tempah and Plan B; Tinie wishes to pursue a clothing line and nobody can deny that his fashion sense is new urban chic and Plan B wants to develop his directing and acting career and he convinced us all of his characters in both Harry Brown and Adulthood.  As with their music, they would be successful in creating a prosperous ESH because their passion for these things is evident.

So, to conclude, to every person reading this I urge you to chase your ESH, just like I have, if it’s right for you.  It won’t necessary mean you’re the best at first but, in time,* ^disclaimer* the true glory of your passion will shine through.  Just remember if it’s for others then the thin line between passions and posing to create presence has been crossed, but if it’s for you who cares? – just do it.

Wish Me Luck!