Ask the expert: Is a portfolio career suitable for me?

For some people, one job title is never enough. Instead of climbing a single career ladder, they build a portfolio career: juggling multiple professional roles and different types of income streams.

For me, three years in full-time roles brought on cabin fever. I’m someone who values flexibility over who I work with and what I charge, so I left and started my portfolio career. Today, I’m a theatre performer, content creator, drama teacher and, newest to the list, a content creator manager. Through my agency Angmore Media, I also coach other creators and female founders. These roles grew organically from my background in theatre and my social media presence.

Three years on, here are the three skills I believe every woman needs to pursue a portfolio career.

Be financially saavy

Many assume a portfolio career means an unstable life, because income doesn’t land on the same day every month. It doesn’t have to be that way. The key is to know well ahead exactly when each payment from each pursuit is due. That awareness makes financial planning possible.

I never assume every month will look the same – some months are low and others high. Instead, I make sure that I can always cover rent and bills, save, and contribute to my CPF.

Don’t be afraid to negotiate payment terms either. If a client offers 60 or 90 days, for example, ask for 50 per cent upfront, or propose 30 days if that is your standard.

Networking is key

Treat your network as your most valuable asset. You will be surprised at how many opportunities come your way just because you ran into somebody at a bar. Case in point: My recent move into creator management began with a coffee chat. My client needed something, I saw that I could help her with it, and then it happened.

Networking is your biggest asset in a portfolio career, because work comes from several directions rather than a single employer. These relationships are often where the next gig, client or collaboration begins. That means showing up to networking events, even when it’s the last thing you feel like doing.

Manage your time

Getting more jobs doesn’t always mean more success. I learnt this the hard way, back when I said yes to everything, even playing a mad hatter at a dinner party, serving drinks until 2am, and blowing my pay cheque on the cab home. Now, every job I take on has to align with my goals and teach me something. If there’s no room for me to grow, I say no.

Just as important is setting boundaries on your time. Last year, I nearly burnt out working weekends and late into the night. This year, I gave myself a full-time job schedule, with fixed hours and blocks of time for specific tasks. I also limit myself to three types of tasks a day. For instance, admin, content editing and client management on one day, and retainers, pitch prep and filming on another. The system has made my work far more sustainable.

Lastly, give yourself a chance. Nothing happens in the first three to six months, depending on your industry. I gave myself three years to make it work. Now that I’m there, I’m staying, because the career I’ve built is working out in a way that I’m happy with.

Daisy Anne Mitchell (@daizamazze) runs a popular Tiktok income breakdown series, where she shares how much she earns from each stream every month.