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The Rise of the Gig Guys, Are you in?
“You don’t have any thought how many individuals might require your companies if solely you can muster the arrogance to place your expertise to make use of” – Bernard Kelvin Clive
I’d been up all night time making an attempt to memorize a slew of notes for a mid-semester examination. My eyes had been heavy with sleep at 3 a.m., and my head couldn’t take it any longer. As I contemplated whether or not to go to mattress or go for a stroll to get some recent air, the door flung vast open with a growth! He was scorching and sweaty, and his garments had been soiled with clay from his ceramic work on the Artwork Shed. KKD, my roommate, rushed in and yelled, “chale, now we have to go to city; Asafo Market, Kumasi, this morning at six o’clock and again for early morning lessons at seven o’clock.” “Huh!?, I’m drained!”, I replied.
“Consider me, it’s a superb deal!” he retorted!
When he introduced the information, sleep fled my eyes and my vitality was shortly restored…
The idea of facet gigs and freelancing was extraordinarily widespread amongst college students at KNUST’s Faculty of Artwork & Social Science. Notably within the Rural Artwork Division(IRAI). The course’s progressive and strong nature not solely offers people with educational info to earn diplomas and certificates but additionally prepares them for the world of labor.
The course was difficult and rigorous, requiring college students to review six principal artwork disciplines along with different mandatory semester programs.
Different extracurricular actions can be troublesome to slot in. Maybe for this reason I graduated ‘4 – 0’ no ‘intɛ’ (girlfriend).LOL.
As troublesome because the course was, so was the delight and satisfaction that got here with the facet gigs the place college students get to promote the merchandise they created. We dubbed it ‘comɛ’, after the phrase “industrial.” ‘Man should survive,’ is a standard slogan we chant in the course of the gigs.
A number of of my classmates had been ‘comɛ’ specialists. Sandy Gyimah, typically referred to as Toa, bursted with enthusiasm and flexibility. Toa might promote something, together with the jute ropes used to make Macrame items. (Toa is a serial entrepreneur in the meanwhile.) George Preko was a superb carver and designer; I nonetheless have certainly one of his sculptures at residence (he now operates a inventive promoting company). Saka was a pure entrepreneur who noticed cash virtually in all places. (Saka, now an actual property mogul of Saka Houses). My roommate Kwame Kyere Diabour(KKD) was multitalented and artistic; simply give him an thought and he’ll make it a actuality, be it wooden, clay, or no matter. (Dr. KKD, now a senior lecturer on the College of Schooling, Winneba (UCEW)).
These people had the potential to generate cash proper on campus. I recall KKD touchdown an enormous gig again then, manufacturing quotation plaques for one of many municipal assemblies. That’s why he dragged me to city that morning to acquire some provides for the work.
We had a feast that weekend after we delivered the finished work. Chale, the sensation was gooood!
Later, utilizing my leatherworking expertise, I started making gorgeous backpacks out of ‘tye&dye’ leathers. (The primary of its kind on campus.) I bear in mind making certainly one of these backpacks for my Massdrama colleague, Michael, aka ‘Pocho’ (now CEO of Team1000words). As an alternative of the inscription ‘pocho,’ the phrases turned out to be ‘poche,’ a narrative for one more day.
The purpose is, in all of those conditions, I observed a standard success issue working throughout with these guys: their ‘comɛ’, side-gigs had been in areas the place they had been proficient and had some extent of competence. [What are your present skills?]
The lesson right here is that there’s at all times one thing additional to do, whether or not it’s a facet gig, freelancing, or working a full-fledged enterprise. The catch is to depend on your pure skills and issues you’re proficient at or can doubtlessly develop, this, then turns into the primary level of entry. All of my mates talked about had been gifted indirectly, and the course had additionally helped them develop their abilities, making it fairly simpler to monetize.
The second level is that there existed a requirement for his or her companies, and so they generated that demand. ‘Man should survive,’ was the driving power.
In case you are occupied with residing an expensive and thrilling life, or if you have to survive the pressures of life, have bills to pay, and quite a few wants, you wouldn’t decrease your abilities – your experience. You don’t have any thought how many individuals might require your companies if solely you can muster the arrogance to place your expertise to make use of.
Are you ready to begin a facet hustle?
Listed below are some Advantages of Freelancing
1. Earn a living from home or wherever on this planet
Asabea refers to herself because the nocturnal guru. She enjoys staying up late to put in writing. Early mornings will not be her factor, and she or he battles with it on a regular basis. So working a full-time job in Accra’s metropolis middle is hell for her.
Freelancers are free to earn a living from home or wherever on this planet at their very own tempo. You aren’t obligated to work from a selected location inside a selected time-frame. You select your schedules. It’s additionally attainable to freelance as a part-time job, which makes it simpler to stability with a full-time function. Whereas flexibility is vital for a lot of staff, so is working with folks you get pleasure from and belief. Distant jobs let you construct your fame by engaged on small, private tasks earlier than transferring on to bigger ones. Plus, for the reason that different particular person isn’t in your workplace or in the identical state or nation, you don’t have to fret about workplace politics or being disliked—the one issues that matter are the standard of your work and relationships.
2. Construct your portfolio and proofs
Bellerin wished to pitch company establishments for pictures jobs, however he didn’t have any references —portfolios, or endorsements to show.
That is why portfolios are so necessary—your portfolio serves as proof of your experience. And whenever you’re a contract author or designer, it’s your portfolio that convinces shoppers to rent you. Constructing a killer portfolio isn’t straightforward, but it surely’s attainable for those who put in some work early on. Deal with constructing a robust basis after which spend time rising from there. Begin with smaller websites like people who mixture freelance jobs and choose up your momentum from there. It takes time to land greater gigs, however over time you’ll construct your portfolio via tasks for smaller firms—and in addition set up your self as an professional in your discipline along with your experience and expertise, to not point out contacts in different fields which can result in extra alternatives as properly.
3. Much less or No extra commuting
What I dread most, is the heavy site visitors in Lagos and Accra. Hikes in gasoline costs are affecting each facet of our financial system, freelancing can prevent a piece of your revenue simply by staying and dealing. Freelancers could make some huge bucks from residence and reap the benefits of extra versatile hours than in the event that they had been confined to a conventional 9-to-5. Past that, not having to dress up in a go well with and tie (and even put on pants) is a big perk for many individuals who like spending their mornings lounging round in pajamas. This flexibility additionally applies to your work schedule: For those who don’t must hit particular deadlines or rush into an workplace at 7:30 AM each morning, working in your schedule helps you to set your individual guidelines and resolve when (and the way a lot) you wish to put in. The chances are limitless!
4. Set Your Personal Objectives
Kpodo is a naturally inventive particular person, and the issue for many inventive folks is that they wrestle to slot in. For a couple of years, he labored in quite a lot of company positions. His enthusiasm is sapped by cultural guidelines and enterprise apparel. He likes to be extra relaxed and work with flexibility and creativity. Nonetheless, he’s at all times at odds with himself and the sort of life he needs to dwell.
Freelancing stands out as the best choice for him.
As a freelancer, you’re the one calling the pictures. You set your individual guidelines and make issues occur, with out answering to anybody else. Freelancers discover that they’ll work arduous and play arduous whereas they’re at it. They haven’t any boss respiration down their neck or colleagues to distract them. As a freelancer, you receives a commission on your time. Freelancers love having the ability to set their hours and take holidays at any time when they please. No extra late nights within the workplace simply because everybody else does it; if you would like the afternoon off for that seashore day you’ve been planning, go forward! There’s no gown code: Gown nonetheless you want!
You resolve!
Distant Work: is Freelancing a Factor for Me? Purchase on Amazon
Bernard Kelvin Clive is an Writer, Speaker. Lecturer and Company Coach. Africa’s foremost authority on Private Branding and Digital Ebook Publishing. An Amazon bestselling creator of over 50 revealed books. As a speaker & coach, he has been recognized to simplify complicated concepts about branding and life and current them to audiences in clear, actionable steps. He has over a decade of expertise in digital publishing and has globally consulted entrepreneurs, pastors, and other people such as you to put in writing books and construct manufacturers. He hosts the primary ranked Profession & Enterprise Podcast. Bernard is a model strategist at BKC consulting and runs the month-to-month Branding & Publishing Masterclass. go to www.BKC.title