Passion vs. paycheck? You don't necessarily have to pick one or the other, according to QuadJobs co-founder Andra Newman.
A few weeks ago, I was invited to a book party for Jessica Knoll, author of my favorite book this summer-the bestselling page-turner Luckiest Girl Alive. As the co-founder of QuadJobs, an online marketplace unlocking local, flexible jobs for college students, I'm always curious about how successful people optimize their time in order to reach their goals. I loved talking to Jessica about how she managed to complete her gripping debut novel while working full-time for Cosmo. Her answer: 1: A consistent routine of waking up pre-dawn to write. 2: A supportive boss who encouraged her to get a later start at Cosmo in order to keep on pace with Luckiest Girl Alive (a clear sign that Jessica wasn't letting her responsibilities go at the magazine).
So often women create a false choice between following their dreams and playing it safe. But why choose? Jessica's approach of taking on both was pretty genius. Here are a few reasons it might work for you, too:
HEDGE YOUR BETS
The most obvious upside to working while dream-chasing: you can pay your bills and give your dream a longer runway to takeoff. Maybe you've always wanted to act, launch a business, or become a photographer. Keep your day job, but make a commitment to pursue your dream on the side-through classes, auditions, and networking.
LIMIT YOUR TIME
I'm a big believer that busy people accomplish more. Maybe you can't spend all day every day pursuing your passion, but having less time-and greater focus during the limited hours you have-may work to your advantage.
CHIP AWAY AT A BIG GOAL
Sitting down to write a novel is overwhelming. Sitting down to write for two hours each day? Much more manageable. Breaking your big goal into bite-sized chunks of work can help you get to the finish line. This advice came in handy as my partners and I launched QuadJobs. Setting a small number of goals for each day was key to getting traction.
Remember, it's important not to slack at your 9-5. You'll need to do your day job well until your dream job takes off. No doubt this will make for an intense time, but if you really want to accomplish your dream, that double effort will be well worth it.
About Andra Newman
Andra Newman is the Head of Recruitment and Co-Founder of QuadJobs ( www.quadjobs.com), an online marketplace that connects college and graduate students to local job opportunities. This site tracks each student's work experience and collects reviews from employers. Prior to her most recent endeavor, she was formerly the Senior Director or Recruiting and Human Resources at J.Crew. and Senior Recruiter at Abercrombie & Fitch. She resides in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Ms. Career Girl was started in 2008 to help ambitious young professional women figure out who they are, what they want and how to get it.
