Have you ever thought about setting up a side-hustle? Have you started but it didn’t take flight or see the light of day? Or are you just super content in your work and have never even thought about it?
Here I share some thoughts on why side-hustle might be interesting for sports scientists and why many don’t;
Reasons why sports scientists should consider a side hustle
1) The pay in sport is generally poor. It is generally stagnant and well below working in business. A side-hustle can add meaningful amounts to monthly income!
- The pay in sport is generally poor. It is generally stagnant and well below working in business. A side-hustle can add meaningful amounts to monthly income
- Loyalty is a strong bond in sport, but loyalty can only last as long as the budget does or the boss backs you. A side-hustle creates (at least some) ownership of your income
- People need what you know. Perversely so many graduates go into non-sport fields because they are unable to find ‘the’ opportunity with a club or team. In the absence of a FT or PT role, a side-hustle is a way to earn from what you have learned and can do
- Chipping away at project of your own, can give you a sense of purpose and help you cope/manage stresses at work, often in an environment where you might not have a great deal of control. In your side-hustle you are the boss, you get to call the shots.
- The skills of running your own business, side-hustle or consultancy are very transferable to your skills supporting athletes. Creating an offer; Finding client needs Communicating value; Delivering on time and exceeding expectations … to name a few valuable skills
Now some reasons why many sports scientists don’t set-up a side-hustle
- They are overworked and have little time and energy other than getting from one block of work to the next. Working in sport is often a lifestyle choice, being 24/7. Full-time = full-on, so no headspace to think about personal projects
- Side-hustles are frowned upon by employers. News that you’re working on your own income, product or service can sour relations; “Where’s your commitment? Is your head elsewhere? Where is your loyalty to the cause? If you’ve got time for extra work you should be giving to us!”
- Entrepreneurial skills are lacking. Graduates are taught to know first and foremost. Professionals are the ones who apply know-how. Rarely in their development do they learn how to start a business. Ignorance is only overcome with effort of learning from books, courses etc
- You don’t know if you will find any clients or make any money. Fear of failure inhibits most people to not even try. Yes, many ideas fail. But 100% of those ideas that never see the light of day, will fail. Failing, learning fast and adapting is a reality of a side-hustle
- Sports scientists are uncomfortable promoting or charging for what they can do. A dint of being in ‘support’ of others is to hide your bushel for fear of claiming the praise that athletes and coaches get. Talking about what you offer will be necessary to take extra income
What’s missing? What are your experiences? Who has a good side-hustle? Reply to my tweet thread
Here are some bonus thoughts with a blog I wrote last year with 16 lessons from running a consultancy