by Deanna Parkton
For most of the 20th century, a successful career typically involved finding a good company, climbing the ladder and collecting the gold watch after decades of loyalty to the same organization. That model is slowly becoming obsolete. A growing number of professionals are intentionally building what’s known as a portfolio career; a combination of multiple roles, projects and income streams that make up one larger career narrative.
Think of the HR director who also runs a leadership workshop practice on the side. Or the marketing strategist who consults for startups while writing a newsletter with a loyal following. If you’ve ever felt pulled in multiple professional directions, the portfolio career might be an opportunity to embrace.
What a Portfolio Career Actually Looks Like
A portfolio career isn’t necessarily working multiple jobs out of financial necessity, though income diversification is certainly one of its benefits. It’s a strategic approach to building a professional life that draws on your full range of skills, interests and expertise. It often can be an opportunity to define a work schedule that works for your work-life balance.
Your portfolio might include a primary role that provides stability alongside freelance or consulting work that stretches different muscles. It might involve advisory work, board service, teaching or creative projects. The specific combination is less important than the intentionality behind it. The goal is to build something cohesive, not just busy.
The Practical Realities
While beneficial in a lot of ways, a portfolio career requires discipline. Managing multiple professional commitments means getting serious about your time and energy. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you build yours.
- Know your anchor. Most successful portfolio careerists have one primary commitment that grounds everything else (financially and professionally). Build outward from that foundation rather than trying to pursue multiple streams from scratch.
- Get selective about what you take on. Not every opportunity that comes your way belongs in your portfolio. Ask yourself whether a potential project plays to your strengths, aligns with where you want to grow, and is sustainable alongside your existing commitments. The ability to say no thoughtfully is one of the most important skills you’ll develop.
- Protect your energy. The biggest risk in a portfolio career isn’t spreading yourself too thin professionally, it’s spreading yourself too thin personally. A portfolio that looks impressive on paper but leaves you exhausted isn’t serving you.
Building a Cohesive Professional Narrative
When someone asks what you do, the answer can suddenly feel complicated. You don’t want to sound scattered, but you also don’t want to undersell the breadth of what you bring.
The key is finding the common thread connecting your various roles. Maybe it’s your expertise in organizational change, your ability to translate complex ideas for different audiences, or your talent for building things from the ground up. That thread becomes your professional narrative; the story that makes your varied experience feel intentional rather than accidental.
Is a Portfolio Career Right for You?
It’s not for everyone, and that’s okay. Some people thrive with the focus and depth that comes from committing fully to a single role or organization. But if you find yourself energized by variety or motivated by multiple types of work, it’s worth exploring.
Start small. Identify one adjacent interest or skill and look for a low-stakes way to activate it professionally. This could be a consulting project, a board seat or a workshop that you could offer. Let your portfolio grow organically from there.
The most fulfilling careers aren’t always the most linear ones. Sometimes the smartest move is to stop choosing between the things you’re good at and start building a career that makes room for all of them.
For more ideas on how you can strategize your work, consider working with a career coach. A coach can help you identify strategies to face challenges head on. Check out our executive coaching services and sign up for a free consultation here.
Deanna Parkton is a writer, career coach and educator with a passion for professional development and work wellness and happiness. With a focus on self-reflection, she works with individuals in their quest to reach their career goals as well as satisfaction in work-life balance. You can find more of her writing at workinglivingwell.com and she can be reached at workinglivingwell@gmail.com.