When you’re engaged in your career, you’ll likely encounter the decision about starting a side hustle. In my day, it was called “moonlighting.”

Main point: “…side hustles are becoming increasingly popular. Not only do they provide a financial cushion, but they also offer numerous other benefits that can enhance your career and life.”

More about it:

• “The most obvious benefit of having a side hustle is to make more money.”
• “Side hustles provide a unique opportunity to develop new skills or hone existing ones in a real-world setting.”
• “Engaging in side hustles can significantly expand your professional network.”
• “For aspiring entrepreneurs, side hustles serve as a low-risk testing ground for business ideas and concepts.”

Thinking about it?

• “Many people choose side hustles that align with their passions or interests, which can lead to greater personal fulfillment.”
• “…most side hustles offer flexible schedules that can be tailored to fit around your lifestyle and commitments.”

Considerations for young people:

• Early in your career, side hustles might help you experiment, learn, and build connections. Considerations:
  • You might spread yourself too thin and fail to build mastery in any one area.
  • Employers may perceive you as unfocused or lacking commitment.
  • You risk missing mentorship, training, and growth opportunities in your main job because you’re juggling too much.
• If you’re in a high-growth field or company where focus matters you might benefit more from going all-in on your main career first. Considerations:
  • You’re placing all your eggs in one basket—if you get laid off or burned out, you have no plan B.
  • You may delay exploring your entrepreneurial interests until later in life, when risk tolerance is lower.
  • You could miss the chance to develop your personal brand or side income that might matter in the long run.
• If you’re passionate about something outside work that could eventually become a business or brand start small and strategic—side hustles don’t have to be all-consuming. Considerations:
  • Starting a side hustle, even small, might still lead to burnout or distraction—especially if your day job is already demanding.
  • You may become overly focused on monetizing your passion, which could take the joy out of it.
  • There’s a chance you’ll develop conflicting priorities, especially if success in the side hustle pulls attention away from your current job or relationships.