How To Successfully Launch A Side Hustle

How To Successfully Launch A Side Hustle Were going live in a few Join the conversation TOPICHow To Successfully Launch A Side Hustle.The new year is rapidly approaching... and if youre thinking about how to turn your dream business a reality, this is the chat to join Violette de Ayala is a Cuban-American serial and social Entrepreneur, Founder of FemCity, virtual mentor to over 20,000 women, and shes joining PowerToFly to answer your pressing questions about launching a side hustle. With only a few dollars, Violette was able to create a successful brand with locations around the world, and you can tooSee you online ??http//bit.ly/2PgRxtx One of the biggest challenges in almost all industries today is achieving gender parity. Gender diversity provides huge benefits in the workplace. pWhile some industries have made significant advancements in gender diversity, some industries lag further behind... and the construction industry is well-know n for being in the latter category. If someone says, construction workers, youll likely picture a group of men in yellow hard hats analyzing an architects plans or laying bricks on top of a scaffold. And men at work signs only help to reinforce this image.pThis stereotype is rooted in reality. When was the last time you actually spotted a woman on a construction site? Or hired a female plumber or carpenter? Your answer is most likely never. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statisticsreports that only 3.4% of the total of 8.3 million construction employees are women.pBut the construction industry has a lot mora to offer than steel-toed boots and hard hats, and it needs women to help advance the industry in this era of rapid change. Here are 5 reasons why women joining the workforce or looking to make a pivot should consider a career in construction.h21. Fuel Innovation/h2pNot only is diversity the socially and morally right thing to do, but it is also actually an excellent business strat egy. pResearch presented in the Harvard Business Reviewshows that diverse teams develop more innovative ideas. This is further supported by a study conducted by Gallupon the performance of gender-diverse teams versus single-gender teams, which found that the difference in backgrounds and perspectives led to better business performance and problem-solving. h22. Capitalize on Demand/h2pThe construction industry is currently experiencing a labor shortage. The industry itself is booming and projected to be one of the fastest-growing industries, with total spending projected to exceed $1.45 trillion in 2023/a. However, most construction companies are unable to meet the rising demand. pAccording to the Associated General Contractors of America/a, more than 80% of contractors are experiencing difficulties filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce.pAnd demand isnt limited to individual contributor roles. Given the industry boom, there are a number of open stable and high-paying roles (any project managers out there?) waiting for the right candidateh23. Leadership Opportunities/h2pAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics/a, women compose only 7.7% of the total 1 million managerial positions in construction.br/pBut given the highly collaborative nature of construction work, more women in leadership roles would help drive innovation and enhance productivity.Furthermore, as a woman in construction in a leadership position, youd have the unique opportunity to drive change for the industry and make it a more attractive option for other women.h24. High-Income Potential/h2pSalaries for many skilled positions in construction are on the rise, making a construction career a prime choice for women looking for a high-paying job,pThe 2018 Construction Craft Salary Surveyconducted by the National Center for Construction Education and Research revealed that salaries for many skilled craft areas are increasing. Project managers and project supervisors topped the list at $92,523 and $88,355, respectively. The next set of highest-paying jobs include those of combo welders ($71,067), instrumentation technicians ($70,080), pipe welders ($69,222), power line workers ($68,262) and industrial electricians ($67,269). Of the 32 categories of workers in the survey, 19 positions earned an average salary of $60,000 or higher.h25. Sense of accomplishment/h2p The construction industry can give employees a unique sense of achievement. Yes, the job is stressful and the work can be demanding, but nothing beats the feeling of being able to build something from the ground up. pHow many professionals in other industries can point at a school, a hospital, or a skyscraper and say I helped build that?pThe construction industry has a long way to go in combating gender bias and supporting women in the workforce, but given the current demand for workers, theres no better time to pick up a sledgehammer (figurative or literal) and smash the ge nder stereotypes plaguing the construction industry.

What to Do When Someone Asks You to Work for Free

What to Do When Someone Asks You to Work for FreeWhat to Do When Someone Asks You to Work for FreeWhen close friends have career conundrums, Im quick to ask mora questions. Like a good friend should be, Im eager to help. But other times, Ill get messages from people who I barely know or havent spoken to in years. The most astonishing are the ones from people Ive just met or, in fact, have never met. They usually start with some polite greeting, move into a realization that Im a career counselor, and then make a direct request that I have a look at their resume or talk (read counsel) them about their careers- for free. Its a bizarre experience when someone asks you to work for free. Its flattering at first to be recognized for your expertise, but it doesnt take long to grasp that they dont appreciate it enough to actually want to pay you what its worth. In the end, it feels pretty awful. Sadly, it keeps happening- and its not just career counselors. This seems to be a rampant problem in creative industries, especially. Graphic designers, writers, photographers, and more all experience this on a regular basis. So, how do you respond when someone asks you to work for free without screaming, Would you ask your dentist to work for free? Ive spoken to a few more seasoned career counselors, and this is what Ive come up with.1. Assume the Best IntentionsIts always easier to respond when you assume the best. In this case, assume that the person does want to pay you. If youre interested in having someone as a client, respond with, Id be happy to help, then go ahead and launch into your services, corresponding fees, and next steps. Of course, ansicht inquiries might not be the best place to be developing clients, since their initial assumption was that your work wasnt worth payment. With this in mind, you may want to consider declining your services.2. Say NoThe next step, then, is to just say no. A mentor of mine suggested something along the lines of, Im flattered that youre seeking my advice (or services), but unfortunately Im not taking on additional clients at the moment. This way you are clearly declining the request, but youre also assuming the best in people by responding to them as if they were seeking to be your client. 3. Offer AlternativesTo ease the blow a little bit, since many times you will want to preserve what little relationship you may have had with this person, offer up other professionals who might be able to help. Ive frequently directed people to other career counselors whose work Im familiar with. This way, not only are you offering another solution, you might also have the opportunity to educate this contact about the value of your work (if, for example, the other recommended professionals have their fees posted on their website).4. Throw in a BonusFinally, depending on your profession, you might be able to throw in a free resource to show that you care, you just cant work for free. Ill sometimes direct people to specific a rticles on The Muse or to a particular career assessment that Ive seen help others in a similar situation. While Ive seen others handle this in a much more statement-y fashion, I cant bring myself to retaliate against someone who is probably going through something unpleasant at his or her job, or worse, doesnt have one. All that said, I still wouldnt work for free, and I hope you wont either. Ive written quite a few of these uncomfortable emails, and theyve all worked out. May your conversations go as seamlessly as possible, too. Good luck. Photo of man with empty wallet courtesy of Shutterstock.