Slash

Recently I went to a conference without any business cards. When people asked me about it, I said I was “going green” and saving paper, but in truth, I just forgot. I know. That’s a weird move for a career columnist. But in my case, business cards don’t serve much use anymore. I have a website and email address so easy to remember that if anyone wants to find me, all they need to do is remember to spell Marci with an “i” not a “y.” And you can find me on pretty much any social network.

That said, I’m in the minority on this one. As I quickly learned when I wondered aloud on Twitter whether people still care about business cards now that so much of our contact information is posted online. Moments after my tweet, I was barraged with messages from people who are still clinging closely to their business cards. Job hunters need them. Those seeking clients need them. And if you’re dealing with people from other cultures, proper business cards are expected.

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Earlier this week I wrote about how to find the perfect part-time work to fit your life and I recommended considering something entrepreneurial rather than a job since it would provide more flexibility.  And as if the blogosphere were listening, soon after that, I discovered this excellent post, 50 Side Businesses You Can Start on Your Own, by Trent Lamm, the author of 365 Ways to Live on the Cheap, which sounds like a good title for these times.(Actually, Lifehacker discovered it first.)

Clearly, Trent is a man who likes lists.

And I like this list for several reasons. Many of his ideas are the kinds of businesses that grow out of hobbies (e.g. antique refurbishment, auto detailing, cake decorating), and if you’re working on a side business, you’ll dedicate more time to it if it dovetails with your natural interests.  Also, many of these ideas have low or no start-up costs, which makes them fairly low-risk. Finally, they are the kinds of businesses that can start out as experiments and expand into something bigger.

Check out the list for yourself. Do you have a side business or side business idea that Trent left out?
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I just returned from a conference that was both stimulating and scary. At a gathering where premier journalists typically congregate to talk about craft and their commitment to accurately and artfully write and report true stories, most of the talk at the bar was about the carnage in the media industry. While I was there to speak about career advice, I wasn't immune to the concern. Last year I lost a regular gig blogging for the New York Times with very little notice. 

But unlike most journalists who are panicking about what they'd do next if they lost a steady paycheck, I quickly replaced that work with high quality work that I enjoy--coaching other writers, teaching, and public speaking. As an experienced freelancer, I also knew how to find writing opportunities even in a shrinking market. 

Way back in pre-recession 2007, I wrote a book about people who pursue multiple careers by choice. I call these folks "slashers" because--like me--they need a slash or two to define what they do.

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