Thursday, May 21, 2015

The Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review

  HBR Management Tip of the Day - Harvard Business Review

May 21, 2015

Don’t Hide Your Passion Project


You’ve finally figured out what you want to do with your life – start a company, launch a website, design an app, or found a nonprofit. The only problem is that you can’t afford to quit your job (and lose your benefits) in order to pursue it full-time. Many people pursue passion projects, but they also tend to hide them. While some colleagues will be skeptical (they assume the project will affect your performance), in most cases, there’s no need to be overly secretive. You want to make sure your side project doesn’t impact your day-to-day work, of course, but it’s in your best interest to be transparent. Being honest about your outside interests and pursuits reduces suspicion, and externally committing to your project increases accountability and ups the ante for you. So when talking to others, frame your project in a way that shows value to your company (e.g., you’re learning new skills that you can apply to your job). Your coworkers can also be allies and offer valuable feedback. That said, if you really don’t think they’ll be supportive, talk with family and friends instead.

Adapted from “Get Your Passion Project Moving Without Quitting Your Day Job” by Rebecca Knight.







ADVERTISEMENT




 

No comments:

Post a Comment