In the 20th century, the dream was a straight line: get an education, climb one corporate ladder, and retire with a gold watch. But in today’s volatile, AI-driven world, that straight line has become a risky gamble.
What is Portfolio Living? Inspired by the “Portfolio Career” concept coined by Charles Handy, Portfolio Living is about treating your life like a diversified investment fund. Instead of putting all your “identity eggs” in one basket (your job), you distribute them across:
- Core Work: Your primary skill or income generator.
- Passion Projects: Creative outlets that may or may not make money.
- Well-being: Intentional focus on health and relationships.
- Growth: Constant learning of new, unrelated skills.
Why It Works
- Resilience: If one “asset” in your portfolio fails (e.g., a layoff), you aren’t left with nothing. You still have your community, your side-hustles, and your health.
- Freedom: You stop asking “What do I do for a living?” and start asking “What does my life consist of?”
- Future-Proofing: By diversifying your skills, you become harder to replace by automation or shifting market trends.
“You are not your job title. You are the curator of your experiences.”
Your First Step: The Audit Take a piece of paper and draw four circles. Label them: Income, Creative, Connection, and Learning. Fill them with what you are doing right now. If one circle is overflowing and the others are empty, it’s time to rebalance.