Why 'safe' careers are the riskiest bet in 2025
(And what to do instead)
The “Three-Hat” Tuesday
Tuesday… 10 a.m. Espresso steam curls past my screen while I work on a strategy deck for a consulting client. Ping… a new sponsorship enquiry drops into my inbox. Later in the afternoon I’ll coach an engineer searching for career clarity. Multiple hats… one calendar. If any single stream vanished, I’d wobble… not collapse. Compare that to friends with a “safe” corporate role that can disappear overnight. Which feels safer today… one employer or multiple revenue streams?
Why the Default Ladder Is Cracking
One in six UK employees now hold a second job… a record 1.23 million (ONS, 2024).
62 % of portfolio-career pros say they feel more financially secure than single-job peers (Portfolio Collective Survey, 2023).
LinkedIn has seen an explosion of fractional C-suite titles… proof companies are rewiring org charts toward contract talent (LinkedIn Economic Graph, 2024).
53 % of Gen Z freelancers work freelance full-time (Upwork, 2024).
83 % of firms list AI as a top priority, accelerating project-based hiring for agile specialists (PwC CEO Pulse, 2025).
Security has flipped: real safety now comes from structured flexibility, not a single payroll ID.
Meet the Portfolio Flywheel
A three-gear bike beats a single-speed on a hilly road… and 2025’s job market is all hills.
1. Base Income
Your stabiliser gear… retainers or part-time roles that cover essential bills with minimal cognitive drain. Think three-day consulting gigs, fractional leadership posts, or a reliable tutoring slot.
2. Brand Engine
The crank that keeps momentum. Public content, speaking, or community work turns personal brand into distribution, attracting inbound clients while compounding authority.
3. Opportunity Loops
High-margin, time-boxed projects riding market spikes… an AI workshop for a start-up, a one-off group coaching offer, a micro-SaaS experiment. Low risk, high upside, fast learning.
Together these gears spread risk, compound skills, and spin faster with every new connection… plan… pilot… propel.
The 15-Minute Action Experiment
Grab a sheet of paper:
Default Ladder column… list your current income source, benefits, and biggest risks.
Portfolio Flywheel column… sketch one Base Income, one Brand Engine, and one Opportunity Loop idea.
Circle one Opportunity Loop to pilot this quarter. Clarity loves speed… pilots beat day-dreams.
Quick Check-In
What is your biggest blocker right now?
A) Landing your first paid gig
B) Knowing how to market yourself
Comment with A or B and I’ll provide some advice in the comments to help.
August Coaching… 3 Slots Only
I’m only six months into my own portfolio career flywheel, which means the road bumps are still fresh in my mind… and the wins are reproducible. In August I’m opening three one-to-one coaching slots to help you map, launch, and de-risk your first portfolio gears.
When: August (three 90-minute sessions plus async support)
Who: Professionals ready to earn from multiple skills within 90 days
How: Comment or reply PORTFOLIO and I’ll send the details
Seats disappear once the calendar fills…
Flywheel Recap
The default ladder creaks… the flywheel compounds.
Base Income covers bills, Brand Engine drives inbound, Opportunity Loops unlock upside.
Try the 15-minute exercise, hit reply with your blocker, and if you’re serious type PORTFOLIO for August coaching details.
Your career, your gears. Shift now… or stall later.
What’s your view on full-time salaried work?
See you in the comments,
Elis
Off the Path - redesign work so it fits life