Side Hustle Entrepreneur King Finds Success Grounded in Being True to Yourself

The disruption that COVID-19 brought to American workers in 9-to-5 jobs not only shifted their in-person work environment, but altered their financial stability. Two years ago, 35% of people said they did a little work on the side. With the unemployment rate reaching 6% in January, side hustles for PR pros have become the new means to tap into your creative side while making profit.

In public relations, the idea of starting a passion project is nothing new. Some have talked about the dangers it could bring to your brand as a professional, but we don’t buy into those doomsday stories much.

Jonathan King is no stranger to the getting scrappy with entrepreneurship. He sat down to tell us how he turned passion project into profit.

King’s vision

King is a full-time commercial construction manager, real estate investor and a founding member of Black Men Ventures. He is also co-founder of the Black Alumni Ball, an annual philanthropic event for professionals of color to get together to network and celebrate.

King’s side hustle allowed him to take control of his own financial stability and strengthened the value of his work and the passion behind it.

Full of vision and ambition, King shared his three biggest tips on becoming your best entrepreneurial self.

Find your why

When King graduated college, the workforce was still reeling from the 2008 financial crisis. King kept his spirit strong and his aspirations in the forefront of his career journey.

He doubled down, focusing on his motivation to create a strong family legacy and help his community.

“To dream is to allow people to dream past the current circumstances,” said King. “My passion is to dream and inspire. I want to inspire and help the next generation of entrepreneurs and people who are in the internal workplace.”

Ask yourself what you’re really striving for in a side hustle.

Don’t just google “ways to make money with a side hustle.” Think about the skills you have that also feed your soul when you flex them.

King’s core values - excellence, integrity, passion and respect - all tie back to his efforts to empower his community.

Evaluate your reasons and it may reveal any hidden passions that turn you into your best professional self.

Be your authentic self

King is a builder in every sense of the word. He builds start-up projects from scratch and helps young professionals create a space for themselves in their perspective communities.

Yet as a young professional going into the construction field, King saw the disparity issues Black professionals encounter that are not often talked about and the challenges of breaking through the industry as an effect of that. When you’re in a new environment, whether you’re in the workplace or interacting with your own clients, code-switching can take in place which strays away from your focus to show your authentic self.

As much as showing your true authentic self is a process, King advises to not forget to show your character in every professional and personal social interaction. King realized that sharing your own story and showing your strengths and values can open doors when you dive into the experiences a side hustle presents.

Measure what you can balance

Side hustling may be a sacrifice of weekend rest days and a challenge of time management skills. Entrepreneurs reported working about 20 hours per week on their side hustle while working their full-time job.

Learning how to be your own boss will require you to know how much level of work you can handle. King emphasized the importance of self care. Setting aside a time for yourself will not only help your mental and physical health, but also recognize your habits.

Prioritize yourself.

The challenges that a full-time job and a side hustle present can be demanding, but the freedom and experiences you’ll encounter can make the hustle much more worthwhile.