Everyday I’m Side-Hustlin’: 5 Learnings from Creative Side Quests

If you haven’t got at least one side hustle, are you even creative?

Creativity isn’t a switch we turn on and off during work hours; it’s a constant flow. Embracing side projects helps personal growth and satisfaction while enhancing skills to bring back to client work. For me, it’s not about generating alternative income; it’s about personal creative enrichment. If there’s something new you want to learn or explore, just dive in and start a creative side-hustle.

I’ve been dubbed the King of Side Hustles (not my words!). This year I had an animated short screened on IMAX, performed as a dog at Download Festival, had a viral pothole project added to my city’s museum, and hosted a live creativity podcast with a Hollywood stuntman.

What have I learned from my creative side quests? Here are five McHustlin’ Nuggets…

Learning by doing: If you’re curious about something, start a project to explore that skill. I wanted to understand Unreal Engine 5 and virtual production, so I started an animated film. Having a tangible goal was motivating. My resulting animation has been a film festival award-winner, and at work we’re now shooting a client project with virtual production. Understanding the technology has added creative value to the process.

Broadened skillset: A tandoori lamb chop in space! Stick with me - my friend Nikesh and I did this DIY with zero-budget for a side-project, resulting in a global viral hit to promote his book Meatspace. I learned about PR, virality, social media, budgeting, production, and even airspace rules. This project was a stealth-learning opportunity that exposed me to practices creatives don’t typically encounter. A future employer was so taken with it that he reached out to headhunt me. Oh yeah, side hustles are great for personal PR and career development too.

Creativity Without Constraints: Find your own opportunities to flex creativity. You can’t expect a client to appear with the perfect brief for a new technique you’ve been eager to try. Side hustles offer a space to experiment - they’re your sandbox. Get stuck in, learn quickly, fail fast, solve problems. Demonstrate what you can achieve when you’re fully let off the leash.

Collaboration and Networking: Side hustles bring opportunities to meet diverse people from outside our industry. My podcast ‘Are You Creative?’ is a platform to connect with fascinating creators. I met the inventor of the horse-racing ‘photo finish’, a Young Musician of the Year finalist, a stuntman, and a wrestling promoter. They all offer fresh viewpoints, motivations, and problem-solving approaches. You never know when a new connection might come in handy for a client brief, or even lead to a new brief from them landing on your desk.

Support and Encouragement: As an employer, colleague, or friend, supporting and encouraging peoples’ side hustles is vital. Buy a gig ticket, share content, or write a LinkedIn post to promote their work. Your encouragement can make a significant difference to their motivation and personal growth. I still appreciate Gravity Road founder Mark Eaves, who bought an asthma-themed t-shirt from one of my many failed side-hustles – and look it’s lead to a shout out for him seven years later! Woo Mark!

What people do outside of work interests me far more than what they accomplish on the clock. Seeing unleashed creativity, a drive for personal growth, and a thirst for creative output. Side hustles bring valuable new perspectives that will influence your client work in exciting ways. And you’ll find a sense of satisfaction and creative achievement that can have a halo effect for your personal mental health and job satisfaction.

Start side-hustlin’ today. Learn and see where the journey takes you. You might even find yourself on stage at Download Festival dressed as a dog!