Learning From GTA Online
First of all, I love a Massive Multiplayer Online (MMO) wide-open sandbox game called Grand Theft Auto Online. After working for 8 hours a day, there is nothing better than sitting in front of my computer and playing that game with my colleagues. As has been a player in that game for the last four years, there is a life lesson learned.
That online-based game taught me one thing, the more jobs the more money you make. The more jobs the faster you will make money. Doing merely missions without owning businesses and passive income sources will bar you from getting millions or billions of dollars unless you want to take a longer time.
In real life, having income sources more than one allows you to make more money. More money means you are guaranteed a financial backup, especially in the hard times.
I think that’s all about it. But surely, this opinion article can be longer than the short three paragraphs about the Rockstar Games’ AAA video game, right?
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the current crisis, has wrought economic fall down everywhere. Coface (in Norris, 2020) estimated the pandemic to increase global business failures by 25% in 2020 and bring 68% of the world’s economies into recession. You cannot predict whether your current job will last or not amid the crisis.
We have seen many examples of some people already established secondary income sources amid the pandemic. From a Thai Airways pilot who decided to become a food delivery worker due to air travels being currently grounded or an Indonesian branch of a global pizza chain decided to do run down the streets to sell pizzas to gain profits and cover losses. For these people, being limited to one job or operation likely hinders them from surviving the hardest times.
Having alternative livelihoods allows you to have a fall back for critical situations. By the time you have more than one occupation, you would have the financial backup. You can also gain additional skill and networking benefits!
So now you know how having a secondary job as one of the alternative income sources is highly suggested. However, the chance is you would be stressed while doing both primary and alternative jobs, not to mention your possible quality time “sacrifice”. This condition leaves you two questions, how do you balance your primary and secondary jobs? How can you maintain yourself while gaining your secondary income?
Indeed Career Guide (2020) listed the whole five steps to be considered when it comes to getting a second job. Firstly, manage your time. Plan yourself, make your tasks compact, and organize your task lists.
Second, when you want to decide what second job you are in, choose the job carefully. Several considerations you would like to make. Chance is you would establish thoughts such as “Is this job as stressful as my primary job?” or “Am I willing to do this job?”. That said, select the job that you consider you are highly likely to commit to. I would like to recommend one that is highly related to your current expertise and skills.
Third, manage your money. More job means you more money, so are expenses. That said, be prepared for possible “extra expenses” you will be subjected to.
Fourth, stay healthy. As having more than one job might give you more stress, I think it is better for you to keep yourself fit and healthy when you are committing to more than one occupation. Eat healthily, check up on your health conditions, do exercises, and taking 7–8 hours of sleep might do, nothing else.
Lastly, protect your primary job. Your main job should be at the top priority and your commitment remain the same, let that sink in. Choose the job that you think won’t damage your performance at your first job.
We have finally reached the bottom line. Crisis is unexpected. It hits everyone, no matter what their background. Financial preparation including having secondary income sources is undeniably the key to survive during hard times. In turn, managing ourselves while doing more than one job as a form of gaining secondary income is crucial.
I hope these tips would be helpful for you guys if you decide to seek alternative income sources. Good luck and stay survive!
References
How to Balance Working Two Jobs at Once. (2019). Indeed Career Guide. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/starting-new-job/balance-working-two-jobs-at-once
Norris, B. (2020, April 8). Coronavirus to drive 25% rise in business failures: Coface. Commercial Risk. Retrieved from https://www.commercialriskonline.com/covid-19-to-drive-25-rise-in-business-failures-coface/
