What Is Better: Focusing On One Thing Or Starting Some Side Hustles?

This is how I do it

Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

You probably know the book “The One Thing” by Gary Keller. The book’s core message is that focusing on one thing is necessary if you want to be successful. Focus — one of the five Scrum values — is also at the heart of my work as an Agile Coach and Scrum Master.
However, lots of people are doing side hustles. That may also work.

Advantages and disadvantages

I was clearly on “The One Thing” team for years: work, networking, training, books — the focus was entirely on agile and Scrum. That has the great advantage that I’ve gained a lot of experience in this area over the years: From startups to large corporations, from meetups to barcamps to big conferences, it was all there. As a result, I’ve become a sought-after expert.

But there are downsides, too:

• Your view of the world narrows. You are part of the agile bubble, where everyone thinks and acts similarly.
• The risk increases. If, for example, projects are put on hold due to the economic situation (e.g., recession) or other events (e.g., Corona), and you aren’t able to find a follow-up project, your main activity and income fall away.