Will moonlighting create problems in my job? How to do it ethically/legally?

Moonlighting, or working a second job or freelance work outside of your regular working hours, is frowned upon by many employers.

But it became very common during the pandemic as people saved a lot of time by working from home (no commute, no socialising with colleagues, shorter meetings) and realised that they can make easy money on the side by freelancing for a few hours.

Here are the problems people face when they want to moonlight:

👉🏻 You may have a contract that prohibits moonlighting.

👉🏻 Your seniors may feel that you are ignoring your job if they find out you are moonlighting - you may be skipped for promotions and bonuses.

👉🏻 You need to be very careful with respect to data, confidentiality, intellectual property etc.

Most employers do not care if you do some extra work in your free time provided:

👉🏻 You are not working with a competitor

👉🏻 You are not neglecting your work and they have no reason to complain about your productivity or quality of work

👉🏻 You are not lying about it

However, if you are frequently unavailable during work hours while working remotely - they may suspect you are moonlighting and naturally will have problems with that.

It is also tricky to run your own upwork or fiverr page while you are working full time in a job, although many professionals are able to negotiate that easily.

Here are some ideas about how to moonlight safely:

✨ Of course, the best idea is to negotiate that you may do some work in your free time, outside your official work hours that do not compete or conflict with your job in any way- get it into your contract or even as an commitment over email.

✨ Only work with completely unrelated industries & non-competing orgs

✨ Never use work produced for one org while working for another, keep everything totally separate.

✨ If your contract is silent about moonlighting or exclusivity - of course you can moonlight and don’t have a legal obligation to report this. Still you may need to be careful about professional perception.

Here are some alternatives to moonlighting:

✅ Become advisor to some startups - your employer is unlikely to object to this and your contract will not prohibit this anyway. You can then get compensated either in equity or cash, or both.

✅ Volunteer at local startup accelerators - that is just volunteering work but may soon lead to paid gigs eventually

How do people with exclusivity clauses in their contracts still get around and moonlight?

1⃣ Some people have their spouse/sibling/parents/friend set up an agency, or an upwork/freelancer profile.

The formal owner really does not have the necessary skills, so the professional goes on client calls, writes proposals and closes the deal.

They split the money.

2⃣ Some people set up a pvt ltd company, or Delaware C corp in the US.

Then they can open a bank account in the name of the newly incorporated company.

This is not very expensive. You can do this just for Rs.10-15,000.

Then they run their moonlighting business in the name of the company, while they remain just shareholders of the company.

Here is what we did while we were working in a law firm. Of course, we had exclusivity of employment and we could not do any other work apart from our job. So here is what we did:

1⃣ We had a company incorporated - all work/ contracts were happening in name of that entity

2⃣ Recruited other people to do background work like making a website etc (using a part of our salary), did not launch it though

3⃣ Extensively blogged and used social media to build a community and a following

4⃣ I wrote articles in the media

5⃣ I networked with key people who will help us when we launched, including journalists, bloggers, youtubers

6⃣ Went and gave talks at colleges every chance we got

7⃣ Convinced our alma mater to certify the course we were planning - negotiations went on

8⃣ Created the first few modules at home in our free time

9⃣ I learned skills like email marketing, facebook ads, etc which was a great deal of help when we launched

Our team has helped 100s of working professionals in full-time jobs to do this legally.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WVo0WoU2hQkPchqusARbS1oJKthQ5Fib/view?usp=drivesdk

Here is a list of approx. 25 professionals whom we have helped to earn on the side.

Do you want to know more about how you can start a consulting business on the side, use AI and earn even more than your salary❓

Join our free, 3-day bootcamp to get detailed guidance.

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In a world where content is king, your book could be your crown!

Picture this: you’ve got a book out there with your name on the cover. You are signing copies for fans. Feels good, right?

But it’s more than just a pat on the back.

Did you know that the average earnings for a self-published author range between $1,000 to $5,000 a year? And that’s just scratching the surface. For those who really nail their niche, we’re talking upwards of $10,000.

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First off, think of your book as the ultimate marketing swag. It’s not just pages bound together—it’s a showcase of your expertise, a conversation starter with potential clients or partners.

Imagine handing over your book instead of a business card. It says, “I’m not just playing the game; I’m setting the rules.”

This level of commitment to your craft builds a solid foundation of trust in what you bring to the table.
But it doesn’t stop there!!

Statistics show that authors enjoy a 300% boost in their credibility. You will see an immediate increase in:

👉🏻 Your LinkedIn following

👉🏻 Your social media presence

👉🏻 Invitations to networking events

Your book is your ticket to the inner circles of your industry.

By sharing your insights through pages, you’re not just another professional in your field—you’re the go-to person, the authority.

Whether it’s contributing to industry publications or hitting the stage at conferences, your book is your backstage pass to places and conversations you’ve only dreamed of.

And here’s the cherry on top: your book can turbocharge your career, even within your current organization.

Picture this: your book lands on your boss’s desk. It’s not just a read; it’s a statement of your ambition, knowledge, and vision. Suddenly, you’re not just a part of the team; you’re a leader in the making, ripe for new challenges and opportunities.

So how exactly can I publish a book❓

Our expert, Rishee Rhudra has created an informative video in which he explains how you can get your book published almost effortlessly!

Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuEYFaWGfPs

He discusses the top reasons some books just don't make it past publishers and, more importantly, how to dodge those pitfalls with your own masterpiece. Plus, he's got some great advice on how to pick the right publisher for you

Quite informative❓

Join our FREE 3-Day Bootcamp TODAY @ 7 pm, where we will discuss the art of crafting compelling content. This will help you master writing techniques, content strategies, SEO secrets, and editing hacks. You can level up your remote content writing work and earn thousands of dollars and euros!

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Are you going to be rich?

It’s easy to tell.

In capitalism, anyone can be rich, as long as:

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2⃣ You can help rich people solve their big problems (a lawyer, accountant, cosmetic surgeon, doctor)

3⃣ You can help a lot of people solve their problems, at scale (think of an app that does something for a lot of people, transport services)

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6⃣ You can find arbitrage opportunities and trade - buy cheaper and sell at higher prices. Do a lot of it (any trader or stocks, goods etc)

7⃣ You can invest in entities doing 1-6 if you have capital

1⃣ People are used to getting private tuition in school and college.

But what about private tuition for learning professional skills? It did not exist. We created that.

Apart from group sessions, we offer unlimited one on one personalised feedback and coaching, this is what sets us apart from everyone else.

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You cannot get private tuition from corporate lawyers, a CHRO, an ace marketer or CPAs unless you are willing to shell out a lot of money.

Even if you are ready to pay you may not get a workable option.

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Why not a placement service for gigs? We did that.

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We make their life easier by connecting our most successful learners with them, and they are ready to pay us for that service.