Picture this: You’re climbing the corporate ladder, paycheck steady, benefits solid. Life feels secure - until it doesn’t.
One day, your company restructures, your role gets downsized, or you realize you’ve been working 60 hours a week for years and don’t even like the view from the top. Suddenly, that "secure" paycheck feels like a house of cards.
Here’s the truth no one told us growing up: Relying on one income stream in today’s world is like walking a tightrope with no safety net. One slip, and it’s over.
So, what’s the alternative?
Two words: Portfolio Career.
What the Heck is a Portfolio Career?
No, it’s not a fancy briefcase or a stockbroker term. A portfolio career is simply this: Building multiple streams of income so you’re not dependent on just one job. It’s your safety net. Your creative outlet. Your ticket to freedom.
Think of it like a pizza. Your 9-to-5 is one slice, but wouldn’t life taste better with a whole pie? Maybe a slice of real estate, a topping of consulting, and a sprinkle of stocks and ETFs.
Gone are the days when one paycheck could fuel your dreams, fund your retirement, and help you sleep at night. Today, you need more than one slice - because pizza, my friends, is life.
My Journey from “Job Security” to “Portfolio Freedom”
Confession: I didn’t always see the point of this whole “multiple income streams” thing. When I started out in cardiac surgery, I was laser-focused on the job. Why? Because growing up, I watched my parents - both business owners - grind endlessly, stressing over taxes, clients, and everything in between. I thought, No, thank you. I’ll take the steady paycheck, please.
And for a while, it worked. I set up a pension fund, dabbled in stocks, and felt smug about being "responsible." But then came 2008. The crash wiped out my stocks, and I panicked. I sold everything. For years, I avoided investing and stuck to the belief that my job was my safety net. Then came 2019. The Turning Point One evening, I attended an event at the Hugo Boss store in Hamburg. Honestly, I only went because - well, Hugo Boss. Fancy clothes, champagne, great vibes. But that event changed everything. The event, hosted by Scalable Capital, introduced me to ETFs and robo-advisors - concepts I hadn’t even heard of. I sat there thinking, Have I been living under a rock? Embarrasing, right? That´s how I felt. That night, something clicked. I realized I’d been playing small - letting my job define me and my financial future.
How I Built My Portfolio Career (And You Can, Too)
By early 2024, my portfolio career looked like this:
- Investments in ETFs and stocks.
- Two real estate properties - one in Germany, one in Dubai.
- An online business (hello, Operation Success!).
- A consulting and coaching business I was building on the side.
- Keynote speaking and workshops for events and companies
- My employment as Managing Director of an international Corporate in the Middle East
Then I did the unthinkable: I left my corporate job. That once-stable pillar - gone. But guess what? My world didn’t collapse – at least until now.
3 Steps to Start Your Portfolio Career
Here’s how you can start building your portfolio career, no matter where you are:
1. Start small. Whether it’s investing $50 in an ETF, launching a side hustle, or monetizing a skill or hobby, every small step counts.
2. Learn the basics. If terms like "ETF" make you sweat, start small. Listen to a podcast or read a beginner’s book on investing. The more you learn, the more confident you’ll feel.
3. Play the long game. Building a portfolio career isn’t about instant results. It’s about
creating options, security, and freedom over time.
Final Thoughts: Build Your Dream Life
A portfolio career isn’t just about money - it’s about possibility. It’s about knowing you’re not tied to one paycheck, one role, or one path.
Take it from someone who went from cardiac surgery to corporate leadership to coaching and consultancy: the best investment you’ll ever make is in yourself!
Dr. Kerstin Brehm is a former cardiac surgeon turned leadership and longevity consultant, keynote speaker, and podcast host. With over 20 years of experience in male-dominated industries, she now helps ambitious professionals build resilient, fulfilling careers and discover what it truly means to have it all.
Comments