Olga Nart: New trends in life and business

By taking a step and identifying where you lack fulfillment, you can embrace new facets of your professional life

Olga Nart Dikaya, developer, artist, expert told Elena Chernyavskaya about the relevance of the parallel career trend. On the one hand, it is actively gaining momentum, but on the other hand, it generates a lot of questions.

Passionaries 

- Olga, in your opinion, to what extent is the topic of parallel careers a trend today?

- There have always been persons in history who have surprised and delighted with the breadth of their views and diverse talents.

The most striking example is undoubtedly Leonardo da Vinci. A true genius, equally talented in almost all areas of science and art, which he was engaged in. And he did a lot of things. Painter and writer, musician and sculptor, anatomist and architect, inventor and philosopher - all this is about him.

It is about such people it is said that if a person is talented, he is talented in everything.

- Can you give examples of such personalities in Russia?

- I would like to draw attention to two of our compatriots whose contribution to the culture and science of our country is enormous. By the way, there are more parallels between them than you might imagine - Roerich and Shchusev. (By the way, if you have not yet had time to go to the exhibitions devoted to their life and work, timed to the 150th anniversary of each of them, you now have a great opportunity).

Most of us know these names primarily as painters and architects. But in fact, each of them was engaged in activities much broader and yet equally profound and successful.

Alexei Viktorovich Shchusev - architect, artist, urban advocate, scientist, restorer, founder and first director of the Museum of Russian Architecture. He is the author of the first project of scientific restoration in Ovruch, the ensemble of the Marfo-Mariinsky monastery of mercy in Moscow, the Church of St. Nicholas in Bari, Lenin's Mausoleum, Kazan railway station, Moscow Hotel, the State Opera and Ballet Theater in Tashkent, the building of the state security agencies in Lubyanka and Komsomolskaya metro station.

Nikolai Konstantinovich Roerich was an artist, scenographer, thinker, writer, traveler, archaeologist and public figure. During his life, according to art historians' calculations, he painted from five to seven thousand canvases. And in addition to painting, he was engaged in archaeology, collected folklore in different countries of the world, studied history, created the theater sets, He has written articles and worked on books. The artist was twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on the protection of cultural monuments.

And certainly they are united by the fact that each of them is a bright, talented, multifaceted, dedicated person.

Parallel Careers. Slash career 

- What is the essence of a parallel career today?

- When we talk about the modern trend of developing a parallel career, it should be understood that we are talking about both those who, in addition to their main job, have a favourite hobby, which they do not mind monetising, and about people-passionaries who are actively developing in several fields at once.

Initially, having more than one profession at the same time was exclusively associated with creative professions such as photographer or writer.

But then this trend started to gain momentum among people with more traditional specialities. What once started as an interest or hobby is turning into a business that generates additional (and sometimes even main) income.

For example, you can be an HR director and a landscape designer, or an accountant and a marketplace shop owner, or a PR specialist and a stylist. There is no limit to the number of roles. Each role depends on your preferences, feelings, desires and at different stages requires different degrees of involvement from you.

There is no one right ending here.

Gradually you can substitute one role for another or supplement your roles.

- Who should consider a career in Slash and why?

- For example, if you no longer feel development at your job, you can learn a new skill, such as programming after hours. This skill can eventually become the basis for additional career development.

Perhaps you don't feel like you're fulfilling your spiritual or physical needs. And, for example, deciding to train as a yoga teacher and start teaching yoga after your day job is a step towards a slash career.

By taking a step and identifying where you lack fulfilment, you can embrace new facets of your professional life.

- How do you develop a career in Slash?

- I recommend developing parallel careers over time. It is better to dive deep into a particular line of work, master it thoroughly and then move on to the next line of work. The opportunities that the internet, social media and online commerce provide today only encourage bright results.

It's a path for those with enough energy, inspiration and talent to keep learning and challenging themselves while working 9 to 6.

- In such a situation, how to solve the issue of balance between personal life and work?

- If you decide to move down this path, you must balance your hobbies, not your time. This is a very important thing to do. Career Slash is an interesting concept when it comes to work-life balance and satisfaction.

As Nigel Marsh discusses in his Ted talk, work-life balance has little to do with time spent in certain areas, but more to do with self-realisation in the various areas (intellectual, emotional, spiritual and mental) that form a sense of balance in a person's life. I absolutely agree with this.

Growth-oriented companies choose innovators 

- Can you gauge how society is reacting to a trend like parallel careers?

- Sometimes society is wary of those who develop several areas in their lives. Some business leaders want to be sure that their employees are giving their best at their main job.

However, on the other hand, we have many examples when people with outstanding abilities successfully and multifaceted manifest themselves in several fields at once and achieve excellent results in them.

When it comes to current global trends, for global and ambitious companies, you may be a more attractive candidate among others. After all, your successful realisation on several planes testifies to your discipline, creativity and a wide range of skills, including emotional and/or aesthetic intelligence.

Growth-oriented companies always choose innovators who help companies move to the next level. People who have taken the initiative to develop their own successful careers are more likely to bring these qualities to the office, which is why strategically oriented employers attract just such bright, versatile and productive individuals.

In lieu of an epilogue

It is people with overflowing energy who create and change this world - those who relentlessly strive for change, introduce new ideas and concepts, overturn set frameworks and create true masterpieces, as a result attracting the admiration and following of millions.

Olga Nart Wild, 18 years of experience in building successful property brands and managing sales of the most profitable housing estates in the Russian Federation. She has a Russian business degree and an international MBA. 

Professional artist - a graduate of the Surikov Academy of Arts. Olga Nart Wild's portfolio includes participation in international art projects, exhibitions in Russia and abroad, several solo exhibitions. 

Expert in the field of management consulting. Olga Nart's clients are manufacturing and development companies. Her portfolio includes cases of building an effective marketing and sales system, and art consulting in terms of packaging development projects and own private residences, when both real estate and art form the investment portfolio of clients. 

Olga is also an active teacher - she is a guest lecturer at the State University Higher School of Economics and PFUR. She is the author of a number of training courses on branding, marketing and sales.