You’re always going to have naysayers. You can’t make a decision like this based on what other people think. I have 2, going on 3, side hustles outside of my full-time job as a product manager. I could care less what my coworkers say or think. I deliver above and beyond at work so my leadership says nothing to me about any of it.

They ask what my plans are for my future at the company and I just tell them that I plan to retire from there. I just don’t have to tell them when I’m planning on retiring from there.

I will say that I have been let go from another company, and I feel like it had something to do with my side hustles. They could give no cause for performance, interpersonal conflicts, or anything else. But I floated for a while on my side incomes before landing another job where I’m making 3x what I was before. So it all worked out pretty good in the end.

Remember that whatever it is that you’re afraid of, studies have shown that only 2% of those fears will ever actually materialize. And more often than not when the thing you feared does happen it’s rarely as bad as what you expected. Be bold! Go do your side hustle! Your company isn’t looking out for your best interests, so go do something for yourself!

I agree.

I am curious to know a little more about your side hustles if you don't mind of course.