Horizon Point Consulting

Tag: nourish entrepreneurship

  • Should I Let My Employees Have Side Gigs?

    Should I Let My Employees Have Side Gigs?

    Three people work with me full-time. All three have side gigs. Two are adjunct instructors at local universities. One writes résumés. Another picked up a gig I once had but didn’t want to do anymore. She was skilled in the area and enjoyed the extra income.

    The side gigs they have are in adjacent spaces to our business. They are able to share their expertise, make connections, and help themselves and others grow while they earn extra income.

    Why I Support Side Gigs

    Some people think I’m crazy for “allowing” this. I don’t just allow it. I support it and encourage it. Their side work has never interfered with delivering on our clients’ needs. Never, not once.

    In fact, the way we work makes supporting side gigs easier. It does not matter when or where the work gets done as long as client needs are met. That is harder to pull off in environments that require standard hours and physical presence. But I would argue that banning side gigs actually hurts morale. If people really want or need to do outside work, they will. They will just keep it hidden, which only diminishes trust and weakens culture.

    What Leaders Should Do

    So what should you do as a leader when you have full-time employees with pursuits outside of what you pay them to do?

    • Talk openly about their interests and pursuits outside of work. This includes side gigs, hobbies, and family-related commitments. Ask about what matters to them and encourage holistic development. No one can get everything they need out of their “day” job.

    • Talk openly about compensation and salary needs. You may not always be able to pay more, but being supportive when someone wants to drive a few Uber routes, Airbnb their home, sell art or jewelry, or teach a class helps foster open communication and trust. Life is expensive, and for many people multiple streams of income are a necessity.

    • Handle it directly if it becomes a problem. If tasks are not getting completed, deadlines are missed, or presence is required and not met, sit down one-on-one and discuss performance. Reiterate or set clear expectations and allow the person the autonomy to meet them. Avoid ultimatums about quitting side work. This approach holds true not only with side gigs but also with personal issues that may impact performance.

    • Be clear about your organization’s standards. Define what counts as competitive work. Communicate that taking competitive work or soliciting it for personal benefit is off limits. Side gigs in adjacent spaces can be acceptable, but if the organization offers the service, the organization—not the individual—owns that work.

    Keep the Conversation Going

    Sometimes the lines are not clear. For example, there is a difference between:

    • An electrician employed by an electrical company doing side jobs without routing them through the employer, and

    • A firefighter who is also a certified electrician and takes residential electrical work on days off.

    If the lines are blurry, talk about it. If you are already open about side gigs, it is much easier to have honest conversations when gray areas arise.

    At the end of the day, supporting outside pursuits builds trust, morale, and culture. People bring their whole selves to work. When we acknowledge that, we all grow.

  • Fearless & Forty: Nourishing the Female Entrepreneur in Midlife

    Fearless & Forty: Nourishing the Female Entrepreneur in Midlife

    Horizon Point is all about nourishment this year, especially nourishing innovation and entrepreneurship. This week, we’re featuring Katie Caldwell and Susan Norgren – better known as Fearless & Forty – who are sharing their experience with nourishing the female entrepreneur. Let’s do it! 

    —

    When we started Fearless & Forty, we didn’t have a business plan, a studio, or even microphones. What we had was something more powerful: weekly phone calls filled with real, honest conversations about careers, motherhood, marriage, and identity. Those calls—raw, supportive, and often hilarious—became a lifeline. And one day, we said what many women have probably joked about: “We should start a podcast.”

    Only we didn’t let the idea go.

    We’re Katie Caldwell and Susan Norgren—friends, moms, working women, and now co-hosts of Fearless & Forty. What started as a friendship sparked at our children’s school has grown into a podcast born from laughter, vulnerability, and a shared desire to nourish women like us navigating midlife and entrepreneurship.

    But let’s be real: it hasn’t been easy. Like most women in their 40s, our plates were already full. We had zero experience in podcasting. Between researching equipment, testing platforms, and trying to find the time in our already jam-packed schedules, progress was slow. And yet, we knew this dream mattered. We shelved it for a season, then came back with new energy and deeper purpose.

    And now, here we are—launching in 2025, just as we step into our 40s. The timing couldn’t be more perfect.

    Because Fearless & Forty isn’t just about podcasting. It’s about reclaiming the narrative of what it means to be a woman—and an entrepreneur—in midlife.

    Midlife Is Not a Deadline. It’s a Launchpad.

    Too often, women in their 40s start to feel invisible. Like their best years are behind them. Like their dreams are too big or their time has passed. We call BS on that.

    Fearless & Forty is a space where women are reminded that they are still full of power, potential, and purpose. It’s about nourishment—not just physically, but emotionally, spiritually, and creatively. We talk about the messy middle of life: the pivot points, the burnout, the reinventions, and the wins. We’re not chasing perfection; we’re celebrating progress.

    We don’t have all the answers. But we do have each other. And now, we have you.

    Entrepreneurship, on Our Terms

    We’re not founders of tech startups. We don’t have angel investors or Shark Tank pitches. But we areentrepreneurs—because we had a vision, we took action, and we created something from nothing. This podcast became our way to build something ours. A platform, a passion project, and a movement.

    Entrepreneurship doesn’t have to look like hustle culture. It can look like two friends showing up for each other. Like carving time out of chaotic days to share stories that matter. Like believing your voice still has something important to say—even if it’s your first time saying it out loud.

    Nourishment Is More Than Self-Care

    To us, nourishing the female entrepreneur means creating space for connection. It means being honest about the highs and the lows. It’s cheering each other on in big wins and small steps. It’s allowing joy to coexist with struggle—and not waiting until everything is “figured out” to begin.

    That’s what Fearless & Forty is about.

    So if you’re a woman in your 40s (or getting close), if you’ve ever felt like you were too late to dream again, or if you’re simply looking for a community that gets it—welcome. You’re in the right place.

    We see you. We believe in you. And we’re walking this fearless path with you.

    Go be fearless, friends.

    With love,
    Katie & Susan