Working on side-projects often gets a bad rap, but they can change the course of your career. I've outlined eight reasons why I think most people should start a side-project.
Unlike working a full-time job or working on just one startup or small business, having multiple side-projects de-risks any mistakes you might make (and you will make mistakes!)
Often times what hiring managers or investors are looking for is proof that you’re a driven, innovative self-starter. Very few things are a better example of this than a portfolio of side-projects.
Side-projects are a great way to get experience when you’re first starting out, without anyones permission. You don’t need to wait for someone to hire you to show off your work, you can just build something!
With side-projects, you can afford to test out several ideas until one starts to get traction, and then double down on it. Or as @dvassallo puts it, you can place multiple "small bets" with very little downside (and plenty of upside).
Starting a side-project is like starting a startup on a micro scale, in that it requires you to wear multiple hats when getting started: operations, marketing, product, design, development, etc.
I’ve found that when you work in the same job, role, or industry for an extended period of time, you can get rusty and begin to lose skills/knowledge you’re no longer using. A side-project will require you to stay on top of the latest tools, trends, and tech.
You never know what will happen to the company you work for or that you started, so having multiple streams of income almost always makes sense. Starting a side-project can add an additional source of income you may end up relying on.
This may be the most important reason. The people you'll connect with and the community you'll create while working on a side-project is often the most valuable (and meaningful) thing that comes from the project.