#004: Are Slashers the Future of Ambition?

Two years ago, after leaving my business, I found myself in a familiar but unsettling place: stuck. I felt immense pressure to figure out what was next. I thought it had to be something big—perhaps even bigger than my last venture. Questions like, “What if it’s not as successful?” and “What if I fail?” loomed.

At the time, I was spending more and more time in Los Angeles, a city where reinvention is almost part of the culture. While there, I started hearing the term again: slashers—people who juggle multiple roles like writer/director/entrepreneur or consultant/activist/chef.

I remember someone warning me, “Beware of slashers,” as if the idea of juggling multiple roles meant being unfocused. But as I started meeting more of these “slashers,” I realized they weren’t scattered. Instead, they were thriving—blending creative and professional roles with intention and purpose.

This concept planted a seed: What if I stopped focusing on chasing the next big thing and embraced multiple meaningful pursuits? Not by default, but by design.

That’s when I began to explore what some call a portfolio career. Unlike the traditional idea of climbing one ladder in a single field, a portfolio career is about weaving together multiple roles and passions. It’s a dynamic, flexible way of working that allows you to stay creative, engaged, and aligned with your values.

What Is a Portfolio Career?

A portfolio career lets you pursue multiple paths simultaneously. It’s not about being a jack-of-all-trades but about intentionally combining roles that align with your skills, passions, and priorities. Instead of narrowing your focus to one job, you can:

• Build variety: Explore pursuits that align with your values and goals.

• Adapt to change: Shift your focus over time as your interests evolve.

• Diversify your impact: Use different roles to fulfill different parts of your purpose.

For me, the concept resonated because it offered a framework for something I was already craving—a way to redefine ambition in this next phase of life.

Why Portfolio Careers Are on the Rise

1. Shifting Values: People are prioritizing freedom, creativity, and fulfillment over traditional definitions of success.

2. Economic Flexibility: The rise of remote work and freelance culture makes it easier to blend multiple pursuits.

3. Future-Proofing: A portfolio career builds resilience to changes in the job market.

4. Self-Expression: More people are rejecting rigid career paths in favor of designing a life around what truly matters to them.

But what's particularly exciting is that this shift isn’t just happening among older generations (I am a ‘young’ Gen X). Gen Z and millennials are leading the charge, embracing portfolio careers as a way to design a life that’s dynamic, adaptable, and purpose-driven. This is a generation that has grown up with a more fluid approach to work and success, fueled by the gig economy, remote work, and a mindset that values personal expression and fulfillment over climbing a traditional corporate ladder.

I find it inspiring to see how younger generations questioning the linear career path I was taught to follow, and instead, they’re redefining ambition on their own terms. They’re challenging outdated ideas of success and creating new, exciting models for how we can approach work and life.

How I’m Building My Portfolio Career

Inspired by the slasher ethos—but with a deliberate and focused approach—I started to design a portfolio career that reflects my values and ambitions. For me, this has meant balancing roles as a coach, consultant, mentor, investor, student (and traveler!), while also pursuing a creative passion: building ReAmbitioning.

Each of these pursuits demands focus, effort, and intention. Together, these roles create a richer, more dynamic life at this point in my journey. What I love most about this approach is the freedom it gives me to stay curious and adaptable. Instead of feeling stuck trying to find the one perfect thing, I’ve embraced a path that lets me experiment, learn, and grow—all while staying true to my larger purpose.

The Benefits of a Portfolio Career

1. Freedom and Autonomy: Shape your career around your life, not the other way around.

2. Creative Fulfillment: Explore varied passions and interests through different roles.

3. Resilience: Diversify your career to reduce reliance on any single job or industry.

4. Personal Growth: Continuously learn and develop new skills.

Redefining Ambition

For years, ambition felt like a ladder: you climbed relentlessly toward the top of a single goal. But now, I see ambition as more like a web.

The strength of a web comes from its interconnected strands. Your passions, skills, and values don’t exist in isolation—they work together to create something dynamic and strong.

For me, building a portfolio career has been about embracing that web. It’s not about trying to do everything at once or spreading myself too thin. It’s about blending pursuits that matter, staying true to my values, and creating a life that feels rich, meaningful, and authentic.

If you’re feeling stuck or wondering what’s next, maybe the answer isn’t to chase one path. Maybe it’s time to design a career that reflects the full spectrum of who you are—and who you want to become.

Join the Conversation

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the idea of portfolio careers. Do you already have multiple roles in your life, or are you thinking of embracing one? What does ambition look like for you right now? Drop a comment below or hit reply to share your story.

Thanks for reading, and let’s continue to explore this new way of thinking about work and ambition together!

Nick

About the Author

Nick works with ambitious founders navigating growth, change, and leadership challenges. To learn more about my journey or explore how I can help, visit my site.