Side Hustles and Judgments

When creativity upsets the corporate status quo

Let’s be honest. Most corporate jobs suck. At one time or another, we have all spent at least a part of our professional life in some bland, fluorescent lit, soul killing organization, full of people climbing over one another to ascend the corporate ladder to a place of imaginary wealth and power.

If that wasn’t the case, a film like Office Space wouldn’t be a cult classic¹. If you have never seen Office Space, then stop reading this and go watch it, and then come on back. You will thank me.

In my legal practice, I have counseled quite a few clients who are nuturing their creative side hustles into full time jobs. Generally, these clients are solopreneurs just hoping to earn enough income with their creative pursuits to live with some minimal quality of life.

This week an article from the New York Times caught my attention about David Solomon, the CEO of Goldman Sachs, who also DJs professionally and has his own record label. This is the same basic premise, only on a much grander scale. Goldman Sachs is a multibillion dollar enterprise, one of the titans of Wall Street. That Goldman’s leader could possibly have any musical skill is an intriguing prospect to say the least. Yes, we can debate whether DJs are musicians or are simply entertainers. My vote is on the latter, but reasonable people can differ on this point.

The New York Times @nytimes

David Solomon, the chief executive of Goldman Sachs, has been DJing for years. He brushes it off as a minor hobby that has little to do with his work at the bank. But his activities may pose potential conflicts of interest.

nyti.msThe Blurred Lines Between Goldman C.E.O.’s Day Job and His D.J. GigDavid Solomon brushes off D.J.ing as a minor hobby that has little to do with his work at the bank, but his activities may pose potential conflicts of interest.

Why then, are people so resistant to the idea that one person can be accomplished in two different fields of endeavor simultaneously? Is it jealousy? Something else?