Hustles for Humanists - by Erica Machulak

About the Book

"The professional landscape for scholars today is complicated by the pandemic's impact on labor practices, scarcity of tenure track employment, and new attention to social equity within and beyond the academy. Many humanities professional are already providing freelance services to make ends meet, often without a roadmap to negotiate fair rates and foster effective client relationships. Hustles for Humanists offers such a roadmap, positioning entrepreneurship as a pathway for humanists to clarify their worth, claim agency over their professional growth, pursue meaningful work, and achieve economic stability. For some readers, that may mean transforming ad hoc freelance work into a reliable source of supplementary income. Others may wish to grow a side hustle into a sole source of financial support. Readers will identify and re-frame professional strengths, translate skills into marketable services, negotiate pricing and client relationships, plan and implement marketing strategy, and nurture their professional network. This book is an act of affirmation, solidarity, and mentorship for humanists who wish to build effective and sustainable enterprises of any size"--

Book Synopsis

As a humanities professional, your skills are in demand. Despite the challenges of a competitive job market, the unique skill set that you possess is highly transferable to various industries and roles. Knowing how to position your creativity, knowledge and empathy is vital for achieving meaningful employment and professional growth.

Hustles for Humanists provides a detailed roadmap for humanities professionals who want to leverage their valuable skills to find or create meaningful work. Drawing from her experiences as an academic turned entrepreneur, Erica Machulak gives practical advice on how to connect with your core values, market yourself, build relationships with clients, and negotiate fair compensation.

This is an essential field guide for finding work that aligns with the core values of your humanities scholarship and practice. It demonstrates how the professional strengths of the humanities can be drawn upon to create fairer, more just and equitable entrepreneurial approaches - whether you're launching a business, job hunting, or looking for inspiration. Hustles for Humanists helps you unlock the value of your humanities practice and explore exciting new pathways to achieving economic stability both within and beyond academia.

Review Quotes

"Incredibly helpful. It provides worksheets; it gives very practical ways of thinking about what you as an individual have to offer the business world or starting a business career."

-- "Humanities Watch"

"Hustles for Humanists shatters myths and empowers humanists to reclaim their agency, leverage their unique skills, and transform their expertise into meaningful work. This essential guide is for anyone ready to think boldly about their future, expand their opportunities, and build a business that reflects their values and vision."--Christine Henseler "copresident of the Center for Humanities Communication"

"A road map for entrepreneurs who hate the word entrepreneur! This book affirms the value and need for humanistic work in all industries and provides clear and actionable steps for humanists to pursue meaningful work--and get paid for it!"--Annie Maxfield "lead creator, ImaginePhD"

"This is the book I needed when I started my own business! In this clear, compelling book, Machulak balances humanistic values, illustrative case studies, and actionable advice to create a valuable tool for any scholars thinking about entrepreneurship as part of their own career paths."--Katina L. Rogers "author of Putting the Humanities PhD to Work and founder of Inkcap Consulting"

About the Author

ERICA MACHULAK, PhD is the founder and lead facilitator of Hikma, a social impact startup with a mission to mobilize scholarship for the public good through consulting, training, and storytelling.

CRYSTAL MARIE MOTEN, PhD is a public historian, curator, and writer who focuses on the intersection of race, class, and gender to uncover the hidden histories of Black people in the Midwest. She is the author of the award-winning book, Continually Working: Black Women, Community Intellectualism and Economic Justice in Postwar Milwaukee.

SOPHIA VAN HEES, PhD is a creative professional with passions ranging from fine art to cognitive neuroscience. As owner of Brave Snail Designs, she also embraces fearless creativity mixed with slow and meaningful growth.