We asked our readers what their side hustles are. Whether it's a second company, a volunteer project, or delivering for Uber, why did you pick it and how do you balance the time?

Staying engaged

My side hustles have always been in civic engagement. I love to volunteer and spend time around economic development, which is a passion of mine. In particular, I've taken on the role of board chair with Memphis Tourism, which works to drive millions of visitors annually, creating billions of dollars in economic impact and supporting tens of thousands of jobs in our local leisure and hospitality sector. Thanks to COVID, I had the rare opportunity to serve an unprecedented three terms as chair.

The similarities and challenges between hospitality and benefits came to light for me during the pandemic. Both rely heavily on events to drive engagement, so both had the rug pulled out from under them. Watching the hospitality industry pivot to reach people in unique ways was a huge motivator for me, as our team was simultaneously building and launching The Granite List. I prioritize volunteering for the board because I know that I will be able to apply those lessons back into my "day job."