GEORGIA RITTER
Georgia Ritter is one of our amazing members who has found her New Happy by helping others to create the space to find theirs!
A key part of living a New Happy life is figuring out what brings you most alive and finding a way to share it with others. But practical stuff (work, families) and emotional stuff (fear, self-judgment) can really get in the way. Enter Georgia, who creates a space for people to explore their side projects through her organization Out of Hours. Many of us don’t feel like we are doing the work that we are meant to be doing. A side project is a way to tap into our true gifts, develop our skills, find fulfillment, and maybe even one day turn it into full time work.
Georgia lives in London and has a background in advertising, startups, and venture capital. Read on to discover Georgia’s tips for finding your New Happy and carving out space for the projects that matter most to you. If you’re unfulfilled in your day job, Out of Hours is for you.
Why did you start Out of Hours?
Out of Hours started just over a year ago - it’s a community for people with side projects, underpinned by the idea that we should all create more of what we think should exist in the world. As well running the online community, I have launched a podcast and run regular events.
I find that most ideas don’t come in one strike of inspiration, but rather through a series of experiences. One of these experiences for me was when I was working in advertising. On leaving the agency, I told an old colleague that I wanted to make a short documentary, about what work meant to different people. He dismissed the idea, and I ended up abandoning the project.
Many years later, I’m still interested in the meaning of work across the globe, and I wish I had made it. There are so many interesting things we can do with our time, and I think the people around us have a big impact on how we spend it. I wanted to find ways to help more people work on their early ideas, so I started by creating a community of people who understood what it was like to put their own ideas out there.
I also think pressure can kill creativity - whether it’s pressure to grow quickly, or to make money immediately. This pressure can put people off starting completely, so I wanted to tell the stories of people who had started small and grown their ideas into something bigger, both via the blog and the podcast - reminding people that ideas take time and persistence. Many ideas may never become huge businesses or movements. This does not invalidate the pursuit of them.
How has Out of Hours evolved over time?
I’ve tried to focus on activities to help people start and progress their side project. I run regular working sessions where people come to work on their side projects and meet others, and Power Hours where we do the same, but via video calls! I’ve also run masterclasses and collaboration events, with experts in their fields and with global creative organization D&AD.
I’ve also launched a podcast (which is now on its 7th episode) all about people who have grown side projects into something much bigger. In it, I try to break down some of the opaqueness around how you actually start and grow a side project. I believe that self-belief is a big barrier to people getting their ideas out in the world, and I want to help by showing people the different paths to getting your voice heard and making things you’re proud of.
I believe good side projects are started with the idea that “even if this impacts one person, it would have been worth it”. It’s difficult starting your own thing, and you need to discipline yourself to stay true to why you started - and try to not get distracted, either by your own ideas or by others’.
For me, the most meaningful times are when I meet interesting people, when I see projects that are part of the community grow bigger, and when I see people collaborate - whether it’s arranging calls with one another, attending each others’ events, or promoting each others’ work etc. It also means a lot when I hear from people who have listened to the podcast and found the episodes valuable.
What does happiness mean to you?
I think for me happiness comes from self-awareness and intention - looking at what matters most, regularly reassessing this, and making sure I’m not on autopilot. It also comes from taking a step back, going outside of the ego, and remembering what is important.
I also think that for me there are two types of happiness: calm happiness that comes from simple pleasures - which is more relaxing - and a state of purpose-driven stimulation - which is energizing. Side projects have really helped me with the latter as I think they create a sense of agency and purpose while activating what Dan Cable calls our ‘seeking’ system’ - which can be very rewarding.
However, too much of that can be stressful. I think it’s also really important to take time out, to be present - whatever that means to you. Whether it’s spending time with people who make you feel grounded, doing exercise or taking time in nature - and being aware that life is not guaranteed! This I think is a sense of ‘oneness’ that is totally outside of achievements and self-improvement - and we need to actively seek these moments of slowing down and being grateful and present, especially those with side projects!
What advice would you give to people about finding their New Happy?
Even though it’s become a bit of a joke amongst friends and family now - I do recommend people start a side project about something they’re interested in. I’ve seen so many fantastic projects that help the world, as well as transforming their own personal worlds. It can be a passion project, a creative project, a business, a non-profit - it doesn’t matter. But there is something incredibly empowering about speaking from your own experience and truth, finding something small you care about and running your own thing. Don’t wait until you have a perfect business idea.
Of course, if you’re starting one I’d recommend you start by joining our amazing community at OutofHours.org/apply!
In terms of projects, my view would be that they need to choose something that they wouldn’t care if they didn’t make money from - whether it’s because they love making candles, love running events, or love writing. If you remove money from the equation at the beginning, it leaves you much more free to explore and be curious - which is the best thing about a side project! It’s hard to find something energizing if you don’t find it intrinsically interesting. So much will change in the course of the project, including whether you enjoy it or not, so the sooner you start and experiment the better.
If you could ask the people of the world to do one thing, what would it be?
Remember tomorrow is not guaranteed.