Notes from Chris

Episode 1074

Jesse Lear didn't get the idea for his hustle after a long brainstorming session. There wasn't a funny “aha!" moment either. It just came out of being frustrated with a common, daily problem. Even though Jesse and his roommate lived in a nice apartment, the trash compactor was far from their door, and the closest recycling drop-off was miles away.

When they realized that other people were probably feeling the same frustration, VIP Waste Services was born. Or at least it was born in spirit, because Jesse’s first lead was their property manager, and he didn’t go for it.

That property manager explained that Jesse and his roommate couldn't just start picking trash for cash. They had to set up a legal business, get insurance, and so on.

So it was back to the drawing board. The two friends both worked in door-to-door sales, selling cable and internet services. This gave them a flexible schedule, which turned out to be very helpful.

They were still set on making VIP Waste Services into a business, so they worked around their jobs. In the morning, Jesse and his roommate would meet up at Panera Bread. If either of them wasn't up and ready to go in time, they had to buy breakfast for the other. That got them motivated to get out of bed.

For the first several months, that was it. They didn't have any clients, so Jesse's workday ended there. After six months of prep work, however, the schedule changed. He and his partner still met up at Panera Bread in the morning, and after that came the day job. But at 8pm, they put on their shiny new hazard vests and went out collecting garbage and recycling.

It turned out there was cash in the trash—six figures of revenue in their first year—and it was a win-win for everyone. Property management companies could offer the doorstep trash service as an amenity (allowing them to increase rent prices to offset the cost). And for residents? Well instead of having to schlep a dirty trash bag, they could just leave it right outside their door at night. When they woke up in the morning, it was gone.

It wasn't until he buckled down and focused exclusively on VIP Waste Services that the business saw its greatest periods of growth. That grind and dedication helped VIP Waste Services go from a late-night side hustle to a company with seven-figure revenue. The business even grew to span five cities across three states, and Jesse and his partner sold the company in 2018.

He's now working on a new project that manages high-end AirBnB rentals. Whether it proves as promising as waste services or not, he’ll be able to spend his time on whatever attracts his attention next. All because he was frustrated by having to take out the trash.

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SEE ALSO:

• Couple Turn Unwanted Furniture Into $1,000 Per Month: A couple in Ottawa learn to “upcycle” unused furniture, working extra hours whenever they want and getting paid for something they’d do for free.
• Digging For Profits: One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Hustle: An automotive painter discovers a profit center in the scrap bin at work.
• 5-Year-Old’s Frustration Leads to Modern Day Piggy Bank: When a 5-year-old earns money taking out the trash for neighbors, his mom realizes that piggy banks are more style than function. She then reinvents this classic tool as a “piggy box” that won’t get stuck in the mud.

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

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