This transcript was generated from the episode audio and may contain minor errors.
[Music]
Professional line standard sits down. That's what we're gonna talk about today in this week's failure Friday segment. In fact, we're gonna hear from a man who has an idea to become a professional line standard, waiting in line or online, just depends on where you're from, whether you say in line or online, but waiting, queuing up, I could say as well, for concert tickets, new iPhones, anything else that people want to pay him for. Like if there's something that requires you to wait in a line, on a line, and you don't wanna stand there for hours, well, this guy's gonna do it for you, at least that was the idea. Unfortunately, this business idea fails to attract a crowd.
And that's why we have slotted it into failure Friday. Failure Friday is a weekly collection of short stories about mistakes, missteps, disasters, and of course, failure, all the things that go wrong. And by the way, welcome to Side Hustle School. My name's Chris Guillebeau. I love bringing you this podcast every single day with tips, ideas, case studies, questions, and answers, and ongoing dialogue all about how to make extra money without quitting your job, or building economic empowerment, starting a small business, maybe eventually quitting your job, but everything aligned with that mission of independence and doing something for yourself.
And sometimes things go better than others, right? Sometimes there are challenges along the way, which is why we like to look at this question of disasters, mistakes, and perhaps, mistake's a good word here, perhaps a mistaken business idea, okay? Not every business idea is good. Not every business idea is timely. Sometimes it actually might be a good idea, but it's the wrong time or the wrong market, in which case it's not gonna work.
So without further ado, let's hear the story from Kendrick. I'll come back at the end with a quick wrap-up. [Music]
I've always been one to spot a trend and jump on the bandwagon. So when I came across the concept of professional line traders, I knew I had found my next side hustle. My vision was simple.
I would wait in line for concert tickets, new iPhones, Xboxes, or anything else my clients wanted. I imagined myself becoming Atlanta's go-to line stander, making a handsome living while basking in the glory of my entrepreneurial spirit. I set up a website and social media profiles, advertising my services as the ultimate line stander. Soon the requests began to trickle in, at least sort of. However, it quickly became apparent that Atlanta wasn't exactly a hotbed for long lines and high demand events.
I found myself waiting in line for local concerts and obscure product releases, which didn't pay nearly as well as I had hoped. The long hours of standing and the lack of lucrative gigs were starting to take a toll on my enthusiasm. To make matters worse, some clients wanted me to wait in line for VIP club entry. As someone with an early bedtime, the thought of spending my nights standing in line outside nightclubs was less than appealing. I quickly realized that my new side hustle was turning into a nightmare, quite literally, as my sleep schedule went haywire.
Despite the best efforts to promote my line standing services, the demand simply wasn't there. I found myself reminiscing about the days when I could sit on my couch with a good book, rather than standing for hours on end with sore feet and a dwindling bank account. Eventually, I had to admit defeat and close up shop. My dreams of becoming Atlanta's premier professional line stander had come to an unceremonious end. But as I look back on my ill-fated venture, the experience taught me some valuable lessons about the importance of market research, understanding my own limitations, and finding a side hustle that aligns with my lifestyle.
I may not have made a fortune standing in line, but I did gain some priceless insights and a few stories to share with friends. As I continue my quest for the perfect side hustle, I'll remember the lessons I learned from my line standing days. I now know that not every trend is worth following, and that sometimes it's better to think outside the box, or in this case, outside the line. With renewed determination and a clearer understanding of what makes a successful side hustle, I'm ready to tackle my next adventure. And who knows, maybe I'll find the perfect gig that allows me to work from a laptop instead of standing in line for hours.
Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat. Kendrick, definitely hope you get back up and try something else. You know, I respect the hustle for sure. So thanks to Kendrick for sharing this story. Listeners, if you've got a question and update for us about your hustle, perhaps a story of your own, sidehustleschool.com/questions.
Today's notes, this is episode 2,358. So you know where to go. That would be sidehustleschool.com/2358. Everything's free, new episode every day. I hope you'll subscribe, follow, come back for more.
My name is Chris Guillebeau, this is "Side Hustle School." [Music]
From the Onward Project.
