This transcript was generated from the episode audio and may contain minor errors.
[Music]
From text messages to digital concierge. Welcome to Side Hustle School. In this week's first $1,000 segment, you're gonna discover how a meticulous organizer built an online concierge service offering tiered subscriptions for routine tasks and real-time support. She has built a really fun, simple, worthwhile, helpful, and profitable business. Those are all good adjectives for your Cytosle, right?
And by the way, my new book, "Time Anxiety," is out tomorrow, "Time Anxiety." It's all about the fear of running out of time. How do you deal with the pressures of modern life? I'm trying to look at time management in a very different way. If you ever feel stressed about time, if you ever feel stressed about time running out or not enough time to do what you want to do or just trying to decide what to do next, that's what the book is all about. I would love for you to check it out, timeanxiety.com.
You can find it at any online retailer or any local bookstore. I love to support local bookstores. Okay, more on that later. Of course, we got the new episode today. It's part of this feature we call your first $1,000, how somebody made their first $1,000.
You're gonna hear today from Talia how she set up this unique concierge service. As I said, it's really fun. It's effectively a virtual assistant business, but with a bit of a twist, which as I said, I think is kind of fun. So let's hear the story from her. Passing the mic over to Talia.
I'll be back at the end with a few words of wrap up. [Music]
My name is Talia, and I've always been the friend everyone calls for reminders, build disputes, and last-minute scheduling miracles. Growing up, I assumed everyone had color-coded calendars and three-tiered to-do lists, until I realized that not everyone relishes the chore of life admin the way I do. One day, a colleague absolutely frazzled after missing a doctor's appointment, joking she would pay me if I could keep her on track. That offhand comment sparked a new side hustle.
At first, I handled small tasks for about four or five friends, booking their dentist appointments, renegotiating cable packages, and filing the occasional insurance claim. They'd Venmo me a small fee each month, and I'd drop them quick updates via text. But as more acquaintances heard about Talia the taskmaster, the request steadily increased. Before long, my phone buzzed day and night with questions like, "Can you get me quotes for a moving company?" or, "Hey, I forgot to cancel my gym membership. Can you do that?" I quickly sensed that juggling dozens of one-off tasks with random text threads and emails was gonna drive me nuts.
I needed a more systematic approach, so I created an online portal using a no-code tool, just a login page, a form to submit tasks, and a basic dashboard showing upcoming deadlines or undone tasks. This portal became my digital office, letting clients see exactly what was on my plate and watch as tasks were more complete. I also set up auto reminders for bill due dates and appointment confirmation, so clients wouldn't need to chase me or forget to check in. With a more professional setup, I felt comfortable introducing a tiered subscription model. My standard plan covered up to 10 tasks per month for $80, and VIP allowed unlimited tasks plus guaranteed same-day responses for $150.
Within a few weeks, I had a handful of VIP clients who appreciated the priority treatment. I also found that local professionals, like a realtor who constantly had to schedule inspections, loved having one resource to coordinate everything. One memorable moment happened when a VIP client texted at 10 p.m., panicking because her flight got canceled and she needed re-booking before a crucial morning meeting. I jumped online, found a workable route, and arranged a rideshare to the airport. She made it with time to spare, and the next day she referred two more colleagues who signed up for VIP service.
Each subscription renewal brought stability that one-off tasks never provided. By the end of my first six months, I had about 25 subscribers, generating roughly $2,000 a month. This consistent income gave me the freedom to refine my tools, upgrade the portal interface, and even add small automation features, like direct links to lodging deals or a simplified system for tracking receipts. Through it all, I've stayed faithful to one guiding principle, keep life admin simple, clear, and personal. Clients don't need endless bells and whistles.
They need confidence that details won't slip through the cracks. As my digital concierge service matures, I'm finding that a well-managed to-do list combined with a friendly human touch can be just what some people need. [Music]
Thank you so much, Toya. Thank you, listeners. Appreciate you being out there.
I make this podcast for you every day, 3,000-plus days and counting. I'm excited to get out on the road soon, and meet some listeners. I'll be touring a number of cities. You can see details on my website, chrisguillebeau.com, timeanxiety.com, specifically for the book. And of course, on my social media, would love to have a chance to hang out soon.
So let's do that. And much more to come, of course, on the podcast, new episodes every day. My name's Chris Guillebeau. You're listening to "Side Hustle School." [Music]
From the "Onward Project."
