Notes from Chris

Episode 305

Jordan Crowder is an independent side hustler who wears tank tops and a pair of boardshorts to work most days, but back in 2013, he was working a typical job as a marketing and art director for a major corporation in Dallas, Texas. Wanting to break free from his golden handcuffs, Jordan worked his way into a full-time remote position with the goal of eventually moving his wife and two young daughters to their dream destination—a little stretch of paradise in the Florida Panhandle called 30A (fun fact: where The Truman Show with Jim Carrey was filmed).

Not knowing a soul on 30A, and having to support his family, he decided to not tell his employer that he was moving (in his words “Hey, I was remote, so what's the difference?!”). Of course, he still did his job well, but in the back of his mind, he knew the clock was gradually counting down until a more permanent change would be required.

So, being the resourceful person that he is, he looked around his newfound paradise for new opportunities.

One thing he noticed during his research was that—like many beach towns—bikes, skateboards, and walking were the preferred methods of transportation on the 30A. Not one to just stick with the status quo, Jordan started looking into other unique methods and products that he could bring to this newfound adventurous pedestrian market.

Not long after that, Jordan had what he calls his “AHA!” moment...

You might be familiar with the music video for Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop,” in which the artist embracing the values of frugality and bargain-basement shopping, undertakes an anthropological exploration to a number of secondhand stores in search of formerly unwanted items. In that magnum opus, Macklemore famously promised to take your grandpa’s style…

In addition to all of that, in parts of the video the artist Macklemore is seen riding on an old school scooter, Jordan began to wax nostalgic about his early days spent meandering about on his old mongoose scooter. And when he went to find an adult version, he stumbled on KickbikeUS. Jordan was blown away and thought, “THIS IS AMAZING!!!!! It's like some incredible Scandinavian team of designers and engineers were reading my diary!"

The 30A road ran along an absolutely amazing coastline dotted with a dozen vibrant, little beach communities that each boasted their own unique vibe and flavor, and Jordan thought that Kickbikes would provide the perfect vehicle for a fit and fun tour that would enable people to get 'off 30A' and see another side of this incredible place he called home. Thus, Jordan's Kickbike tour side hustle was born!

He ended up leaving the corporation in Dallas in order to freelance as a web developer and marketing expert full time, and his Kickbike tours and online sales commissions are bringing in around $1,700-2,700 a month!

All in all, Jordan says that starting and running his Kickbike tours has been a fun ride, and he’s thinking about what comes next. Maybe he’ll roll his way into markets where the adult scooter trend hasn’t yet kicked its way down the road.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Kickbike America & Kickbike 30A: Kick on over to Jordan's websites to learn more about Kickbikes and his unique Kickbike tours!
• Macklemore's “Thrift Shop”: The music video that started Jordan's scooter search and led to his new side hustle

SEE ALSO:

• The Guardian | How to start a tour operator business: Interested in starting your own urban touring company? Get started, here
• Urban Hiker Climbs to Steep Success in San Francisco: A project manager turns a passion for her city into a substantial side income of $50,000 a year
• Pilot’s Side Hustle Takes Flight With Aerial Tours: A pilot in the Pacific Northwest uses his love of the land and his skills in the air to create a profitable side hustle
• London Chocolate Tours Lead to Sweet Success: Banking on a universal love of chocolate, a former temp worker creates a unique side hustle leading guided tours that allow tourists to eat their way through London’s chocolate shops

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

Yours in the revolution,