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“Turning $5 bills into $20 bills is the whole game — and don't forget the tasting spoons.”
In this week's First $1,000 segment, we hear from Frank Mortimer in New Jersey — the self-described "Bee Man of New Jersey." His business, in his words, is turning $5 bills into $20 bills: taking honey his bees produce and selling it at a healthy markup.
In his early attempts selling honey at a farmers market, Frank learned several critical (and entertaining) lessons. Among them: bring a tent and sunscreen — and, crucially, don't forget the tasting spoons. Letting people taste the honey is what turns a passerby into a buyer.
Beekeeping itself, he says, is "forced zen": you have to be fully present or you'll get stung. It's a good metaphor for the focus and care that turn a hobby into a real source of income.
Check out his site at FranktheBeeMan.com, and his book, Bee People and the Bugs They Love. Have a question or an update? Visit SideHustleSchool.com/questions.
