Notes from Chris

Episode 2088

Today’s episode is part of a new feature we’re doing in 2022 called ‘Your First $1,000.’ As you might surmise from the title, this is all about how someone made their first $1,000.

How did they get to that point? Not their first $100,000—that’s cool, but it would probably be a long story.

One thing I’ve learned is that once you begin to earn real money, the steps required to go to the next level—whether it’s $1,000 to $2,000, or even to $5,000 or $10,000 are often easier than that first real paycheck.

With that in mind, today’s feature comes from Amanda Peterson in Kansas City. She signed up for the Amazon Merch on Demand program and got to work. Within a few months, she’d earned more than $1,000 and continues to earn income passively each month.

But what about those early days—how did she make that happen, what did it feel like, and what did she learn?

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

SEE ALSO:

• Military Spouse Starts Subscription Box Mission:When an HR Director’s husband is away on military deployment, she uses the alone time to march toward a subscription box.
• Think Inside the Subscription Box:Looking for more community, a North Carolina web agency owner starts a subscription box for female entrepreneurs. It’s supposed to be a referral tool for her agency, but it ends up becoming a full-time business of its own.
• Nature-Loving Neighbors Create Kids Subscription Box: When two couples can’t figure out how to get their kids outdoors and away from electronics in the winter, a personal challenge blossoms into an unbeLEAFable side hustle.

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

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2087

A listener is trying to grow his Instagram following. Seems easy enough, right? Actually, no—lots of people struggle with this! It’s a crowded space with lots of people trying to attract attention.

Rather than talk about tactics, let’s look at the bigger picture: why does someone attract followers? What is the crucial characteristic? We’ll look at two characteristics, in fact: knowledge (authority) and relatability.

“I’m wondering if you can settle a discussion between a friend and me. We’re both trying to grow our Instagram followings and eventually monetize through affiliate programs and maybe coaching.

Our discussion is about what people want the most when they choose to follow and listen to an expert: is it the knowledge they have (and how they share it) or is it their relatability and approachability?

Presumably you have to have some of both qualities—but if you had to choose, where would you put the emphasis?”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

SEE ALSO:

• Catholic Designer Creates Stylish Apparel Line: What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but not sell any t-shirts? This designer cast his bread upon the waters and ended up with a profitable fashion line.
• Seattle Couple Creates New “Income LiveStream”: When a married couple runs into logistical problems at their wedding, it leads to an innovative service that other engaged couples need during the pandemic.
• Role-Playing Pastor Rolls The Dice On $2800/Month Hustle: Listener success story! This Presbyterian minister turns to his lifelong interest in role-playing games to set up a sustainable second income source.

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

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2086

I believe that just about every skill can be monetized, you just have to think creatively and learn to adapt the skill to something people will pay for.

Today’s caller is skilled at gaming—how can he apply this principle? He also has a caveat: no eSports. He doesn’t want to play games competitively, he wants to take this knowledge and earn from it.

“I’m good at video games … like really good. I’ve been playing at least five hours a day for twenty years. Games have changed a lot during that time, but I’ve kept up. From the Atari 2600 to the PS5, I can hang.

So since you say that every talent can be monetized … how can I monetize this? I don’t want to compete in eSports, but I’m open to any other ideas.”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

SEE ALSO:

• Catholic Designer Creates Stylish Apparel Line: What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but not sell any t-shirts? This designer cast his bread upon the waters and ended up with a profitable fashion line.
• Seattle Couple Creates New “Income LiveStream”: When a married couple runs into logistical problems at their wedding, it leads to an innovative service that other engaged couples need during the pandemic.
• Role-Playing Pastor Rolls The Dice On $2800/Month Hustle: Listener success story! This Presbyterian minister turns to his lifelong interest in role-playing games to set up a sustainable second income source.

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

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2085

I believe we can learn as much from failure as we can from success, if not more. It’s with this principle in mind that I offer you a weekly segment called Failure Friday: a collection of short stories all about mistakes, missteps, disasters, and of course, failure.

Just like our Throwback Thursday segment, you’ll hear directly from side hustlers who have struggled to get something off the ground. They’ll tell you a short story of something that went very wrong.

The stories will vary, but often it starts with an idea, what they thought would happen and what really happened—and of course, what they learned.

Today’s short story features Gerald from the midwest. He wants to remain anonymous beyond that short description—you’ll understand why when you hear the story!

This is a fun one. Perhaps I’ll dedicate it to everyone out there who’s working on something of their own during company time.

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

SEE ALSO:

• Marketer Creates Six-Figure Subscription Box Success: He looked for a simple solution for a client, and didn’t find one—so he spent the next year building it.
• Comic Book Curator Creates Custom Crate Subscription: A Sacramento-based comic and collectibles owner sparks an interest in reading with a monthly comic book subscription box service.
• A Packed Closet Leads to Secondhand Subscription Boxes: A professional organizer finds a way to stitch her passion for thrift shopping into profits.

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

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2084

Welcome to Throwback Thursday / “Where are they now?” where we take an in-depth look at someone who’s story has evolved considerably since we first featured them.

Last week, we heard from the co-creator of a boxed party game for adults called You Don’t Know My Life. During the pandemic, he started another side hustle hosting virtual game nights for big companies.

Today, in our latest feature, we’ll hear from Trevor Rappley, the founder of FranchiseFilming.com.

What’s happened since we first featured him long ago? Well, one thing is … he’s increased his team and his business 10x! He’ll say more about that, along with some very helpful advice on building a team and delegating. It’s blunt, frank advice, but someone needs to hear it.

With that, let’s hand it over to Trevor.

Listen to today’s episode to hear more…

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Thanks to Trevor for sharing his updates with us. Check out his website at FranchiseFilming.com.

SEE ALSO:

• Raver Turns LED-Powered Gloves Into Bright Future: When a raver-turned-salesperson falls in love with an underground artform, he turns it into a successful side business.
• Bright Idea Leads Chicago Woman to Million-Dollar Hustle: A Chicago-based plastic recycling sales rep overcomes her fears and doubts to transform her love for DIY lamp shades and $10 in supplies into a multi-million dollar business.
• 3D Printing Brings Cosplay Into 21st Century: With a 3D printer and sense of imagination, a California natural gas industry worker takes superhero DIY cosplay to a whole new level.

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

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2083

One of the ways you can profit from your knowledge is by compiling that knowledge into a detailed guide, report, or owner’s manual of sorts—then selling that material. This is a tried-and-true model that has been around for many years and isn’t going anywhere.

If you’re looking for your next idea, this might be it.

But today’s caller has a smart clarifying question: what kinds of guides sell the best?

“I’ve heard a bunch of stories of someone writing an owner’s manual or some other guide to a certain topic. Also, I think you used to sell guides like that, right?

I like writing and would love to start getting some passive income. I don’t know if I’m a subject matter expert in anything, but I’m a quick learner. Before I race off to research and write something that no one wants, do some kinds of guide sell better than others? I assume the answer is yes, but how do I know the difference?”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

SEE ALSO:

• Catholic Designer Creates Stylish Apparel Line: What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but not sell any t-shirts? This designer cast his bread upon the waters and ended up with a profitable fashion line.
• Seattle Couple Creates New “Income LiveStream”: When a married couple runs into logistical problems at their wedding, it leads to an innovative service that other engaged couples need during the pandemic.
• Role-Playing Pastor Rolls The Dice On $2800/Month Hustle: Listener success story! This Presbyterian minister turns to his lifelong interest in role-playing games to set up a sustainable second income source.

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

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2081

Today’s episode is part of a new feature we’re doing in 2022 called ‘Your First $1,000.’ As you might surmise from the title, this is all about how someone made their first $1,000.

How did they get to that point? Not their first $100,000—that’s cool, but it would probably be a long story.

One thing I’ve learned is that once you begin to earn real money, the steps required to go to the next level—whether it’s $1,000 to $2,000, or even to $5,000 or $10,000 are often easier than that first real paycheck.

With that in mind, today’s feature comes from Reyna Silvante in Chicago. In the early part of the pandemic, she was working remotely and decided to start a dogwalking business called Day Job Dogwalking.

But what about her first $1,000—how did she make that happen, what did it feel like, and what did she learn?

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

SEE ALSO:

• Military Spouse Starts Subscription Box Mission:When an HR Director’s husband is away on military deployment, she uses the alone time to march toward a subscription box.
• Think Inside the Subscription Box:Looking for more community, a North Carolina web agency owner starts a subscription box for female entrepreneurs. It’s supposed to be a referral tool for her agency, but it ends up becoming a full-time business of its own.
• Nature-Loving Neighbors Create Kids Subscription Box: When two couples can’t figure out how to get their kids outdoors and away from electronics in the winter, a personal challenge blossoms into an unbeLEAFable side hustle.

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

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2080

A listener made a bet with a friend that they can start a business and get at least one paying customer in a single day. Let’s take that bet and see if we can help!

“My friend and I are always talking about different business ideas, and we recently made a bet. My friend said that I wouldn’t be able to start a business in a single day, and naturally I said I could!

Here are the parameters: I can think about my idea and plan things out for as long as I want, but once I start doing any actual work on it, I have 24 hours to land a paying customer or I lose the bet.

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

SEE ALSO:

• Catholic Designer Creates Stylish Apparel Line: What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but not sell any t-shirts? This designer cast his bread upon the waters and ended up with a profitable fashion line.
• Seattle Couple Creates New “Income LiveStream”: When a married couple runs into logistical problems at their wedding, it leads to an innovative service that other engaged couples need during the pandemic.
• Role-Playing Pastor Rolls The Dice On $2800/Month Hustle: Listener success story! This Presbyterian minister turns to his lifelong interest in role-playing games to set up a sustainable second income source.

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

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2079

A couple months ago I wrote about my experience with the Web3 app known as StepN, which pioneered the move-to-earn concept. Just as it sounds, you could get paid for walking or running. Of course, nothing is free, so to earn money in the form of tokens, you first have to invest in several pairs of virtual sneakers.

A listener is wondering what the latest news is with StepN, as well as move-to-earn in general. It’s time for an update!

“I read your blog post about StepN and how you were earning $200/day from running. Is that still happening? I don’t run, but I could walk a lot if someone paid me $200/day for it.

What is this move-to-earn concept all about, and can it still be sustainable for people entering now?”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

SEE ALSO:

• Catholic Designer Creates Stylish Apparel Line: What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but not sell any t-shirts? This designer cast his bread upon the waters and ended up with a profitable fashion line.
• Seattle Couple Creates New “Income LiveStream”: When a married couple runs into logistical problems at their wedding, it leads to an innovative service that other engaged couples need during the pandemic.
• Role-Playing Pastor Rolls The Dice On $2800/Month Hustle: Listener success story! This Presbyterian minister turns to his lifelong interest in role-playing games to set up a sustainable second income source.

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

Yours in the revolution,