Archives: Podcast

TBT: Coronavirus Triples Sales of Cold Brew Coffee

What It’s About

An update from a co-founder of a popular cold brew coffee brand.

Notes from Chris

Episode 1349

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 Willem, the guy behind Vertallis, a board game to facilitate deep conversations. A couple weeks ago we featured the graphic designer for dogs who’s now grown into a full-fledged agency, retrieving clients from other industries.

Today, in our latest feature, we’ll hear from Alex French, the co-founder of Bizzy Coffee.

What’s happened since? Well, they started while they were training for an obstacle course race.

Also, one note just in case it’s not clear: Bizzy Coffee ended up joining an accelerator and raising capital, which is not usually the Side Hustle School way. However, this happened after they’d already started the business on the side and were seeing initial success—so it’s not a startup in the typical startup way.

Listen to today’s episode to hear Alex’s updates…

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Bizzy Coffee Get your own caffeine fix from Alex’s website.

 

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

Create your online store with Shopify using an exclusive discount for Side Hustle School listeners. For a limited time, get a free 21-day trial and a 10% discount for a whole year.

Many Side Hustle School listeners are building sites using Shopify's easy-to-learn platform. Try it free today! Learn More

GET YOUR FIRST 1,000 EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS

Social media is nice, but building an email list is still the single best way to get customers and clients for your hustle. It's not hard to get started—sign up for a 30-day trial and join the list-building challenge! You’ll be up and running in no time. Learn More

Quote of the Day
"For anyone who’s launching a product is to get to that first dollar as fast and as cheap as you can. And I think that Amazon is the fastest way to do that while minimizing the investment upfront. "
—Alex French #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Don't Do Business Without It

Side Hustle School is brought to you by American Express.

No matter what you do in business, from working nine-to-five to working five-to-nine, it’s easier when you don’t go it alone. Get the powerful backing of American Express—don't do business without it! 💳 Visit American Express

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.
Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

Q&A: What should I know before I start a Twitch channel?

What It’s About

A listener already has a cooking show on YouTube and is thinking of starting one on Twitch. What should they know?

Notes from Chris

Episode 1348

It’s a good thing platforms like Twitch weren’t around twenty years ago when I was in my younger twenties. The idea of playing online video games all day and getting paid for it—in some cases lots of money—was a fantasy scenario at the time, but one I absolutely would have been into trying if it were an option.

Maybe I missed my calling, but in a lot of ways I’m glad that this did not become a thing until relatively recently.

It’s not just gaming that’s big on Twitch and other streaming channels like YouTube and Mixer. Other genres such as cooking shows are also popular. That’s what we’ll look at today. A listener has an existing show on YouTube, and they want to branch out to another platform. Is there a way to do this without working twice as hard, and either way, what do they need to know?

“I have a cooking show where I demonstrate baking techniques from around the world. I’m trying to reach younger viewers who have been learning about baking during quarantine. I started on YouTube and have been there for a while, but I’m thinking of moving over to Twitch. Is there some way I can be on both YouTube and Twitch without working twice as much? Is there anything else I should know? “

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

 

 

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

Create your online store with Shopify using an exclusive discount for Side Hustle School listeners. For a limited time, get a free 21-day trial and a 10% discount for a whole year.

Many Side Hustle School listeners are building sites using Shopify's easy-to-learn platform. Try it free today! Learn More

GET YOUR FIRST 1,000 EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS

Social media is nice, but building an email list is still the single best way to get customers and clients for your hustle. It's not hard to get started—sign up for a 30-day trial and join the list-building challenge! You’ll be up and running in no time. Learn More

Sponsors & Gratitude

Don't Do Business Without It

Side Hustle School is brought to you by American Express.

No matter what you do in business, from working nine-to-five to working five-to-nine, it’s easier when you don’t go it alone. Get the powerful backing of American Express—don't do business without it! 💳 Visit American Express

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.
Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

Dedicated Runner Goes the Distance for Online Training

What It’s About

A running enthusiast outpaces expectations with an injury prevention and performance blog.

Words of Wisdom

Jason has wise words regarding the difference between a hobby and a serious hustle; “learn business basics so your side hustle has potential to grow. A passion project is fun, but if you’re hoping to pay the bills with your side hustle, learn the fundamentals of pricing, generating traffic, creating products, how to sell, digital marketing, etc.”

Fun Fact

It’s estimated that there are over 47 million runners in the USA alone. More than half of those run at least once per week.

Notes from Chris

Episode 1347
Jason Fitzgerald began running as a freshman in high school back in 1998. He continued to train and compete for over a decade until he graduated college in 2006. Over that time, he became an expert in the art of putting one foot in front of the other.

His obsession with the sport became somewhat of a running joke among his friends. He’d read all the books, had multiple trainers, and was always looking ahead at how he could be stronger, faster and better.

Around the same time he started his career, he started exploring the new world of online communities. For the first time, Jason realized it was possible to build an online business based on your passion. He became determined to do just that, and registered the domain StrengthRunning.com—not quite sure at that stage what he’d do with it.

In the end, it was a running injury that gave him the sole motivation to get started…

Jason set a goal of running the New York marathon. The training went well, as did the race itself. Afterward though, he developed an ITB injury that put him out of action for six months.

It was tough, but the injury had a silver lining. He used the time to assess what went wrong, and he was determined to never let it happen again. That led to him developing new training techniques and workout routines. His training eventually became less demanding but produced better results.

After seeing his own improvement, he devised a plan for his Strength Running website. He’d convert the dormant domain name into a blog sharing tips and strategies to help runners avoid injury.

With a WordPress theme and a free Mailchimp account, Jason launched the site in April 2010 for less than two hundred dollars. He was off and racing.

He didn’t want his site to end up at the back of the pack, so from the very beginning he worked to avoid that fate. First, he made sure to write articles based on keywords that people actually search for. He used Google’s research tools to help with this. For example, instead of titling an article “My Gym Routine,” he’d call it “Gym Workouts for Runners: Functional Strength.”

He spent the next year running reps: more content, more guest posts, and more traffic. A year later he put together a training product as a joint venture with a colleague which sold well. Incredibly, after just one more year, Jason was making enough money through the site to quit his job and go full time. He’d gone from government contractor, to side hustler to full-time blogger in just two short years. A new PR!

Still, Jason didn’t stop there. After realizing the value in selling his own products, he continued creating more of them. Now, through StrengthRunning.com, he sells guides on Mental Toughness, Strength, Nutrition and more. All aimed at runners who want to improve their performance without getting injured.

Combining affiliate sales with product sales brings in multiple six figures in profit from his website every year. It’s safe to say he’s taken the lead in the strength running marathon.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

WEB HOSTING @ $2.49/MONTH

Want to build any kind of website for your hustle? If so, you'll need somewhere to host it! This is the reliable company I've used for many websites. It's cheap, flexible, and offers support 24-7.

Get your own hosting plan for just $2.49 a month!
Learn More

GET $625 IN FREE TRAVEL

Earn 50,000 travel rewards points (enough for 2 round-trip plane tickets or $625 in travel credit). You'll also earn 2x points on all travel and dining spend, with zero foreign transaction fees.

I use this card every day all over the world! ✈️ Learn More

Quote of the Day
"A passion project is fun, but if you’re hoping to pay the bills with your side hustle, learn the fundamentals of pricing, generating traffic, creating products, how to sell, digital marketing, etc."
—Jason Fitzgerald #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Try ShipStation for 60 Days FREE!

Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by ShipStation, the #1 choice of online sellers. 📦

To get a 30-day trial AND an additional month free, click the microphone at the top of their page and enter the word HUSTLE.
Get it Here

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.
Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

CLASSROOM: Selling a Food & Beverage Product

What It’s About

Selling a food and beverage product comes with unique challenges and opportunities. How can you do your research to prepare?

Notes from Chris

Episode 1346

Today, let’s look at the topic of … selling a food & beverage product!

The first thing to note is that this industry poses both unique challenges and opportunities. Let’s not make light of the challenges, because they aren’t small!

First, this industry is more highly regulated than lots of others. For many projects, you don’t need any special licensing at all, but for food, you usually do.

Before you do anything at all in this space, do some research about “cottage laws” in your area. These are regulations that initially come from British common law and have been integrated in other parts of the world, including the U.S. and Canada.

The idea is to make a distinction between the Joes of the world who are selling their oat bars and the kind of business that needs more inspections and approvals. They vary a lot, but often it has to do with the volume of product you are selling.

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

 

 

THIS WEEK’S ASSIGNMENT:

Interested in an F&B side hustle? Look up the local laws and regulations for your area. You might also want to see if there’s a food incubator or local organization that specifically serves aspiring foodpreneurs.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

 

 

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

WEB HOSTING @ $2.49/MONTH

Want to build any kind of website for your hustle? If so, you'll need somewhere to host it! This is the reliable company I've used for many websites. It's cheap, flexible, and offers support 24-7.

Get your own hosting plan for just $2.49 a month!
Learn More

GET $625 IN FREE TRAVEL

Earn 50,000 travel rewards points (enough for 2 round-trip plane tickets or $625 in travel credit). You'll also earn 2x points on all travel and dining spend, with zero foreign transaction fees.

I use this card every day all over the world! ✈️ Learn More

Sponsors & Gratitude

Don't Do Business Without It

Side Hustle School is brought to you by American Express.

No matter what you do in business, from working nine-to-five to working five-to-nine, it’s easier when you don’t go it alone. Get the powerful backing of American Express—don't do business without it! 💳 Visit American Express

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.
Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

School Teacher Designs Specialized Diets for Dogs

What It’s About

A teacher finds howling success barking up food for dogs with dietary restrictions.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Victoria shares an important note about networking; “Not everyone is competition. It is far better having a network of business owners as friends, even if they are other pet food sellers than to see them as competition.”

Fun Fact

More households in the US are having pets. In particular, it’s the younger generation who’s keeping more of them, with millennials and Generation Z accounting for 62% of pet ownership. (source)

Notes from Chris

Episode 1345
Like many dog owners, Singaporean school teacher, Victoria Koay, is in love with her pet. When he fell sick, she took him to the vet right away. There, she learned that Oreo was ill because he didn’t react well to the mainstream dog foods sold in supermarkets. Furthermore, the combination of ingredients he was reacting to was so common in pet foods that she couldn’t simply switch to another brand, leading her vet to suggest that she feed her dog a custom diet.

This suggestion led Victoria down a rabbit hole. Although she’d had Oreo for some time, she didn’t know enough about canine nutrition to customize his diet. She had to start learning, and quickly! She leaped in by taking an online course on nutritional needs for dogs. She also picked up several books to round out her knowledge. Before long, she’d developed a base of knowledge that she could use to successfully care for him, giving him the dog life of his dreams.

But Victoria wasn’t content with just customizing the diet for Oreo. Reaching out to a friend who worked at an animal shelter, she shared that she had picked up this new skill set and was happy to work with the shelter dogs if they ever needed a custom diet. Victoria provided this type of occasional assistance for a while as she continued to hone her skills and gain valuable experience.

But Victoria’s side hustle breakthrough came in July 2017 when she got her first paying client, referred from a friend. A few months later she received another referral, this time through her vet who was now a friend as well. Eventually, the growing referrals led Victoria to set up her own website “Bowls N Blends.” This way, she had somewhere to share answers to her client’s commonly asked questions.

She was careful to make sure everything she shared was accurate and lab-tested. Although she had put in a lot of work to learn about the subject, she wasn’t a vet herself—and she knew that her lack of qualifications might dissuade potential clients from working with her. This meant she made sure to pay extra attention to every detail. She spent time learning exactly what each clients’ dog was like—everything from temperament to daily habits to fussiness when it came to food.

Today, she continues to increase her knowledge and qualifications while gaining more practical experience. One of the things she learned along the way was that working relationships don’t always work out, and that’s okay. Because dog owners love their companions, sometimes obsessively, frustration and worry could often make communication difficult.

In this respect, Victoria now spends more time to evaluate her ability to work with new clients, and isn’t afraid to refer them elsewhere if she thinks that they wouldn’t have a suitable working relationship. She says: be clear about your goals and don’t let jealousy and competition prevent you from doing the best for yourself and your clients. After all, it’s not a dog-eat-dog world.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Learn more about Victoria’s business and specialized dog food at her website, BowlsNBlends.com.

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

GET $625 IN FREE TRAVEL

Earn 50,000 travel rewards points (enough for 2 round-trip plane tickets or $625 in travel credit). You'll also earn 2x points on all travel and dining spend, with zero foreign transaction fees.

I use this card every day all over the world! ✈️ Learn More

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

Create your online store with Shopify using an exclusive discount for Side Hustle School listeners. For a limited time, get a free 21-day trial and a 10% discount for a whole year.

Many Side Hustle School listeners are building sites using Shopify's easy-to-learn platform. Try it free today! Learn More

Quote of the Day
"Not everyone is competition. It is far better having a network of business owners as friends, even if they are other pet food sellers than to see them as competition."
—Victoria Koay #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Learn More With Skillshare!

Supporting the sponsors keeps the show free. Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by Skillshare. 📷

Skillshare is giving Side Hustle School listeners 2 months of unlimited access—for $0.99! Join the 2 million students learning everything from street photography to SEO on Skillshare today!
Get Started Here!

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.


Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

Q&A: How can I increase traffic to my tarot reading website?

What It’s About

A listener is looking to increase traffic to their website. What do they need to know?

Notes from Chris

Episode 1344

Today’s listener is looking for something that a lot of our listeners are looking for: traffic to her website! And not just traffic, but leads, customers, and clients.

This is the point that so many people encounter after the initial obstacles have been cleared. A lot of people get stuck with ideas, then another group gets stuck bringing an idea to life.

Trying to start a side project when you’re already busy can be a lot like an Indiana Jones movie: Once you make it past the flying knives, then you have the snake pit, and then just when you think you’ve got the treasure and all is well, you have to deal with the oversized boulder that begins rolling toward you, sealing off the exit.

How can you clear this final obstacle??

“I’ve been working on, my side hustle is doing tarot intuitive readings. It’s something I’ve been playing with for a few years and I’ve done some live readings at different groups and I get great feedback. I would love to have people book sessions more regularly.

I set everything up. I’ve added it to my website. I have a link to a page where they can book their own sessions. I’ve created a newsletter. I’ve got testimonials. I’ve posted it on social media and crickets. So my question is asking if you have any tips or insights on getting people to see my site and to book sessions. I would really appreciate it. I know that being seen is going to be one of the best ways. And I did just book a booth at a local metaphysical fair for February.”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

 

 

 

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

Create your online store with Shopify using an exclusive discount for Side Hustle School listeners. For a limited time, get a free 21-day trial and a 10% discount for a whole year.

Many Side Hustle School listeners are building sites using Shopify's easy-to-learn platform. Try it free today! Learn More

GET YOUR FIRST 1,000 EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS

Social media is nice, but building an email list is still the single best way to get customers and clients for your hustle. It's not hard to get started—sign up for a 30-day trial and join the list-building challenge! You’ll be up and running in no time. Learn More

Sponsors & Gratitude

Don't Do Business Without It

Side Hustle School is brought to you by American Express.

No matter what you do in business, from working nine-to-five to working five-to-nine, it’s easier when you don’t go it alone. Get the powerful backing of American Express—don't do business without it! 💳 Visit American Express

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.
Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

Q&A: How can I find companies to sponsor my podcast?

What It’s About

A listener seeks to monetize their podcast through sponsorships. What should they know?

Notes from Chris

Episode 1343

Today’s listener is planning to start a podcast … why would anyone want to do that?

Okay, as an active podcast listener you might know the answer: to reach people like you. Millions of people now use podcasts as a primary medium for their news, education, and entertainment, and millions more use it as a secondary medium.

When it comes to doing it as a side hustle—a moneymaking project—what do you need to know in terms of attracting sponsors?

“I’m planning to start a podcast, and I want to do it seriously—maybe not professionally, but I want to plan well and do everything I can to recruit an active audience that will be attractive to sponsors. What do I need to know and how do I find those sponsors? Do I find them in advance or only after the audience is more established? Thanks!”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

 

 

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

Create your online store with Shopify using an exclusive discount for Side Hustle School listeners. For a limited time, get a free 21-day trial and a 10% discount for a whole year.

Many Side Hustle School listeners are building sites using Shopify's easy-to-learn platform. Try it free today! Learn More

GET YOUR FIRST 1,000 EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS

Social media is nice, but building an email list is still the single best way to get customers and clients for your hustle. It's not hard to get started—sign up for a 30-day trial and join the list-building challenge! You’ll be up and running in no time. Learn More

Sponsors & Gratitude

Don't Do Business Without It

Side Hustle School is brought to you by American Express.

No matter what you do in business, from working nine-to-five to working five-to-nine, it’s easier when you don’t go it alone. Get the powerful backing of American Express—don't do business without it! 💳 Visit American Express

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.
Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

TBT: Offline Conversation Game Goes Online

What It’s About

An update from a co-founder of a popular game that inspires authentic human connection.

Notes from Chris

Episode 1342

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 Kaila Piepkow, the graphic designer for dogs who’s now grown into a full-fledged agency, retrieving clients from other industries. A couple of weeks ago we heard from a couple that does faux taxidermy. And of course, many other features since we started this in January.

Today, in our latest feature, we’ll hear from Willem in Amsterdam, the co-founder of a mega-popular board game to inspire conversations. The title of his original episode back in the day was “Ep. 437 – Four Friends Create Conversations, Earn $400,000 in 8 Months.”

What’s happened since? A lot of things, including an even more aggressive expansion, a change in model to provide online options for this previously offline game, and of course—the coronavirus.

Listen to today’s episode to hear Willem’s updates…

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Vertellis: Build stronger conversations in your own life — learn more on their website!

 

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

Create your online store with Shopify using an exclusive discount for Side Hustle School listeners. For a limited time, get a free 21-day trial and a 10% discount for a whole year.

Many Side Hustle School listeners are building sites using Shopify's easy-to-learn platform. Try it free today! Learn More

GET YOUR FIRST 1,000 EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS

Social media is nice, but building an email list is still the single best way to get customers and clients for your hustle. It's not hard to get started—sign up for a 30-day trial and join the list-building challenge! You’ll be up and running in no time. Learn More

Quote of the Day
"I think there’s just a really cool opportunity for a lot of new businesses to spring up and find how we are going to have those real connections online. "
—Willem Jagtman #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Don't Do Business Without It

Side Hustle School is brought to you by American Express.

No matter what you do in business, from working nine-to-five to working five-to-nine, it’s easier when you don’t go it alone. Get the powerful backing of American Express—don't do business without it! 💳 Visit American Express

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.
Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

Q&A: Can I make a different video about dogs every day for a year?

What It’s About

A listener wants to share his love of corgis… every day. Is this a barking mad idea?

Notes from Chris

Episode 1341

Today’s listener loves corgis … a lot. He’d like to make a series of daily videos about them. What should he think about if he decides to pursue this idea?

Did you know that the corgi originated in Wales? They are known for being “Tenacious, Bold, Outgoing, Playful, Friendly, and Protective.”

I’d tell you more, but I don’t want to steal this guy’s thunder … he’s got to make a lot of videos, so I’ll focus here on the business aspect of daily Corgi videos.

“Hi Chris, this is Sean from San Diego and I’ve been listening since episode 1 and think I’ve finally found my side hustle idea. What if I make a video every day for a year, what will happen? I have an idea to teach people about corgis, my favorite kind of dog. There are a lot of corgi lovers out there, and I was inspired by the guy who blogged about fish tanks. Instead of blogging, I’m thinking of making a series of videos … and because Side Hustle School is daily, I’d also like to make a different video every day for a year, just all about corgis. Is this a good idea, and what do you think will happen if I do that? Thanks!”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

 

 

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

Create your online store with Shopify using an exclusive discount for Side Hustle School listeners. For a limited time, get a free 21-day trial and a 10% discount for a whole year.

Many Side Hustle School listeners are building sites using Shopify's easy-to-learn platform. Try it free today! Learn More

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Book Lover Creates LGBTQ+ Subscription Service

What It’s About

Seeing a need for more representation in book sales, a cancer researcher launches their own subscription book service.

Words of Wisdom

Georgia says that she had to fight through some of her fears in order to create her side hustle. “I spent most of the time being so nervous and scared of failure that I felt nauseous, but the only thing worse than failing would have been watching someone else create something that I wanted to create instead.”

Fun Fact

Gay’s the Word is the only LGBTQ+ specific bookshop in England and has been open for over 40 years. It was even featured in the film Pride as the site of the first meeting of the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners group. (source)

Notes from Chris

Episode 1340
A few years ago, British cancer researcher Georgia Mannion-Krase, who identifies as queer, began to intentionally read more books that featured people like her. She loved being able to see herself in the characters, but more than that, she appreciated being introduced to the experiences of people she would otherwise have never known about. Reading these books impacted her life, and she wanted more!

Unfortunately, finding books like these became more and more difficult. Georgia searched for an LGBT+ section in her local bookstore and couldn’t find one. She then turned her search online, but in her words, the selections were “woefully uncurated.” Most of them just included covers of shirtless men on horses. Georgia wanted something more.

After she exhausted her network for recommendations, she started spending more and more time finding new books to read. She quickly found herself really wishing someone would just send her an interesting new book to read every month. Unfortunately, such a thing didn’t exist. At least, not yet.

Now Georgia was faced with preparing to launch her first box. As a longtime listener of Side Hustle School, she says that she knew she needed to set up an online landing page and build up social media buzz. She designed a logo and also signed up for MailChimp, Shopify, and Buffer. This was all new for Georgia, and she was afraid of failure, but she was even more scared of someone else beating her to this idea.

She pushed through the discomfort, and near the end of 2018 she was ready to launch Queer Book Box. She billed it as an LGBT+ book subscription dedicated to getting the best queer books into the hands of people who want them.

The service’s second birthday is coming up later this year and Georgia has plans to keep it growing! Although Queer Book Box already ships to Europe and North America, Georgia hopes to expand to the rest of the world. She is also looking to create more customizable boxes, or including more fiction books in the box.

Georgia is also about to buy a house, and she hopes that Queer Book Box will provide her with extra income to put toward the mortgage payments.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Check out Georgia’s subscription service at her website, Queer Book Box.

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

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Quote of the Day
"The only thing worse than failing would have been watching someone else create something that I wanted to create instead."
—Georgia Mannion-Krase #SideHustleSchool

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Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.
Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau