Archives: Podcast

Hardworking Chef Whips Up Artisanal Cheesecakes

What It’s About

This career baker finds a batter way to make and ship his delectable cheesecakes.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Dave shares what has kept him motivated during his journey; “”The job worth doing, is worth doing well.” That quote has been my mission statement in every position I’ve worked, and I truly believe that my pride of workmanship shows in each and every cheesecake I make (and I make a lot of cheesecakes).”

Fun Fact

Some of the earliest evidence of cheesecakes dates all the way back to 2000BC. Since then it’s become one of the most famous desserts in the world and was even served to athletes in the first Olympic Games in 776BC.

Notes from Chris

Episode 1338
David Brooks has been a working chef for thirty-five years. Throughout that time he’s worked in restaurants, bars, supermarkets, and catering companies, bringing culinary delight to eaters in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.

Upon visiting a local chocolatier, David noticed the store selling slices of cheesecake. Being somewhat of a cheesecake connoisseur, he asked the owner about his personal opinion on the cake. “It’s good, but a little pricey” was his response. This sparked the pilot light in David’s mind.

He asked the owner a simple question; “If I could make you a cheesecake just as good, that was fresher and less expensive, would you try it?” With the response of “Yes,” David decided to restart his original side hustle, and Dave’s Artisanal Cheesecakes was born. He celebrated with what he called the “Money Dance.”

David began to network with previous colleagues and employers. One that really worked out was a meeting he arranged between a local food supplier and a restaurant equipment vendor. Putting the two businesses together opened up options for David as well. Both businesses referred him customers as a result which led to an explosion in volume, from a handful of orders per day to over two hundred in a week.

Fast forward a few years to today, and Dave’s Artisanal Cheesecakes is on track to do well over six figures in sales this year. While that isn’t all profit, David makes more than enough to earn a good living. He’s doing it on his own—pandemic be damned—and he’s finally happy in his career.

 

 

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

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
"This thing of ours that began as a side hustle has provided me not yet with riches, but with independence, the very best thing I could find."
—David Brooks #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 to go from farmers market to grocery store?

What It’s About

A listener started baking during the quarantine, and ended up with getting paid for it. How can he take it to the next level?

Notes from Chris

Episode 1337

Did you start baking sourdough bread during the pandemic? If so, you’re not alone. My Instagram feed is filled with baking photos from people who never posted such things before.

Today’s listener is one of those people who started baking while on lockdown, and it led to her first side hustle selling at farmer’s markets. She likes it so much that she wants to do more of it. What’s the next step?

Food and beverage products can be tricky to grow. Later in the month I’ll have a whole Classroom episode specifically on this topic, but for now let’s consider this particular question.

“I started baking more during the pandemic, and then I decided to try hosting a booth at my local farmer’s market. I’ve been selling my vegan oat bars there for two months, and the response is fantastic. Everyone loves them, and they’re sold out every week. Part of me likes the idea of ramping up and seeing how I can achieve more distribution … but I also have no real idea how to do that. I’m just a one-person operation and don’t have a budget to move to a commercial kitchen or hire anyone. How can I grow without over-investing?  “

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: Should I start a new business or expand my current one?

What It’s About

A listener wants to grow their business, but isn’t sure if it’s an all-new project or an add-on.

Notes from Chris

Episode 1336

This listener grew a side hustle to a full-time business—so naturally, now she wants to start another hustle! Is it completely new or an expansion of what she’s already been doing?

What are the factors to consider? I’ll give you four of them in response to this listener’s question.

“I’m a marketing consultant, which is actually a side hustle the term full time for me a few years ago. I’d like to launch a second business or a new product line under my current business. What I’m working on launching is a trade show marketing kit for exhibitors at agricultural trade shows in the U.S. and Canada. I’ll offer a variety of kits and multiple price points and my target customers will be small to mid-size companies that are either just getting started that are wanting to improve their trade show booth design.

I’ve worked in the agriculture industry for 15 years, so I know there’s a market for kits like these. My trade show Marketing Kits will include designs for printed and digital collateral and I’ll sell them through an online store with digital delivery. My current consulting business is pretty well established within a small circle of agriculture companies. But I also have several clients in other industries. So my question is this do you think I should offer my trade show, marketing kids under my current business, or should I start fresh and launch them under a new company?”

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: “Graphic Designer for Dogs” Retrieves New Clients

What It’s About

An update from a graphic designer who’s gone off-leash to broaden her client base.

Notes from Chris

Episode 1335

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.

Recently, we’ve heard from a cybersecurity expert whose side hustle brings in seven-figures, all while he still works his government job, and the “Near and Deer” faux taxidermy service that has proven surprisingly resilient.

Today, in our latest feature, we’ll hear from we hear from a graphic designer who specialized in pet businesses. She’s now trying to go off-leash and retrieve clients in other industries … is she barking up the wrong tree?

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

 

 

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

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 would say building a community or a niche right away definitely helped us grow fast."
—Kaila Piepkow #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: How do I market to my personal network?

What It’s About

A listener seeks advice on how to sell a product to friends and family without being “sales-y.”

Notes from Chris

Episode 1334

Today’s listener has a great question that I know many other listeners will relate to. I often talk about starting where you are and how even if you don’t have a lot of social media followers, you still know people.

But of course, you don’t necessarily want to be selling your friends and family all the time. You might not want to do it at all.

So how do you then manage this conflict of values?

As I said, our listener has a really good example.

“Hi, Chris. This is Eunji from Los Angeles, California. And I’ve been listening to the show for about a year now, and it’s really helped catalyze the launch of my recent STEM coloring book for kids regarding cell biology. My question is regarding how to get over feeling somewhat like a saleswoman or a salesman to your personal network.

To be more specific. I love my day job as a biomedical engineering professor and I would never give it up. Having said that, I wanted to channel my extra entrepreneurial energy. Along the way to completing the coloring book. I knew the best way to start would be to advertise to my existing network of scientists as well as other moms. However, I didn’t want to feel too salesy and hence awkward to people that I would regularly run into. “

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

The Great British Baking Scratch-Off Poster

What It’s About

After her 3D cookie-cutter plans crumbled, a British military officer launched a scratch-off baking poster.

Words of Wisdom

Collette has some advice for those looking to utilize social media: “If you want to save money on marketing on social media, you need to invest LOTS of time and effort in building up relationships organically.”

Fun Fact

Millions of people have started baking as a form of stress relief during the Covid-19 lockdown, with surveys indicating that sugar and flour sales have gone up by 130% and 221% respectively.

Notes from Chris

Episode 1333
When British military officer Collette Preece started baking, she did it as a hobby. It offered her a break from her physically and mentally demanding job—in fact, she says it was just the kind of therapy that she needed. She and her partner James would bake pastries and cookies, exploring fun shapes and unique flavors.

Then, one day Collette stumbled upon a cookie-cutter design that caught her eye: a 3D dinosaur model set. She thought it would be fun to test out with James’ family. Together they baked the cookies, assembled them, and added icing and sprinkles for the finishing touches.

The experience was so positive that Collette decided to look around to see if there were more 3D cutters on the market. When she found out that there weren’t, she thought that might just be an opportunity to design her own. James, an engineer by training, volunteered the two 3D printers he owned to turn the designs into reality.

One of the biggest concerns in the UK at that time was the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE). In response to that problem, an online 3D printing community sprang up, asking for those who had 3D printers at home to produce face shields. Collette and James knew that this was far more important than their business, and joined in to help.

Although their 3D cookie-cutter plans were put on hold, Collette quickly discovered a new opportunity to keep her side hustle dreams alive. As people were staying at home due to a lockdown, a lot of them started trying their hand at baking. Colette wanted to inspire some of these cooped-up homeowners and apartment dwellers to expand the types of tasty treats they could create.

Enlisting the help of a friend who had graphic design skills, she created the 100 Bakes Scratch Off Poster. The poster lists 100 classic bakes to try from hot cross buns to focaccia to treacle tart. Once you make an item, you scratch off the square below the bake to reveal a picture of the item. The goal is to bake all 100!

Their website and design work ended up setting them back about $600, with the posters themselves costing about $1,500 to print. However, Collette has had great success in her marketing techniques, and her quick thinking and hard work has brought in about $1,000 a month since May, with 200 of the original posters sold and counting.

As military officers, Colette and James are no strangers to uncertainty. They know they’ll need to continue to be flexible and adapt to changing circumstances. One challenge they’re facing is the overseas assignment that Collette will have to undertake in the upcoming months.

To ensure that James can keep up, the two of them have since taken their business onto the Fulfilled by Amazon platform, solving any delivery problems that might arise because they’re shorthanded. Pivoting from one product to another, and now to another means of distribution, Collette and James have shown that there isn’t a single cookie-cutter approach to building a side hustle.

 

 

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
"If you want to save money on marketing on social media, you need to invest LOTS of time and effort in building up relationships organically."
—Collette Preece #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: Crowdfunding Basics & Best Practices

What It’s About

Crowdfunding can be a great way to launch a product, but it also takes a lot of work to do it right. What should you know in advance?

Notes from Chris

Episode 1332

Today, let’s look at the topic of … crowdfunding!

Why consider a crowdfunding campaign? One: money, two: other forms of support.

Some projects are better suited for crowdfunding than others. Manufacturing is the classic category. There are hard costs, it’s relatively easy to show the path to completion and why you need the money, and backers like the idea of being part of making something.

These days there are consultants who advise crowdfunding campaigns, but without getting into a ton of detail, here are a few important things to know.

Crowdfunding Basics & Best Practices

  • 1) Be prepared to study up.
  • 2) Give yourself a long timeframe if possible.
  • 3) Line up early support.
  • 4) Carefully consider incentives and tiered rewards
  • 5) Communicate often – if it feels like you’re overcommunicating, great! Keep doing it.
  • 6) The most important days of the campaign are the first and the last.
  • 7) Having a good video is key.
  • 8) Set a real goal – take some kind of risk.

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

 

 

THIS WEEK’S ASSIGNMENT:

Think about something that is weighing you down or causing you stress, and consider if there’s something small (or big) you can do to remove it.

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

Art Classes by Zoom Produce Pandemic Profits

What It’s About

When COVID strikes an art teacher paints a new hustle with online lessons.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Hear how COVID was a catalyst for Margaret to launch her hustle; “In my case, the tragedy that is COVID has opened so many doors and possibilities for me that I have learned to find the good in the bad. Take this time to find something that you love and share it with other people and you never know if that will be a moneymaker.”

Fun Fact

Zoom has experienced immense growth during COVID-19. What was once a tool purely for businesses is now being used in education, for hobbies and even fitness classes. Right now, around 300 million people use the software everyday.

Notes from Chris

Episode 1331
Margaret Blanchfield took up watercolor painting while she was a stay at home mom, and soon found herself quite adept at the practice.

As she honed her skills and began producing quality works, she wanted to share these talents with others. To do that, Margaret started teaching ‘Mommy and Me’ art classes in the makeshift studio she’d built in her garage. There, she offered a place where moms and their toddlers could learn together.

Through friends and word of mouth, this became a successful side gig that Margaret ran until the birth of her second child. That’s when she decided to brush things up and looked for a dedicated space outside her home.

After finding the ideal location, she called the space Sacramento Art Classes, and created a website to match at SacramentoArtClasses.com. She puts the choice of domain name down as her best business decision. By using such an obvious name, much of the marketing work was already done. The website naturally ranked high in Google searches, and parents and kids from all over the city came to learn how to paint.

The space was never a huge moneymaker, but it did bring in some side income which was helpful with two small children. It was even more important because, by now, Margaret had separated from her husband and was a single mom. Without the support of a dual income, she looked for additional ways to make more money.

While saddening, things weren’t all doom and gloom. Margaret loved teaching! It was a way for her to continue teaching art, without the high overheads and stress of having a dedicated space. Yet the change wasn’t over yet, as you might guess, something unexpected happened in the spring of 2020.

The shakeup meant Margaret started teaching remotely, which gave her new skills in technology she’d never been exposed to. She mastered Zoom and became an expert in remote teaching. She knew this wasn’t something to gloss over and, after thinking about it, began to paint a new picture in her life.

Margaret felt she could use her artistic, teaching, and technology skills to try something new. Specifically, she thought of offering art classes online via Zoom and Facebook Live. The lessons could be the same as the ones she used to offer in her old business. The only difference would be the method of delivery.

To test the waters, she wrote to an old email list of six hundred people she’d collected from her time running the studio. In addition, she posted a Facebook event and let her seven hundred Facebook friends know about it. To her astonishment, she amassed four hundred RSVPs!

Margaret is three months into this experiment turned legitimate side hustle and things have only improved. Her free classes now reach an average of three hundred attendees and, combined, she’s earning well over fifteen hundred dollars per month in addition to her teacher’s salary. She sees this is only the beginning and wants to keep growing.

What skillset do you have that you can rework and reposition during this strange, seemingly-never-ending year of 2020? I really believe there’s something out there for you, just like Margaret and so many others.

 

 

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

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
"If there’s something you’ve always wanted to do, stop waiting and try it."
—Margaret Blanchfield #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 get past the plateau I keep encountering?

What It’s About

A listener has done well to grow his hustle to a certain point, but sales have plateaued. What should he try next?

Notes from Chris

Episode 1330

Today’s caller has been able to build his project to $1,000 a month, but can’t move past the plateau. It’s a great start! What comes next?

Full disclosure: I struggle with this too.

Very often I’ve found myself feeling that I’m doing well but could be doing so much better.

My answer has been a combination of trying to improve while also trying to make sure I’m always playing to my strengths and not just being average at everything… because average is boring. There’s no leverage in average.

“Hi Chris, this is Kevin from Dallas and I’ve been listening to the show for the past couple of years and have appreciated the helpful content. Speaking of help, I’m struggling with always hitting the same plateau.

I’ve started three projects, and they all get to a certain point. I’m able to develop a product and see a few sales. My last project even earned $1,000 one month, but then it stalled out. I know you say that going from $1,000 to $2,000 isn’t twice as hard, but I don’t know why I keep encountering this plateau or what to do about it. Thanks for your help and keep up the great work.”

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 to grow a blog for couples separated by borders?

What It’s About

A listener wants to help separated couples learn about the U.S. visa process. How can she promote her blog and services?

Notes from Chris

Episode 1329

I got a great question today about how to market and grow a blog focused on information for couples where one of them is living outside the country.

This longtime listener is an immigration attorney who’s starting a series of courses for couples separated by borders. The blog is going to support the business, but she’s struggling a bit with it.

I always get excited when I hear about listener projects, and I also feel good when I have a good answer for their question, and I think this is helpful for a lot of other listeners.

“Hi, Chris. This is Katie from Boulder, Colorado, and I’ve been listening to this show since the beginning. I’m a self-employed immigration lawyer and my side hustle is Honey Visa School, which is a series of online courses to help people bring their partner to the United States on either a fiancee or a spousal visa without hiring a lawyer. My question is, I know there’s a market for this service, but how do we get the word out and grow my following?

I created a blog for Honey Visa School, but I’m struggling to promote it. How does a blog become popular, especially when the topic is personal and not something a lot of readers are going to repost on social media? Also, I’ve previously marketed my firm through informative talks to community organizations. But I’m not sure how to adapt this for my side hustle because of the pandemic. Have you heard of anyone doing this successfully? Thanks. And I look forward to hearing your thoughts.”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

 

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Check out Katie’s blog and services at her website, HoneyVisa.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

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