Archives: Podcast

Q&A: How to attract a low-tech audience to blockchain?

What It’s About

How to market a high-tech idea to unfamiliar customers.

Notes from Chris

Episode 1119

WToday’s listener wants to help a low-tech audience to understand and benefit from blockchain technology. How should she proceed? I found this question really interesting. There’s power in helping a group of people gain access to a market or platform or opportunity that has otherwise eluded them.

However, I’ve also seen it done the wrong way. I’m reminded of someone who once dressed up in character as a Luddite senior citizen as part of a mission to help seniors with tech. Even though this woman herself was in the same demographic, I found it strange … and I’m pretty sure that a lot of the people she was trying to help did so, too.

To succeed in your goal of translation or adaptation, you need to be very careful with your assumptions. I also think there’s a critical question to answer (and make sure you have a good answer!) at the outset.

“My side hustle is helping those with no technical skills enter into the ledger platform technology known as Blockchain. Currently, I have several possibilities for accomplishing my goal. My question is: how do I attract my ideal audience and get this system validated? Any insight you could provide is appreciated!”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

SEE ALSO:

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
"How do you effectively pitch without being annoying? Keep it brief, make a personal connection if you can, say what you’re looking for, and say why you think it could be good for that person."
—#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

TBT: Local Food Tours Chomp Down on Profit

What It’s About

Our second Throwback Thursday episode features a Denver food tour business that has made a lot of stomachs very happy.

Notes from Chris

Episode 1118

Welcome to something new! We’re calling it Throwback Thursday / “Where are they now?” and we’re going to an in-depth look at someone who’s story has evolved considerably since we first featured them.

Last week was our first one of these. It was all about a New York City musician who creates a suite of online resources to learn jazz. It began as a hobbyist blog and is now a booming multiple six-figure business.

Today, in our second feature, we’ll hear from a woman in Denver who has an idea to offer private cooking lessons. That goes well, but she discovers an even bigger opportunity in the world of food tours. When we featured her a while back, her business was already doing gangbusters.

What’s happened since?

Listen to today’s episode to hear Jessica’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
"Do a deep dive on the details, make sure you’re really committed to the operational side of running the business because that is what will keep you in business. "
—Jessica Baumgart #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 can I sell an eco-friendly product?

What It’s About

A product in search of an ideal customer … but who actually is that customer?

Notes from Chris

Episode 1117

Today’s caller has made a foldable tote bag attached to a set of eating utensils. How will she find her ideal customers? By the way, what do I mean by ideal customer? I wrote about this in the SIDE HUSTLE book on day 8: “Have imaginary coffee with your ideal customer.”

The short version is that somewhere out there, there’s a single person who is best suited to your offer—not a huge “target market,” but a single person who represents many other potential buyers.

In this episode: understanding the customer for this product, and some ideas on how to find them.

“I invented an eco-friendly product called Fork in the Rose. It is a foldable tote bag attached to a set of eating utensils. It replaces disposable bags and eating utensils.

Most initial reactions have been positive and I have sold some sets but I am not a great salesperson. I posted pictures online but I haven’t gotten a good response yet. I sell them for $12 my cost because I can only buy a small amount of supplies is around $4. I have been trying to find someone at Alibaba.com to make them but I haven’t found them yet.”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

 

 

  MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Alibaba: A massive online marketplace for those thinking about selling/reselling a product.
  • Want to launch your own product and are considering working with a supplier through Alibaba? Listen to Extended Cut Episode #400 and look for the Shopify guide to Alibaba, posted in the notes.

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

Avid Hikers Step Into Comfy Athletic Socks

What It’s About

Step by step, one couple climbs their way to sell the best socks in the world.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Elliott says that above all else, focus on the product. He says that advertising, building mailing lists and having Kickstarter campaigns can all wait. It’s all about getting the product in your hands and making sure that it’s amazing.

Fun Fact

The world’s oldest known socks are from 250 to 420 CE and were discovered near the Nile River, where an old Greek colony was once located. Just like Elliott and Kim’s socks, those ones were also made of wool!

Notes from Chris

Episode 1116
Kim and Elliott Beaty love the outdoors. In fact, they love it so much that a few years ago, they decided to move into an RV in order to travel across the country visiting their bucket list of hiking spots.

When they first embarked on the adventure, Elliott was working as a software engineer and Kim as a Category Manager for an advertising firm. Although they didn’t mind their jobs, they also didn’t love them. They had a craving to work for themselves, even if it meant earning less money at first.

Setting out to create something that was truly their own, the couple decided to brainstorm side hustle ideas. They thought back to what they knew best: hiking. And according to Elliott, the single most important piece of hiking gear is a good pair of socks. Both he and Kim were passionate about what made a hiking sock great. (You have to love something in life…)

Not knowing where to look, Kim and Elliott started Googling. They ended up contacting eight manufacturers in the United States. Only one got back to them—and that company turned them down, saying their order size was too small. Unsure of what to do next, the couple kept searching, focusing more on overseas factories in Asia.

Unfortunately, six months later, they still hadn’t found the right partner. The manufacturers they’d tried made mostly cotton socks, and didn’t really know how to make that magical hiking sock of their dreams. That’s when Kim and Elliott attended an Outdoor Retailer Show in Denver. They met the company that makes socks for Under Armour… and the team agreed to make their prototype!

They went through about 15 test runs, each of which cost anywhere from $150-$300. Finally, after months of trying, they had created one hiking sock to rule them all.

With their product perfected, the couple was ready to get their business off the ground— but they hit upon a series of disappointments. A planned Kickstarter campaign failed to gain momentum, and they began to see signs that the subscription box service might not be the right business model for them.

Two steps forward, but at least one step back … or was it two?

Elliott and Kim put themselves in their customer’s shoes, and ended up realizing that people were really loyal to their sock brands. So loyal that Elliott even saw them passionately arguing online about the best hiking socks. (Again, you have to love something in life…)

Instead of doing a subscription box, the couple created an online store called Mammoth Wool where they posted their socks. The product went live on July of 2019.

Although they only started selling socks in July of 2019, they are already bringing in over $1,000/month. Soon, they’ll release a winter sock and a no-show sock.

After a number of adjustments, Elliott says they’re happy with how Mammoth Wool is progressing now. They’ve taken one small step for hikers, and a giant leap for their future.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Mammoth Wool: Get your own pair of socks at Kim and Elliot’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

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
"Find someone that has experience building that type of product first. That was the slowest part for us and it would have been worth paying somebody as a ‘consultant’ to jump start that process."
—Elliott Beaty #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: Different Categories of Side Hustles

What It’s About

Is your side hustle idea a product or a service?

Notes from Chris

Episode 1115

Welcome to Week 4 of our new Classroom series!

Last week we talked where moneymaking ideas come from. I gave you a number of examples, including some suggested by listeners (my favorite: call your dog on Skype service). We looked at four ways to find high-potential ideas:

  • Observation: paying attention to the world around you, perhaps noticing something that could be improved
  • Problem solving: making lists of problems and brainstorming solutions in the form of products and services
  • Asking questions: looking for the reasons, stated or subtle, for why people spend money (and deciphering what else they might buy)
  • Experimentation: just trying out whatever comes to mind

Most business ideas fall into two broad categories: providing a service or selling a product, one way or another. A product is something you sell, a service is something you provide. Products can be digital and services can be virtual, but most of what we’ll look at this year can fit into one of those two big buckets.

Listen to today’s Classroom episode to learn more…

 

 

THIS WEEK’S ASSIGNMENT:

For every idea you’ve come up with so far, classify it as a product or service and notice if you learn anything from that process. If you’ve had five ideas, are they all products, all services, or a combination of the two?

Which of the ideas are you most excited about, which of them seem the most feasible, and which seem to have the most potential?

The answers to those questions are going to lead us straight into next week’s CLASSROOM episode, which is all about deciding on the best idea to pursue at any given time.

 

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
"Don’t get hung up on any finer distinction; just think about that general rule: a product is something you sell, a service is something you provide. "
—#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 to go from prototype into manufactured product?

What It’s About

A listener wonders how to turn her idea into a physical product she can sell.

Notes from Chris

Episode 1114

Today’s listener wants to sell non-screen entertainment kits for kids. How can she go from concept to on-the-shelf product?

We’ve been looking at ideas … specifically, where do moneymaking ideas come from? This one comes from personal experience and solving a problem. Kids might not think this is a problem—it can be difficult to get them away from their devices—but for a lot of parents, it is.

So she’s got an interesting idea, and has already made a lot of progress bringing it to life. What comes next? Let’s find out in this next exciting chapter in The Year of Interaction…

I’ve been devising a range of portable kits to combat the reliance on screen-based devices. Each kit is compact and ideal for family travels, dining out, or any other challenging moments on the go. They are designed to cultivate creativity and grow with the child for maximum repeat value. I’ve handmade my prototypes and successfully tested them on my children and their friends, but now I’m stuck with how to transform my designs into professional products ready for sale.

I’ll probably have to get them made in China, but I don’t know how to source and decide on a manufacturer, or keep my quantities low for the time being. Also, would it be best to purchase the products ready for sale, or get the parts and assemble them myself?

 

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

 

SEE ALSO:

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

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

Nanny Cashes In On Custom Kicks

What It’s About

A nanny transforms shoes into walking works of art.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Here’s some words of encouragement from Dawn; “If it’s a passion, go for it. Start small and build up from there. Ask friends and family to help build your side hustle up! I am very lucky to have great people in my life that have supported me every step of the way.”

Fun Fact

The average American will spend over $20,000 dollars on shoes across 268 pairs in their lifetime. With that many shoes being sold there are plenty of options for side hustlers to make money in this market.

Notes from Chris

Episode 1113

Dawn Chaplain has been working as a full-time nanny for many years. Every day she puts one foot in front of the other and gets things done. This isn’t just true of her day job, but also the many different side hustles she’s tried.

Over the years, Dawn has sold refinished furniture, offered photography services, and gone through reflexology training, just to name a few of her pursuits. At some point she became attracted to Etsy, an online marketplace of handmade goodness.

She loved the site and spent hours perusing other people’s online stores, marveling at the fantastic creations. She noticed that diaper cakes were becoming popular. These are stacks of clean diapers decorated as an ornament for baby showers—another creation of the Pinterest and Instagram crowd.

Dawn made a few and sold them on the site under the name “Too Cute Diaper Cakes.” But she never figured out a way to make enough money to make it worthwhile. Among other challenges, they were difficult to ship.

Still, she liked the creative pursuit, so she kept on the lookout for a more profitable venture that would also satisfy her creative desire. As it turns out, her niece’s thirtieth birthday would provide the next opportunity…

Dawn’s niece wanted some Little Mermaid heels, and asked if she could make some for her. Dawn had never done anything like that before, but was always up for a challenge. She agreed to lace up and make the shoes, turning a plain pair of heels into a Little Mermaid themed design.

It was so enjoyable—both for her and the party guests—that Dawn decided to try selling them, using the name Heavenly Heels.

Building on The Little Mermaid, she came up with a range of designs: everything from Disney princesses to Super Mario Brothers. After selling a few to friends and family for a small profit, she looked to pick up the pace.

On that former Etsy store, she posted pictures of the heels she’d made, and asked if anyone was interested.

Sure enough, before long she had found buyers for a pair of Super Mario Brothers heels, as well as some Batman themed heels. With the money earned, she bought more shoes that she could work her magic on and resell.

In addition to wedding themes, Dawn targets certain styles around the holiday periods. In fact, she had one of her best months yet during Halloween 2019 when her Nightmare Before Christmas heels sold out.

Some months are definitely better than others, and Dawn is currently earning around six thousand dollars a year selling custom high heels. Not enough to stop working as a nanny, but it’s a solid, supportive supplement to her paycheck.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Dawn’s Etsy Store: Check out Dawn’s amazing footwear lineup at her store.
  • Like other makers and artists, Dawn sells her footwear on Etsy.

 

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

RELIABLE WEBHOST FOR $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 my past 5 websites. It's cheap, flexible, and you can get support 24 hours a day.

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

Quote of the Day
"Start small and build up from there. Ask friends and family to help build your side hustle up! I am very lucky to have great people in my life that have supported me every step of the way."
—Dawn Chaplain #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 prioritize next steps for a series of planners?

What It’s About

A listener wonders if she should prioritize using Instagram to find her target audience.

Notes from Chris

Episode 1112

Today’s listener is already doing a lot of things right. She’s designed and printed a series of planners for new moms struggling with postpartum depression. With this specific product and a clear target market … she’s wondering what comes next? How can she reach that target market with her product?

You could do so many things, but our challenge in this world of unlimited choice is that you can’t do everything. That’s why having a plan is not just valuable, it’s critical.

My side hustle is a line of wellness planners for moms. I originally created versions of these planners to help myself with postpartum depression and anxiety, and I hope to help other women as well.

My question is about how to best prioritize my next steps. I have products, website, and an Etsy account. I have a story in my head that I need to build up Instagram followers before reaching out to influencers, and I’m curious about your thoughts.

Also, am I right in thinking that cold emails are the best way to connect with potential sales avenues? … How do you effectively cold email without sounding like an annoying salesperson?

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

SEE ALSO:

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
"How do you effectively pitch without being annoying? Keep it brief, make a personal connection if you can, say what you’re looking for, and say why you think it could be good for that person."
—#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

TBT: Jazz Musician Becomes High Earner

What It’s About

Our first Throwback Thursday episode features updates from a musician who creates online resources to learn jazz.

Notes from Chris

Episode 1111

Welcome to something new! We’re calling it Throwback Thursday (TBT) / “Where are they now?” and we’re going to an in-depth look at someone who’s story has evolved considerably since we first featured them.

The project is a suite of online resources to learn jazz. It began as a hobbyist blog and is now a booming multiple six-figure business.

Brent’s project was interesting in lots of ways. One unique way is that this is one of the few projects we’ve ever featured where the featured side hustler didn’t start the project but rather took it over from a friend who didn’t have much time to devote to it.

We first featured Brent LONG ago in the first year of the show (Episode #69), and then once more in the 100 SIDE HUSTLES book.

So here we are two years later, checking in…

Listen to today’s episode to hear Brent’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

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Quote of the Day
"Figure out what your zone of genius is and that means really looking at yourself and asking “who am I qualified to help the best?”"
—Brent Vaartstra #SideHustleSchool

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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

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To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

Should I hire a lawyer and get a patent?

What It’s About

We explore the conversation around getting a patent and protecting your idea.

Notes from Chris

Episode 1110

Advice about getting a patent is not one-size-fits-all. It’s something that I’ve had to get schooled on because I don’t know a lot … but at least now I know what I don’t know. It’s taken me a while, but I think I actually have a decent answer to this question which comes up from time to time. Today it arrives from Rebecca, so let’s dive into her situation, along an answer that promises to be at least somewhat informed.

“I have an idea. I can’t stop thinking about it. It is something I need and everyone else I ask also needs. I cannot figure out how to decide if I need a patent. You say often not to worry about that, to just focus on the idea, but once in a while, it seems it was important someone went through that process. The money to hire a lawyer seems daunting.

But it is a simple idea that would be easily copied, quickly. I also need to figure out how to get a prototype and manufacture it. I love the makersrow website I came to through a few of your posts, but my idea is not fashion or textile-related. I wonder if there is another “matching” website you have heard of for 3-D designers, like makers row, but for more physical hard products, not fashion/clothes/textiles.”

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

Quote of the Day
"The greatest challenge you face isn’t that someone will steal your idea, it’s that no one will care enough to buy it. Work on that!"
—#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