Archives: Podcast

Marketer Connects Filipino Employees with Global Employers

What It’s About

In searching for outsourced help, this marketer ends up building an all-new business.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

John says that if you are struggling running your business and need help, then try outsourcing. But first, you need to read more on what outsourcing is and how it’s done. He says it’s not a complicated process but business owners need to know every bit of it so they don’t end up frustrated and in the dark while going through the process.

Fun Fact

Businesses understand that they need to have the right number of people to ensure that they can grow. In fact, getting the right people on board has led the recruitment and staffing market in the US to grow to the tune of US$150 billion.

Notes from Chris

Episode 945

When Internet marketer John Jonas was building marketing websites, he was working anywhere from 10 to 12 hours a day. With a day job and a family, he realized that this arrangement was not ideal for him … or his family. The obvious solution was to outsource some of his work to someone else. He needed to work smarter, not harder.

This was in 2009. At that time, there wasn’t a comprehensive online marketplace you could just turn to when you needed virtual help with a task. John had to go through an agency—which was a frustrating experience. All he could do was inform the agency of his requirements and then accept whoever they sent his way.

As you might expect, the first candidate that he received was someone who did not meet his meets.

Subsequent candidates that he looked for got better, but with so many aspects of the process outside his control, John always had a nagging concern that the work would not be completed satisfactorily. This was a big pain point, but he thought that it might just be something that he could fix.

True to his mantra of working smarter and not harder, John acted by bypassing the agency and hiring his own programmer from the Philippines. With his degree in computer science, he was able to explain exactly what he needed and could verify that work was done properly.

He had little idea what that would cost him initially—all he knew was that he was paying that person $500/month. This was a win-win solution: it was far cheaper than hiring another programmer in the U.S.—and at the same time, this was a wage that was significantly higher than the market rate in the Philippines. It went so well, in fact, that he decided to keep going … and to create a job site as a platform for hiring Filipino workers.

This was a conscious choice after working with several employees from the Philippines. Not only were many of them fluent in English, but it was also a location in which it made financial sense for work to be outsourced—employers could lower their costs while workers would get a higher wage. This was a value proposition that was not immediately obvious since John’s site, OnlineJobs PH, was built at a time when outsourcing and remote work wasn’t as common as it is now. But through webinars, teleseminars, and videos, John evangelized about the reasons why people should consider it. This proved to be the most effective way of marketing since it was deeply personal.

As OnlineJobs PH grew, the main source of referrals quickly became word of mouth. Growth was organic, with employers and employees joining because of the good things they heard, as well as through methods such as SEO. Ten years later, the model has proven to be sustainable: John now has 21 virtual employees from the Philippines working for him. This year, Online Jobs PH has over 5,000 paying employers and earned revenue of over $4 million.

It’s worth noting that John’s initial goal was not to set up an online job board; he only did so after trying to outsource some of his work and discovering that there was such a gap in the market. Solving his own problem, however, has turned a small idea into a daily hustle—not just for himself, but for thousands of people around the world.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • OnlineJobs PH: Looking to outsource some of your work? Head on over to John’s website 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

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
"We teach people to focus on long-term workers which help build long-term businesses. Everyone else focuses on short-term contractors or per-project work. Both of those guarantee 100% turnover for the business, and it’s hard to run a business when your labor is based on turnover."
—John Jonas #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

Toronto Startup Employee Bakes Custom Cakes

What It’s About

Powerlifter takes the heavy lifting out of special event planning with custom cakes.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Karen says that you may not get customers right away, so you should “build a portfolio”—make cakes for your coworkers, friends, family, bring them to your neighbor, etc. They can give you feedback and be great referrals.

For example, Karen had a cake tasting party! It was a hit and a great way to get some exposure and feedback in the beginning.

Fun Fact

During this whole process, Karen actually had never tried or taste-tested any of her cakes because aside from baking, she is a powerlifter and had to be on a specific diet. People find this odd but Karen says, “I’m just confident enough to know they are good that I don’t need to do any quality assurance.”

Notes from Chris

Episode 944

Karen Nguyen is a wearer of many hats. She’s a client success manager for her day job, she’s a competitive powerlifter in her spare time, and somewhere in that process, she fits in a side hustle baking custom cakes.

Maybe the inspiration came from her childhood when she’d help out her dad in his coffee and donut shop. Or maybe it was when she grew up and entered the world of work and found herself bored sitting at a desk.

Whatever it was, baking cakes became her creative outlet … a way to layer it with her other activities. She’d return home after a long day of computer work and stand at the kitchen counter mixing and baking. Thanks to lots of practice and YouTube, she cultivated a real talent.

When Karen made a job change and transitioned into her current role working for a cloud-based HR software company, she had the opportunity to put her off-resume skills to work. Being a small team, her company didn’t have a birthday committee to plan anything extra special, so they resorted to buying greeting cards and generic store-bought desserts for colleague’s birthdays. Karen raised the game when she started baking her custom cakes.

And they weren’t just custom; each cake was always a surprise designed to fit each employee’s likes, hobbies, and interests. Karen loved seeing the joy it brought each person who tasted them.

After receiving rave reviews for her innovative and tasty cakes, Karen decided to try sweetening others’ lives and her bank account. She wanted to taste test other markets.

She began by offering her service to people she knew: friends, family, and other coworkers. Then she took it half a cup further and held cake tasting parties to improve her product prior to selling. From there, she was able to develop a base recipe that she could customize with various flavors. The parties were also a great way to get referrals! Before she knew it, Sweet Afternoon Bakeshop was in business.

Perhaps the most interesting fact about Karen’s side hustle is that she doesn’t taste her cakes. When she started Sweet Afternoon Bakeshop, she was heavy into powerlifting and on a specific diet which did not include icing. She knew from great feedback from customers and friends that her cakes were yummy. So far, it hasn’t been a problem.

She currently sells two or three custom cakes per week and bakes in an extra $600 per month in profit. Sweet Afternoon Bakeshop is on the rise and adding even more tiers to its cakes. In the future, Karen plans to include cocktails and cake decorating parties for adults, and mini-cake decorating parties for kids.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Sweet Afternoon Bakeshop: If you’re interested in learning more about this sweet, icing topped side hustle, head on over to Karen’s Instagram page
  • CreativeLive: The platform that Karen used to find courses to help her improve her marketing skills

 

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
"Create your own focus group or network when starting your side hustle. Use your friends, family, and colleagues to test your product or service on. This will help you get the feedback you need to improve and create referrals!"
—Karen Nguyen #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

Reddit Secret Santa Delivers Sack Full Of Adventure

What It’s About

A Reddit Secret Santa unwraps a new career.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Today’s story is a perfect example of something I say on the show often—side hustle ideas really are everywhere! When Chris initially did this, he wasn’t planning on starting a business around it. But when he saw how successful it was, he took action.

TL;DR – stay on alert for good ideas, and know when to take action!

Fun Fact

Reddit’s secret Santa gift exchange is a behemoth of generosity! Since 2009 there’s been nearly 2 million people take part, from over 160 countries with almost 50 million worth of gifts given.

Notes from Chris

Episode 943

A few short years ago, Chris Waters was working as an account manager for a software company. He says he was just an ordinary guy with an ordinary job. Adventure, excitement, and randomness were not at all part of his daily routine.

But, once a year Chris did embrace those three things with great enthusiasm. He did it through the fun of Reddit’s Secret Santa, the world’s largest gift exchange. In December every year, Reddit matches willing users of the site. Each person is provided a few details about their match, so they can arrange a suitable gift based on their interests.

Chris loved it and got into the spirit of it every year. Then, in 2015, he was particularly excited because his match, Blane, lived in the same city as him: Phoenix, Arizona. That meant that Chris could provide a truly unique gift, one that he’d been pondering for some time.

He’d create an elaborate scavenger hunt; one full of clues, codes, and curveballs. Blane, the lucky recipient, would receive a once in a lifetime experience of engaging in an adventure around his own city.

Chris had a lot of fun putting the whole thing together and says he did so without any ambition other than helping Blane have a good time. Little did he know, that the very same scavenger hunt would lead him to a treasure of his own…

To start, he planted clues that sent Blane and his girlfriend to a local cemetery, then the zoo, and then on to several other locations around Phoenix. Each stop featured a clue to the next, with fun activities sprinkled along the way.

The hunt culminated with a stop at a bar where Chris was waiting to present them with a bottle of champagne. Blane and his girlfriend were amazed. They said it was one of the most enjoyable days of their lives.

Chris spent $400 putting the whole thing together, which, in hindsight, was a pretty cheap way to validate a novel business idea…

Since the concept was so well received, he thought he might be able to find a few people willing to pay for their own unique scavenger hunt. So, he registered a domain name and built a very crude website describing the offering.

He called the project Constructed Adventures.

Although his beginnings were humble, Chris is now in the position of being booked out well over six months in advance, and he builds experiences for people all over the world! His adventures have gotten even more professional and elaborate, and his pricing has grown along with it. He only handles one adventure every two weeks, but now he charges several thousand dollars per client.

That means, on top of traveling the world for free, Chris is also well paid. Each month he earns around $5,000 in profit.

Needless to say, he is loving life! He’s gone from an act of gift-giving kindness and turned it into a new career that almost anyone would envy. His biggest adventure of all is the one he’s on right now.

 

  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
"You can start a business like this by practicing on the people you know. Start planning unique events and days (surprise parties or proposals) for friends and keep improving."
—Chris Waters #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

Paternal Twins Produce Passive Publishing Profits

What It’s About

Twin brothers oversee an Amazon self-publishing factory.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

When finding book ideas, the Mikkelsen twins rely on one thing: market research. As they put it, numbers don’t lie—you need to look for book topics that have high demand and low competition (not enough books on the subject).

To look at demand, they simply go to Amazon and look at the average BSRs (best seller rates) of the books in a particular niche. Then they compare that to how many authors/publishers are selling books on this topic by looking at search results on Amazon and Audible.

Fun Fact

Did you know that eBook sales have more than doubled in 2018? Well, that’s according to some estimates. While exact data is unknown, many experts believe that sales of eBooks in the United States alone have eclipsed 200 million per year.

Notes from Chris

Episode 942
In 2016, the Mikkelsen brothers, Rasmus and Christian, were working their way through college. In addition to being identical twins, they also had identical 4.0 GPAs. To pay the bills while studying, they each worked part-time jobs—Rasmus as a Chinese food delivery driver, and Christian as a receptionist. The jobs weren’t high-paying but gave them the money they needed to live.

If they continued down their current path, they’d graduate with honors and go on to lucrative careers in a few short years. But these two had other plans…

They already knew that the typical path of college to an office job wasn’t for them. They wanted something different, and they hoped to escape the rat race before they even started running. So, they began to explore different online business models in hopes of making some extra money.

Since it was their first foray into making money online, they didn’t quite know where to start. So, they spent a couple of days scouring Google researching as many methods as they could; dropshipping, affiliate marketing, app building, Amazon FBA … and the list goes on.

After that, they decided on a divide and conquer approach. They each chose a business model and would dedicate a few months to trying to make it work. For Rasmus, it was dropshipping; Christian would try his hand at self-publishing ebooks.

Within six months, a clear winner emerged! While Rasmus’s dropshipping experiment yielded some success, it was Christian’s self-publishing that really excited them.

Here’s what happened…

On July 2016, Christian published his first ebook. He wrote about something he knew and titled it “How to Be a 4.0 GPA Student in College, Like Me.” It was a 5,000-word guide that included study tips, hacks, and techniques he used to maintain top grades. It wasn’t exactly a magnum opus, but a useful handbook nonetheless.

He published the book on Amazon and made $6.46 that first month. The next month, they quit school and retired to live a life of leisure … oh wait, not quite. Still, even earning $6 felt validating. After all, you have to start somewhere!

Through a lot of trial and error, by the end of that year, they were making over five thousand dollars per month through their self-publishing business. It was easily enough to live on, perhaps not for two people in the USA, but definitely in Thailand.

So, they embraced the expat lifestyle and moved overseas to lower their expenses, all while continuing to work on the business.

Over the next year, they traveled to over a dozen countries while growing revenue to more than $8,000 per month. And that success led them to something new—to teach what they know. They’ve started a YouTube channel and are working on a self-publishing course.

The story of the Mikkelsen twins is only half complete … but this time, instead of outsourcing, they’re writing it themselves!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • YouTube | Mikkelsen Twins: To learn more about Rasmus, Christian, and their self-publishing hustle, head on over to their YouTube channel!

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 amazing and completely unfair advantage of having a twin is that we can split business models. So, to begin with, we started two separate businesses, and whoever would have more success, the other one would just jump over and do that business model too. It’s a foolproof strategy!"
—Rasmus & Christian Mikkelsen #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

Tech Broker Moonlights as Luxury Lifestyle Artist

What It’s About

Tech broker zeros in on a niche market and spackles his way to six-figures.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

For anyone wanting to create and sell artwork based on existing brands or licensed properties, Tim advises you to work with these organizations through their licensing managers. Some organizations and brands will work with artists, grant them rights, and allow certain reproduction of their images, while others may not. But by checking first, artists will avoid expensive infringement lawsuits.

Fun Fact

Even with the money he makes on his successful side hustle, it is the experiences that Tim has enjoyed the most. He has been flown to Indy events several times, attended many top car shows, flown to a Grand Prix race in his client’s helicopter, and has even had clients take him to Spain to run with the bulls. He has also gotten to see his artwork on two winning race cars!

Notes from Chris

Episode 941
Tim Raines is a self-proclaimed polymath—an individual whose knowledge spans a significant number of subjects. By day, he is a Science and Technology Commercialization Consultant. He spends his time brokering deals with tech innovators and businesses looking for new product markets.

By night, he flexes his creative muscles putting together incredible works of art that blend abstract with realism using a unique process of dripping paint onto canvas in colorful drips and intricate swirls.

It started when Tim moved into a trendy loft in downtown Austin, Texas. He felt right at home except for one thing … or actually several things. The blank white walls practically begged for artwork—and Tim’s recent obsession was abstract art. He shopped around and collected several good original pieces of art, but was stymied by their high cost. He was also inspired.

Having been somewhat of an artist and maker ever since he was a kid, Tim figured he could create his own large scale artwork for a mere fraction of the costs. He purchased several large canvases and began experimenting—standing over the canvas, splattering, and dripping the paint on them much like famous artist Jackson Pollock.

With his artistic sensibilities and a strong eye for design and color, Tim was able to create abstract art to his own liking. And it seemed that others liked it as well! When his loft dwelling neighbors and technology peers saw the artwork, they asked who the artist was. Once they found out it was Tim, they became his first patrons—purchasing his work to adorn their own lofts.

In the beginning, Tim’s paintings were all abstract. But when someone asked if he could do a flower in a similar style, he stepped up to the challenge. The piece turned out well, and he began to wonder what other things he could paint in this unique style blending abstract with realism.

Encouraged by the popularity of his artwork, Tim continued refining his process all the while amassing enough paintings for a legitimate art show. There was a coffee shop near his loft with a reputation for organizing quality exhibitions, and since he already had some rapport, they agreed to host his work. At his first official showing, Tim sold a staggering $10,000 worth of artwork—which only made his creative wheels turn faster!

He took stock of his interests and drew inspiration from a famous sports artist whose work he admired, Leroy Neiman. Neiman traveled the world observing and painting leisure life, social activities, and athletic competitions including the Olympics, the Super Bowl, the World Series, the PGA and The Masters golf tournaments, and even the world of casino gambling.

It certainly seemed like an appealing lifestyle to Tim, who was also a lifelong car and motorsports enthusiast. He figured his artwork would do well in these markets, which have huge followings of highly devoted fans and a strong interest in collectibles.

With very low startup costs, essentially just a series of paints and canvases, Tim has been able to generate as much as $100,000 annually. He tried being a full-time artist for a year, but found he missed his day job … so he went back to that, while continuing to produce and sell art.

Even considering the money he makes, it’s the experiences that Tim has enjoyed the most. He’s attended many top car shows, flown to a Grand Prix race in his client’s helicopter, and has even had clients take him to Spain to run with the bulls. He has also gotten to see his artwork on two winning race cars!

Moving forward, Tim is working to bring some of his tech marketing to the world of art … and some of the world of art to business. His unique background has recently opened the door for him to do a ‘paint and sip’ concept for companie. He plans to discuss team building, marketing, branding, and engage executives and teams in the creative process.

By not choosing to follow a single career, Tim has advanced and innovated in at least two of them.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Timothy Raines: Check out more of Tim’s work over on his website!
  • WordPress: Tom used WordPress to set up his site, and here you can learn how to install your own WordPress site in 5 minutes

BOOKS RECOMMENDED 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
"Anything or anyone is accessible if you know their needs, have a well-articulated solution, and do a little work in finding out how to reach them and communicate that you can solve those needs."
—Tim Raines #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

Texas Couple Turns Test Scores Into Treasure

What It’s About

Texas teachers help students measure up.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Oh, the age-old question: “To expand your service offerings or not?”

Think about your core competency, the thing you are particularly good at. If your expansion is still in that realm, great. If it’s just something you could do, that’s where you should be careful. Either way, it’s OK to pare down as you go—in fact, you should.

Fun Fact

So, which subjects boast the highest demand for tutors?

According to the research, students struggle the most with 4) Math, 3) Chemistry, 2) Foreign Languages, but above all, 1) Physics takes the cake!

Notes from Chris

Episode 940

Shayna and Adam Pond met in grad school at Baylor University while studying science. However, Shayna soon transitioned to education. Both knew they wanted to be leaders. Adam started his career in biotech, while Shayna became an assistant principal after teaching the state-mandated minimum requirement of three years.

On top of her day job, Shayna started operating a tutoring business in the evenings and on weekends. When her first client signed up, Adam called her at work to tell her someone they didn’t even know paid for tutoring services through their website. The client even signed the needlessly long contract. Adam was so in shock he checked three times to be sure the sale wasn’t fake.

During the first few years, Adam worked both his full-time job and helping Shayna launch what they called Action Potential Learning. They wanted to recruit a small army of tutors and go into schools across the district and the state. Adam worked on the website with their newborn on his lap while Shayna tutored to put cash into the business.

They wanted to work with struggling schools, with programs geared toward improving student test scores quickly since test scores serve as a measurement of school success. Soon, they began hiring and training people to tutor for them. After a few years, Adam was finally able to quit his biotech job to work full-time on Action Potential Learning, and they added additional services—too many services, it turned out.

The business offered private tutoring, school tutoring, live personal development training for teachers, after-school camps, curriculum development, and more. The Ponds had overstretched themselves. Shayna and Adam had to figure out their company’s strengths in order to be as effective as possible and to keep from burning out.

In short, they needed to focus.

They realized that Action Potential’s biggest strength was partnering with struggling schools in Texas through providing programs that improved student performance quickly. So, three years ago they stopped providing private tutoring and after-school programs. This reduction of services allows them to focus on their passion for helping schools and experience this crazy thing called work-life balance.

Standardizing their processes has been a big part of what allowed them to grow. Adam realized conducting trainings live for each school cost too much. So he began converting some of them to online courses. The new format gave Shayna and Adam side hustle number two, Model Teaching.

In 2018, Action Potential Learning brought in over $700,000, a $300,000 increase over the previous year. This year they are on track to do the same.

Model Teaching is new this year. After adding more courses and refining their brand, it brought in $4,600 just last month. For now, they’re putting the funds back into creating more content that teachers want.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Action Potential Learning: If today’s episode has you thinking, read up further over on Shayna and Adam’s website!
  • Model Teaching: While you’re at it, check out Shayna and Adam’s other side hustle

 

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
"There were tons of little problems that were so difficult in the moment, but we simply got to working on a solution—even when all we wanted to do was give up. One of the things we always go back to is saying ‘what’s the worst that could happen?’. We go through all the scenarios in our head and realize the worst really isn’t that bad."
—Shayna & Adam Pond #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

WEEKLY RECAP: Finding Purpose through Alternative Work

Notes from Chris

Episode 939

THEMES & TAKEAWAYS:

We’ve just finished week 30 of Season III!

This week, we featured a touring ukulele player, a cigar subscription box, and a guy who makes and repairs custom lightsabers. May the force be with you all. Or as the Irish blessing put it: “may the road rise up to meet you, pay off your debt, and increase your bank balances.”

In real-time we are coming to the month of August, which for some is a slower month. There’s nothing wrong with R&R, but it can also be fun to use downtimes to start a new project, create a product, build a new website, start a podcast, or just collect yourself for everything that’s to come in the next busy season.

Today I’ll bring you an audio update from a previously featured side hustler, but first I want to expand on something from the other day.

In Ep. 935: Meal Prep Company Cooks up Profits with Customized Orders, Sandeep told us something incredible. He said:

“This company has been a passion project for me. It’s given me a life purpose, and I can’t imagine what I would be doing without it.”

To learn more about this topic and my thoughts on one of Sandeep’s blog posts, listen to to the Recap!

WHERE ARE THEY NOW:

Today, we have an update from Reena Goodwin who was featured on the show in Ep. 313.

Listen to the Weekly Recap to hear from Reena!

You can also check out her website, FACTEUR PR!

EPISODES FROM THIS WEEK:

Here’s what we heard this week on Side Hustle School! Listen to this week’s recap for a more comprehensive highlight reel.

  • Ep. 933 – An appliance repairman channels the Force and learns to make, sell, and repair lightsabers. Never tell him the odds!
  • Ep. 934 – A software engineer starts a premium subscription box service for savvy cigar smokers
  • Ep. 935 – Three partners create a healthy meal prep and delivery service, turning $2,000 into $2 million in less than five years
  • Ep. 936 – A voiceover artist and animation producer invents an inclusive culinary kitchen utensils line
  • Ep. 937 – A paralegal turns serial entrepreneur after getting the travel bug. She now lives in Thailand and helps others work remotely
  • Ep. 938 – A Hawaiian goes all-in on the popular instrument of the islands, touring Europe and teaching virtual lessons by Skype

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

We want to hear from you!

The best part of Side Hustle School is our community, and around 20% of our episodes come from listeners. Are you working on something and want to share it with us and our audience? If so, we want to hear from you!

Head on over to our online submission page, and we’ll be in touch if your story is chosen.

And if you’re still working on something but have some questions, we want to hear from you too! Most Weekly Recap episodes include Listener Q&A.

Call the Side Hustle Hotline at 844-9-HUSTLE (844-948-7853), record your question and send it to podcast@sidehustleschool.com, or just send us an email!

Here’s what’s coming up next…

Each week I’ll feature more stories from people who are starting side hustles without quitting their job. Here’s a sneak peek of what’s coming next week:

  • A couple’s love for helping students succeed turns into a profitable consulting firm
  • A science and technology consultant becomes a successful sports, motorsports, and luxury lifestyle artist
  • And much more!

Do you have a side hustle story you’d like to share? Fill out the Side Hustle School submission form and your story may be featured on the show!

Also, if you’re interested in joining the Side Hustle Society, visit our Society page to get notified when it goes live!

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
"It’s important to rest and reflect, but it can also be fun to use down times to start a new project, create a product, build a new website, start a podcast, or just collect yourself for everything that’s to come in the next busy season."
—#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

Hawaiian Native Teaches Virtual Ukulele Lessons

What It’s About

Ukulele player strums up a lucrative career outsourcing himself around the world.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Ukulele-playing is far too competitive in Hawaii, but it clearly works elsewhere. What else is like that? Stroopwaffles in Holland, or flannel shirts in Seattle … wherever there is a surplus of something (or some provider of talent), you might be better off taking that thing or that talent elsewhere.

Fun Fact

The ukulele has long historical origins, with the first one made in 1879. While it was first made in Portugal, the ukulele has found its way into Hawaiian culture and has become an important part of its music—its name translates roughly to ‘jumping flea’.

Notes from Chris

Episode 938

When he was thirteen, Hawaiian native Andrew Molina fell in love with the ukulele. After his first lesson, he realized just how much he loved the feel and the sound of the instrument. From then on, he started telling himself that he would practice hard so that he could travel the world and perform.

Throughout his years in high school, Andrew would work at his craft.

He would play a couple of songs at malls but found that he wasn’t making as much progress as he hoped. As he had grown up admiring and then imitating some of the famous ukulele players, Andrew realized that he didn’t have any particular style he could call his own. This made him so insecure that he quit playing in his last year of high school—the very same instrument that he had fallen in love with just a couple of years ago.

But Andrew knew there was something amiss from his life. He wasn’t interested in the typical path where he would go to college and then get a regular job, just like everyone else. The thought of finding a different direction spurred him to go on.

The first step that he took was to record his own album. This was in 2012, and Andrew had just left high school. The CD would act as a business card, albeit an expensive one, and would be a way for him to get introduced to potential clients for gigs. Fortunately for Andrew, his father was supportive and funded the $8,000 it cost to record the album using the money he had set aside for him to go to college. The next year, the album was released.

As Andrew had predicted, the album did eventually help him land his first gig. A restaurant reached out and asked him to play. This was when he knew he could say he played the ukulele professionally since he would actually be getting paid. While his task was only to play background music, Andrew used this as a springboard into bigger events, such as festivals in Hawaii and other local gigs. He soon had four gigs a week lined up for him.

While Andrew had made some headway, he wasn’t satisfied just playing background music. He wanted to play in front of an audience and connect with them. He reached out to some friends, who helped put together a mini-tour for him, where he got to travel to California, Oregon, and Washington. Although this first tour wasn’t very profitable, his goal was to build up a following. Desire and perseverance kept him going even though it was difficult, with many people telling him his dream was unrealistic.

It didn’t help that Hawaii was the birthplace of the ukulele. Few people in the islands were particularly interested in the instrument since it was so common. To get around this hurdle, Andrew continued to plan tours outside Hawaii, traveling in the mainland United States, then to Europe and Asia as well. He would play at a different place each night and hold ukulele workshops during the day.

Fast forward to 2018, and Andrew has been featured on the cover of the UK’s Ukulele magazine. All ten subscribers loved seeing him there! Although income is sporadic, a three-week tour can now bring in $7,500—a rate he can live off of, as long as he tours on a consistent basis. He also teaches virtual lessons by Skype to aspiring ukulele players wherever they are.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Andrew Molina Ukulele: If you’re interested in learning more about this musical side hustle, head on over to Andrew’s website!
  • WordPress: Andrew used WordPress to set up his site for Andrew Molina Ukulele, and here you can learn how to install your own WordPress site in 5 minutes

 

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
"Find your passion in life no matter what it is, and don’t let others discourage you. It’s your journey, not theirs."
—Andrew Molina #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

Paralegal Takes Flight with Remote Work

What It’s About

A love of travel spurs a paralegal to help others start working remotely.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

For Brittnee, she knew that her creativity would be stifled if she was struggling with money. She wasn’t ready to just quit her job and figure out how to make money on the way. Instead, she spent time building up capital, and she suggests others that are hoping to be entrepreneurs do the same.

Fun Fact

The first person credited with the idea of using electronics to work remotely was astronaut Jack Nilles. He worked at NASA in the 1970s, and called this type of work “telecommuting”. It wasn’t until the 2010’s that the term “digital nomad” became widely used.

Notes from Chris

Episode 937

Brittnee Bond dreamed of working remotely. Even as a teenager, she was brainstorming ways that she could take her future career in law and transform it into something that she could do from anywhere. And her journey accelerated when she graduated from college and scored a job as a paralegal in Salt Lake City, Utah.

It was there that she began to find ways to make her job accessible wherever she was. She encouraged her law firm to go completely paperless. Then, she nudged two more law firms to do the same thing. Not only was it practical, Brittnee had the alternative motivation of making her work that much more location independent.

Three years later, she managed to convince her company to let her work in San Diego for a while. If that went well, Brittnee would be allowed to work from Costa Rica for another stint of a few months.

Long story short, it worked out, and two months later Brittnee was on a plane headed south. She was excited! The only downside was that her law firm viewed the trip as a “once in a lifetime opportunity” that would get the travel bug out of Brittnee’s system.

But after a few months of surfing and lounging on the Costa Rican beaches, the travel bug was nowhere close to leaving. If Costa Rica was this amazing, Brittnee couldn’t imagine what the rest of the world had to offer!

She came back from the trip with a new goal in mind: to become fully location independent. Soon after returning home, Brittnee quit her job in Salt Lake and moved across the country to New York City.

Over the next two years, Brittnee scrimped and saved. She worked her day job, and in the morning, on her lunch breaks, and at night, she worked on her new project: a travel company to help others who wanted to have location independent jobs. Eventually, that company became Bond Works—a consultancy where she helps businesses transform conventional jobs into location independent ones.

She’s also working on a series of courses about the same topic. This approach is less hands-on than her consulting work and has the potential to double or triple her income.

Brittnee had a goal in mind to live a location independent life. By balancing the right amount of risk and cautiousness, she was able to test out a series of projects until she found a few that took off. As she gained experience, she took notice of the needs of her communities and based her new hustles off of those needs. Now, she’s exploring the world just as she imagined.

 

  MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Bond Works: Learn more about the work that Brittnee is doing over on her website
  • Squarespace: The website building platform that Brittnee used to create her 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
"Save as much as you can now, even if you don’t know what idea you want to pursue. Because even if you find a viable idea, you need capital and a runway while you’re building your business."
—Brittnee Bond #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

Animation Producer Brings Culinary Characters to Life

What It’s About

Kitchen utensils that help get kids cooking!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Marci had some wonderful advice for future side hustlers:

“Without a doubt, the unexpected will come up, whether it’s a design change or something unrelated in your life that will modify your timeline. Accept that as part of the path, and that you will get there. There will be bumps in the road. But even before getting to the bumps, have a clear vision of what you want your product to be and why.”

Fun Fact

Here’s a fun fact for you! Did you know that in 1995, potato plants were taken into space with the space shuttle Columbia? This marked the first time any food was ever grown in space.

Notes from Chris

Episode 936

As 2016 began, professional voiceover artist, writer, and producer Marci Heit felt that something was missing in her career. Based in Los Angeles, her work was successful and often appeared on television, radio, and in video games.

But she realized she wanted to build something for herself… Thus, she decided to produce her own animated show. Owning her content would allow her to take control of her career while also showing off her skills to the casting directors and executives who hire voice actors. It would be a win-win!

Marci began developing her own ideas between her other steady jobs. While volunteering at a local puppet show, she befriended Elda, a 90-year-old blind woman who was full of life. Elda inspired the audience with stories and talked about letting nothing stop her, including losing her eyesight at 70 years old.

Well, to be fair, losing her eyesight did stop Elda from driving, so Marci would give her rides home and they soon became good friends. Marci was inspired by Elda … especially once she learned she was still baking and doing it alone. Elda had learned enough braille to label her spices and she put a mark on her oven at 350 degrees, so, as Elda put it, “she could continue to whip up whatever she so desired.”

Marci realized that she found the inspiration for her next project. She soon created the concept for Q.D. Foodie, an animated show about a young blind girl who loves making things with food in her watermelon-shaped treehouse. The title character, Quinn Daisy, not only shares Elda’s vision issues but more importantly, is infused with ingenuity and a vibrant spirit.

As part of development, Marci illustrated some kitchen tools that the characters would use as props in the series. Each looked like food—there was an eggplant-shaped whisk, a carrot mixing spoon, and a set of artichoke measuring cups.

Marci liked the animated tools so much, she wanted them in her real kitchen. And why not? So Q.D. Foodie became Q.D. Foodie Kitchen Tools, with the new goal of actually making the utensils that she had first designed for a show.

In May 2018, she launched a Kickstarter campaign. Using social media and her contacts, she raised about $50,000. This was important. Not only was it another proof of concept, it gave her the critical money that she needed to produce the product molds required for large scale production runs.

Since then, Marci’s sales have continued to grow. She now sells direct to consumer through her website and the product will be available on Amazon shortly. The project generates several thousand dollars per month and she’s actively growing the brand with recent features, including one in The New York Times.

Marci hopes to make Q.D. Foodie her sole focus in the near future, but for now, she devotes every free minute to growing the project. She also plans to resume work on her animated series, the original idea, and she’s working on several retail partnerships.

It’s been a long journey but worth the effort. If Marci has her way, Q.D. Foodie and Q.D. Foodie Kitchen Tools will be the next great brand and an inspiring force for generations of kids.

 

  MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Q.D. Foodie: Learn more about this sprouting side hustle over on Marci’s website!
  • WordPress: Marci used WordPress to set up her site for Q.D. Foodie, and here you can learn how to install your own WordPress site in 5 minutes
  • ThomasNet®: The product sourcing and supplier discovery platform that Marci used to locate a manufacturer for her product line
  • Kickstarter | Q.D. Foodie Kitchen Utensils: While you’re at it, check out Marci’s Kickstarter campaign!

 

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
"There will be bumps in the road. But even before getting to the bumps, have a clear vision of what you want your product to be and why. Keep pushing through. Trust your gut. Passion is infectious. Be prepared to work your butt off."
—Marci Heit #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