Archives: Podcast

Retail Worker Cleans Up With Litter-Picking Business

What It’s About

A litter removal business that cleans up in more than one way!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

You would think that going from parking lot cleanup to snow removal or grass cutting is logical, but Brian discovered that it was a mistake. Focus on that core competency!

Fun Fact

Brian says people leave all kinds of weird and valuable stuff in parking lots. It’s not uncommon to come home with a handful of cash or a new phone!

Notes from Chris

Episode 870

The year was 1981, and Brian Winch was stuck in a dead-end job. He’d wake up, shower, and drag himself off for yet another shift at his local sporting goods store. Brian knew he didn’t want this to be his life forever, so he began looking for an escape route.

Back then, however, he had little in the way of money, education, or specialized skills. There was nothing that screamed “successful businessperson” on his resume. So, he narrowed his search down to opportunities where he could get his hands dirty and work up a sweat.

He would come home from work each day and brainstorm lots of different ideas, and eventually settled on one that was inspired by his late father.

Brian’s dad was one of America’s original side hustlers. A few days a week he could get up early before work and head out to sweep local parking lots. Occasionally Brian would tag along to help out, and remembered it being as easy as going for a brisk walk—so he figured he’d give it a try!

This started in the land before time, also known as before the internet. There was no way to Google “shopping malls near me” to find a list of potential clients. Instead, he did what everybody in the 1980s had to do to find local businesses … he reached for the Yellow Pages.

He began by looking up Property Management companies to get a list of prospective clients. He did this in a way that didn’t involve pitching his services but rather focused on gathering information. He armed himself with a list of questions like:

● Do you manage commercial properties?

● Do you find it difficult to keep them clean?

● If so, would you like to learn how to have a cleaner parking lot for less money?

He repeated this process a number of times—and, within a couple of days, landed his first three contracts. Brian says it doesn’t hurt to have a little elevator pitch planned out if you want to try this yourself, but focusing on information and their needs is more important.

When Brian started his sweeping business he expected it to become a part-time, one-man-band, kind of side hustle. But it quickly took on a life of its own. Brian started to receive requests and client referrals for him to expand his business, until he had so much work he couldn’t handle it on his own, even after quitting his job.

Brian brought his brothers on board and gave the company an official name, Cleanlots. And, whenever the workload got too much, Brian would just hire another person. Sometimes it would be for just one parking lot a week, sometimes it would be a full weekend of sweeping. But this is how the business grew; one parking lot and one employee at a time.

Brian has been successfully running his business since 1981 and now earns a full-time income of over six figures a year, and his business has yearly contracts of around $650,000 a year. Many of the people who work for his company earn up to $4,000 a month for part-time work!

Recently, he’s been looking at ways to teach people how to start their own Cleanlots-style business and has even written a book on it. He wants to continue to pass on the model of what he calls America’s Simplest Business.

It’s also a business you can really clean up with!

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Cleanlots: Learn more about how you can start a cleaning business yourself over on Brian’s website!
  • WordPress: Brian used WordPress to set up his website for Cleanlots, 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

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
"It’s better to be the best at something than trying to do something for everyone."
—Brian Winch #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: Winning the Side Hustle Lottery

Notes from Chris

Episode 869

THEMES & TAKEAWAYS:

We’ve just finished week 20 of Season III! This week, we took a look at stories featuring hair braiding, swimsuits from Australia, DIY wedding flowers, and even a man who invents a mug made out of ice.

Less than 2 weeks until I will be in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Denver, Austin, and Seattle—and that’s just week 1! You can get all the details and sign up at SideHustleSchool.com/tour.

In this action-packed recap: I want to share something I pulled from an upcoming story. I’ll also bring you an audio update with a big success from a previously featured side hustler.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW:

Today, we have an update from Gabe Kramer who was featured on the show in Ep. 311.

Listen to the Weekly Recap to hear from Gabe!

You can also check out his website, SI Certs!

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. 863 – This corporate employee turned wedding planner hated seeing young couples struggle with her floral design fee for their weddings, so she creates an alternative option: affordable, DIY wedding bouquets
  • Ep. 864 – When the world of finance and banking proves less alluring than he hoped, this Aussie makes waves by creating his own swimsuit label
  • Ep. 865 – A passion for social justice leads a healthcare adviser to begin helping nonprofits launch grassroots advocacy programs
  • Ep. 866 – A Canadian lawyer uses the art of needle-felting to create a profitable series of children’s books
  • Ep. 867 – A visit to the outdoor sauna in the midst of a Minnesota winter inspires a mug made from ice that has sold over 4,000 units
  • Ep. 868 – A Chicago woman starts a side hustle to support her life, then adapts it to help more than 1,000 children in adoptive families

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:

  • Despite having little in the way of business skills, money, or education, this retail worker turns his father’s side hustle into a multiple six-figure business
  • A university professor manages depression by sharing his gift for gaming and community building on YouTube
  • 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
"Going from side hustle to full-time business can be harder than you expect. You need to build a routine into your schedule and allow for some transition time."
—#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

Hair Braiding Workshops Help Trans-Racial Adoptive Families

What It’s About

A simple side hustle with a real impact.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Being good in the world of haircare can often lead to a sea of referrals you just can’t handle. This means you need to improve at one of two things: saying no or working more. Saying no is an acceptable option!

Fun Fact

Tamekia has started to attract a wide-reaching client base, with people driving a number of hours to attend her classes and get their kid’s hair styled.

Notes from Chris

Episode 868

Tamekia Swint’s interest in hair braiding started at an early age. Her mom braided her hair every week, and by the time she was old enough to hold a comb, Tamekia was pestering her to pass on what she knew. And then, by the time she reached her early teens, she’d mastered the styles of Cornrows and Dutch Braids.

When it came time to go to college, Tamekia decided she would turn her skills into a little extra income. She had a part-time service job, but the work was sporadic and unpredictable. After enrolling in and completing a styling course in Chicago, she was ready to offer her services to people.

After graduation, she took a job as a parole agent. She stopped braiding hair for a while so she could focus her time and attention on the job, but after a few years, felt the urge to start back up again. There were loans to be paid, and it didn’t hurt to have a second stream of income coming in.

Tamekia ran this side hustle for a number of years, working 10-20 hours a week around her job. By now, she had raised her prices and was earning up to $4,000 a month. She didn’t need a high volume of clients to meet these figures, because braiding someone’s hair can take between two and ten hours.

Every few years, she paused her braiding hustle to pursue other ventures. She went back to business school to gain her masters, got married, worked for her husband’s business … then got divorced and found herself a job at an insurance firm. Once again, she began braiding hair in her spare time to make ends meet.

But it turned out to be the last time she would give it up and eventually come back to it.

Tamekia got involved in a mission at her church and went with a group to teach English to kids in Poland for two weeks. There she started showing students how to braid their own hair as a way to get them talking and learning in English. She loved teaching, and the kids responded really well!

Back home, she knew she wanted to work more with kids. She started by simply expanding her services to include kids hair. She promoted the business using flyers and business cards—the same way she had in college—and quickly found a number of families who needed her services.

One of the families she grew close to was a trans-racial adoptive family. They were white parents who had adopted two African-American daughters. And, it was in their hair she felt she found her true passion.

Tamekia saw that the two children’s hair needed some love. They had no idea how to take care of it themselves, and neither did their adoptive mother. Tamekia felt she had to jump in. So, she styled the daughter’s hair and taught the Mom how to do some basic care herself.

Over the course of a few weeks, Tamekia was contacted by a number of other trans-racial adoptive families to see if she could help them out. She made the bookings, did some stylings, and taught the parents how to manage it all.

This led Tamekia to start a not-for-profit called Styles 4 Kidz. It’s an organization that styles African-American children’s hair and provides courses on hair management for adoptive families. Much like her side hustle, Tamekia has built this purely on referrals and only started marketing through social media in the last few years.

In 2018, Tamekia and her organization’s volunteers were able to serve 500 children in and around Chicago, and they are projected to serve 1,000 this coming year! Braiding hair is a real need, and her transformation was an unexpected twist.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

 

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

GET $625 IN FREE TRAVEL

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

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

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
"A side hustle is a great thing to have in an emergency. When life circumstances change, having a skill you know you can be paid for can help in many ways."
—Tamekia Swint #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

Enjoy an Ice Cold Beverage in a Mug Made from Ice

What It’s About

Today’s episode will have you saying “nICE ice, baby!”

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

When it came to pricing, Glenn opted to set his prices using a 3x-4x pricing model because, as Glenn put it, “If a product costs $10 to produce, many people will turn around and sell it for $20. And someone will try to convince themselves that that 50% is net, but they’re not taking into account that part of that $10 of ‘profit’ needs to be applied to a variety of line items that contribute to the brand. It’s about striking the right balance because if you are selling something for $40 that costs you $10 to create, customers might not take you seriously. The value isn’t there unless you’ve really got something unique!”

Fun Fact

Glenn has a lot of interesting ideas floating around, like Troxers, the swim trunk/boxer combo that he’s developed for the spontaneous swimmer in you! Just like nICE Mug, Glenn has been developing this project for the last 6-8 years, and it’s finally coming to Kickstarter in June.

The idea behind this one came from a mobile sauna project that he’s been working on. He and some collaborators build these mobile saunas and take them around to different events, and people are discouraged because they didn’t think to bring a swimsuit. They perform like trunks but feel like boxers—sounds like a real winner in our book!

Notes from Chris

Episode 867

Many of the most influential inventions came about accidentally—The Post-It Note, Super Glue, and even the chocolate chip cookie! Now you can add another one to that accidental invention hall-of-fame: the nICE mug.

One especially chilly Minnesota winter night, Glenn Auerbach was trudging through the snow to his backyard sauna when he realized that one of the water containers he used to dump cold water over his head had been left outside, full of water from a sauna a couple of days prior. For all intents and purposes, it looked frozen solid.

Sitting on his sauna bench, Glenn dumped out the chunk of ice and noticed that the center was miraculously unfrozen. He poured out the liquid center and what remained was a perfectly formed drinking vessel. Never one to miss an opportunity for a cold beer in a hot sauna, he and a friend poured a frothy beer into the mug made out of ice and took turns sipping. And after they finished that first beer, they naturally started on another.

A ways into that second beer, Glenn noticed that while the mug melted down a bit, it held its shape well and never leaked. Best of all—that beer tasted fantastic!

After that night, Glenn started leaving more water containers outside to freeze hoping to replicate that first mug, but he realized that he couldn’t quite catch the perfect freezing point. Either the mug was too thin, or it came out frozen solid like a hockey puck.

So he decided to ramp up his experiments. Following a long period of trial and error reusing potato salad containers from the grocery store (side note: his family started eating a lot of potato salad at this point in time) combined with hockey tape to create rudimentary molds, he finally found the perfect combination. It consisted of two deli containers, one inside the other that would create the vessel—and a lid that kept everything in place. The result was nICE Mug!

Since starting this in 2013, has sold over 4,000 units and brings in anywhere from $2,000-5,000/month in sales these days.

He continues to store, pack, and ship everything right out of his house. Because he’s chosen to bootstrap everything, there’s still a lot of hands-on work being done, and one day, these profit margins will be closer to 50% when they start handing off fulfillment and shipping to other companies as they reach their limits on orders they can ship out from their home.

What’s next for nICE Mug? Moving forward, Glenn is focused on finding a product champion who will take on the brand. He recently spent $100 on dry ice and insulated packaging to ship a batch of ready-made nICE Mugs to the NHL. At some point, he can see sports fans cheering on their favorite hockey team with a nICE Mug full of frothy beer. Outside of the sauna, Glenn thinks there could be no better application! And the NHL agrees—all parties are hopeful for a licensing agreement, but for the time being, you could say that the idea is still on ice.

 

  MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • nICE Mug: Snag a kit of your own over on Glenn’s website so that you can enjoy ice cold beer this summer!
  • Troxers: If you’re into the idea of spontaneous swimming, make sure you’re prepared—learn more about the swim trunk boxer combo and keep your eyes peeled for the Kickstarter campaign
  • Saunatimes: Learn more about Glenn’s main passion, traditional sauna over on his other website
  • WordPress: Glenn used WordPress to set up all three of his websites, 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

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
"As Rick Rubin says, ‘the best art divides the audience.’ Don’t be afraid to create something that evokes strong reactions from people! nICE Mug isn’t going to be for everyone, but I’m not making it for everyone."
—Glenn Auerbach #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

Lawyer Moonlights as Needle-Felt Children’s Book Author

What It’s About

Twin brothers think outside of the box, discover needle-felting, and create something wool-thy of standing out.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Holman and Jack’s story is a perfect example of why you don’t need to get a platform in order to score a book deal. A great idea is still valuable, and content matters most of all!

Fun Fact

Sometimes the books will take several seasons to create. Holman will wait to frame his shot for a book for the perfect season. For Star Wars, he staged some of the scenes and photographed them in British Columbia winter, and then again in spring. And for the desert scenes, he actually flew to California to set the stage in the sand dunes.

Notes from Chris

Episode 866

Twin brothers Holman and Jack Wang spent part of their childhood writing and illustrating books … just for fun. As the years progressed and their studies turned into full-time careers in Law and Teaching, they brushed aside their artistic interests. But then, much later in life the two brothers found themselves reminiscing about their lost art. They wanted to find a way to revisit it.

It was Jack who came up with the idea for creating Cozy Classics: a series of books that used primers to tell abridged versions of literary classics like Pride and Prejudice and Moby Dick. Holman loved the idea but there was one problem—neither one of them had done any type of drawing or painting in nearly 20 years. So while the idea was there, he didn’t see how they could compete with professionally trained digital artists. They had to think outside of the box and create something worthy of standing out.

Holman then floated the concept of needle-felting figures and photographing them in various scenes for the illustrations. He had heard of this medium before but had never tried it. So he decided to consult the number one tool for learning new skills: YouTube. He watched several videos on the technique of needle-felting and essentially taught himself how to do it.

Needle felting involves taking loose wool and repeatedly stabbing it with a specialized barbed or notched needle. The movement of stabbing the wool entangles the loose fibers allowing the wool to get denser and eventually turns it into felt. As the wool is felted, it begins to take some structure so you can sculpt shapes. Sounds easy, right? (It actually sounds hard to me.)

It took several months to stitch together the first book. Each wool figure took anywhere from 20 to 40 hours to create, and the process for styling and photographing each scene required 4 to 6 months.

They had met with one publisher through a friend of a friend who loved the concept, but didn’t think they would go over well by doing literary classics. The publisher wanted them to alter their vision and change it from “Pride and Prejudice” to “The Adventures of Lizzie and Darcy”. Holman and Jack were not willing to compromise their vision and turned down their first offer. They eventually found another publisher who bought into their original vision. That’s when their first two books were picked up and published.

So just how wool-thy has this 9-year side hustle become? Since launching Cozy Classics in 2010, they’ve earned more than six figures from book sales and royalties and speaking engagements. While the amount varies from year to year, they are currently averaging about $25 to 30,000 dollars annually.

Aside from the book sales, Holman has been invited to speak at many events that include presentations showing kids how to create needle-felt figurines. With needle and felt in hand, Holman and Jack are sure to stab their way to continued success.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Cozy Classics: Cozy up with one of Holman and Jack’s unique, needle-point illustrated books—head on over to their website to see their full book lineup and felt art
  • HOLMAN WANG: Learn more about what’s down the proverbial felt thread over on Holman and Jack’s website!
  • WordPress: Holman and Jack used WordPress to set up their personal website, 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
"When working with publishers or seeking partnerships, don’t feel like you have to go with the first offer given to you. Make sure it aligns with your values and vision—don’t compromise your vision to meet someone else’s."
—Holman & Jack Wang #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

Healthcare Advisor Transitions to Full-Time Advocacy Consultant

What It’s About

A passion for social justice leads to career change in the pursuit of advocacy.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Bethany elaborated on her approach for engaging nonprofit members and volunteers into becoming lifelong advocates:

“I think a misnomer in our industry is about amplifying your message, which focuses on getting your message out to your target audience. But I really see advocacy and communications about bringing your members and donors closer to your organization, drawing them in, and engaging them so they feel like they’re part of the work and excitement. To successfully engage your members and donors in their work, I advise my clients to identify their target audiences and build upon them.”

Fun Fact

As a testament to her hard work, Bethany’s list of accolades is both large and impressive. She’s the recipient of the American Heart Association’s National Rome Betts Award for Excellence in Advocacy; the Leader of Sacramento Area Rainbow Families; Enroll America’s national conference presenter in Washington D.C., and helped pass historic state and federal legislation in health care, women’s issues, nutrition, senior issues, and for the LGBTQ community.

Notes from Chris

Episode 865
Bethany Snyder is the owner of Snyder Strategies, a consulting side hustle turned full-time business. She helps nonprofit organizations create grassroots advocacy programs. As a self-described optimist, she believes in the power of bringing people together. Or, as Bethany puts it, she wants to help you unlock your people power.

To create this business, she drew on the skills and experience she’d gained in over 15 years as an advocacy director, lobbyist, consultant, and US Senate staffer. She’s now leveraging that expertise to help other groups … and she’s getting paid well for it.

How did she make this transition?

Back in 2016, Bethany was working full-time as the Director of Communications and Outreach for a Sacramento-based consulting firm. She advised healthcare clients on outreach strategies and led a team of communications professionals.

While her full-time job was paying the bills, Bethany felt unfulfilled. Her working environment didn’t provide her with the opportunities she craved—growth, expansion, and experimentation. She started thinking about ways she could make a bigger impact outside of her day job.

So, in November 2016, with the changing political climate and a growing concern for her LGBTQ community, Bethany decided to take action.

She reached out to people in her community and looked for ways she could help. She started by leading advocacy workshops … for free, at first. Gradually, she found her way into helping small organizations with their communications and realized how much she loved training others.

It was while working with community organizations that she spotted an opportunity. She noticed there weren’t a lot of people offering training workshops or providing this kind of expertise.

Up to this point, the workshops she was leading were mostly pro-bono, with only a sprinkle of smaller, paid projects throughout. However, in September 2018, Bethany decided it was time for a new chapter.

Since her career was mostly in healthcare advocacy, Bethany leveraged those contacts in pursuit of landing new clients. It didn’t take long. In just two months, she landed two, large clients with six-month retainers. Since then—just over two years—her consulting business has gone on to earn $14,000 a month.

So, what’s next for Snyder Strategies? Bethany’s steeped in doing great work for her clients with a focus on the 2020 election. She refers to it as the “Super Bowl” for her industry.

She’s also considering whether to partner with other PR firms, target specific organizations, or extend existing client contracts. The future is bright—she’s doing what she believes in and has made it sustainable.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Snyder Strategies: Learn more about the work that Bethany is doing over on 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
"First steps: be clear in what you want to do and can do; you can’t be all things to all people. Do what you love, then delegate or hire off the rest."
—Bethany Synder #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

Finance Guy Makes Bank With Swimsuit Line

What It’s About

When the choice came down to “sink or swim”, this banker chose “swim”—swimwear, that is.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

According to Jake, while you should always expect that you’ll need to pay your dues no matter what industry you go into, he also thinks that you should be true to yourself and accept that people will either be on board or they won’t. Wise words indeed!

Fun Fact

Jake was expecting family and friends to support his swimwear label early on but was shocked to see strangers purchasing in the very first month. It was so surprising that he accused his partner of using fake names and addresses to buy as a show of support!

Notes from Chris

Episode 864
Jake Smith thought working in finance would be exciting. He expected a world of high-end suits, fancy business dinners, and Rolex watches. What he found was that it was actually kind of boring. But it pays well! Which is important for Jake as he lives in Sydney, one of the most expensive cities in the world.

Still, money can’t buy everything, and for Jake, days at work often left him feeling stranded in a sea of mediocrity.

That’s why, in late 2017, he began looking for something creative and fun to do outside of his day job. He could keep a solid income and find a sense of fun and creativity in a new endeavor. To come up with an idea, Jake took a deep dive into some of his favorite things.

He’d always loved textiles, patterns, fabric, and design. So, he decided he’d get his feet wet and have a go at designing his own product … and the product he chose was right on his doorstep.

Jake hails from Bondi Beach in Sydney, one of the most famous beaches in the world. Bondi is also the home of several famous swimwear brands like Speedo, AussieBum, and Seafolly, to name a few. Australians love to swim, and they love fashionable swimwear!

These success stories inspired Jake, so he decided to combine his love of textiles and design and create his own men’s swimwear label.

He named it SMITHERS Swimwear—not after the Simpsons character. It was a combination of his last name, Smith, and the word “bathers”—a common name for swimwear in Australia.

Over the past twelve months, Jake has shipped swimwear to fashion capitals like Paris, New York, and London all the way through to unexpected places like Taiwan, the Cayman Islands, and Dubai. He’s humbled to know that people are strutting across beaches, laying poolside, and cruising around resorts in SMITHERS all over the world.

He’s also managed to keep his head above water and still hold onto his day job. While he’s not looking to leave the bank anytime soon, the label is doing well financially. Jake sells around $5,000 in product every month after being in the market for just over a year.

For year two, he’s working on a whole new range of designs ready to rumble for the next Australian summer. He believes his success so far is just a drop in the ocean of what SMITHERS can become.

So, as the sun rises over the beaches of the Australian coast, Jake is enjoying the view.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • SMITHERS Swimwear: Come on in, the water is fine—learn more about Jake’s swimwear line over on his 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
"Be true to yourself and accept that people will either be on board or they won’t. And if they aren’t, it’s perfectly okay and a reason to turn around and show them they made a big mistake."
—Jake Smith #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

Wedding Planner Earns Passive Income with DIY Flowers

What It’s About

Wedding Planner helps people enjoy A-Grade flowers at B-Grade prices.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Amy has great advice for anyone looking to follow in her footsteps:

“Start slow, keep it as a side hustle at first so you don’t throw yourself into financial jeopardy. You will know if the business idea has legs to stand on within 6 months to a year.”

Fun Fact

Amy was able to negotiate lower minimum orders with her flower wholesalers because she knew they wanted a way to sell directly to consumers, and via Flower Moxie was their best shot.

Notes from Chris

Episode 863

Amy McCord Jones studied biochemistry and forensics in college. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but once she had to start working with dead bodies in upper-level classes, she realized it wasn’t her life’s calling.

So after graduation, she tried out a corporate job installing bank security software. That wasn’t the best fit either—but it was tolerable and had the perk of not working with the dead, so she stuck with it.

One day, Amy and her mom were out walking her dog in her hometown of Oklahoma City. Her mom mentioned a nearby chapel that was up for sale. It was beautiful. It was old. It was historical, having been moved all the way from Nova Scotia decades ago. The financial crisis had lowered real estate costs dramatically, and the entire chapel—located right in the up-and-coming Paseo Arts District—was only $125,000.

She did the math. The mortgage would come in right at $900 per month. She figured if she could book just one wedding each month, her bills would be covered. Amy and her sister wrote up a business plan, asked their mother for help with the down payment, and went to the bank.

A couple of weeks later, they were owners of the oldest chapel in the city. And that’s how the wedding planning business got started. It took a couple of years, but Amy was eventually able to quit her corporate job and work with soon-to-be-married couples full-time.

But she noticed a problem. Many of her clients were struggling to keep costs low on their wedding. She’d become quite the floral designer, but she wasn’t using those skills as much as she would have liked—$3,000 for a simple set of arrangements was just too expensive for most people.

And that’s when she came up with her next idea: a website that made it really easy for brides to order DIY flower bouquets that they could put together on their own to save money.

After a bit of research, Amy confirmed that there weren’t any businesses like this already—at least, none that were in pursuit of quality flowers instead of B-Grade flowers like you’d get from Costco or other grocery stores.

She knew the idea would work—she’d already met her target audience dozens of times. Now she just had to build it.

Amy started by reaching out to wholesalers she’d bought from in the past. They were always complaining about not being allowed to sell directly to the public, and Amy knew her business could act as an easy workaround for them.

She shot about twenty instructional videos in her living room on how to actually make the bouquets, corsages, and table toppers once the brides received their flowers. And finally, in March 2015, Flower Moxie went live.

One year later, Flower Moxie had its first $10,000 month—a huge milestone—but not all was well with Amy. Collecting and shipping flowers overnight was stressful, and as business continued to grow, Amy got more and more burned out.

In January of 2018, Amy left the wedding planning business to her sister to work on Flower Moxie full-time. She’s since made more arrangements for sale, improved her website, and made more instructional videos.

Not only is Amy less stressed and tired now, but sales have grown dramatically—and all by word of mouth. After spending a few thousand dollars on ads in her first year, she turned off the tap and currently spends $0 per month. Simply doing everything she can to help brides-to-be save money on gorgeous flowers has been her most successful growth strategy.

And she’s not finished growing yet. At $60,000 per month in revenue (approximately 40% of that as profit), Flower Moxie is now well-positioned to expand into markets other than DIY wedding flowers. She’s currently exploring some new partnerships.

But the core of Amy’s success isn’t going to change: helping people enjoy A-Grade flowers at prices they can feel good about.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Flower Moxie: Cut the stems off of some of those wedding costs—head over to Amy’s website to learn more!
  • Shopify: Amy used Shopify to set up her site for Flower Moxie, and they’re offering a 21-day trial and exclusive discount for all Side Hustle School listeners!

 

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
"The critics only criticize and never put themselves out there. The ones you want to listen to are your customers. Their opinions are the only ones that matter."
—Amy McCord Jones #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: Why You Should “Return Every Handshake”

Notes from Chris

Episode 862

THEMES & TAKEAWAYS:

We’ve just finished week 19 of Season III! This week, we featured coffee importing, dog loving, and terrarium building… among others. And in less than 3 weeks, I’ll be in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Denver, Austin, and Seattle—and that’s just week 1!

In this action-packed recap: I want to share a powerful, important strategy you can use while building an initial audience. I’ll also bring you an audio update from a previously featured side hustler.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW:

Today, we have an update from Mike McRitchie who was featured on the show in Ep. 320.

Listen to the Weekly Recap to hear from Mike!

You can also check out his website, MikeMcRitchie.com, and while you’re at it, check out LinkedIn Pro!

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. 856 – A customer service agent engineers a side hustle trans-fur-mation to full-time dog training business
  • Ep. 857 – A telecom sales manager perks up with an opportunity to import and sell coffee for a small coffee farm in Mexico
  • Ep. 858 – When one man’s love for terrarium building blooms, he uses his marketing skills to make $10,000 and become a “plant influencer”
  • Ep. 859 – Leaving the corporate world behind, a mom and military wife now earns 6-figures helping people learn the world of virtual assistance
  • Ep. 860 – Two friends create water purification systems that save drinkers from foul chemicals—and save the planet from disposable bottles
  • Ep. 861 – A designer with an enthusiasm for both maps and art merges the two to create hand-printed mazes that zig-zag through the hearts of iconic cities

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:

  • This corporate employee turned wedding planner hated seeing young couples struggle with her floral design fee for their weddings, so she creates an alternative option: affordable, DIY wedding bouquets
  • When the world of finance and banking proves less alluring than he hoped, this Aussie makes waves by creating his own swimsuit label
  • 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
"When you’re small and just starting out, you can use the size of your audience and the simplicity of your business to your advantage."
—#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

Artistic Cartographer Maps Out Successful Side Hustle

What It’s About

These iconic city maps will a-maze you!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Michelle has always been a big believer that early efforts don’t need to be perfect. In her book, it’s better to start with something, get feedback, and grow. And she learned a lot by sharing her map art at craft fairs where she could get feedback directly from a wide range of people and improve her prints and website.

Fun Fact

So, is it true that all roads lead to Rome? Well, at least in Europe, they do! A map visualization from this Vice article shows the 500,000 routes to Rome across the European continent.

Notes from Chris

Episode 861

Need to get from the Golden Gate Bridge to Sutro Tower in San Francisco? Well, you’re in luck! Today’s featured side hustler, Michelle Chandra, can take you on the longest, windiest route imaginable.

Michelle is a graphic designer with a love for the outdoors, adventures, learning, and art. From her life as an undergraduate seeking to be a creative writer to her current life as an artist with a mapping style all her own, Michelle’s journey has been full of twists and turns.

She began her adventure when she entered college, discovering a new world of travel, poetry, and art. She connected with a community of artists all over San Francisco—ultimately inspiring her into a labyrinth of projects.

The “x” at the conclusion of her journey was artistic cartography. And the intricate world of mapping was love at first sight. Michelle landed a full-time job with a Bay area startup creating web map visualizations, and that’s where she stayed putting together maps for three years.

While at a work conference, she attended a talk on maze-generating algorithms utilizing grids. As a traveler who worked in mapping, Michelle immediately connected the dots: cities are planned on grids as well!

Always keen on a puzzle, Michelle took on the challenge of designing her first map maze, using actual street grids. Although the journey was at times difficult and took 3 months and over 100 hours to solve, it was also a ton of fun. And it occurred to her that perhaps others would enjoy the challenge as well.

To get Dirt Alley Design started, Michelle created a maze map using screenprinting for two of the country’s most iconic cities: her hometown of San Francisco, and Brooklyn.

For the San Francisco maze, she decided to start at the Golden Gate Bridge with it ending at Twin Peaks, in the heart of the city. And for Brooklyn, nothing would suffice but to have it start at the Brooklyn Bridge winding its way all the way to Coney Island. She realized pretty early in that people would want to solve these without damaging the original designs, so she also sends along an extra print of the maze for you to solve.

Her first year, she brought in small profits of around $3,500. The year after that, her profits doubled to $7,000. Her goal is to keep doubling every year. Not only that, but Michelle recently realized that she was learning way more running a business than she was at her main job. With that in mind, she opted to set off on her own path—leaving her day job to focus entirely on her growing side hustle. Luckily, she was able to take the leap thanks to savings and living a minimalist lifestyle.

Looking a bit further down the road, Michelle is aiming to convert more maze enthusiasts by getting her art featured in new places and boosting online marketing so she can spend more time creating and less time at festivals and art fairs. She is especially excited to start exploring different art forms.

Most of all, Michelle feels fortunate to have the opportunity that her hustle has given her to create a new lifestyle. She looks forward to the twists and turns ahead.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Dirt Alley Design: Learn more about this winding side hustle over on Michelle’s website!
  • Shopify: Michelle used Shopify to set up her site for Dirt Alley Designs, and they’re offering a 21-day trial and exclusive discount for all Side Hustle School listeners!
  • The Jealous Curator: A popular, curated art blog we featured in Ep. 818
  • Kottke: One of the oldest blogs on the web. Written and produced by Jason Kottke, this blog covers the essential people, inventions, performances, and ideas that increase the collective adjacent possible of humanity
  • HauteLook: A “members-only” shopping website offering flash-sales and limited-time sale events featuring women’s and men’s fashion, jewelry and accessories, beauty products, kid’s clothing and toys, and home décor
  • Art Biz Success: A website run by my friend, Alyson Stanfield, that focuses on helping artists successfully manage the business side of their operation
  • Forbes | Holiday Gift Guide 2018: A holiday gift guide that highlighted some of Michelle’s products back in 2018

 

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
"In the beginning, you might just have an idea or an invention, but until you share it and get feedback, you won’t be able to learn, grow, or build it something bigger!"
—Michelle Chandra #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