Archives: Podcast

If At First You Don’t Succeed, Make DIY Journals

What It’s About

Decorative journals for those who want something pretty but don’t have time to beautifully portray what we ate this week in pen and watercolors…

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

To prepare for launching, the duo set up social media accounts and started engaging with the bullet journal and lifestyle community by commenting on pictures of journal designs, particularly on Instagram. Some of the more influential people ended up sharing Silk and Sonder’s designs with their own followers, which helped gain some pre-launch traction.

Fun Fact

Silk + Sonder’s first “line” of journals is tea-themed. Each journal is inspired by a different tea blend, with little hints of that blend and its origin country present throughout the journal.

Notes from Chris

Episode 585
Meha Agrawal and Joe Yao go way back to a friendship in college. When they graduated, the two friends went separate ways, but that separation didn’t last long. A few years into their careers, Meha decided to start a side hustle in the form of a luxury wedding platform that would connect brides with vendors online, and it made perfect sense to partner with her friend who had just finished a coding boot camp nearby.

Launching that project took quite a bit of planning, and they figured bullet journaling would be a great way to organize their thoughts and next steps. The idea is to buy a journal with dotted paper and sketch beautiful designs that you can use to track things like your weekly calendar, to-do lists, and gratitude list. Taking the time to hand-draw your planner is supposed to be soothing, mindful, and clarifying.

The only thing was, they were both terrible at it…

They just couldn’t recreate the gorgeous page designs that were trending on Instagram, and the time they spent trying over and over again to make everything look nice and pretty was actually destroying their productivity. In Meha’s words, it was “deflating”.

There had to be a way to capture the personal wellness and productivity side of bullet journaling without having to suffer through the dull, uninspired designs of monthly planners—and at the same time, not have to be an expert artist.

But Meha and Joe couldn’t find any pre-made journals that really hit the nail on the head. The limited options were too boring, one-dimensional, and just bland overall—like they weren’t actually made by creative people, but by corporate execs.

So in July of 2017, they tabled their wedding platform idea and immediately got to work on a new hustle, Silk + Sonder. The goal was to blend the best bullet journal concepts, lifestyle and productivity thought pieces, and planner designs to create a monthly themed journal that would inspire self-care for the less-artistic.

In September, the two launched Silk and Sonder in preparation for their first monthly journal in October. Thanks to that early social media traction, they actually got their first sale that same day on their website. A few weeks later, they successfully fulfilled that first month’s few dozen orders, finished up the journal for November, and started to ramp up marketing.

The June journal of Silk and Sonder shipped to 25 states—a first for the company. They also recently broke $3,000 in monthly, have over 300 monthly subscribers, and are seeing 30% growth month after month. They know they’re doing something right, because gift subscriptions make up 25% of all orders—and those recipients almost always subscribe on their own after the gift.

But the side income is really only half the fun. For Meha, the ability to facilitate self-care and personal growth for hundreds of people around the country is a whole reward in its own—and more than anything, that’s the part she’s most excited about growing.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Silk + Sonder: Tired of everyone else showcasing their fab artistic skills on Instagram? Share some photos of your own—learn more over on Meha and Joe’s website!

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

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

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

GET YOUR FIRST 1,000 EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS

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

Quote of the Day
"Ultimately, we wanted to curate our learnings and synthesize it in a way so that it would resonate in a product and consumer experience that felt like you had a ‘life coach’ in your back pocket."
—Meha Agrawal #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Create a Stunning Website With Wordpress

Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by Wordpress.com! Whether you’re looking to create a personal blog, business site, or both—you’ll make a big impact, when you build your website on WordPress.com. 💻

Get 15% off when you build your website with Wordpress.com—use promo code PODCAST when you check out.
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

Mini Foam Roller Works Out the Kinks

What It’s About

A side hustle that’s really on a roll!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Jessika brought up a rather unconventional action point for those of you looking to take your hustle full-time:

“If your plan is to take your side hustle to be bigger than just a hustle, spend some time connecting with your core values and sense of purpose.”

Fun Fact

One of the coolest things about running this side hustle for Jessika and Jade has been the feedback they’ve received from their customers. These RistRollers are being used in ways they never even thought of! From being used to decrease the pain and treatment time associated with trigger finger to rolling out scar tissue for burn victims—it’s pretty amazing what a little foam rolling can do!

Notes from Chris

Episode 584

By day, Jessika Jake is a Senior Project Manager at a digital marketing agency in San Diego. Fun fact: one of her clients is Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon, a race that I did a couple months ago. She’s had a lot of projects and side hustles in her career. I got a list from her that included at least 5 different websites offering digital services. She also tried to start a business for tourists visiting Coronado island. At the time, her daughter, Jade, was living there. That business never took off, partly because Jade took off to see the world.

Jade went to do the Semester at Sea program, which took her to several countries and on many adventures. Periodically she’d call home to report, and the news was always significant:

“I ran a half marathon in Ireland.”

“I rode a camel and slept in the desert.”

Another time she said something else:

“I have even more amazing news. I met someone with a foam roller.”

Jessika didn’t understand. How was finding someone with a foam roller more exciting than finding a camel you could ride in the desert?

But that’s just because, at the time, Jessika didn’t understand the life-changing magic of foam rollers. Jade had scoliosis, and the foam roller helped to treat her symptoms. Merely by rolling around on this magic piece of hard foam, she could feel better.

A lightbulb came on for Jessika. She needed a life-changing roller herself, but a small one … just for her wrist.

You probably know the next part: she looked around and didn’t find anything. Then, Jessika and Jade had what they called a “time-lapsed conversation” about turning this into a project.

Jessika decided to move forward, and she did so quickly. She found a manufacturer for what she called the RistRoller, and she put up a website that cost $20. Why was the RistRoller color green? Because it was one of the few available color options. There was no shopping cart on the website, and all she had was a link to her personal PayPal account.

But sometimes that’s all you need. She was off and rolling!

Jessika says that the project has been bringing in $2,000-3,000 a month, but to her, it means so much more because she found her life’s work. This side hustle is certainly on a roll, and these two are muscling their way into profits and potential.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • RistRoller: Get your roll on—snag a RistRoller over on Jessika and Jade’s website!

 

SEE ALSO:

 

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

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
"Obstacles will inevitably pop-up like a game of whack-a-mole, but remember that there’s always a path forward. Find it, and fight for it."
—Jessika Jake #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Create a Stunning Website With Wordpress

Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by Wordpress.com! Whether you’re looking to create a personal blog, business site, or both—you’ll make a big impact, when you build your website on WordPress.com. 💻

Get 15% off when you build your website with Wordpress.com—use promo code PODCAST when you check out.
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

Line Chef Makes Millions Cooking Up Apron Empire

What It’s About

An apron empire built for chefs by chefs.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Ellen thinks that it’s really important that you find your own path, and follow it because no two paths are exactly the same. She says that we can take advice and inspiration from other people’s journeys, but at the end of the day, your trek is your own and what works for someone else may not work for you in the same way.

Fun Fact

Ellen was so strapped for cash when leasing her first 400 square-foot office space that she had to have her aunt co-sign the lease. The cost was only $400/month and she could barely afford it. Today, Hedley & Bennett operates out of a 17,000 square-foot warehouse complete with a full-size tree house, zip line, slide and swing set.

Notes from Chris

Episode 583

People in the cooking industry work incredibly hard for their money. They put in back-breaking hours, missing out on holidays and time spent with family—all for the love of food. The last thing they want to worry about while slaving over a stove is replacing their clothing. They need gear that works as hard as they do. That brings us to Ellen Bennett. Her story is one of passion, resilience, and reimagined chefs aprons!

Ellen is hustling personified. At just 18 years old, she moved from LA to Mexico City. What started out as a two-month trip ended up being a four-year adventure. She attended culinary there and turned to side hustling to make ends meet. That included renting out every spare foot (or meter) of her home to visiting tourists, working as an English teacher, translator, and even a lottery number announcer! It was a life education that taught her how to be resourceful.

But her heart was in food, so she eventually moved back to Los Angeles in 2012 and began a stint as a line chef at Bäco Mercat, a much loved Spanish-fusion restaurant in the middle of downtown LA. After two and a half years working there, a sizzling opportunity arose, one that Ellen was keen to take advantage of.

Fed up with the sub-par aprons available on the market, the owner, Josef Centeno, was looking to commission a company to make a more functional and durable apron for his staff.

This was a pain point for Ellen too who was tired of constantly having to adjust her straps or find some way to keep her pockets from falling apart all the while working a busy line. She knew that she could use her experience to improve on your run of the mill apron, so Ellen asked him to give her a chance to create them herself. She could make some money and was also the perfect test subject as she’d be using the apron herself.

He believed in her, so gave her a shot with an order of 40 aprons. The problem was, at this point, Ellen had zero experience with sewing—it was a completely half-baked idea! What she did have though was determination and a passion to succeed.

Soon she had the first batch of aprons made and was ready to deliver them to her boss. He took them with minimal fanfare and provided feedback after the first shift… She got grilled!

As Ellen says, you learn the most from failure. Although the feedback left her ego feeling a little worse for wear, she was far from defeated and made a promise to remake 20 of the aprons with the assurance that they’d be perfect this time.

His criticisms helped her refine the product. The second batch of aprons was of an even better quality and featured a unique strap system that’s still used today.

What started as a small batch operation pumping out hundreds of aprons out of a 400 sq. ft. apartment is now a full-fledged operation located in a 17,000 square-foot warehouse in LA that sells millions of dollars in aprons every year!

Hedley & Bennett is still a company in its infancy, but, like Ellen herself, it is moving fast. Although they started with aprons, they’re transitioning to more of a lifestyle brand, one that aims to bring simplicity and functionality to all areas of the kitchen.

Ellen told us an apron is to a chef what a cape is to a superhero. For both, they are capable of great things as long as they are wearing the right equipment.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Hedley & Bennett: Get rid of that old apron and bring some dignity and respect back into the kitchen—snag yourself an apron over on Ellen’s website!
  • Shopify: Ellen used Shopify to set up her site for Hedley & Bennett, 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
"Dreams are not cookie cutter or ‘one size fits all.’ If you’re chasing someone else’s dreams, you’re going to get burned out because you will not have the passion to succeed and see it through. Don’t follow the dreams of others—create your own!"
—Ellen Bennett #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Create a Stunning Website With Wordpress

Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by Wordpress.com! Whether you’re looking to create a personal blog, business site, or both—you’ll make a big impact, when you build your website on WordPress.com. 💻

Get 15% off when you build your website with Wordpress.com—use promo code PODCAST when you check out.
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

Weekly Recap: “This Time, It’s Different”

Notes from Chris

Episode 582

THEMES & TAKEAWAYS:

Sir John Templeton once said, “The most dangerous words in investing are ‘this time it’s different.'”

What he meant in that context was that investors tend to repeat common mistakes. They fail to see that the results will be the same even if a few minor circumstances have changed. That’s why people continue to lose money when they bet on stocks without knowing what they are doing. This thinking is dangerous in more than just investing, because of our tendency to wrongly predict the future.

When you’re facing a dilemma of “Do I wait it out, or do I do it now?” maybe ask yourself, “If I wait a year, what will really be different?” You may very well be able to identify something that is going to create a complete change in your circumstance or situation that makes it more feasible to start your new project, take that big trip, or whatever it is that you want to do.

Or you might find that there’s not much that is going to magically happen to all of the sudden make your life different. If you want something to be different, you have to do something yourself to make that a reality.

There’s another quote that I like by Andy Warhol: “They say time changes things, but mostly, you have to change them yourself.”

Listen to today’s Weekly Recap to learn more about why “this time it’s different” is a dangerous phrase and why you should take action today, not next month, or even next week!

WHERE ARE THEY NOW:

This is a new segment that we’re trying out with the help of side hustlers that we’ve featured on the show in the past. Today, we have an update from Andrew Church from Ep. 33.

We featured Andrew way back in February of 2017 when he had just started making unique and functional items out of slate under the name Bison Hill Stonecraft.

Listen to the Weekly Recap to hear from Andrew and see what’s happened since he was featured on the show last year!

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. 576 – A communications manager and mother of two young children manufactures an innovative solution for a common shopping problem
  • Ep. 577 – While waiting tables, a recent college grad discovers the world of “sneakerheads.” He then learns to buy and resell shoes, earning a six-figure income and quitting his job within a year
  • Ep. 578 – This shipping executive’s foreign friends struggled to get their hands on the American goods he took for granted. His new business now delivers thousands of packages a month to countries like Liberia and Hungary
  • Ep. 579 – After following his wife around Italy, an Irishman takes life by the handlebars—breaking the cycle of new jobs by learning how to drop-ship e-bikes
  • Ep. 580 – When diet and fitness fads run their course, this Aussie builds a tribe of over 16,000 followers and a side hustle that brings in $10,000/month
  • Ep. 581 – A project planner gets inspired by his son’s soccer game and then creates a rewarding business as a sports videographer

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 roughly 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 chef sets out to reinvent the humble apron, growing it to a multi-million-dollar company while still working in restaurants at night
  • A San Diego project manager creates a tiny foam roller relieve pain and prevent injury no matter where you are
  • And so 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
"If you find yourself experiencing the same struggle over and over, try to uncover the root of the problem. Sometimes it’s easier to change a variable before you get to the struggle."
—#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

Oil & Gas Worker Becomes Sports Videographer for Polo Games

What It’s About

A photography side hustle that specializes in getting players noticed.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

One lesson learned: During a game in which he’s being paid by both teams, he always collects full payment upfront from both of those teams before the game. If not, the loser might not pay at the end of the game. He learned this the hard way.

Fun Fact

Alvaro is not just a long-time listener of the Side Hustle School podcast, he also watches Your Business by MSNBC where it features business submitted by the public in a section called #YOURBIZSELFIE. Alvaro sent MSNBC a photo and explained what he does without any expectation. One day, he saw his business appeared on national TV and was surprised by it.

Notes from Chris

Episode 581

Alvaro Plaza is a project planner at an oil and gas service company in Houston, Texas. While he’s doing well in his job now, he always wanted to start a side hustle. He used to work as an Uber driver part-time, but he wanted something that was more within his own control.

Like many of our listeners, Alvaro had many business ideas. He thought about starting an espresso van, building a digital marketing agency, working in real estate, and more. While having a lot of ideas is great, it’s crucial to take action. Alvaro didn’t move on with any idea he had until January 2016. At the time he had been laid off by his company, and everything changed.

At that time, his son was playing soccer in 9th grade. Alvaro always loved photography and filming as a form to preserve memories. He thought if he could film the game, create some highlights, and send those to coaches, his son would have more opportunities to get a soccer scholarship. Besides, these highlights can one day become great sports memories for his son too. That was when a brilliant idea flashed across his mind.

He called his new project Champions Sports Films.

Athletes need services like this if they want to increase recruiting opportunities. Besides, they could also use these replays for self and team improvement. Alvaro thought he could package it as a service targeting coaches and families with athletes. Furthermore, it was a weekend side hustle so that even when he found another full-time job, he would still be able to continue growing it on the side.

After Alvaro filmed his son’s game, the opposing team’s coach came over to talk with him. He wanted Alvaro to film their game so they could learn from the replays and highlights. That was when Alvaro got his first customer. With the quick success, he knew that there were more opportunities to make more money. He didn’t celebrate getting the first sale because all he was thinking about was how to get more clients.

Champions Sports Films had a humble beginning. Alvaro made only $6,000 in profit in 2016. It wasn’t a big paycheck, but it was growing. Then, he made $15,000 in profit in 2017. Halfway through July, he had made $17,000 in 2018 up to July. Alvaro’s goal is to make a total $30,000 in profit this year and expand the business to other cities in the future.

By our math, Alvaro’s $4,000 investment has turned into $38,000 and counting. It’s also brought him a wealth of experiences, the confidence to think about one day doing this full-time, and the passion to try out new projects.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Champions Sports Films: Learn more about Alvaro and his photography/videography service over on his website
  • WordPress: Alvaro used WordPress to setup Champions Sports Films, and here you can learn how to install your own WordPress site in 5 minutes
  • Adobe Premiere Pro, YouTube, & Dropbox: Three of the programs and platforms that Alvaro used for his videos

 

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
"While photography and videography may be a saturated market, there are lots of different methods you can use to stand out. Always be on the lookout for ways to adapt your service to fit the needs of others."
—Alvaro Plaza #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Move Forward With Uber!

Side Hustle School is brought to you by Uber—the company determined to improve the ridesharing experience for both riders and drivers.

I've seen a lot of these improvements firsthand, but don't just take my word on it! Read more about all of the ways Uber is moving forward—head on over to Uber.com.🚘 Learn More

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

Pump It Up! Project Manager Elevates Female Fitness

What It’s About

A side hustle that helps transform the lives of other women!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

When asked about standing out in a saturated market Lucy said, “Just because someone else is doing something doesn’t mean that you don’t have something unique and valuable to add to the market. Be so authentic and true to yourself that you end up being different from everything else that’s out there. Just because there are others in the market doesn’t mean that their message is going to resonate with your potential customers.”

Fun Fact

Lucy’s ambassador program Fire Tribe got its name from an inspiring quote that got her through her own transformation: “Some women fear the fire, others become it.” It was a quote she’d post on Instagram. When her followers began quoting it back to her and hashtagging it, she thought it was a perfect fit.

Notes from Chris

Episode 580

27-year-old Lucy Dunne is—by her own account—a free spirit. In her heyday, she spent years partying hard and traveling the world not knowing what the next day held. As an Aussie now living in Alberta, Canada, Lucy found herself working full-time as a lead project manager tasked with providing signage solutions for corporations across North America. Like most jobs, it had its ups and downs.

The job kept her busy, and she was making ends meet. But there was one area of her life that she wanted to improve—her health and fitness. Lucy had acquired a new habit of binge eating, and it didn’t help that she was smoking up to a pack of cigarettes a day. But it wasn’t until she was having trouble fitting into regular sized clothes at retail shops that she knew something had to change.

There’s a lot of noise in the health and fitness space. So instead of looking to all the experts, she decided to do it her own way. She said “so long” to hours spent on the dreaded treadmill and stairclimber machines and introduced weightlifting and other activities that didn’t feel like such a chore to her routines.

Instead of denying herself the things she loved and meticulously counting her calories, she started to adopt an “everything in moderation” mentality and focused on macro ratios more than calories. Over the next three years, trips to the gym and meal times stopped being something she dreaded, and more importantly, she was seeing good results.

By 2015, she was 65 lbs down from her original weight and felt that she could finally stop hiding behind large purses in pictures. Lucy was so proud of what she had accomplished that she decided to document the remainder of her journey on Instagram—and that’s when everything changed.

Each day, Lucy shared a bit more about her journey. Because of the transparency and authenticity of her posts, she began drawing the attention of other women who were looking to improve their health and fitness routines.

At this point, she knew what worked best for herself, but she wanted to get a better idea of what would work for others as well. So, Lucy Dunne decided to get certified as a personal trainer and nutrition coach.

And before she knew it, a new transformation was underway… of the side hustle variety! She called it Dunnebells.

With an avid Instagram following looking for her help, she started with them. Within the first month, she had roughly 20 clients enrolled in each program, and with each month that passed, her programs were selling out faster than she could open them up!

In the beginning, Lucy’s side hustle was earning her $1,000 a month. Gradually, her monthly earnings bumped up to $2,000. By October 2017, she was making $5k a month. Now at $10k+ a month, her side hustle has become her full-time hustle!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Dunnebells: Learn more about Lucy and her programs over on her website!
  • Upwork: The global freelancing platform that helps businesses connect with independent freelancers remotely
  • Squarespace: The website building platform that Lucy used to create her website for Dunnebells

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
"It’s not realistic to act strong and like you have it all under control all the time. It’s okay to admit that you run into problems just like anyone else. Be honest and people will appreciate you for it!"
—Lucy Dunne #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

Online Bike Store Owner Gears Up for Hands-Off Profits

What It’s About

A refresher course in dropshipping a niche product!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

When John decided to focus on being more deliberate about the products he was going to sell, he started with 100 random products and began to eliminate them one by one with a list of criteria based on a product’s weight, price, number of suppliers, niche and dropshipping compatibility, and market competition.

Fun Fact

John got his first eBike sale two weeks after he opened up his store. The people in his life had little confidence in his abilities to make money from dropshipping, so he immediately screenshotted the sale and sent it to all his friends and family. Soon after, he found out that it had been purchased off of a stolen credit card.

Notes from Chris

Episode 579

Irishman John Murphy dreamed of a job that he could do from anywhere in the world. His wife was Italian, and they moved around Italy for her career. Each time, John had to quit his job and look for another. With another move on the horizon, this time with a less than ideal job market, John decided to ask his current boss if he could work remotely instead.

His boss said yes! But this victory came with a no-going-back realization: as soon as John started working from home, he knew he never wanted to stop.

With his interest piqued, John started looking into other ways he could make money online. While looking online for ideas, he came across a business model called “dropshipping.” If you’re not familiar with dropshipping, it’s when someone sets up an online store to sell other people’s products. In exchange for marketing the items and running the online store, the dropshipper gets a percentage of the profit. The dropshipper doesn’t have to deal with producing, handling, or mailing what they sell.

Not only that, but some dropshippers were making thousands of dollars a month by doing this! To John, it seemed too good to be true… but it was true.

He was ready for the cash. Where was the “free money” button on the internet? He’d heard people talk about using the Shopify platform, so he made an account and linked products from a big retail website called AliExpress. Then John waited for his bank account to inflate.

Unfortunately, John was startled to discover that he hadn’t hit the “free money” button after all. After spending $300 on marketing, he had made just $50 in sales, resulting in a $250 loss.

This only made John more determined. He knew that dropshipping was a successful business model—the proof was all over the internet—he just had to figure out what he was missing.

It was time for more research.

He picked a more specific niche to target this time—people who were afraid of an impending apocalypse… although, in recent years that niche has probably expanded a bit. Either way, John found more success this time with his survival kit store, but it still wasn’t what he was looking for. He knew he could do better.

Ultimately, John chose to start selling eBikes, which he hoped would break him out of his old cycle. There was already an online presence for them, so John knew people would be willing to purchase them online. Plus, the average cost of the eBikes John was selling was roughly $2000. This meant John had to sell less products to make money. If he sold anywhere from 2-4 bikes a month, he’d be making anywhere between an extra $1000 – $4,000.

He launched his eBike store, eBike Generation, July 31st, 2017. Over the next 6 months, John only made two sales. Just as he was giving up hope, the store that dominated the eBike niche shut down. The owner had decided to pursue a career in coaching instead, it would seem. John set up a one-hour phone call with him and has been making up to $25K a month from his store ever since.

John is now making more money from his side hustle than he ever could have anticipated, but the most rewarding part for him was finally breaking his cycle and mastering the skill of dropshipping.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • eBike Generation: If you’d like to learn more about the ebikes John is flipping, head on over to his website!
  • Shopify: John used Shopify to set up his site for eBike Generation, and they’re offering a 21-day trial and exclusive discount for all Side Hustle School listeners!
  • Dropship Lifestyle: An online drop ship course that taught John the basics of the business

 

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
"The best part of the whole experience for me has to be the realization that it can work, and it’s possible to start a business from nothing, learn a set of new skills and make money without a huge upfront investment."
—John Murphy #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Create a Stunning Website With Wordpress

Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by Wordpress.com! Whether you’re looking to create a personal blog, business site, or both—you’ll make a big impact, when you build your website on WordPress.com. 💻

Get 15% off when you build your website with Wordpress.com—use promo code PODCAST when you check out.
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

Global Supply Chain Adventures: American Ships Brazilian Hair to Liberia

What It’s About

A service that helps people in other countries get the American goods they want.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

To market his business, Randy has relied mainly on Facebook advertising. It’s been a great way to reach people in hard-to-reach places, like rural towns and villages. He can select locations within a radius of his franchised location or delivery drop-off point, and target the people who live there.

Fun Fact

Randy had the bittersweet experience of being forced to go full time with his side hustle because of a car accident. However, the extra time invested allowed him to finally break the seven-figure mark.

Notes from Chris

Episode 578

Have you ever ordered an item online and felt there was far too much packaging? You know, when you buy something tiny, like a USB stick or set of batteries, and it comes in a box big enough to contain a car tire?

For most of us, it’s just an annoyance—a clear sign of waste. But for many people living outside of America, the land of free shipping, it can be a costly problem that stops them from getting the products they want.

Which is where today’s side hustler, Randy Robida, found his new side hustle.

While working as an executive of a home delivery company, Randy spent a lot of time in different countries all around the world. Everywhere he went, he felt that he stood out as, “The American,” and people often commented on what he was wearing. From his sneakers to his laptop cover, the items he traveled with were often the hot topic of conversation.

One conversation he had in Budapest really stuck with Randy. Waiting for a meeting to start, one of his clients asked Randy, “How long have you had your shirt for?” Randy found the question to be a little odd. He’d been asked where and how much, but never how long he had something. Randy told him the shirt was about three years old, and the client laughed and said, “Shirts in Hungary barely last us a year.”

This was one of many similar conversations, and Randy began to feel an idea percolating in the back of his mind. He could tell there was a high demand for American items, but what was the problem with supply? Many of the people he spoke with were middle-class or high-income individuals from relatively affluent backgrounds—what was stopping them from getting the products they wanted?

He began to ask everyone on his travels where they were getting stuck, and he found two significant problems.

The first was that payments were often rejected. Although people had money, they were ruled out based on their location, and legitimate credit cards would be denied. In particular, people in Nigeria suffered from this, which you’ll understand if you’ve ever received an email from a generous faux-prince offering to send you a hundred million dollars if only you’ll advance him a few thousand up front.

The second was the cost of shipping. Products were affordable to buy in America, but sending them abroad could quickly turn a $40 pair of shorts into a $150 investment, sometimes more when you factor in import taxes.

These two points of friction and the hundreds of people struggling with them gave Randy the confidence to start his new endeavor. If he could fix these two problems, he could help people in these countries, and earn a profit for himself. So, he founded the company USA2Everywhere.

USA2Everywhere uses a simple system of consolidating packages. Customers submit their desired orders through their website. They’re then bought and delivered to Randy’s garage. There the products are re-packaged in more appropriate boxes—and sent to a pick-up location close to the customer. This offers incredible savings to the customer and allows most shipment to most places for around $25.00. Much less than any of his global competitors can provide.

Six years after its initial creation USA2Everywhere is on-track to generate several million dollars in revenue for 2018. Randy is still running the business from his house and currently employs his family members to help him out. However, he’s also expanding to a warehouse space to deal with the volume of orders coming through.

He’d eventually like to expand beyond developing countries and look towards higher-income places like Germany, Australia, and the United Kingdom… so that everyone can get those cheap laptop cases and shirts that last for more than one year.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • USA2Everywhere: Learn more about the side hustle Randy is building 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

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

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

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

GET YOUR FIRST 1,000 EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS

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

Quote of the Day
"I’m proud of how I make my money and I love doing it. Not everybody can say that."
—Randy Robida #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

Six-Figure Sneakers: College Grad Earns $10,000/Month Reselling Shoes

What It’s About

A college grad makes bank flipping sneakers!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

The first step is to educate yourself as much as possible on the sneaker market. Then go out and buy a pair of shoes you think are in high demand. It can be a new release or an older used model. Sell it for profit or, even to break even, just to get a feel for the market, the lingo, and the platforms like eBay, GOAT, and StockX that people use to buy and sell shoes.

Fun Fact

The global sneaker resale market is currently valued at around $1 billion. While much of this revenue is generated by the larger players such as StockX and KLEKT there is still plenty of room left for independent resellers to make a substantial income. eBay has a thriving community of both buyers and sellers and estimates are that around $400 million worth of sneakers are sold through the site each year.

Notes from Chris

Episode 577

When most people leave college, they have a career in mind. After completing their degree, they head out into the ‘real world’ and look for work in their chosen field. But JV Ortiz isn’t like most people. When college was over, he was only certain of one thing—he wanted to make money on his own terms! But he just wasn’t quite how to do it.

While searching for an answer, he got a job waiting tables to pay the bills. The plan was to work until he could come up with something better to get the dollars rolling in. He started researching what others were doing to make money. Since there’s no shortage of advice on the internet, this led to trying a whole bunch of things that didn’t work.

He tried selling umbrellas, hoverboards, and other random items through Amazon. He tried affiliate marketing. He made some money on those ventures, but it was nothing to write home about.

Then, one day, he read a story in a magazine that changed his perspective on things. It outlined how a teenager was making six figures a year by flipping—that is, buying and reselling for profit high-end watches.

It sounded like a great way to make a living, but JV had a problem. High-end watches were expensive! Watches like the ones mentioned in the article cost upwards of five figures, not exactly the kind of money a waiter has lying around.

Still, the business model intrigued him. He explored other markets where he might be able to apply the same business model. For inspiration, JV turned to one of the biggest marketplaces on the planet… eBay!

He scoured the recently sold clothing items on eBay looking for ones with a high price point. Why clothing? Well, he chose it over watches or electronics or anything else because it seemed low-risk. Amongst the high priced fashion brands, a strange item jumped out at him. A pair of 2015 Nike Air Jordans was selling for $800 above retail. After researching a bit more, he noticed it wasn’t a fluke! They were consistently selling for that price.

This was JV’s first introduction to sneaker collectors, known as Sneakerheads:. You see, there are millions of people out there that love sneakers. They converse about them all day long and are always on the lookout for the hottest new releases. For some reason, sneakers have a way of consuming the sole of those who covet them.

After about a year of doing this, JV was able to quit his restaurant job and go full-time. How much money does he make? While the money isn’t always consistent, he’s managed to earn a six-figure salary for the last two years. In his more successful months, he has earned over $10,000 reselling sneakers.

JV plans to travel while working over the coming year. And, like sneakers, he realizes the only way that works is with a pair. He now has a business partner who’ll handle the physical sourcing and shipping of the shoes while he’s traveling the world.

Throughout the process, JV has learned about marketing, customer service, negotiating, and everything it takes to have a successful side hustle. He’s also launched a website to teach others how to be successful reselling sneakers. With all his knowledge, it seems like additional success is a shoe in!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Sneakerheads: JV’s website that goes further into the process of flipping high-end sneakers
  • eBay, GOAT, & StockX: The platforms that JV used to flip the sneakers he bought

 

SEE ALSO:

 

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

GET $625 IN FREE TRAVEL

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

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

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

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

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

Quote of the Day
"The first step is to educate yourself as much as possible then buy a pair of shoes once you know it can be sold for a profit. Then sell it for profit or even to break even just to get a feel for the market, the lingo, and the platforms that people use to buy and sell shoes."
—JV Ortiz #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Create a Stunning Website With Wordpress

Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by Wordpress.com! Whether you’re looking to create a personal blog, business site, or both—you’ll make a big impact, when you build your website on WordPress.com. 💻

Get 15% off when you build your website with Wordpress.com—use promo code PODCAST when you check out.
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

Rhode Island Mom Has Side Hustle In The Bag

What It’s About

A distaster at the grocery store leads a mother of two to a shopping problem solution.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

One of the things that Kelly stressed more than anything is that you shouldn’t wait for something to be absolutely perfect before you launch your side hustle. Because, if you do, you’ll never get started. Products, services, and even prices and rates can be changed after you start!

Fun Fact

Several states in the US have laws that prevent retailers from supplying plastic shopping bags unless they provide a convenient storefront receptacle to ensure used bags are collected and recycled. At least 73 bills have been introduced in state legislatures during the 2017-18 session regarding the use of plastic bags in retail settings.

Notes from Chris

Episode 576

Kelly Santos, a busy working mom, was frustrated! As any parent can attest to, a trip to the grocery store with two kids in tow can be a chaotic affair. And it was during one of these trips to the store that Kelly had her “A-HA!” moment.

On this particular shopping trip from hell, Kelly hurried to get the shopping done. Her rambunctious toddler, Jake, sat in the grocery cart seat. Her newborn daughter, Brooke, slept peacefully in the car seat carrier. Juggling Brooke—who dangled from Kelly’s arm in the car seat—while steering the cart full of items AND trying to keep Jake entertained was no small task. All the while Kelly tried to carefully navigate the store aisles, but she knocked over a display of diet pills when rounding a corner. Bottles upon bottles of pills spilled all over the aisle, and of course, Brooke woke up crying. After this stressful and humiliating experience, Kelly knew there had to be a better way to shop with her kids.

Kelly searched for a way to ease her shopping trip nightmares. It would really help if she could just find something to increase space for her groceries—then she could put the baby’s car seat carrier in the shopping cart. Kelly searched high and low online, but she came up empty-handed. However, one thing was clear as she researched social media and mom blog posts—her problem was one other parents shared—so she created Cart Mama!

What is Cart Mama, you ask? Kelly describes it as a saddlebag style product. Cart Mama is a reusable bag that attaches to the side of any style shopping cart to make more space for your items. But this is no ordinary reusable bag! This durable, large tote has two elastic pockets that can hold 30+ pounds of goodies!

Cart Mama’s annual profit for 2017 was $13,000 and growing.

What’s next for Cart Mama? In the coming months, this innovative product will be available online at select retailers. Kelly is now an approved seller for Walmart! She says the best experience so far was going to Walmart to pitch buyers at their annual open call. It was inspiring to be surrounded by others who shared a similar passion.

Who knew that a stressful trip to the grocery store would let such a great idea out of the bag!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Cart Mama: Say bye-bye to those nightmarish trips to the grocery store—snag yourself a Cart Mama over on Kelly’s website!
  • Squarespace: The website building platform that Kelly used to create her website for Cart Mama
  • Stripe: The payment processing platform that Kelly used to process all of the payments made on her website
  • MailChimp: The email marketing platform that Kelly used to connect with those who had purchased her Cart Mamas

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
"Don’t delay—you CAN have a full-time job and a side hustle. It just depends on how bad you’re willing to work for it. Don’t wait for it to be perfect—JUST DO IT. And tell everyone so that you’re held accountable."
—Kelly Santos #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Move Forward With Uber!

Side Hustle School is brought to you by Uber—the company determined to improve the ridesharing experience for both riders and drivers.

I've seen a lot of these improvements firsthand, but don't just take my word on it! Read more about all of the ways Uber is moving forward—head on over to Uber.com.🚘 Learn More

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