Creative Illustrator Creates Creative Podcast for Creatives

What It’s About

An illustrator launches a podcast to help others find success with their creative pursuits.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

If you’re concerned that you have a lot of contradictory paths, consider something that Andy said:

“Whenever I hear someone say they have two contradictory paths, I always remind them that innovation is simply building a connection between two things that seem contradictory. When you find these contradictions, instead of seeing it as an obstacle, see it as an opportunity to do something that’s never been done. Don’t avoid obstacles, sniff them out, they lead to innovation!”

Fun Fact

Andy received a nickname from his listeners—Andy J. Pizza. They call him this because when his podcast reached one million listens, he and his wife created a huge pizza-cookie and posted it on Instagram to celebrate. Check it out here!

Notes from Chris

Episode 411

For Andy J. Miller, it wasn’t the desire for more money or to leave his job that prompted him to start a side hustle. Instead, it was standing in front of 50 members of his church group, giving his first public speech, which sparked a new passion within him.

Walking off stage, Andy realized he’d felt a connection to the work that he’d never felt in his day job. Despite working as a freelance illustrator, creating art for the big brands he’d always dreamed of, like Google, Converse, and Nickelodeon, something about talking to a small room of receptive ears felt more empowering.

Over the next few weeks, Andy explored how he could replicate this experience doing his current work. He even toyed with the idea of quitting illustration altogether. But, instead, he decided he would combine his old work, and his new passion, into an experiment.

He decided he would create a few episodes of a short podcast talking about creativity. If he liked it, he’d carry on. If he didn’t, he’d continue with his illustration work safe in the knowledge he’d at least tried.

Grabbing his iPhone, Andy scribbled down some notes onto a piece of paper and then began talking into his voice memo app. He used his notes as a brief guideline but mostly ad-libbed and improvised his way through the next fifteen minutes. Before he knew it, he’d created his first podcast episode.

He gave the podcast a name, Creative Pep Talk, and uploaded the audio file to his Mac.

Andy loved the project and decided to keep going with it. As time went by, the episodes started to reach an hour in length, and he invested in an outside sound engineer to help him improve the audio quality. The first two years of his podcast, Andy says he was just tweaking, listening to feedback, and trying to find where his product fit into the market.

Andy has been able to monetize his podcast in four different ways—sponsorships, products, donations through Patreon, and speaking engagements. And between these four revenue streams, Andy earns up to $70,000 per year from his podcast, all while he continues to illustrate for clients.

 


 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Creative Pep Talk: Andy’s website and podcast hub
  • Patreon: A service that allows artists and creators of all kinds to receive monthly financial support from the people who appreciate their work
  • GarageBand: The digital audio workstation that allowed Andy to create his podcast and keep his expenses low
  • Free Music Archive: An interactive online library of high-quality, legal audio downloads that Andy used to locate jingles for Creative Prep Talk
  • Soundcloud: The music and podcast streaming platform that Andy used to upload the jingles he found in the Free Music Archive
  • Squarespace: The website building platform that Andy used to create Creative Prep Talk

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
"Build a ‘creative bridge’ between what you do now and what you want to be doing in the future."
—Andy J. Miller #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

Government Employee Becomes Flash Mob Marriage Proposal Consultant

What It’s About

Following a somewhat underwhelming proposal, a government employee helps others plan marriage proposals that are bound to yield a “yes!”

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

This is definitely a service with a clear market! Some of our most successful side hustles have been wedding-related, and this is certainly money to be made in the wedding industry.

Also, Michele has a great website—it’s very clear what they do, they have nice visuals, and it’s easy to sign up. No wonder business is booming!

Fun Fact

Since starting 5 years ago, Michele has done thousands—yes, thousands—of proposals. Some of her favorites:

– They turned a major nightclub in Las Vegas into a Flash Mob with a singing choir complete with slideshow, Led gloves, and CO2 cannons. – They recreated Paris by building a 9 foot Eiffel Tower made of moss, hired an accordion player, had a macaron tower, and a Parisian cafe set up.

She makes this happen by coordinating all of the logistics so that the proposer—which is not always a man, by the way—can focus on, well, proposing.

Notes from Chris

Episode 410

For Michele Velazquez, her career and life turned into something she never imagined. This former government contractor started a side hustle helping people create over-the-top marriage proposals. This turned into a business operating in a dozen cities and earning multiple six-figures a year. It’s also spawned two related side businesses that are also profitable.

It’s been quite a journey, but it all started with her own wedding proposal—one that Michele describes as “lame.” Her aspiring fiancee thought she would like going on a cruise at Niagra falls. She hated it. He thought they’d fit right in with the other passengers … but it turned out they were all at least 40 years older than them.

She liked the guy, but thought, “Surely there’s a better way.”

With so much riding on the right marriage proposal, Michele sensed there might be an opportunity.

So what does she actually do? The side hustle is called The Heart Bandits.

The Heart Bandits provides proposal packages—templates, effectively—and complete custom proposals that range from $1,100 on up to the tens of thousands of dollars. The packages are more affordable and begin at a few hundred dollars (although they can go up to $70,000!).

Whether you choose a package or a custom proposal, Michelle will arrange unforgettable experiences that can include a helicopter tour, a picnic in Central Park where a street musician approaches and sings a song just for the two of you, an improv troupe that acts out a scene which ends in your proposal, and much more.

Since starting 5 years ago, Michele has done thousands—yes, thousands—of proposals.

At the end of year 2, she had made $50,000. At the end of year 3, it was $120,000, and she quit her job. Year 4 was $240,000, and last year was $450,000. This is no longer a side hustle, it’s a booming business, and she handles most of it herself with just one employee—I’ll tell you about that person in a moment—and local vendors in all the different cities where The Heart Bandits operates.

 


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • The Heart Bandits: Follow your heart on over to Michele’s website to learn more about her proposal planning side hustle!

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

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 feeling that I am in charge of my own destiny is the best experience to me. The pride when people ask me what I do and I say I own four businesses and work for myself is the most rewarding thing I can imagine."
—Michele Velazquez #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

Golfer Takes a Swing and Scores $5,000/Month Hustle

What It’s About

A golfing blog scores a hole in one, bringing in a steady second income.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

If you’re looking to master your SEO, here are three tips to help you get started:

1. Choose a focused topic using something like Google Trends 2. Chose the right keywords—Google Keyword Planner is great for this! 3. Use a simple plugin like Yoast!

Oh, and be consistent!

Fun Fact

Jon basically ignored SEO for his first full year of blogging, but that didn’t stop him from transforming the hustle into a $5,000 per month business later on.

Notes from Chris

Episode 409

As an avid golfer, Jon Sherman spent many hours on golf-related websites and forums. He enjoyed the online community he discovered, but he was disappointed by the advice he found in forums, on blogs, and in videos.

After a couple years of digging through posts, he realized why. The majority of the advice was being given by swing instructors looking to boost their authority—not by actual golfers. Jon wasn’t just a golfer, he was a high-level, amateur player, and he knew he could write better, more valuable content than what he was seeing available online.

So, after being inspired by stories he’s heard of online businesses and niche sites, he started his own WordPress blog, Practical-Golf.com. Since January of 2015, he’s been a sales agency manager by day and a golf writer by night.

In any given month over the next couple years, Jon would see his earnings range from $500 to $6,000, depending on the shopping season and any media coverage he received for his premium membership. It was a very nice side hustle especially when you take into account that he started it for next to nothing (his startup costs were around $100), but Jon wanted it to become more.

Fast forward another year of steady organic growth through intentional SEO. Practical Golf now averages 40-50 thousand unique monthly visitors and generates an incredible $5-8,000 per month of pure profit. Jon is nearing that point where he thinks he’ll be able to quit his job and be a golf writer and consultant full-time within the next two years.

Jon’s thrilled to be earning so much from his passion, but the bigger joy is in the community he’s created and the relationships he’s built over the last few years. “I’ve made tons of friends from around the world,” he says. “The online golf community is great!” He’s hit a hole in one with this project, and his driving ambition has served him well.


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

SEE ALSO:

 

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

GET $625 IN FREE TRAVEL

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

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

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

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

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

Quote of the Day
"There is no way I could have predicted where the site has taken me since I published my first article three years ago. Keep experimenting, failing, and learning!"
—Jon Sherman #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

Architect Changes Commuting, One Pocket-Sized Book at a Time

What It’s About

Inspiration strikes on a public bus, where an architect gets an idea to mobilize classic books.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

When you’re making or marketing a product or service—no matter how practical it may be—you should always be asking yourself “how is this going to connect with people on a deeper level?”

In this case, what’s the emotional need that David pinpointed in pursuing this project, and in particular by choosing the crowdfunding model to start it? Personally, I think it’s a combination of nostalgia and rebellion.

Fun Fact

Mouse Book Club relies on books that are within the public domain. David usually finds the next installment on Project Gutenberg, which digitizes cultural works so more people can access them.

The name Gutenberg comes from Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press. We can thank Johannes for starting the Printing Revolution and bringing books to the masses.

Notes from Chris

Episode 408

As a professional architect and journalist, David Dewane has always believed in the unique power of the written word. Then, as a lifelong fan of books, it’s little surprise that his passion for literature became his side hustle.

David spends his work days thinking about how to build ideas and bring them to life in design. But like many good ideas, the inspiration for David’s side hustle came out of nowhere. Or more specifically, it came from a bus ride. His snowy, slow bus commute in south-side Chicago was the one place he could zone out during the day, at least for a few minutes. It was (and still is) a route he takes at least 5 days a week, and this trip was not unlike the rest of them. What was different, though, was that David noticed that everyone on the bus was looking down at their phone, except him.

He was holding a pocket-sized book in his hand, with dog-eared corners and worn out pages from regular reading. He had taken his phone out of his pocket to check a text from a friend when he noticed that his phone and book were pretty much the same size. They were both easy to travel with. And furthermore, they both held worlds of possibility.

The more David thought about it, the more he realized that everyone holding a phone was reading. And if they were already reading while commuting, or waiting in line at the grocery store, then it wouldn’t be hard to read something else if it were within easy reach. He looked around the bus again. Everyone had their eyes glued to their phone. If people had a real book in their pocket, something that gave them a richer and more engaging experience than scrolling through Instagram, David wondered if they be more likely to pick that up instead of their phone.

After printing a limited run of 100 copies for his friends for Christmas, he found the validation he was looking for and thought about how he could get his pocket-sized books in the hands of others. That’s when he turned to crowdfunding; he took the leap and launched Mouse Book Club’s first Kickstarter campaign. It was a huge success and raised his first $50,000 of capital from over 1,000 backers. David used $20,000 to print and ship the first run of Mouse Books.


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Mouse Book Club: Turn a new page yourself and head on over to David’s website!
  • Kickstarter: The crowdfunding platform that David used to fund Mouse Book Club
  • Drip: The Kickstarter extension that allows backers to support creators through recurring, monthly donations
  • Project Gutenberg: The volunteer effort to digitize and archive cultural works, to “encourage the creation and distribution of eBooks”

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
"This January I sent out about 800 copies of Fredrick Douglass’ autobiography. I cannot imagine a more important book people could be reading right this second. I feel like I am doing something truly worthwhile."
—David Dewane #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: Starting a Coffee Delivery Service

Notes from Chris

Episode 407

LISTENER UPDATES & QUESTIONS:

Today we have listener updates from Wendy, Kristin, and James, and a listener voicemail from Fatima:

  • Wendy: “It took 49 days instead of 27, but I am finally launching my first side hustle! In that time I clarified my product and have a list of 10 related products to launch in the near future. I keep referring back to the “Shopping List” and the Side Hustle School Resource Page to make sure I have everything I need! I can’t wait to share with you how my first launch goes! Have a great week; I know I will! :)”
  • Kristin: “I am loving the productivity that comes with reading Side Hustle, and while it’s taken me some time, I have already generated $400 this month!I teach dance for a studio on the side, but I’ve worked out a way to make WAY more money by renting space and doing private sessions. The time I put in is minimal (choreography, which I do anyway, and lining up the studio). I am so excited and launching some pop-up classes when I travel for my day job in other cities—it’s great!!! More ideas are pouring out of me as well, but they are not as profitable immediately. Hence, I am focusing on this one right now. Can’t wait to read more…I’m only on day 5!”
  • Fatima has an idea for a coffee delivery service similar to Uber Eats, but she’s having a difficult time marketing it.Here’s something based on this scenario that anyone can do—you can either think of your product or service first and then ask, “Okay, where are those customers and how can I find them?” or you can think of your customer first and ask yourself “what do they need?” When you think along those lines, you may find yourself more on the fast track to success!
  • James has been considering starting a YouTube video series where he would interview people about the type of profession they’ve chosen so that others can decide if it’s something they’d really be interested in doing.

If you have something you’d like to ask me or an update you’d like to share, I’d love to hear from you. Leave me a voice message on the website or call into the Side Hustle Hotline (Dial 844-9-HUSTLE // 844-948-7853), and your question may be featured on the show!


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. 401 – After seeing a mean comment on Dolly Parton’s Facebook page, a woman bakes up a hilarious and ironic side hustle
  • Ep. 402 – A marketer for the financial industry regains touch with his upbringing and starts a jewelry business that benefits the marine wildlife of his home region
  • Ep. 403 – After answering the same questions over and over, this freelance writer opens an online school to help others break into the business
  • Ep. 404 – After two friends create a podcast for fun, it turns into a side hustle that generates $100,000 in its first year, multiple six-figures in year two, and a book deal in year three
  • Ep. 405 – In need of funds for an adoption, two married teachers consider teaching summer school—but instead of working with the school system, they create their own “brain camp” and earn more than $15,000
  • Ep. 406 – It takes a long time to get to market, and success doesn’t come cheap—but this mini-blind “prescription” now earns an extra $15,000 a year for its inventor

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Weekly Update:

Make a plan to start your hustle in 27 days or less!

You need more than one source of income. You need a side hustle. Side Hustle builds on the lessons from the show and presents a step-by-step, 27-day plan to help you create a new source of income without quitting your day job.

The book is out at a bookstore near you (or purchase it online!)

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 Chicago-based architect makes access to classical literature easier for readers, raising $50,000 on Kickstarter along the way
  • After receiving a “lame” marriage proposal, this former contractor sets up shop helping others create memorable proposal stories
  • 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
"Instead of thinking ‘product first,’ think ‘customer first.’ What does your ideal customer need? Go and make that thing!"
—#SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Get Connected Today!

Supporting the sponsors keeps the show free. Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by LinkedIn. 💼

Whether you're looking for a new job or looking to hire, you can find the right match at LinkedIn. Visit LinkedIn.com/HUSTLE today to get a $50 credit to post your first job.
Get Connected!

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

Chicago Architect Creates Mini-Blind Repair Tool

What It’s About

An architect gets his mini-blind repair tool manufactured and patented, learning lessons along the way.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

If Chad could do anything differently, he would probably not bother with patenting his product. After going through the process, he thinks that the better strategy is to be the “first out of the box” and maybe get a trademark and go from there. Patents are relatively expensive, and he mentioned that he was up and running for three years before his patent even came in.

Fun Fact

Chad’s previous side hustle was oil painting. He had gallery representation in Indiana, sold paintings on Etsy, and was published in American Artist. He also self-published an oil painting instruction manual for intermediate painters.

Notes from Chris

Episode 406

Today’s story is a bit different from some of the others that we’ve featured because while this project is pretty successful today bringing in an additional twelve hundred dollars a month, it took some time to get to this point.

And today’s side hustler, Chad Wooters, learned a lot of lessons along the way. By day, he’s an architect primarily working as a project manager for a non-profit in Chicago, Illinois. His side hustle is a mini-blind repair tool called MiniBlindRx of his own invention, which he sells through Amazon.com’s Fulfilled by Amazon program.

Chad got the idea for the tool while working in commercial real estate. His company spent a ton of money replacing damaged blinds. Eager to find a more budget-friendly solution, Chad’s boss asked him if he could locate a tool on the market that could repair them so that they wouldn’t have had to replace them each time. After some exhaustive searching, Chad couldn’t find anything. You know how it goes—he then decided that maybe he’d try and invent one himself.

Once he learned that his invention was unique, he hired a lawyer to make up some sketches from the prototype and write up the application, which cost just under $5,000. Two years later, the Patent Office came back with some questions that needed answering, so he had to pay an additional $1,500 to have his lawyer answer those. The patent process took three years.

He sold around 100 units after four months of hustling. In the meantime, though, he managed to get some orders from mail-order catalogs. He sold about 1000 units wholesale that way, but he didn’t get any reorders because wholesalers have to charge three times their cost, which prices it too high.

At this point, he realized he’d either have to give up or do it himself. So the third year, he started selling online directly to customers through eBay and Amazon which actually ended up working out pretty well for him.

Chad says his biggest mistake was spending so much developing the product—almost $40,000 from prototype to tooling to patent. Luckily, he’s recovered his investment and now it’s a profitable product, bringing in about $15,000 a year in a net income!


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Mini Blind RX: Check out Chad’s neat little tool on his website and his product page on Amazon

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
"Product development is the most fun and rewarding thing I’ve ever done—taking an idea and turning it into a tangible physical product that other people want. It really builds my self-esteem knowing that I brought something into the world and the customer feedback is so encouraging."
—Chad Wooters #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Get Connected Today!

Supporting the sponsors keeps the show free. Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by LinkedIn. 💼

Whether you're looking for a new job or looking to hire, you can find the right match at LinkedIn. Visit LinkedIn.com/HUSTLE today to get a $50 credit to post your first job.
Get Connected!

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

Two Teachers Launch Summer Camp After Listening to Side Hustle School

What It’s About

Two teachers start a summer camp and earn more than $15,000.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Start small and don’t be afraid to pivot away from your initial idea. If you keep things small enough, you can get away with making mistakes. And remember—it’s not always a bad idea to ask for forgiveness instead of permission.

Fun Fact

Mike and Joy listened to the SHS podcast daily, hoping to get some ideas. But they eventually realized that their greatest fear—having to teach in summer school—was the very idea that they could use to launch their own side hustle. Camp Fun Brain, their own summer camp, was thus born.

Notes from Chris

Episode 405

Austin, Texas-based elementary school teachers Mike and Joy Engel have always enjoyed teaching and playing with kids. As teachers, they usually caught a break during summer. This time, however, was different, as Mike and Joy were contemplating teaching summer school to build up their savings for an impending adoption.

They were excited about the adoption, but not about teaching summer school. Teaching in a formal setting was what they did all year, and they needed a break.

For a while, however, it looked like they couldn’t avoid that possibility. Although both Mike and Joy listened to Side Hustle School every day, they still couldn’t come up with an idea. Resigned to teaching summer school, the joke was that it wouldn’t be as bad if they could set their own rules and do it in their own way.

That was when the seed for their own summer camp was planted. Both of them were aware that parents were afraid of the “summer slide,” where their kids’ academics would regress after spending too much time having fun. At the same time, they knew that kids needed something fun and less stressful.

Camp Fun Brain was their idea. It was a summer camp which would incorporate both academic rigor and hands-on projects to ensure that students would maintain their grades while having fun.

Over the course of summer, Mike and Joy grossed $36K in revenue and netted $15K in profit. Marketing cost them 2.5K as they got listed on camp guides, promoted heavily on Facebook, and distributed those flyers and yard signs. The other costs came in the form of classroom rental which cost $1,500 over 6 weeks, $2K for consumable school supplies, and another $6K for reusable school supplies. The biggest cost was getting teachers to staff and help run Camp Fun Brain, which cost them $36K over the entire period.

The costs may seem high, but for Joy, her ability to pay teachers well was the best part of the experience. She remembers that she was with Mike at Chipotle on 2nd May for their Teacher Association Buy-One-Get-One-Free Burrito Day, which was packed full of teachers. Stories were exchanged, and that’s when Joy realized that while the public constantly tells teachers how amazing they are, no solutions are usually put forth to ensure that they get paid more.

With over 10K in sales at that point, Joy felt empowered and decided to do the same for other teachers, offering them a $40/hour wage for teaching at Camp Fun Brain. That’s higher than what most schools pay, and the teachers found it more liberating to work in an environment that allowed them more creative independence.


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

 

  • Camp Fun Brain: Learn more about Joy and Mike’s brain child on their website!
  • Squarespace: The website building platform that Joy used to create Camp Fun Brain

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

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

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

GET YOUR FIRST 1,000 EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS

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

Quote of the Day
"The best part of this side hustle is the freedom to teach in a fun and joyful way without having to adhere to all the red tape that comes with public school teaching."
—Joy Engel #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Get Connected Today!

Supporting the sponsors keeps the show free. Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by LinkedIn. 💼

Whether you're looking for a new job or looking to hire, you can find the right match at LinkedIn. Visit LinkedIn.com/HUSTLE today to get a $50 credit to post your first job.
Get Connected!

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

Business Besties Turn Skype Calls Into Six-Figure Podcast

What It’s About

Two friends start a podcast to share their wisdom-filled conversations—and make multiple six-figures!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

I asked Kathleen how to build a brand and get more podcast listeners. She said to focus on making “real” content, having real conversations. And show up with consistency. They haven’t missed a week of recording in over three years.

Although they got sponsorship early, Kathleen’s advice is to not worry about it. It’s rare to make a good income entirely from sponsorships. If you do get sponsored, make sure your values and expectations are aligned. And think outside of the box on what that partnership looks like.

Fun Fact

Kathleen and Emily’s lucky break was when Freshbooks Cloud Accounting wanted to partner with them right out of the gate. These days, they have become more than a sponsor and have collaborated with them by buying their bosses beers at a local (to their HQ) brewery in Toronto, a party on a yacht in Miami, and a parade through the streets of New Orleans at their annual Being Boss Vacations. These vacations are how they celebrate their successes—not only with each other but their community of listeners.

Notes from Chris

Episode 404

Kathleen Shannon and Emily Thompson were creative colleagues. Kathleen co-founded a branding agency in 2011, and Emily’s studio has been developing websites for almost a decade. They collaborated on some projects and struck up a friendship. Then they started meeting monthly for Skype calls. They would share what was and wasn’t working in their businesses and exchange ideas to take their businesses to the next level.

In November of 2014, Emily pitched the idea of turning those conversations into a podcast called Being Boss Podcast. They knew their conversations were similar to what a lot of other creatives were having. Less than three months later, in January of 2015, they released their first episode.

They had no plans to monetize this podcast. If anything, they hoped it would be an awareness tactic for Kathleen’s branding agency and Emily’s website development studio. However, soon after that first episode, they were featured in the “new and noteworthy” section of iTunes.” They also made it up to number two in the Business category!

They kept their expenses low by not using expensive equipment and doing most of the production themselves using GarageBand. As their revenue increased, they began to hire or outsource parts of the process. They invested in a sound engineer, a content director, and a virtual assistant, among others.

Speaking of revenue, after making a bit over one-hundred-thousand dollars in their first year, they made $250,000 dollars in 2016. And last year, they made over $400,000 dollars.

 


 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Being Boss Podcast: Check out these awesome ladies and their super informative podcast over on their website!
  • Freshbooks: The accounting software company that ended up being Being Boss’ first official partner and helped them really get started
  • GarageBand: The digital audio workstation that allowed Kathleen and Emily to create their podcast and keep their expenses low

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
"You don’t need fancy equipment, you don’t need to be the most popular person in the room, and you don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to show up, do the work, and do your best every single day."
—Kathleen Shannon & Emily Thompson #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Get Connected Today!

Supporting the sponsors keeps the show free. Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by LinkedIn. 💼

Whether you're looking for a new job or looking to hire, you can find the right match at LinkedIn. Visit LinkedIn.com/HUSTLE today to get a $50 credit to post your first job.
Get Connected!

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

Freelance Writer Starts School To Help Writers Start Side Hustles

What It’s About

A freelance writer teaches what he knows and creates a tidy little side hustle.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

If you’re looking to start a similar business yourself, James recommend that you spend some time looking for your “x-factor.” This is the topic you spend the most time reading about, that your friends come to you for advice for, or where you have an above average set of skills. Everyone has something the can teach to someone else, and there is a market for almost everything. Whether you’re into baseball cards or pouring the perfect cup of tea, there is someone out there who is willing to buy an information product from you.

Fun Fact

James decided to start his own freelance writing business after reading my 279 Days To Overnight Success. Since then he’s worked from over 30 countries on four continents and completed a pilgrimage across the north of Spain.

Notes from Chris

Episode 403

For freelance writer James Johnson, it was time to make a change in his business. Although he loves the freelance world and the flexible life it affords him, he felt the need to do some work that was more people-focused. He knew that writing articles, blog posts, and books were helping people in one way, but he wanted to do something a bit more hands on.

For the first six months of 2017, James spent his days toying with different ideas of people-focused businesses he could start. He’d listen to podcasts—including Side Hustle School—and devour books to help him try and find his answer. But after months of false starts and bad ideas, he felt like he just couldn’t come up with anything that, well…fit.

Then, one day, a Facebook friend got in contact to ask for advice on how to start his own freelance writing business. He’d been following James in the background for years and finally wanted to start doing it himself. Always happy to help a friend, James jumped on a Skype call and walked his friend through how he should get started.

After he came off the call, James couldn’t help but feel he’d done this before. He checked his email and Facebook messages and saw that he’d helped people with the same problem lots of times since he’d first started out. He’d even been paid to write a few blog posts about it. That’s when the obvious idea dropped in his lap. If people were asking for this information, he thought, perhaps he could charge for it.

James set about creating a website where he could begin to share advice to people. He called it the Freelance Writers School.

Before creating any content for his website, James went out to research what people in his niche were talking about. He looked at blog posts and Facebook groups to see the specific topics they spoke about and made a Google Spreadsheet to record specific words and phrases they used. He then used his new database to create a homepage, an about page, and a welcome email series using terminology that would strike a chord with them.

Most people responded best to his content about getting starting and taking your first steps as a freelance writer, so James decided he would create his first two products focused on this topic.

James launched his PDF course to his email list. In his initial launch week, James made around $1,800 and continues to average $600 to $650/month through sales of his product!

 


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Freelance Writers School: Class is in session, so don’t be tardy! Head on over to James’ website to learn how to fast-track your writing career
  • Bluehost, WordPress, Aweber: The trio that James used to launch his website and setup his email campaign
  • Teachable: The educational teaching platform that James originally hosted his online courses on

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
"Where have you spent a lot of time and energy that most people haven’t? And, what do you spend a lot of money reading about? This is usually a good sign of where you have more knowledge to teach."
—James Johnson #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Get Connected Today!

Supporting the sponsors keeps the show free. Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by LinkedIn. 💼

Whether you're looking for a new job or looking to hire, you can find the right match at LinkedIn. Visit LinkedIn.com/HUSTLE today to get a $50 credit to post your first job.
Get Connected!

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

Hometown Bracelets Support Local Marine Life

What It’s About

A marketer fishes for profits after being inspired by the natural beauty of his hometown.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

When you encounter struggles of all kinds, there’s an important question you must ask yourself: “Can I do anything about this?”

If yes, great! If not… maybe you should let it go, or use it as inspiration for something else (I’m talking to myself here too, by the way). Use it as an opportunity to focus on the future or on doing something better.

And if you’re moving on, another good question to ask yourself is: “What’s next?”

Fun Fact

Since his side hustle was inspired by the beauty of the Cape, Patrick figured that it only made sense that he give back and help preserve it.

For 2017, Patrick donated over $10,000 to ocean and marine life causes. The company is profitable and growing, and it brought in approximately $60,000 (pre-donation) in the last calendar year.

Notes from Chris

Episode 402

When Patrick Clarke moved from Falmouth, Massachusetts to Boston to become a marketer for the financial industry, he didn’t realize how much he would miss home. The sand dunes, the expansive beaches of Cape Cod, the passion for marine life—he wanted to stay connected to it all.

He had tried a few side hustles in the past, but he never really felt passionate about them. When it was time to put himself out there to sell whatever he had made, he would realize he didn’t fully believe in it.

Something changed when he sketched the coastline of Cape Cod in a notebook one early January day.

He looked at the L-shape of the Cape and had what first felt like a random idea. He could loop a band through an attached ring on one side of the Cape, then hook the band around the ‘L’ side to make a bracelet. It was a simple concept, but it felt right.

He took to Craigslist to find someone who could turn his sketch into a digital 3D model. A few revisions and a couple weeks later, Patrick sent his complete CAD file to an online 3D printer.

But he didn’t open up an online store right away.

Instead, he spent a couple months playing a game of “finders keepers” with friends and Cape Cod locals on Instagram by placing what he now called Cape Clasps in geocaches around the area. This generated excitement and a sense of exclusivity for those early-finders. It also just felt fun.

At one point during those months of experiments, Patrick was walking down Main St. in his hometown, just doing his normal thing. A local shop owner walked up to him and asked where he got the bracelet he was wearing, and Patrick told him he was the bracelet’s creator.

By the end of the day, he had a $700 check in his hands for a few dozen Cape Clasps. This spontaneous display of desire from a shop owner pushed Patrick from geocaching to cash-making, and he started taking his design to shops all around the Cape.

By July 3rd that year, Cape Clasp was being sold in a handful of boutique stores in the area. On July 4th, Patrick launched his Shopify store, Cape Clasp.

2017 was Cape Clasps best year. Patrick went full-time as the business owner and moved back to Falmouth, Massachusetts. As a result, Cape Clasp netted $60,000 in sales and donated over $10,000 to marine life organizations.


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Cape Clasp: Ride the surf over to Patrick’s website and pick up a bracelet of your own! And it’s a purchase you can feel good about because 15% of all sales go towards supporting ocean and marine life causes
  • Shopify: Patrick used Shopify to set up his store for Cape Clasp, 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

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
"With Cape Clasp, I believed in my product and was truly passionate about the cause. I remember changing my Instagram handle to @capeclasp, and saying to myself, ‘there is no going back now!’"
—Patrick Clarke #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Get Connected Today!

Supporting the sponsors keeps the show free. Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by LinkedIn. 💼

Whether you're looking for a new job or looking to hire, you can find the right match at LinkedIn. Visit LinkedIn.com/HUSTLE today to get a $50 credit to post your first job.
Get Connected!

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