Archives: Podcast

English Teacher Turns Passion for Verbs Into Online Income

What It’s About

An ESL teacher brings fun into the classroom with his new approach to teaching phrasal verbs.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

For Phrase It, Alan took the ‘go with what you know’ approach. Rather than trying to understand a new market that he knew nothing about, he looked around at what he was already doing—teaching English to international students. He understood these students’ needs better than anyone, and figured he could come up with a product that added value for them. The result? He created a one of a kind, truly innovative product.

Fun Fact

There are over 1.5 billion English language learners in the world. According to the research you will see in Alex’s Phrase It book/cards combo, phrasal verbs are one of the most difficult constructs for English language learners. There are over 5,000 + combinations in the English language. Alex spent time discovering 70 of the most common ones for students to practice.

Notes from Chris

Episode 499

Teaching is one of the most important professions in the world. And taking the knowledge you’ve gained in your own life and passing it on to others is a noble endeavor. But…as many of us know, the salary of a teacher isn’t usually enough to live the high life. There’s an old joke that goes, “Teachers deserve a lot of credit. Of course, if we paid them more they wouldn’t need it.” In most cases, the earning potential is limited to the amount of time they’re physically in front of students, and there are only so many hours in a day.

So, what do you do when your passion doesn’t align with making a lot of money? You get creative!

This is the situation Alex Bricker from Ft. Collins, Colorado found himself in. Alex is an ESL teacher—that’s English as a Second Language—and enjoys his job.

More than five years ago, Alex had tried starting a side hustle together with his brother. Their goal was to create an online directory of businesses for sale. The project wasn’t a big success and never made much money, but it did teach Alex a few lessons and gave him the confidence to have a go at something else.

So in early 2017, he got interested in starting a project. He went back to the blackboard—after throwing around a few ideas he devised a truly unique concept. One he was fairly certain he could find a market for and make money with.

For his second lesson in the entrepreneurial classroom, Alan took the “go with what you know” approach. The result? He created a one of a kind, truly innovative product.

Now, before I can explain exactly what the product is, I need to give you a little background. I’ll do that with a quick English lesson of my own. Apologies to all real teachers out there…remember I am a high-school dropout.

English is one of the hardest languages to learn, or at least it’s hard to master. Native speakers like myself find that difficult to understand. There are so many little quirks of the language that make it really hard for non-native speakers.

One of the hardest things to master are what’s known as phrasal verbs, or multi-word verbs. It’s best illustrated by an example. Take the phrase, ‘turn off’—like turn off the light, or turn off the stove. While intuitive to me—and a lot of people listening to this podcast—it’s really difficult to understand for English students. It’s because the word ‘turn’ literally means to turn around, as in go left or right. Not to turn something off or on. Make sense?

Alex was confident he could gamify the learning process and make it easy for phrasal verbs to stick in the minds of students. The concept he landed on was a card game: a way to make learning fun by producing random phrasal verbs. The name of the game? Phrase It!

While the setup costs were relatively high, the project has more than paid for itself. Currently, Phrase It is generating an average of $1,000/month profit, mostly through Amazon. But that’s not all, the revenue generated from the card game enabled him to launch a new product line.

From January of 2018, versions of the game are available in both dice and magnet form. It’s been driving even more revenue and Alex expects things to grow fast. 2018 is already looking very promising with $3,000 worth of sales last month alone.

While the money earned so far isn’t quite enough to quit his job, it’s a good start. He’s able to supplement his teaching income while essentially teaching more students without being on the clock. Teaching continues to be his passion and he’s excited to see what happens when the new versions of Phrase It. This is a story that deserves more than just a passing grade.

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

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
"I love innovating and developing things, so this fits my gifts and passion. I also love teaching, so to teach teachers how to implement something is a joy. The best part of the experience has been seeing international learners get the ‘aha’ moments when playing the card game."
—Alex Bricker #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: SHS Listener Earns $10,000/Month

Notes from Chris

Episode 498

THEMES & TAKEAWAYS:

I recently had a conversation with Kathleen Shannon, who we featured in Ep. 404. Kathleen works 30 hours a week and wants to spend a lot of time in the gym. Her colleague, Emily, has a third business, in addition to her own and the one they operate together.

For her, Kathleen absolutely doesn’t want a third business. Obviously, it’s not that either choice is right for everyone—for Emily, her colleague, the third business is right.

This relates to the concept of seasonality, which I try to stress every now and then. Sometimes in life, you want to emphasize one area or focus more than another, and then you switch. If you’re looking for “balance,” I think it’s more important to think about it over the course of a year or another extended period of time, not in an average day.

In today’s recap, we’ll delve more into this topic of choosing your choices—listen to the Weekly Recap to learn more!

LISTENER UPDATES + QUESTIONS:

This week, we received a listener email from a side hustler named Anthony:

  • Anthony: “Hey, Chris! Just wanted to thank you—since listening, we have started four side hustles that individuals have done on your podcast. And the latest is on the way to bringing in $10,000/month!It’s called Maids 2 Match our residential cleaning business in Dallas, TX. We got the idea from one of your featured guests, Chris Schwab (Ep. 87 – College Student Earns $20,000 a Month Cleaning Houses). Who I stalked on Facebook and picked his brain, and introduced me to a WHOLE community of people using this software called Launch27 for Lawncare, Pool Cleaning, moving business, dog walking, real estate. It preaches everything you mention about not trading time for money.

    Currently, we are in month 5 and bringing in $6,000/month. We’ve done Turo, Rover and a few others.

    Thanks in advance (and in general) and hope to hear from you soon!”

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. 492 – A college student with a new family to support reads between the lines and turns a $20 used textbook into almost $70,000 within two years. This episode will flip your lid!
  • Ep. 493 – Two former baseball players create a bat rental service, serving thousands of customers across the country
  • Ep. 494 – In her search for a side hustle, this college communications instructor turns to her love of journaling. She then learns to manufacture a custom product from overseas and sell it back at home
  • Ep. 495 – A university data developer starts a metal detecting agency with his kids. It goes on to help people recover over $100,000 worth of jewelry, while earning rewards for the family
  • Ep. 496 – Hair today, gone tomorrow: a Texas woman turns her Instagram account into a mane event
  • Ep. 497 – A pilot instructor harkens back to his youth by building a fun, safe space for kids of all ages to play paintball

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Join me at the World Domination Summit!

Have you heard of the World Domination Summit? This is a gathering of awesome people—an event that I’ve been hosting together with an amazing team in Portland, OR every summer for the past eight years.

WDS 2018 is coming up at the end of June (June 26th-July 2nd), and we’ll be welcoming people from over 30 different countries. With inspiring keynote speakers, a week full of activities and attendee-led meetups, and two incredible parties, you won’t want to miss it!

This is our final wave of main stage tickets so visit our website to get your ticket to this incredible, once a year event! We promise that it’s unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before.

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 sky-high success story of a six-figure drone coaching business that begins after a man crashes a drone into a parked car in New York City. Look out!
  • In search of extra income, an ESL teacher creates a game that shows students how to use phrasal verbs. Turn it up!
  • 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
"Deciding what you’ll be choosy about is one of the most important choices you can make."
—#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

Paintball Enthusiast Builds Epic Field in New Zealand

What It’s About

When the economy takes a hit, this pilot helps residents of his hometown hit back even harder.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Having trouble determining which ideas are worth pursuing? Craig says that he has a notebook that he writes down every single quirky idea that comes into his head. He considers this notebook “a never-ending to-do-list.” And if he picks up the book and adds something to an existing entry, that is a flag for him to think “hmmmm, this could work.”

Fun Fact

Borderlandz Paintball even had its own race car. For real. From Craig, “We entered it into national events. We placed 7th out of 96 entries in the championship. We used the car for promo events for the paintball field and friends that had other small businesses added their logos all over the car (We looked so ‘pro’ with all the ‘sponsors’, haha). I later sold the car to finance our motorhome build and the move to Australia. It was fun while it lasted that’s for sure!”

Notes from Chris

Episode 497

Craig Tyer always wanted to fly airplanes, and once he was old enough, he trained to be a flying instructor. A dream job, right? Well, it was a dream job in some ways, but it definitely didn’t come with a dream paycheck. At least in Craig’s native New Zealand, teaching junior pilots was not a high-paying career.

Naturally, he needed a side hustle. And it helped that he had some history with them, beginning with his first at age nine.

Years later, while going through flight training, he played a lot of paintball on the weekends. Part of it was fun, and part of it was to stay fit. After all, there’s a lot of sitting involved in flying! He was living in Christchurch, New Zealand and the tourist industry took a nose dive after a massive, 6.3 earthquake. A number of paintball fields went out of business.

Determined to keep the beloved pastime in his city, Craig decided to save every penny he could from teaching kids to fly to start his own paintball facility. How much does a paintball facility cost? In Christchurch, NZ, apparently it costs around $8,000. He began by buying 10 paintball packs from his contacts in Christchurch, gearing up for 8-10 people to play, costing around $5,000. He also traveled around the country (by plane?), touring different paintball facilities, noting likes and dislikes. From there, he designed his dream field. He started locally sourcing old tires, wooden pallets and started building forts and barricades. He said it was just like he was a kid again despite being on the verge of turning 30.

Craig had all the elements for a good field, but what he really needed was a place to build his dream paintball field. He leased a back paddock off his Grandfather, one that bordered the neighbor’s property. Hence ‘Borderlandz Paintball‘ became Christchurch’s newest up and coming paintball field.

Last year, they grossed $35,000. Prior to that in 2016, they sat at around $30,000. The game bookings are very seasonal since they make 90% of that income between Late November – Early January. Their biggest weekend to date brought in net income of more than $5,000 and 30,000+ paintballs! But during the rest of the year it’s around $1,500 in profits per month.

If you’d like your own paintball field…

Opening a paintball playground has some unique needs when it comes to insurance. Craig recommends having Public Liability Insurance because of the nature of paintball. They also have a waiver the customer signs and two referees in each game. Not to mention they always have a First Aid certified staff member on call.

Craig recommends that you don’t cater to the ‘hardcore crowd’. It’s the Birthday parties and bachelor parties that make up 90% of the income.

Both Craig and Vicky—who he brought on to help run things—still have their full-time jobs alongside running Borderlandz. Vicky still works for the electrical company in New Zealand, while helping to manage the family business locally. Craig has been able to live out a couple of his dreams; continuing his passion for aviation and—in the rest of his spare time—building a custom adventure van, and traveling with his partner and their pet ferret… as one does after crafting the perfect paintball field.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Borderlandz Paintball: Learn more about this epic paintball field over on Craig’s website!
  • WordPress: Craig used WordPress to setup Borderlandz Paintball, and here you can learn how to install your own WordPress site in 5 minutes

 

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

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

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

GET YOUR FIRST 1,000 EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS

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

Quote of the Day
"Borderlandz Paintball has done so much for me—it’s provided me with funds to build a motorhome so that I could live as a digital nomad while I travel. It’s also allowed me to provide employment to some great people and help my awesome sister out as well!"
—Craig Tyer #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Try ShipStation for 60 Days FREE!

Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by ShipStation, the #1 choice of online sellers. 📦

To get a 30-day trial AND an additional month free, click the microphone at the top of their page and enter the word HUSTLE.
Get it Here

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.
Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

Texas Blogger Turns Weekend Adventures Into $2,000/Month

What It’s About

A Texas blogger masters Instagram and monetizes her weekly excursions!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

If you’re looking into social media influencing as a side hustle, Jessica says:

Start by thinking about what you can offer to your potential audience, and what makes you, and your content, unique. And not just that—be as specific as possible. If you want to talk about fashion, think of something within that market that isn’t already supersaturated—maybe make your channel all about fashion in really bright colors or all about scarves. And once you narrow it down, stick to it and try not to get off base.

Fun Fact

Named for a character in a Russian novel, Marfa, Texas, is a small desert town in the southwest part of Texas with about 2,100 residents. What it lacks in population density, it makes up for in hipster cred. The tiny town has been featured in The New York Times approximately 12 times, and the art scene has made a splash on NPR, too. Marfa-llous.

Notes from Chris

Episode 496

You may have seen social media influencers on your Instagram or Snapchat feeds, or at least heard about people getting paid to post about brands on their social accounts. But if you’ve ever wondered what it takes, or how to begin your own influencer side hustle, you’re not alone! Jessica Serna in Dallas, Texas wondered the same thing… so she figured it out.

Jessica loved her 9-to-5 job working as a recruiter for a local non-profit organization, but whenever she wasn’t at work, you could find her on a road trip, traveling to a new city or town for the weekend. If it was driving distance from her home in Dallas, she would be there. Soon, she developed a knack for finding interesting places to visit in Texas and figured out all the tricks to staying fashionable in the blistering heat and humidity that the state is famous for.

As she made the most of her time outside the office, and her Instagram feed became filled with pictures from her travels, people started asking her for recommendations and places to try. She slowly started to build a following, but it wasn’t until a brand offered her some money to promote their product that it really clicked. Maybe she could make money from her social media following while doing something she loved—sharing new places and things with people. Social media influencing was completely new territory for Jessica, but she felt that she was up for the challenge.

She spent a weekend at her desk for a change of pace and created a basic WordPress website to house her new travel posts and images, and kept the name simple and to the point—My Curly Adventures. The name was partially inspired by her wanderlust, and partially because, as a woman with curly hair, she was never immune to the challenges that Texan humidity posed to her hair.

After her website went live, Jessica’s following began to grow even more. It turns out that her idea to focus on a specific niche, traveling in Texas, was a hit! And with this increase in her following came incoming brand promotion offers.

Since her first paid promotion, Jessica has had the chance to attend special events in different cities, try interesting and unique products, eat at amazing restaurants, and visit new destinations—all either for free or paid for her efforts. In Jessica’s words, “It’s a life I never imagined, and every day I can’t believe I actually get paid for this.”

It took Jessica a year, and a lot of travel, to build her following into a social media influencer side hustle, but now she has over twenty-two thousand followers. In her opinion, it was well worth all those long weekend trips, fantastic meals, and hours spent editing photos—especially now that she’s been able to move from side to full-time hustle.

The added bonus? Now her favorite things—traveling and new experiences—come to her either paid or absolutely free. With the upgrade to her main focus, My Curly Adventures is set to create even more content (and Jessica can take even more trips) as she finds interesting new ways to share ideas and locations with her followers. Jessica is her own mane advocate, and the combing attractions over are sure to look interesting!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

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

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

GET YOUR FIRST 1,000 EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS

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

Quote of the Day
"The most amazing thing I’ve been able to do is live a lifestyle I’ve never imagine. I’ve attended events and traveled to places that I always thought might happen ‘one day.’ I also have the freedom to create my own hours, which has been exciting for me!"
—Jessica Serna #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

Metal Detectorist Gets Paid for Finding Lost Jewelry

What It’s About

A full-time data developer starts a detective agency with his kids earning some real rewards along the way.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Dan believes really anyone can get started this way. You just need a basic metal detector, some patience on Craigslist, and the willingness to go out and search for a couple hours when you find a gig.

Fun Fact

Dan once drove 4.5 hours to find a ring that had been dropped off a pier. Dan found a ring—someone else’s ring. After a few hours, Dan’s son, who was just swimming around nearby, came up, hands open, and gave the correct ring to Dan.

Notes from Chris

Episode 495

Dan Roekle was vacationing on a Florida beach. A cool breeze ran through his hair, and the sand was… everywhere. His kids were playing close to the water, but it was time to pack up and head out. He walked down to where they were and gave them the sad news. Little did he know, the fun of that day wasn’t over yet.

As they were walking back up the beach, they saw a man walking around with a metal detector. They watched him search up and down the beach for a few minutes. As he approached, they asked him if he had found anything.

In fact, he had. In one of his hands was a necklace with a dozen rings hanging on it, all jewelry that tourists had lost on the beach. The man explained that finding the jewelry was only half the fun—finding the owners was also exhilarating.

Shortly after Dan and his family returned to Wisconsin, his son approached him and asked if they could get one of those “treasure finders.” It seemed like a fun hobby for him and his kids, so Dan agreed.

At first, they had a cheap, hobby-grade metal detector. They would take it around the school playground for a while each weekend and come out a few dollars richer. Dan’s son loved it.

A couple weeks after buying that initial detector, Dan saw a Craigslist ad offering a reward for a lost ring. Dan, equipped with his basic metal detector, replied. The next day, after showing up less than an hour of searching, Dan found the ring and gave it to the friend who would mail it back to the original owner. It was exhilarating, but not quite as exhilarating as the $200 check that arrived in the mail the next week.

Fired-up from the large check, Dan quickly sold his entry-level detector and used that $200 to buy a nicer, more powerful one. He knew he was onto something.

Over the next couple years, Dan and kids found more and more lost rings, phones, and keys across his state. He usually charged some sort of reward, but it wasn’t ever that big. Somewhere along the way, Dan realized he needed to make his business more official.

In 2015, Dan formed Lost and Found Ring LLC, and created a WordPress site to go along with it.

He set up the site himself and started blogging about findings over the years. This led to his site generating some major Google traffic. Most of the searches that lead to the site are along the lines of “where to rent a metal detector” or “how to find my lost ring.”

Dan convinces these readers of his blogs that they shouldn’t try to rent a cheap detector themselves—they should hire a metal detecting veteran with upper-level gear. He also shows his authority and skill with finding jewelry, developing trust with random site visitors. And it works!

Throughout the second half of 2015, Dan made over $1,000, earning back the money he spent getting everything off the ground. But that was just the beginning. Dan’s “feel good” stories started getting picked up by newspapers. The tales of long-lost family heirlooms being rescued from loneliness on some beach or in a random pasture seemed to multiply, and Dan started seeing more inquiries.

Dan and his kids’ little hobby is paying out. He and his son find 2-3 items per month on average with a 65% success rate, putting an extra few hundred dollars in the bank account each time. This metal detecting family—who are now equipped with multiple detectors—will keep searching for treasure. Though, according to Dan, the time they spend together is the true reward.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Lost and Found Ring LLC: Missing a family heirloom or wedding ring? We can officially say that we’ve got a guy for that—learn more over on Dan’s website!
  • WordPress: Dan used WordPress to setup Lost and Found Ring, and here you can learn how to install your own WordPress site in 5 minutes

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

GET $625 IN FREE TRAVEL

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

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

RELIABLE WEBHOST FOR $2.49/MONTH

Want to build any kind of website for your hustle? If so, you'll need somewhere to host it! This is the reliable company I've used for my past 5 websites. It's cheap, flexible, and you can get support 24 hours a day.

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

Quote of the Day
"Being able to return a ring that someone thought was lost forever, and which typically has a huge amount of memory and emotional attachment… is like no other feeling in the world."
—Dan Roekle #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

Communications Teacher Turns Love of Journaling Into Etsy Shop

What It’s About

A serial journal keeper with a penchant for paste turns her Side Hustle School inspiration into action.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

This is indeed a listener success story (learn more about being on the show, here!), and Danielle had this to say for anyone who may be stuck between inspiration and action:

“I think the best thing (yet hardest thing to do) is to just get started. And keep climbing! I notice so many people having great ideas, but all too often they do not follow up with them. They never take action, which Chris reiterates on the podcast. I think we can all be better by continuing to push forward and not give up. Use those precious morning and evening hours to work on what you love, and you will see the rewards!”

Fun Fact

Danielle first started keeping a travel journal in 2009 on her first trip to Europe. She and her friends bought some notebooks and glue sticks in Munich and started gluing all the trip mementos in their journals along with writing down their daily adventures. Danielle has kept travel journals like this ever since and has now been to over 35 countries!

Notes from Chris

Episode 494

When most people look back on trips they’ve taken, they scroll through thousands of photos on their phone, or maybe dig through some postcards or tickets that managed to survive. College communications teacher Danielle Nelson, however, takes a much more hands-on approach to track her travels. Besides posting on her blog, Danielle found that packing a journal and actually pasting in tickets and other memorabilia, along with good old-fashioned writing, was a much better way to capture her memories.

Danielle has been journaling since she was a little girl and keeping travel journals since her first trip to Europe in 2009. It wasn’t until last year, however, that her love of journals and glue pens sparked an idea for a side hustle.

Danielle is an avid listener of Side Hustle School and attended a Side Hustle School workshop in Denver, where she met a group of people she still regularly meets with to keep their hustles on track. Clearly, Danielle was ready to start hustling but still hadn’t found the right idea. Then, when she was attending the World Domination Summit, she happened to run into an old co-worker she hadn’t seen in years. The co-worker was reading Danielle’s blog, A Little Bit Adrift, and suggested that she create her own line of journals.

Finally, she had her idea… and she was ready to take action! She would create a line of travel journals that included a glue pen, called Pack This Journal.

After finding the vendor to manufacture the journals, Danielle set up an Etsy shop and a website to sell the journals on. She sells one to two journals a day through Etsy, plus the random sale here and there from her website. Currently, she sells the small journal for around $15 and the large journal for around $19 on her website.

Despite having a few bumps along the way, Danielle says she has learned so much about business in just a few short months. She encourages everyone to just get started! And if you’re working on an idea that involves getting a product made by an outside manufacturer, make sure to factor that into your process, as it can take more time than expected.

Her next goal is to really try to build a cohesive travel brand for Pack This Journal. She’s currently working on her second iteration of the journal and is including a third, smaller size to the lineup. She’s also taking feedback from her customers and working on how to add those suggestions into the journals, along with travel stickers and clip in pouches for the journals and other products for traveling in general.

Even though it took some time for Danielle to find the right idea for her side hustle, she feels really grateful for being able to create something she loves. If you haven’t found an idea yet for a side hustle —don’t give up. You might just find something that sticks!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Pack This Journal: Document and save your travel memories with one of Danielle’s journals—pack this journal for your next trip!
  • A Little Bit Adrift: Read more about Danielle and her travels over on her travel blog
  • Alibaba: The platform that Danielle used to locate a manufacturer for her travel journals

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 notice so many people having great ideas, but all too often they do not follow up with them. They never take action, which Chris so often reiterates on the podcast. I think how we can all be better is continuing to push forward and not give up."
—Danielle Nelson #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

Ex-Baseball Players Hit Home Run With Baseball Bat Subscriptions

What It’s About

Two old friends take a swing at leveling the playing field for financially strapped baseball players.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

For anyone looking to start their side hustle, Oscar and Erik recommend testing and retesting everything you do. Start small and prove the model before you invest large amounts of money or time into it. They were able to make their larger investment because they had confidence.

Fun Fact

Oscar’s Bat Club USA co-founder, Erik Rico, played four years for the Toronto Blue Jays before moving back to Miami to work for the University of Miami health system and coach baseball.

Notes from Chris

Episode 493

For Oscar Llarena and Erik Rico, baseball has always been a part of their lives. The two best friends, who have known each other since they were five years old, grew up playing the sport together in Miami. Oscar played through high school, and Erik was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays.

When the pair decided to hang up their cleats, they wanted a way to stay part of the sport that didn’t involve getting on the field or waking up with a sore shoulder. So, when Erik moved back home to Florida, he decided to set up his own baseball academy.

Although the kids he coached were great athletes, he often found they were playing at a disadvantage. Because they didn’t come from an affluent area, they were often intimidated by teams that did. When the other teams showed up with the newest bats, the shiniest cleats and freshly pressed uniforms, it intimidated many of the players. As Erik observed, this meant many of them felt they were behind before the first ball had been thrown.

Sitting down to catch up one day, Erik came to Oscar with this problem. He felt there had to be a way to make the sport more accessible, and help all children have the best possible experience in the sport, regardless of their family’s income.

They explored lots of options and finally came up with one that worked: what if they started a subscription program where people could rent bats for the time they needed them? People did it for cars and bikes and electrical goods, so they could try it for baseball equipment as well! It would allow them to bring the upfront payment of $300 to $500 for a new bat down to an affordable monthly payment. They called it Bat Club USA.

Targeting baseball players directly and word-of-mouth sales were paramount to the early success of their service, and the combination of these marketing techniques has lead to Bat Club USA earning a recurring $50,000 per month.

Going forward, these designated hitters want to look at how they can expand this model by breaking into other sports and provide the same solution for other types of equipment. But, for now, they’re happy making the sport they love as accessible to as many kids as possible. You could say that they really hit it out of the park!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Bat Club USA: Looking to cut costs funding your little slugger’s game? Slide on over to Oscar and Erik’s website!
  • Shopify: Oscar and Erik used Shopify to set up their store for Bat Club USA, 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
"If you’re going to launch something that hasn’t really been tested by anyone else, first prove the model, and then test and retest before committing to a direction."
—Oscar Llarena #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Get a Free Audit on Your 401k!

Side Hustle School is brought to you by Blooom. If you're still working a 9-5, make getting a 401k your side hustle!

Blooom is the simple and smart way to grow your 401k. Go online to Blooom401k.com and get your truly FREE 401k audit when you use promo code "HUSTLE" at checkout.💸 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

Flipping 101: The College Textbook Edition

What It’s About

A resourceful college student finds a way to turn $20 into almost $70,000…flipping college textbooks.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

A successful strategy for Marcus when scoring books on eBay was reaching out to the seller directly with an offer. The impatience of youth often worked in his favor, and he’d use this technique early in the bidding when the bids were low since they made his offer look more desirable in comparison.

Fun Fact

Being from two entirely different countries and cultures meant that Marcus and Ashley had a little bit more of a learning curve when it came to communication, but they found healthy ways to communicate with one another and built an even stronger bond between them. The success they found even encouraged them to start their own blog called Our Peaceful Family, and together they hope to help others communicate for stronger marriages.

Notes from Chris

Episode 492

Let’s face it—college is downright expensive. Between increases in tuition and the necessities of living close to or on campus, students and their parents are often desperate to find ways to trim the fat on higher education. Sometimes one of the most surprising expenses is textbooks, which cost much more than any other books. And while second mortgages and loan sharks are popular options, there’s often no easier way to cut costs than to look outside of your money-hungry university bookstore.

And if you’ve been listening to the show for a while, you’ll know that where there’s a problem, there’s a side hustle just waiting in the wings. That’s where our story today begins, and ironically, it all starts with a book that you’re not likely to find in your typical university bookstore. You could say it’s a bit unconventional…

The year was 2012, and Marcus Kusi, found himself between a rock and a hard place. He was a full-time student at a university in Vermont heading towards a promising degree in computer information systems, but money was tight. When he wasn’t cramming for exams, he was working part-time manufacturing furniture and providing IT assistance at the university. And he was also a new father.

His wife, Ashley, stayed home with their daughter so that they didn’t have to pay for childcare (another outrageously expensive industry, by the way), and Marcus was the main breadwinner despite also being a full-time student. There had to be a better way—and that’s when Marcus stumbled across The $100 Startup.

Within its pages, he read about everyday people who were taking less than $100 and turning it into businesses that brought in six or more figures a year. It was exactly the kind of motivation that Marcus needed.

Since he didn’t have much money to spare, he took $5 every month for four months and set it aside for his startup costs—that’s right, $20. And he put on his thinking cap. Unlike some of the people he read about in the case studies from my book, Marcus needed money like yesterday.

That’s when he discovered the wonderful world of reselling. Not only was it low-risk, it was something he could start immediately—a timeframe that was quite appealing to Marcus. Now all he needed was something to flip…

College book prices are a common pain point with university students, and Marcus knew that if you were going to resell something, you had to a) make sure that what you were selling was in high demand, and b) know your product like the back of your hand.

If inflation continued to drive the price of textbooks sky high (fun fact: the avg. cost of college textbooks has risen 4x faster than the rate of inflation over the past 10 years) cheap textbooks were never going to stop being in high demand. And who knows more about textbooks than a college student? It seemed like his best bet, and Marcus was eager to close the chapter on his financial woes.

So, Marcus began his hunt where every resourceful college student finds themselves when it comes time to purchase books for class—eBay. With that $20, he purchased two books and turned around and sold them almost immediately for around $70. It seemed to be working, but was it sustainable?

Within his first year, Marcus pulled in $20,000, and in year two, those profits climbed above $48,000—that’s almost $70,000! Over the course of those two years, Marcus flipped almost 5,000 college textbooks. And it all started with $20 saved in $5 increments across four months.

Just imagine what you could do if you skipped your double shot, nonfat mochaccino with two pumps of caramel once a month!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • eBay & Amazon: The two online platforms that Marcus used to flip textbooks
  • Our Peaceful Family: The niche blog that Marcus and Ashley started to help newlyweds communicate better

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
"If you’re going to be successful at reselling something, you need to a) make sure that what you’re planning on selling is in high demand and b) know the product like the back of your hand."
—Marcus Kusi #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

Weekly Recap: When To Leave a Good Job

Notes from Chris

Episode 491

THEMES & TAKEAWAYS:

In today’s recap, we look at the concept of when you should leave a good job. I’ve been thinking about it this week because I’m in the middle of recording an audio version of my first book, The Art of Non-Conformity.

The right time to leave a good job is right before you get tired of it. In the long-run, you’ll do your best work when you’re excited about doing it. That’s why I believe so much in planning for your future, or at least building for a future of choice.

In today’s recap, I’ll delve into the best time to leave a good job, and how having a side hustle can help you—listen to the Weekly Recap to learn more!

LISTENER UPDATES + QUESTIONS:

This week, we received a listener email from a side hustler named Sean:

  • Sean: “Hi Chris! I’ve listened to every episode since day one. Love the podcast and appreciate your insights.I currently have a 9-5 but put all of my energy and passion into my other business which I hope will replace my 9-5 very soon (but you can technically call it a side hustle for now).

    I create videos for small, sustainable and socially responsible businesses. Basically, I only do work for companies that I share the same values with. I know—horrible business model!

    To get to the point… You had an episode about a small, organic energy bar company called Mammoth Bar. They seemed like an ideal company to do work for so I reached out. We had a great first meeting, and I created a short animated video for them about their brand and bars. We still maintain a great relationship and they would like more videos in the future. I can send you a link to the video if you are interested.

    Just wanted to share this story with you as a huge thanks! Not only are you inspiring people to create side hustles but also connecting people from around the world.

    [Check out Ep. 219 to hear Mammoth Bar’s story!]”

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. 485 – A graphic designer and pet lover unleashes a side hustle that earns $84,000 a year. Dog-ear this episode!
  • Ep. 486 – She leaves her job to join a startup, then starts a business of her own—and then starts a side hustle to fund the business. Did you get all that? If not, just listen to hear how she earns $250/hour on the side
  • Ep. 487 – This software developer has always been a stock trading enthusiast. When he invests his time into an app to trade more efficiently, the app becomes a hit with other traders around the world
  • Ep. 488 – Two dog lovers create and grow a wiener-dog themed brand that now provides a six-figure income
  • Ep. 489 – A doctor with a voice worth listening to teaches himself the art of voiceover, then goes on to earn thousands of dollars working for some of the world’s biggest brands
  • Ep. 490 – When a designer quits his job at Apple to travel the world, he realizes that his nomadic lifestyle hacks are a hot topic—and a profitable one, too

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Join me at the World Domination Summit!

Have you heard of the World Domination Summit? This is a gathering of awesome people—an event that I’ve been hosting together with an amazing team in Portland, OR every summer for the past eight years.

WDS 2018 is coming up at the end of June (June 26th-July 2nd), and we’ll be welcoming people from over 30 different countries. With inspiring keynote speakers, a week full of activities and attendee-led meetups, and two incredible parties, you won’t want to miss it!

This is our final wave of main stage tickets so visit our website to get your ticket to this incredible, once a year event! We promise that it’s unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before.

Here’s what’s coming up next…

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

  • A couple save $5 for four months to purchase textbooks off of eBay, and they turn around and resell them on Amazon. The best part? This ends up bringing them $68,000 within two years of starting!
  • Two former baseball players create a bat rental service, serving thousands of customers across the country
  • 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
"The right time to leave a good job is right before you get tired of it. In the long-run you’ll do your best work when you’re excited about doing it."
—#SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Get a Free Audit on Your 401k!

Side Hustle School is brought to you by Blooom. If you're still working a 9-5, make getting a 401k your side hustle!

Blooom is the simple and smart way to grow your 401k. Go online to Blooom401k.com and get your truly FREE 401k audit when you use promo code "HUSTLE" at checkout.💸 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

Nomadic Designer Profits from Writing About Life in a Bag

What It’s About

This nomadic designer shares his tips and tricks for living out of a bag.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

It was important to Tom that Pack Hacker not be manipulated by companies, so he made a rule that Pack Hacker never accepts money for reviews, and he only writes about a product after two weeks of regular use.

While you always want to make sure that you’re doing things to bring in revenue, it’s important to maintain a sense of authenticity. Trust me, your customers will appreciate it!

Fun Fact

Before Tom had turned 1-years-old, he had already been on 18 flights. In hindsight, he should have known that he would one day create a travel gear website.

Notes from Chris

Episode 490

In some ways, Tom Wahlin’s story is a familiar one. He had a prestigious job at Apple—which might be every designer’s dream job, or at least a dream job for many of them. But he couldn’t suppress the urge deep within to see and experience more. He didn’t want to stay cooped up in an office, even a highly rewarding one. You see, he wanted to travel.

Tom left Apple and took a remote job as creative director and designer for The Infatuation, a quickly growing restaurant review platform. This new position allowed him an opportunity to embrace his dream of traveling while still bringing in a steady income.

Like many up and coming nomads, Tom spent months planning out his perfect travel setup. He needed a lightweight, yet comfortable backpack. He needed to carefully select his clothing so that he wouldn’t have to check a bag on flights. And he needed to discover what was essential to his dream lifestyle and what wasn’t. It was a long process, but by the time Tom moved out of his NYC apartment and left for a one-way flight out of JFK, he was very confident in his gear selection.

After a couple months of nomadic experience, in July of 2016, Tom wrote an article on Medium titled Everything You Need to Travel the World in One Backpack. He added a few affiliate links for Amazon.com in the blog, but he was really just more interested in sharing all the research he’d done in the hopes that it would help aspiring nomads in their purchasing decisions.

Before he knew it, his article had been read hundreds of times within just a few days. Tom checked his Amazon Affiliate account, expecting about $5 in income (mainly from his supportive mom), but instead, $25. After a few more weeks, he had made over $100 from the one post, without doing anything else from it—and he knew he was onto something.

People wanted to learn more about strategies for the nomadic life. They wanted honest reviews about gear. Tom had been toying with the idea of a new side project, and it occurred to him that he might have found it.

Tom, with some help from a programmer friend, built Pack Hacker using WordPress and Roots.io, which allowed him to approach building the site more like a programmer would. All in all, his startup costs ended up somewhere in the vicinity of $100 and included web hosting, a small lapel mic, and a tripod for his iPhone so that he could record videos for his YouTube channel.

These days, Pack Hacker gets over 5,000 visitors per day, has over 20 backpack reviews, and gets around 10 gear review requests from brands per month. The pace has really picked up, especially considering that the site’s just one year old—and those Amazon affiliate links are now bringing in over $1,200 per month in profit after expenses.

Tom is now trying to figure out what comes next. More travel, of course, and more work on the site. If he can go from $1,200/month to $4,000/month, something we talked about in the most recent Weekly Recap, he might have more than a side hustle on his hands.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Pack Hacker: Check out Tom’s website before you gear up for your next trip!
  • WordPress: Tom used WordPress to setup Pack Hacker, and here you can learn how to install your own WordPress site in 5 minutes
  • Roots: Open-source tools for WordPress application development
  • Intentional Travelers: Your free, online resource for intentional travel from Jedd and Michelle Chang!
  • Location Rebel: A resource from Sean Ogle to help you build a small business that gives you the freedom and flexibility to work from anywhere in the world
  • Working on the Road: Learn how to be a professional hobo with Nora Dunn

 

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
"So many people can get caught up on the little details and the “what ifs” that they end up creating nothing at all. ‘I SHOULD do that’ is a trap. Change your terminology to ‘I WILL do that’. You’d be surprised at the difference it makes, and you’ll be more intentional with the way you speak about things."
—Tom Wahlin #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Get a Free Audit on Your 401k!

Side Hustle School is brought to you by Blooom. If you're still working a 9-5, make getting a 401k your side hustle!

Blooom is the simple and smart way to grow your 401k. Go online to Blooom401k.com and get your truly FREE 401k audit when you use promo code "HUSTLE" at checkout.💸 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