Notes from Chris

Episode 2743

I believe we can learn as much from failure as we can from success, if not more. It’s with this principle in mind that I offer you a weekly segment called Failure Friday: a collection of short stories all about mistakes, missteps, disasters, and of course, failure.

Just like our Throwback Thursday segment, you’ll hear directly from side hustlers who have struggled to get something off the ground. They’ll tell you a short story of something that went very wrong.

The stories will vary, but often it starts with an idea, what they thought would happen and what really happened—and of course, what they learned.

Today’s short story features Brian from Anaheim, California. As you might guess, their business has had a couple of challenges.

Let’s hear from them about one of those struggles… I’ll be back at the end to wrap us up.

SEE ALSO:

• Marketer Creates Six-Figure Subscription Box Success: He looked for a simple solution for a client, and didn’t find one—so he spent the next year building it.
• Comic Book Curator Creates Custom Crate Subscription: A Sacramento-based comic and collectibles owner sparks an interest in reading with a monthly comic book subscription box service.
• A Packed Closet Leads to Secondhand Subscription Boxes: A professional organizer finds a way to stitch her passion for thrift shopping into profits.

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

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2742

Welcome to Throwback Thursday / “Where are they now?” where we take an in-depth look at someone who’s story has evolved considerably since we first featured them.

Last week, we heard from a savvy schoolteacher who discovers a lucrative side hustle in reselling returned goods on Amazon. Learn how he navigates bulk auctions, inventory management, and product selection to turn a profit and supplement his teaching income.

Today, in our latest feature, we catch up with a Motor City food truck owner who expands their culinary reach by venturing into the mysterious world of ghost kitchens.

What’s happened since? Let’s hear directly from them. I’ll be back at the end to wrap us up.

Listen to today’s episode to hear more…

SEE ALSO:

• Raver Turns LED-Powered Gloves Into Bright Future: When a raver-turned-salesperson falls in love with an underground art form, he turns it into a successful side business.
• Bright Idea Leads Chicago Woman to Million-Dollar Hustle: A Chicago-based plastic recycling sales rep overcomes her fears and doubts to transform her love for DIY lamp shades and $10 in supplies into a multi-million dollar business.
• 3D Printing Brings Cosplay Into 21st Century: With a 3D printer and sense of imagination, a California natural gas industry worker takes superhero DIY cosplay to a whole new level.

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

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2741

The concept of “working on your business” versus “working in your business” is a crucial distinction for side hustlers and small business owners. This idea, popularized by Michael Gerber in his book “The E-Myth Revisited,” highlights the difference between focusing on day-to-day operations and taking a strategic, big-picture approach to growing your business.

“Hey Chris, this is Roman. I’ve been listening for a while and have heard you talk about the difference between ‘working on your business’ and ‘working in your business,’ but I’m not entirely clear on what that means. Could you break down the distinction between these two concepts and why it matters for side hustlers or small business owners? What are some examples of activities that fall under each category, and how can I make sure I’m striking the right balance between the two in my own side hustle?”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

SEE ALSO:

• Catholic Designer Creates Stylish Apparel Line: What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but not sell any t-shirts? This designer cast his bread upon the waters and ended up with a profitable fashion line.
• Seattle Couple Creates New “Income LiveStream”: When a married couple runs into logistical problems at their wedding, it leads to an innovative service that other engaged couples need during the pandemic.
• Role-Playing Pastor Rolls The Dice On $2800/Month Hustle: Listener success story! This Presbyterian minister turns to his lifelong interest in role-playing games to set up a sustainable second income source.

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

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2740

Creating a professional-looking website or landing page is a crucial step in establishing your side hustle’s online presence. However, with so many platforms and options available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start, especially if you have limited technical skills.

“Hi team, I’m looking to create a website or landing page for my side hustle, but I’m not sure where to start. With so many options out there, from WordPress to Squarespace to custom-built sites, I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed. What do you recommend as the best or easiest way to build a professional-looking website or landing page, especially for someone with limited technical skills? Are there any specific platforms, templates, or tools you suggest?”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

SEE ALSO:

• Catholic Designer Creates Stylish Apparel Line: What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but not sell any t-shirts? This designer cast his bread upon the waters and ended up with a profitable fashion line.
• Seattle Couple Creates New “Income LiveStream”: When a married couple runs into logistical problems at their wedding, it leads to an innovative service that other engaged couples need during the pandemic.
• Role-Playing Pastor Rolls The Dice On $2800/Month Hustle: Listener success story! This Presbyterian minister turns to his lifelong interest in role-playing games to set up a sustainable second income source.

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

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2739

Today’s episode is part of a feature we call ‘Your First $1,000.’ As you might surmise from the title, this is all about how someone made their first $1,000.

How did they get to that point? Not their first $100,000—that’s cool, but it would probably be a long story.

Let’s hear today’s story. I’ll be back at the end to wrap us up.

SEE ALSO:

• Military Spouse Starts Subscription Box Mission:When an HR Director’s husband is away on military deployment, she uses the alone time to march toward a subscription box.
• Think Inside the Subscription Box:Looking for more community, a North Carolina web agency owner starts a subscription box for female entrepreneurs. It’s supposed to be a referral tool for her agency, but it ends up becoming a full-time business of its own.
• Nature-Loving Neighbors Create Kids Subscription Box: When two couples can’t figure out how to get their kids outdoors and away from electronics in the winter, a personal challenge blossoms into an unbeLEAFable side hustle.

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

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2738

Creating your first digital information product is an exciting step in your side hustle journey, but it can also be overwhelming to decide on the optimal product offering. With conflicting advice from various experts, it’s challenging to know whether to focus on a single flagship product or provide multiple tiers and options for your customers.

“Hey, this is Rachelle from Cleveland. I’m in the process of creating my first digital information product, and I’m trying to decide how many different products or packages to offer. I’ve seen some people recommend selling just one flagship product, while others suggest offering multiple tiers or options. In your experience, is it better to sell one, three, or five information products? What factors should I consider when deciding on the right number and structure for my offerings? Thank you so much!”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

SEE ALSO:

• Catholic Designer Creates Stylish Apparel Line: What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but not sell any t-shirts? This designer cast his bread upon the waters and ended up with a profitable fashion line.
• Seattle Couple Creates New “Income LiveStream”: When a married couple runs into logistical problems at their wedding, it leads to an innovative service that other engaged couples need during the pandemic.
• Role-Playing Pastor Rolls The Dice On $2800/Month Hustle: Listener success story! This Presbyterian minister turns to his lifelong interest in role-playing games to set up a sustainable second income source.

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

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2737

As an e-commerce side hustler, seeing your business grow is an exciting milestone. However, with increased sales and visibility comes the potential for more chargebacks and fraudulent activity. Chargebacks can be frustrating, costly, and time-consuming to deal with, and they can take a toll on your motivation and bottom line.

“Hey Chris, I’ve been running an e-commerce side hustle for a while now, and it’s starting to grow. That’s great, but I’m also getting more and more chargebacks, where customers don’t realize the charge is from my business and call their bank to complain. I’m also worried about the potential for fraudulent charges and the impact they can have on my business. What steps can I take to prevent or minimize these chargebacks? They are super annoying and also feel discouraging—I’d rather see money coming into my business instead of going out of it!”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

SEE ALSO:

• Catholic Designer Creates Stylish Apparel Line: What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but not sell any t-shirts? This designer cast his bread upon the waters and ended up with a profitable fashion line.
• Seattle Couple Creates New “Income LiveStream”: When a married couple runs into logistical problems at their wedding, it leads to an innovative service that other engaged couples need during the pandemic.
• Role-Playing Pastor Rolls The Dice On $2800/Month Hustle: Listener success story! This Presbyterian minister turns to his lifelong interest in role-playing games to set up a sustainable second income source.

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

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2736

I believe we can learn as much from failure as we can from success, if not more. It’s with this principle in mind that I offer you a weekly segment called Failure Friday: a collection of short stories all about mistakes, missteps, disasters, and of course, failure.

Just like our Throwback Thursday segment, you’ll hear directly from side hustlers who have struggled to get something off the ground. They’ll tell you a short story of something that went very wrong.

The stories will vary, but often it starts with an idea, what they thought would happen and what really happened—and of course, what they learned.

Today’s short story features David. As you might guess, their business has had a couple of challenges.

Let’s hear from them about one of those struggles… I’ll be back at the end to wrap us up.

SEE ALSO:

• Marketer Creates Six-Figure Subscription Box Success: He looked for a simple solution for a client, and didn’t find one—so he spent the next year building it.
• Comic Book Curator Creates Custom Crate Subscription: A Sacramento-based comic and collectibles owner sparks an interest in reading with a monthly comic book subscription box service.
• A Packed Closet Leads to Secondhand Subscription Boxes: A professional organizer finds a way to stitch her passion for thrift shopping into profits.

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

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2735

Welcome to Throwback Thursday / “Where are they now?” where we take an in-depth look at someone who’s story has evolved considerably since we first featured them.

Last week, we heard from a skincare seller who makes a game-changing decision that took her business from struggling to thriving. The secret? Streamlining!

Today, in our latest feature, we’ll hear from a savvy schoolteacher who’s discovered a lucrative side hustle in reselling returned goods on Amazon and other online platforms. Learn how he navigates the world of bulk auctions, inventory management, and product selection to turn a profit and supplement his teaching income.

What’s happened since? Let’s hear directly from them. I’ll be back at the end to wrap us up.

Listen to today’s episode to hear more…

SEE ALSO:

• Raver Turns LED-Powered Gloves Into Bright Future: When a raver-turned-salesperson falls in love with an underground art form, he turns it into a successful side business.
• Bright Idea Leads Chicago Woman to Million-Dollar Hustle: A Chicago-based plastic recycling sales rep overcomes her fears and doubts to transform her love for DIY lamp shades and $10 in supplies into a multi-million dollar business.
• 3D Printing Brings Cosplay Into 21st Century: With a 3D printer and sense of imagination, a California natural gas industry worker takes superhero DIY cosplay to a whole new level.

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

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2734

Building an email list is a crucial step in growing your side hustle, but it’s only the beginning. Once you’ve got subscribers on your list, it’s essential to engage with them effectively and provide value to keep them interested and connected to your brand. Many side hustlers struggle with knowing what types of content to send and how often to communicate with their list.

“Hey Chris, I’ve been working on building my email list for my side hustle, and I’m excited to see it growing. However, now that I have a mailing list set up, I’m not entirely sure what to do with it. What types of content should I be sending to my subscribers, and how often? Are there any best practices for engaging with my list and converting subscribers into customers? I want to make sure I’m making the most of this valuable asset.”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

SEE ALSO:

• Catholic Designer Creates Stylish Apparel Line: What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but not sell any t-shirts? This designer cast his bread upon the waters and ended up with a profitable fashion line.
• Seattle Couple Creates New “Income LiveStream”: When a married couple runs into logistical problems at their wedding, it leads to an innovative service that other engaged couples need during the pandemic.
• Role-Playing Pastor Rolls The Dice On $2800/Month Hustle: Listener success story! This Presbyterian minister turns to his lifelong interest in role-playing games to set up a sustainable second income source.

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

Yours in the revolution,