Notes from Chris

Episode 2733

As a graphic designer running a side hustle alongside a full-time job, Jensen is feeling the pressure of balancing multiple responsibilities. The demands of juggling a 9-to-5, freelance projects, and personal life can take a toll on mental health and lead to burnout if not managed effectively.

“Hey there, I’m Jensen, a graphic designer who has been following you for years. Inspired by many of the stories I’ve heard, I’ve been running my side hustle for about six months, and while I love the creative work, I’m starting to feel the strain on my mental health. Balancing my full-time job, freelance projects, and personal life has been incredibly challenging, and I’m worried about burning out. What techniques can I use to stay motivated, manage stress, and maintain a healthy work-life balance while still growing my business?”

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 2732

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 2731

When it comes to starting an online business, one of the most crucial components is setting up a reliable and secure payment processing system. Stripe has become a popular choice for many entrepreneurs due to its ease of use, flexibility, and robust features. However, for those new to the world of e-commerce, the process of setting up a Stripe account and integrating it with their website can seem daunting.

Good news: it’s actually very simple—much easier than when I first set up a merchant account back in the dark ages.

“Hi there! I’m considering starting an online business, and I keep hearing about the importance of setting up a Stripe account for processing payments. However, I’m not entirely sure where to begin or what steps are involved. Could you walk me through the process of setting up a Stripe account and integrating it with my website? Lastly, are there any potential roadblocks or security measures I should be aware of?”

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 2730

With the 2024 election cycle heating up, many side hustlers are turning their attention to prediction markets as a way to potentially profit from their political savvy. These platforms allow individuals to place bets on the outcomes of various political events, from presidential primaries to congressional races to policy decisions. By accurately forecasting results, participants can earn money while also gaining insights into the ever-shifting landscape of American politics.

However, the world of prediction markets is constantly evolving, with new players, regulations, and market dynamics emerging all the time. As we approach the 2024 election, it’s worth taking a closer look at how these platforms have changed in recent years and what strategies and tips side hustlers should keep in mind to maximize their chances of success.

“Hey Chris, I’m fascinated by the idea of betting on prediction markets, especially with the 2024 election coming up. You wrote about this in Gonzo Capitalism, and I’m wondering if there any important updates as a new cycle approaches. Are there any specific strategies or tips you recommend for maximizing my chances of success and minimizing my risk?”

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 2729

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 Mariah, a fitness influencer who built a significant following. 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 2728

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 clever designer who’s sold more than $50,000 in digital assets. Discover the strategies and innovations that allowed her to continue creating unique, high-quality designs that captivate clients worldwide.

Today, in our latest feature, we’ll hear from a skincare seller who makes a game-changing decision that took her business from struggling to thriving. The secret? Streamlining! 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 2727

Starting a side hustle while working a demanding full-time job can be a tricky balancing act, especially when your boss expects undivided attention during work hours. For Olivia, a marketing professional from Chicago, the challenge lies in effectively managing her time and energy to grow her social media management side hustle without compromising her performance at her day job.

“Hi there, I’m Olivia, a marketing professional from Chicago. I’m considering starting a social media management side hustle, but I’m worried about balancing it with my demanding full-time job. My boss expects complete focus and dedication during work hours, so running my own thing during the day is out of the question. What strategies can I use to manage my time and energy effectively, especially when I need to keep my side hustle under wraps at the office?”

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 2726

Today, we’ve got an aspiring Audible affiliate on the line who’s looking to turn their love of audiobooks into a profitable side hustle. After hearing the success story of another affiliate earning thousands in monthly commissions, they’re wondering if they can replicate that success and what strategies they should be using to promote Audible effectively.

Affiliate marketing can be a great way to generate passive income, but it takes more than just signing up for a program and waiting for the commissions to roll in. In this episode, we’ll explore the key techniques and best practices for promoting Audible as an affiliate, driving more sign-ups, and maximizing your earnings potential.

“Hey Chris, I recently heard the story of the Audible affiliate who’s earning several thousand dollars a month in commissions, and it got me thinking—could I do the same? I signed up for the Audible affiliate program, but so far, I’ve only made two referrals, and I’m pretty sure one was to my girlfriend. I’m wondering if there are any specific strategies or techniques I should be using to promote Audible more effectively and drive more sign-ups. How can I turn this into a profitable side hustle, and what am I missing?”

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 2725

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 from Sarah. 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 2724

As a web developer, you have a unique set of skills that can be leveraged to create passive income streams. For Moses from San Antonio, the goal is to find ways to supplement his successful website-building side hustle with more sustainable, scalable income sources that don’t require trading time for money.

“Hello! I’m Moses, a web developer from San Antonio. I’ve been running a successful side hustle building websites for small businesses, but I’m realizing that trading my time for money isn’t the most sustainable path. I’m interested in creating passive income streams to supplement my side hustle income. What are some effective strategies for developing and optimizing passive income sources that align with my skills as a web developer?”

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,