Notes from Chris

Episode 2579

Today’s episode features a reflective question from Malcolm in Spokane, Washington. Malcolm is a freelance graphic designer who’s found it difficult to stay motivated amid the global upheavals and personal life changes.

He’s questioning how to keep his side hustle going when it feels like the world is falling apart. He’s wondering if there are specific coping strategies that can help him stay motivated and engaged.

“Hello Chris, Malcolm here from Spokane, Washington. I have a side hustle creating digital art, but I find it increasingly difficult to stay motivated given the ongoing social, political, and environmental crises. How can I maintain focus and keep pushing my side hustle forward when it feels like the world is falling apart around me?.”

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 2578

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.

One thing I’ve learned is that once you begin to earn real money, the steps required to go to the next level—whether it’s $1,000 to $2,000, or even to $5,000 or $10,000 are often easier than that first real paycheck.

With that in mind, this week we hear from Max, a side hustler who combined a passion for photography with a knack for restoration, creating a thriving business in vintage camera sales.

Let’s hear it from Max. 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 2577

Hello and welcome to today’s episode! We’re hearing from Elaine, a marketer from Atlanta, who’s in her mid-40s and looking to bridge the generational gap.

She’s seeking advice on how to effectively connect with and engage Gen Z. Elaine is keen on understanding the best platforms and strategies to reach this younger audience without seeming out of touch.

“Hi Chris, I’m Elaine, a marketer from Atlanta in my mid-40s. I’ve been tuning into your podcast for insights on connecting with younger audiences. How can someone from an older generation effectively reach and engage with Gen Z? Are there specific platforms or messaging strategies that resonate best with this demographic? I don’t want to come off the wrong way, but I also don’t want to ignore an entire generation.”

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 2576

Welcome to another episode of Side Hustle School. This time, we’re taking a slightly different turn. Michael from Seattle, one of our regular listeners, has asked about my personal experience with Substack.

He’s curious about how it’s been going, especially in terms of audience engagement and monetization.

“Hi Chris, it’s Michael, a longtime listener and fan. I’ve been following your work for years and am enjoying your new Substack. My question is: How has that experience been so far? I’m considering starting one myself but would love to hear your insights on the platform’s effectiveness, audience engagement, and potential for monetization. Thanks in advance for any tips, and keep writing!”

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 2575

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.

Today’s short story features Nora from Northern California. The story is about a couple’s ambitious journey to transform a historic house into a boutique hotel—only to face the harsh realities of renovation costs and a loss of earnest money. How did they get back on their feet?

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 2574

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 an independent sound designer who makes a good second income providing services to conferences and corporate events.

Today, in our latest feature, we catch up with a private chef who specializes in nutrition for elite athletes. Since we last heard from them, their business has expanded, adapting to new culinary trends and the evolving needs of top-tier sports professionals.

What’s happened since? Let’s hear directly from him. 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 2573

Today on Side Hustle School, we welcome Layla from Austin, a yoga instructor and a devoted listener of the podcast. Layla is intrigued by the intersection of mindfulness, meditation, and entrepreneurship.

She’s keen to understand how these practices can be woven into her side hustle, not just for better decision-making but also for maintaining a sense of balance in the midst of a busy entrepreneurial life.

“Hi Chris, I’m Layla from Austin. As a yoga instructor and a dedicated listener of your podcast, I’ve been exploring how mindfulness and meditation can enhance my entrepreneurial journey. How can I integrate these practices into my side hustle, both to improve my decision-making and to maintain balance amidst the 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 2572

Welcome to Side Hustle School! In today’s episode, we’re joined by Rob from Denver, who’s been inspired to explore the e-commerce world, particularly through Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program.

Rob is seeking guidance on how to get started with FBA, what to know as a beginner, and any potential pitfalls to watch out for. Let’s jump into the world of FBA and uncover some key tips for getting started.

“Hi Chris, I’m Rob from Denver. Your podcast has inspired me to delve into e-commerce, and I’m particularly interested in Amazon’s Fulfillment program. Could you guide me on how to get started with FBA? What should a beginner like me know before diving into this platform? Also, is there anything in particular I should be careful about? Thanks 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 2571

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.

One thing I’ve learned is that once you begin to earn real money, the steps required to go to the next level—whether it’s $1,000 to $2,000, or even to $5,000 or $10,000 are often easier than that first real paycheck.

With that in mind, today’s feature comes from Emma. But what about their first $1,000—how did they make that happen, what did it feel like, and what did they learn?

Let’s hear it from Taylor. 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 2570

Today on Side Hustle School, we’re joined by Ethan from Toronto, a dedicated listener and a personal finance enthusiast. Ethan’s been tuning in for the past six months and is now ready to take his passion for finance to the next level by starting his own blog.

He aims to offer practical financial advice and is seeking guidance on launching a successful blog and monetizing it effectively, all while keeping it credible and valuable for his readers.

“Hi Chris, I’m Ethan from Toronto. As a long-time finance enthusiast and a regular listener of your podcast for the past six months, I’m inspired to start my own personal finance blog. My goal is to share practical advice and tips for managing personal finances. What are the key steps for launching a successful finance blog, and how can I effectively monetize it while maintaining credibility and providing real value to my readers?”

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,