Notes from Chris

Episode 2483

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 the visionary behind a cricket farm that specializes in edible insect snacks. He shared insights into how market shifts, supply chain challenges, and a strategic partnership with an organic grocery chain have shaped his unique business.

Today, in our latest feature, we’ll hear from a sustainability consultant who discovered her first client from a familiar place: her employer!

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…

 

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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 2482

Our next listener finds inspiration in the natural wonders washing up on its beaches. Lila, an artist with an eye for beauty, turns driftwood into unique pieces of art, showcasing the seamless blend of nature and creativity. Today, she’s looking to explore if these handcrafted treasures can find a home in the vast online market. Let’s dive into her question.

“Hello, I’m Lila from Charleston, South Carolina. I started listening to your podcast after a friend who successfully launched her side hustle recommended it. Living near Bulls Island and some other beaches, I frequently discover beautiful driftwood that washes up. I’ve been crafting some into unique art pieces, merging the charm of the sea with an artist’s touch. Given the popularity of handcrafted items online, do you believe there’s a potential market for such creations?”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

 

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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 2481

In today’s episode, we’re hearing from Heather in Boston, who’s at a crossroads with her consulting side hustle. She kicked things off six months ago, but the slow pace is starting to wear on her motivation and finances. Heather’s facing a challenge that many side hustlers can relate to: How do you keep the fire alive when your venture is growing more slowly than you’d hoped? Let’s dive into some strategies to help keep you inspired even when the going gets tough.

“Hi Chris, my name is Heather, and I’m from Boston. I started a consulting service three months ago, but the growth has been painfully slow. I’m beginning to lose motivation. How can I stay inspired to push through the tough times? The slow pace is affecting both my enthusiasm and my finances. I’d love to know what you think I should do and if I should try something different.”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

 

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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 2480

Today’s episode is part of a new feature we’re doing in 2022 called ‘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.

With that in mind, today’s feature comes from Liza, the founder of an educational coaching business. Learn how targeted pricing, grassroots marketing, and client retention helped her offer a unique service.

Let’s hear it from Liza. I’ll be back at the end to wrap us up.

 

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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 2479

Today on the podcast, we’ll hear from Alex from Chicago, who’s combining a background in law with tech skills to create something potentially groundbreaking—an app that connects people to class action lawsuits they could join.

But when it comes to monetizing such a unique and specialized service, he finds himself at a crossroads. Let’s explore some strategies that could make Alex’s innovative idea not just helpful, but also profitable.

“Hey, I’m Alex from Chicago. I have a background in law and am developing an app to help people find class action lawsuits they could join. The idea is there, but I’m stumped on how to monetize this service. Any insights? I’ve considered ads and premium features, but I’m not sure if those are the best routes.”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

 

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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 2478

Today, we’re tackling a question from Omar in Miami, who is a modern-day Renaissance man with skills ranging from programming to music production and even cooking. But with so many talents, he’s feeling stuck, unsure which path to follow for his side hustle.

Omar is looking for a strategy to narrow down his options and commit to a venture that will not only be rewarding but also financially viable. Let’s see if we can help him find his focus.

“Hi, it’s Omar from Miami. I have a wide range of skills including programming, music production, and even cooking. I’m struggling to choose a side hustle that aligns with my abilities. What’s the best way to decide? I often find myself paralyzed by the number of options and don’t want to spread myself too thin. I first discovered you on the School of Greatness and have been listening ever since.”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

 

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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 2477

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 Madison, a communications graduate who planned to open a PR agency. But her first attempt didn’t work out as well as she’d hoped.

 

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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 2476

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 action figure seller who actively buys and sells hundreds of GI Joe, Transformers, and other classic brands every month.

Today, in our latest feature, we’ll hear from the visionary behind a cricket farm that specializes in edible insect snacks. He shares insights into how market shifts, supply chain challenges, and a strategic partnership with an organic grocery chain have shaped his unique business.

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 2475

Here are two questions to ask: what’s the worst that can happen? What’s the best that can happen?

In today’s episode, we have a question from Amy in Las Vegas, who’s been listening to the show and is a bit rattled by our Failure Friday segments. Amy’s running a pet grooming side hustle and is wondering if the doubts and anxieties she feels after listening to these failure stories are normal. Let’s talk about how we can turn these stories of failure into stepping stones for success.

“Hi, it’s Amy Meekan. I’ve been following your podcast for a while now and really enjoy the Success Stories. However, the Failure Friday episodes make me anxious about my own side hustle in pet grooming. I start doubting my choices and my business’s potential. Is it normal to feel this way, and how do I overcome it? Sometimes I even consider quitting because the stories sound so much like my own situation.”

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 2474

Coming up today, we have Riley from Boise, Idaho. She’s a digital marketer with over five years of experience helping other businesses succeed online. Now, she’s planning to flip the script and launch her own information product on content strategy.

She’s got the skills and the experience, but she’s hitting pause to ask about the best practices for selling information products. She wants to make sure his new venture starts off on the right foot. So, what should Riley consider for a successful launch?

“Hey Chris, it’s Riley from Boise, Idaho. As a digital marketer with over five years of experience, I’ve helped other businesses sell their products online. Now, I’m planning to launch my own information product on content strategy. Before I dive in, I wanted to ask about the best practices for selling information products. Are there specific platforms or marketing tactics you’d recommend?”

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,