Notes from Chris

Episode 2589

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 Robert from Arlington, Virginia. As you might guess, his 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 2588

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 recipe blogger who combined culinary passion with digital marketing acumen. Also: why is every online recipe post so incredibly long?

Today, in our latest feature, we revisit the journey of a freelance grant writer who stands out in the complex world of grant proposals. Since we last heard from her, she’s expanded her services and is making an impact in the non-profit sector.

What’s happened since? Let’s hear directly from her. 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 2587

Hello and welcome to another episode of Side Hustle School! Joining us today is Carlos from Albuquerque, New Mexico. A loyal listener and an avid learner, Carlos is looking to dive into the health and wellness sector, specifically focusing on mental health.

With 2024 on the horizon, he’s curious about the emerging areas in this field that hold potential for a new side hustle, particularly those that haven’t hit the mainstream radar yet.

“Hey Chris, it’s Carlos from Albuquerque, New Mexico. I’m a regular listener of your podcast and it’s been a huge inspiration. Given the growing focus on mental health, I’m interested in starting a side hustle in this area. What are some emerging areas within health and wellness that are ripe for exploration in 2024, especially ones that might not be mainstream yet?”

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 2586

Today’s episode of Side Hustle School features Nora from Kansas City, a seasoned professional in the travel industry and a long-time listener of the show. She’s identified a potential gap in the travel market: an app that connects adventurers with local guides in less explored destinations.

Nora is pondering over the idea of developing this app or perhaps another kind of service, and she’s seeking insights on development, user experience, and marketing. She’s also looking for a bit of validation on whether this idea has the potential she believes it does.

“Hey Chris, I’m Nora from Kansas City. I’ve been working in the travel industry for several years and have been a fan of your show since its inception. Here’s my idea: I’m thinking there’s a gap in the market for an app that connects travelers with local tour guides in off-the-beaten-path destinations.

I’m keen on developing this app—or maybe it’s another kind of service, I don’t know—but unsure where to start. Could you provide some insights on development, user experience considerations, and effective marketing strategies? If that sounds like too much, how about this: do you think I’m on the right track?”

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 2585

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 Ava in Ketchum, Idaho. 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 Ava. 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 2584

Welcome to another insightful episode of Side Hustle School! Today we have a caller from North Carolina, joining us. She found her way to us a couple of years ago.

She’s curious about creating a side hustle that goes beyond just making a profit – one that actively contributes to and strengthens her local community. Ayesha is looking for ideas that intertwine community engagement with financial success.

“Hello Chris, I’m Ayesha from Raleigh, North Carolina. I discovered Side Hustle School during the 2020 lockdown and it’s been incredibly inspiring. Here’s my question: how can someone craft a side hustle that not only profits but also contributes to and leverages the strength of their local community? Any ideas for side hustles that can help strengthen community bonds while being financially rewarding? It seems that most ideas are kind of one or the other.”

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 2583

Hello to everyone tuning in to Side Hustle School! Today, we’re joined by Lila from Stillwater, Oklahoma. She recently dipped her toes into ticket reselling and saw some success with Taylor Swift tickets, sparking an interest in exploring this further.

However, Lila’s now grappling with a common concern in the ticket reselling game: the risk of being left with high-priced tickets she can’t sell. She’s looking for strategies to mitigate this risk as she considers scaling this side hustle.

“Hey Chris, this is Lila from Stillwater, Oklahoma. I bought some Taylor Swift tickets last year and resold them for a $400 profit. Not every tour is as big as hers, of course, but I see potential. However, I’m concerned about something going wrong with ticket reselling at scale. How can I avoid getting stuck with a bunch of high-priced tickets that no one wants to buy?”

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 2582

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 Blake, a personal trainer turned app developer. Among other things, he learns that technology can’t always replicate the energy of physical fitness classes.

Let’s hear from Blake!

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 2581

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 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.

Today, in our latest feature, we’ll stay in the food industry—broadly speaking—but look at a recipe publisher. Also, why are online recipe websites so random? It turns out it’s because Google has ruined the internet. True story!

What’s happened since? Let’s hear directly from her. 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 2580

Hello and welcome to a new episode of Side Hustle School. In this session, we’re connecting with Sofia from Baltimore, who’s been a loyal listener and is now ready to take a leap into the world of side hustling.

She’s specifically interested in ventures that provide recurring revenue, ideally without the need for daily micromanagement. Sofia is seeking guidance on finding the right kind of side hustle that aligns with this goal, as well as understanding how to maintain that income stream once it starts.

“Hey Chris and team, this is Sofia calling from Baltimore. I’ve been a fan of Side Hustle School for a while and am now exploring ideas for earning recurring revenue. What types of projects or side hustles are best suited for generating consistent, recurring income? I’m particularly interested in ventures that don’t require daily hands-on involvement, at least if that’s possible.”

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,