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,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2569

In today’s episode of Side Hustle School, we’re meeting Adriana from Miami. As an experienced elementary school teacher fluent in both English and Spanish, she’s noticed a gap in the market for bilingual educational content for kids.

Inspired by the podcast, Adriana is ready to take the leap into creating and monetizing her own educational materials and videos. She’s looking for guidance on kick-starting this venture, focusing on content creation, choosing the right platforms, and developing effective monetization strategies.

“Hi Chris, this is Sara from Santa Fe. I’ve been following your podcast after reading ‘The $100 Startup’ and it’s been a game-changer for me. As I’m growing my online business, I keep hearing conflicting advice about SEO. Some say it’s crucial; others tell me it’s a scam. Can you shed some light on this? I want to ensure my website attracts genuine traffic without wasting money or effort on something that doesn’t work.”

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 2568

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 a romance writer known as Avery Keaton. When she tries to use Kindle Direct Publishing, she learns that there’s a lot more to it than she first suspected.

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 2567

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.

Today, in our latest feature, we’ll hear from an independent sound designer who makes a good second income providing services to conferences and corporate events.

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 2566

Welcome back to Side Hustle School! Today, we’re chatting with Derek from Kansas City. He’s on a journey many of us can relate to – building an online presence in a world that’s increasingly digital and crowded.

Derek is facing the challenge of standing out and growing his audience, feeling stuck with minimal engagement and slow follower growth. He’s wondering if it’s just a personal hurdle or a broader challenge, and he’s looking for effective strategies to make a mark online.

“Hello Chris, I’m Derek from Kansas City. As an aspiring digital entrepreneur, I’ve been trying to grow my online presence but find it increasingly challenging. Is it just me, or is it actually getting harder to stand out online? What strategies would you recommend for effectively growing an online audience in today’s crowded digital landscape? I’m tired of getting 3 likes on my posts, and only a few new followers each week.”

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 2565

Today’s question comes from Damien in Atlanta. By day, he’s a software developer, and by night, an aspiring side hustler. A fan for over a year, Damien is looking for ways to supercharge his efficiency in his side projects. He’s specifically interested in AI tools and automation strategies that can help maximize his productivity and streamline his side hustle processes, considering his limited time.

“Hey Chris, I’m Damien from Atlanta, a software developer by day and an aspiring side hustler on the side. I’ve been a fan of Side Hustle School for over a year now. In my side hustle, I’m trying to find ways to be more efficient, especially since my time is limited. What AI tools and automation strategies would you recommend to boost productivity and streamline processes in a 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 2564

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 Taylor. 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,