Tag: Customer Service

Harvard Med School Program Manager Gets Paid to Travel to Italy

What It’s About

A profitable side hustle that celebrates Italian culture and helps a Boston woman revisit her roots.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Francesca’s “Aha!” moment came when she looked back at all of the free advice she’d given out over the years. She’d shared her family’s authentic Italian recipes with her friends, helped them book entire holidays and taught countless people about Italian culture. So, she asked herself the all-important side hustle question, “Can I charge for this?”

A side hustle should be something that you look forward to—not just tolerate. And some of the best side hustles we’ve featured on the show start out as something they do for fun. Is there something that you love doing that would make for a good side hustle?

Fun Fact

As a native Italian in Boston, Francesca started her side hustle as a way to travel back to Italy more frequently. This permits her to organize a few week-long tours, make connections by building private trips and helps with her constant craving for Italy! She is also a great cook, so she teaches Italian cooking at the adult education centers as well as private classes in her own home.

If you think limiting your travel business to one country could be a little too niche, you’d be wrong. Around 48.6 million tourists visit Italy every year. That’s 10 million more people than live in California!

Notes from Chris

Episode 171

Francesca Montillo’s side hustle was 20 years in the making. Ever since she left high school, she dreamt of starting her own travel business and sharing a small pizza-slice of her native Italy with the world. But instead of following her dream, Francesca opted for what she thought was the safe option.

After 20 years of waiting for the right time, she decided to finally go ahead and start her business anyway.

Putting a basic website online that she called The Lazy Italian, she wrote about her experiences, holidays she’d planned and recipes she loved to cook. She made sure to mention she was the real Italian deal, too.

Right now Francesca is making an average of $500 a month through her side hustle, although this number can get a lot higher when she’s got a big tour to work with.

Francesca’s ultimate goal now is to turn this side hustle into her full-time work in the next one to two years, and she plans to start promoting her tours to bigger groups. She also wants to stop running stateside cooking classes (no matter how fun they are) and instead turn her attention to writing a Lazy Italian Cookbook.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Lazy Italian Culinary Adventures:Book your own all-inclusive Italian excursion on Francesca’s website!
  • ServSafe:The online certification course Francesca took so that she could teach her cooking classes

SEE ALSO:

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

GET $625 IN FREE TRAVEL

Earn 50,000 travel rewards points (enough for 2 round-trip plane tickets or $625 in travel credit). You'll also earn 2x points on all travel and dining spend, with zero foreign transaction fees.

I use this card every day all over the world! ✈️ Learn More

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

Create your online store with Shopify using an exclusive discount for Side Hustle School listeners. For a limited time, get a free 21-day trial and a 10% discount for a whole year.

Many Side Hustle School listeners are building sites using Shopify's easy-to-learn platform. Try it free today! Learn More

Quote of the Day
"At first when I saw my competition it was upsetting, but then I realized that I was comparing my ‘Chapter 1’ to someone else’s ‘Chapter 15 or 20’—they had been in the business longer and yes, were doing better, but I was comparing apples to oranges."
—Francesa Montillo #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Try Thumbtack for FREE and consider the job done!

Side Hustle School is brought to you by Thumbtack. From house painting to personal training, Thumbtack makes it easy to find exactly what you’re looking no matter what project is on your list.

Download the app or try it now at Thumbtack.com 📌 Get Started

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Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.
Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

Urban Hiker Climbs to Steep Success in San Francisco

What It’s About

An urban hiking tour company with low startup costs.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

The best part about this side hustle model is that pretty much anyone can start something similar. Research tourism in your area, and ask yourself if there is enough tourism in your town to start a tour. If there is, what kind of tour do you want to run? Are there already competitors in your area?

If it’s something that you think is feasible to do, plan out a couple tours and test them out with people you know!

Fun Fact

Most of the challenges Alexandra has had to face are related to her having to cancel tours due to rainy weather. Normally, this only happens a few times a year, but last winter the San Francisco area experienced the wettest winter ever recorded since they started tracking rainfall in 1895! That definitely slowed things down for Urban Hiker San Francisco before it picked up again this spring.

Notes from Chris

Episode 158

San Francisco-based Alexandra Kenin has a flexible job as a project manager and editor for a fully-remote company. It’s a dream job in the sense that she’s able to set her own schedule and go back and forth from focusing on those job responsibilities to building something for herself.

The company is in the tech industry, but Alexandra’s side hustle is completely different: it’s all about getting outdoors and showing city-dwellers and tourists a lesser-visited side of SF—the part of the city that includes scenic hills and hiking trails.

Depending on the season, Urban Hiker San Francisco: makes between $2,500 and $8000 per month, peaking in July. Overall, gross income is about $50,000 per year. Corporate groups are the biggest source of income. She typically earns $1000+ for each 2-3 hour event. Alexandra now has 4-5 contractors working for her, depending on the season.

More than 3,000 people have hiked with Alexandra and her guides, including a lot of foreign visitors. Sometimes it’s their very first day in the United States, so she loves being able to show off her city and provide a good introduction to the USA.

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

SEE ALSO:

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

GET $625 IN FREE TRAVEL

Earn 50,000 travel rewards points (enough for 2 round-trip plane tickets or $625 in travel credit). You'll also earn 2x points on all travel and dining spend, with zero foreign transaction fees.

I use this card every day all over the world! ✈️ Learn More

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

Create your online store with Shopify using an exclusive discount for Side Hustle School listeners. For a limited time, get a free 21-day trial and a 10% discount for a whole year.

Many Side Hustle School listeners are building sites using Shopify's easy-to-learn platform. Try it free today! Learn More

Quote of the Day
"Anyone who lives in a city could create a tour business, and it costs virtually nothing to start! All I spend on each hiking tour is my time, and it’s almost all pure profit."
—Alexandra Klein #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Try Harry's for FREE!

Side Hustle School is brought to you by Harry's. Get the close, comfortable shave you deserve!

Sign up by clicking the button below, and you’ll receive their most popular Trial Set—a 13 dollar value—for FREE when you cover the shipping.💈 Get it Here

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.
Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

Operations Manager Manages to Make Heavy Furniture Light

What It’s About

An IKEA furniture delivery service that brings in an additional $800-2,000/month for a busy university employee.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

For anyone else who wants to build a business Peg’s way, she suggests some things that smack of the IKEA ethic: build it logically, so the parts fit into the whole. You’ve got to have a solid website that clearly details the process of selection, ordering, and fulfillment. She’s big on getting a SCORE mentor—a nonprofit that counsels small businesses—to help you understand the scope of your operation.

Fun Fact

IKEA was founded in Sweden in 1943 by 17-year-old Ingvar Kamprad. The IKEA acronym is a formation of Ingvar’s initials, plus those of Elmtaryd, the farm where he grew up, and Agunnaryd, his hometown in southern Sweden.

Notes from Chris

Episode 145

The joys and perils of assembling IKEA furniture has furnished plenty of joke fodder for late-night comedians, but the company is beloved by the DIY set for its inexpensive, durable goods. However, getting the goods, often packaged in large, heavy boxes, is challenge enough. When the store is hours away, the weight of the burden doubles.

Peg knew from experience: her own trek to get to IKEA’s Portland, Maine location took almost 5 hours total. But shipping rates could drive an IKEA customer crazy too:  they start at $229 for flat-pack delivery or oversize items. Their most popular item, a Billy bookcase that retails for $70, costs three times that to have it delivered to Maine. That’s like building a bookcase out of credit cards.

The hustle came to Peg in a flash: while wrapping up a meeting at the university, she mentioned she was going to IKEA. When people quickly asked if she could pick something up for them, Peg instantly saw the angle. She used her operations management moxie to size it up: she figured she could drive to IKEA, charge a 25% delivery fee to save people money and make a bit on the side. Sven Delivers was born!

Operations management experience has extended benefits: Peg signed up with Squarespace, designed and published her delivery business website, and, targeting young families and moms, started posting on Facebook and Facebook yard sale sites, as well as using Facebook advertising.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Sven Delivers: Learn more about Peg and her unique delivery service on her website
  • Squarespace: The platform that Peg used to launch Sven Delivers
  • Facebook Advertising: Find the right people, capture their attention, and get results
  • PayPal: The money exchanging service Peg used when she started to accept orders on social media
  • IKEA: The Swedish furniture store that Peg delivers the goods from

SEE ALSO:

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

GET $625 IN FREE TRAVEL

Earn 50,000 travel rewards points (enough for 2 round-trip plane tickets or $625 in travel credit). You'll also earn 2x points on all travel and dining spend, with zero foreign transaction fees.

I use this card every day all over the world! ✈️ Learn More

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

Create your online store with Shopify using an exclusive discount for Side Hustle School listeners. For a limited time, get a free 21-day trial and a 10% discount for a whole year.

Many Side Hustle School listeners are building sites using Shopify's easy-to-learn platform. Try it free today! Learn More

Quote of the Day
"Who doesn’t love IKEA products? We even deliver their cinnamon buns, chocolate, coffee and frozen Swedish meatballs."
—Peg Donovan #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Cook with Blue Apron!

Supporting the sponsors keeps the show free. Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by Blue Apron. 👩‍🍳

Check out this week’s menu and get your first three meals FREE, with free shipping. Get ready to say mmmmmm.
Get Yours Here

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.


Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

“Sign Hustle” Biz Produces $50,000/Year With No Expenses

What It’s About

A low-tech sign hustle that brings in a whole other side income without even a basic website!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

The business grew steadily, mostly through word of mouth. People would either see him out putting up signs and ask for his contact information or get referred by an existing client. Soon he was placing signs for independent real estate agents, real estate offices, housing developers, contractors, residential painters and even fireworks stands before the Fourth of July. Any time he wanted to add to his client list, he would go in person to introduce himself to the agents hosting model homes for a new development or to real estate offices.

It’s important to know how to market yourself, and sometimes cold calling can really pay off!

Fun Fact

90% of Pierce’s clients are in real estate or are involved in building housing developments, so they tend to be consistent, repeat clients. These connections helped him to build the foundation of his sign side hustle business, but he’s also had some other random clients. In addition to helping real estate agents and housing developers, he’s also helped companies advertise for fireworks, Halloween celebrations, house painters, and hospital clinics.

Notes from Chris

Episode 126

If you’ve ever thought that you didn’t possess the technical skills to create a successful side hustle, today’s story may change your mind. It’s all about how a salesman in Nashville, Tennessee jumps at the opportunity to launch a low-tech, low-stress side hustle that brings in an additional $48,000 for him and his family without even having to launch a website.

Back in 2005, a friend from Pierce Marr’s church was looking for someone to set up signs, and since Pierce had helped people move furniture on more than one occasion, he was the very first person he called.

Even though Pierce was already successful at his day job in sales, since it was only a few hours per weekend, he said, “why not?!” and decided to try it out. He already had a truck, and a hammer, so with no additional costs other than his time, he brought in $500 / month right off the bat. He spent an average of 12 hours hour per month and used the extra money to take his wife out to dinner more often and help out their son who was in college.

The business grew steadily, mostly through word of mouth. People would either see him out putting up signs and ask for his contact information or get referred by an existing client. Soon he was placing signs for independent real estate agents, real estate offices, housing developers, contractors, residential painters and even fireworks stands before the Fourth of July.

Over the years his business has grown naturally through referrals. When his son joined the business he also brought with him new contacts and some new accounts. In 2016 they placed around 500 signs every weekend for an average of a dozen clients which brought in $50,000 in revenue for only 5-10 hours of work each week.

These days, Pierce still has his day job in sales, runs the sign business with his son but now has multiple other side businesses. He does voiceover work, coaching, and hosts a podcast.

Looking back, he credits starting his sign hustle with giving him the confidence to move on to these other ideas.

Aside from the awesome name—SIGN hustle—I love this blue-collar side hustle. I use that label because he’s doing a fair amount of manual labor here—it’s not an internet business where he sits at the computer all day—but he’s constructed it in a way to where it’s not just a part-time job, he’s created real value in it.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Pierce Marrs: Learn more about Pierce and how he got started with his unique “Sign Hustle” business on his website!

SEE ALSO:

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

Create your online store with Shopify using an exclusive discount for Side Hustle School listeners. For a limited time, get a free 21-day trial and a 10% discount for a whole year.

Many Side Hustle School listeners are building sites using Shopify's easy-to-learn platform. Try it free today! Learn More

GET YOUR FIRST 1,000 EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS

Social media is nice, but building an email list is still the single best way to get customers and clients for your hustle. It's not hard to get started—sign up for a 30-day trial and join the list-building challenge! You’ll be up and running in no time. Learn More

Quote of the Day
"People often ask me about the sign business, but for whatever reason, they say that they would never do something like this. I just laugh because my wife and I have a nice lifestyle, and this side hustle has allowed us a chance to truly enjoy life."
—Pierce Marrs #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Try ShipStation for 60 Days FREE!

Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by ShipStation, the #1 choice of online sellers. 📦

To get a 30-day trial AND an additional month free, click the microphone at the top of their page and enter the word HUSTLE.
Get it Here

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.
Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

House Arrest Leads to $500,000 Food Truck and Catering Hustle

What It’s About

Restlessness during house arrest leads a couple of cousins to a successful business with a food truck, restaurant, and catering service.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Instead of using Facebook ads, the cousins offer a free meal each time they post about something important, such as a new menu or service. They say these posts end up with five times the visibility because their customers are more invested with a free meal on the table.

Find ways to gain exposure and market your side hustle while also offering your customers something they may want. It’s win-win!

Fun Fact

For their restaurant, the cousins signed a lease on a place that had closed a few months prior. The previous enterprise had steadily started losing customers after someone was stabbed in the parking lot, which led to the enterprise’s shuttering.

This meant the rent was cheap, and the kitchen equipment was already there, so the duo pounced on it. The same space has been home to at least 6 bars and restaurants in the past 15 years, each less successful than the last. Zach and Teddy plan on beating the odds.

Notes from Chris

Episode 121

Before his encounters with law enforcement, Teddy had been a talented chef and had worked in several French restaurants. To pass the time while under house arrest, he started hosting a Tuesday Supper Club for his girlfriend, Zach, and Zach’s wife. It was over these weekly, house-confined gourmet dinners that Zach and Teddy started talking and dreaming of starting a business together.

The cousins live in an economically depressed region in rural Pennsylvania, where 20% of people are under the poverty line and you have to drive over an hour to Pittsburgh to seek out good restaurants. Their idea was to bring reasonably priced, “city-quality” cuisine to their county.

While it hasn’t always been easy, the cousins show no sign of slowing down. To keep with the theme of adding a new component each year, the duo are planning to open the other side of their rented space as a new restaurant serving fast and casual BBQ, to help bring traffic to the building on weekdays. In 2017, Zach and Teddy hope to exceed $500,000 in sales and $50,000 in profit, and are planning what’s next on their way to $1 million.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Small Town Kitchen: Learn more about Zach, Teddy, and all of their delicious endeavors on their website! This site also has lots of great resources for those looking to start their own restaurants, food trucks, and catering companies
  • CleanSlate Catering & The Foundry: Zach and Teddy’s catering and restaurant branches

SEE ALSO:

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

WEB HOSTING @ $2.49/MONTH

Want to build any kind of website for your hustle? If so, you'll need somewhere to host it! This is the reliable company I've used for many websites. It's cheap, flexible, and offers support 24-7.

Get your own hosting plan for just $2.49 a month!
Learn More

GET $625 IN FREE TRAVEL

Earn 50,000 travel rewards points (enough for 2 round-trip plane tickets or $625 in travel credit). You'll also earn 2x points on all travel and dining spend, with zero foreign transaction fees.

I use this card every day all over the world! ✈️ Learn More

Quote of the Day
"If you can test and learn with friends and family at a low rate of investment, do it. Talk about your business idea and see what the feedback is—but get real sales before investing too much."
—Zach Ellsworth #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Try ShipStation for 60 Days FREE!

Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by ShipStation, the #1 choice of online sellers. 📦

To get a 30-day trial AND an additional month free, click the microphone at the top of their page and enter the word HUSTLE.
Get it Here

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.
Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

The 10-Minute Workout Gym

What It’s About

A gym that specializes in offering weekly, 10-minute workouts for busy people.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Josh initially relied on social media for marketing, but they have also implemented a referral program which rewards the referrer with a free sauna session for every referral, a free workout for every five referrals and  $100 off their health and supplement store for every 10. These days, most of their clients come in through word-of-mouth referrals.

Fun Fact

Even though Josh owns a gym, he actually doesn’t like working out that much, which is partly why he started Quantify Fitness. He only works out 10 to 20 minutes a week and says he’s the fittest and healthiest he’s been in his life. Are you skeptical? Well, I might be too… but Josh swears by his routine.

Notes from Chris

Episode 112

As much as we try and fit everything we need to do into the time we have available, there’s often something that gets put on the back burner. For many people, that includes getting in their recommended 30 minutes a day of exercise. You could argue that this problem is at least partly a matter of priorities—but the point is, there’s often a gap between how much exercise a lot of people get and what they’d like to get.

Josh Jarrett was in the group of people who really didn’t like to work out. He wanted to be healthy and he knew it was important—he had 3 young children, and needed to keep up with them—but in his quest to find the most optimal workout, he adapted a model focused on high-intensity, short duration exercises.

Since Josh knew that people said they’d exercise more if they had more time, he decided to give them time by shortening the workout—like really shortening it, to just 10 minutes. He thought this approach would be a sustainable way to help people stick with a workout routine that will improve their health, and even though he was busy at work and at home, he decided to open a gym.

Despite having only been open for six months, they’ve been able to bring on their first employee, have already matched their startup costs, and are projecting that they will do over $100,000 in revenue in their first year.

This is an example of making an “ultimate promise”—a 10-minute workout! Who wouldn’t like to get all the exercise they need in just 10-minute sessions? Of course, that’s what gets people in the door, but then you have to actually fulfill the promise.

What kind of ultimate promise can you make? Here are a few other examples:

  • Eat whatever you want and still lose weight
  • Earn a 10% return no matter what the market does
  • Never pay for household supplies again

Again, you have to be able to back it up. But if you can, great! Having an ultimate promise can go a long way in building intrigue, as well as quickly communicating to potential customers what your offer is all about.

Still not convinced? Check out the video below to see how NFL veteran Derrick Mason does with Josh’s 10-minute workout:

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

SEE ALSO:

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

GET $625 IN FREE TRAVEL

Earn 50,000 travel rewards points (enough for 2 round-trip plane tickets or $625 in travel credit). You'll also earn 2x points on all travel and dining spend, with zero foreign transaction fees.

I use this card every day all over the world! ✈️ Learn More

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

Create your online store with Shopify using an exclusive discount for Side Hustle School listeners. For a limited time, get a free 21-day trial and a 10% discount for a whole year.

Many Side Hustle School listeners are building sites using Shopify's easy-to-learn platform. Try it free today! Learn More

Quote of the Day
"Our biggest challenge is the skepticism with people not believing they can get an effective workout in such a short amount of time. Once they do the workout, however, they’re usually blown away by realizing how much time they can get back not having to go to the gym all the time."
—Josh Jarrett #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Learn More With Skillshare!

Supporting the sponsors keeps the show free. Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by Skillshare. 📷

Skillshare is giving Side Hustle School listeners 2 months of unlimited access—for $0.99! Join the 2 million students learning everything from street photography to SEO on Skillshare today!
Get Started Here!

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.


Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

Snuggling for Dollars: It’s Not What You Think

What It’s About

A New England woman discovers a way to help others feel connected by offering snuggle sessions.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Since the rise of the technological era, it’s never been easier to connect with others at the touch of a button. Despite the advantages this provides, an increase in texting and socializing on social media may result in less substantial relationships, leaving users feeling isolated and disconnected. Samantha’s snuggling service is a way to fill this void and respond to a growing need without judgement.

Is there a need that you could fill?

Fun Fact

One client of Samantha’s was going through a really difficult time with his daughter, and it reminded her of a similar situation that she experienced when she was younger and still living at home. It gave her a new perspective, and she felt like she was comforting her own dad. After the session, she called her dad and told him that she didn’t realize what kind of pain he was going through at the time.

Notes from Chris

Episode 107

Samantha Varnerin didn’t expect to stumble on a new side hustle when she opened her unread emails, but an article from one of her newsletters grabbed her attention: become a professional snuggler. Being the openly affectionate person she is, this seemed like a calling, so she started Googling and found an agency that works with snugglers across the country.

These days Samantha dedicates around 10 hours a week to her snuggle sessions, and she’s been able to cover her rent with this money alone. The extra money has been great, and the biggest benefit for Samantha is the fulfillment she experiences providing a much-needed service for people who are just looking to feel a little human connection.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • My Life is Never Boring: Learn more about Samantha and her snuggle journey on her blog
  • Snuggle With Sam: Looking for a little human connection yourself? Check out Samantha’s professional snuggling website!

SEE ALSO:

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

WEB HOSTING @ $2.49/MONTH

Want to build any kind of website for your hustle? If so, you'll need somewhere to host it! This is the reliable company I've used for many websites. It's cheap, flexible, and offers support 24-7.

Get your own hosting plan for just $2.49 a month!
Learn More

GET $625 IN FREE TRAVEL

Earn 50,000 travel rewards points (enough for 2 round-trip plane tickets or $625 in travel credit). You'll also earn 2x points on all travel and dining spend, with zero foreign transaction fees.

I use this card every day all over the world! ✈️ Learn More

Quote of the Day
"While the additional money has been great, these snuggling sessions have allowed me an opportunity to really reconnect with people as a whole and have a positive impact on the lives of others."
—Samantha Varnerin #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Learn More With Skillshare!

Supporting the sponsors keeps the show free. Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by Skillshare. 📷

Skillshare is giving Side Hustle School listeners 2 months of unlimited access—for $0.99! Join the 2 million students learning everything from street photography to SEO on Skillshare today!
Get Started Here!

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.


Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

Mindreading Performer Goes from Dorm Room to Paid Corporate Gigs

What It’s About

Despite his shyness growing up, a performer uses his skills to teach others how they can be successful in life and business.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

While Jonathan really loves the performing aspect of doing these shows, he says that knowing that he’s the one in charge of his income has been a huge motivator for him in continuing to build up this hustle.

Fun Fact

In addition to learning tricks on his own, Jonathan also has a mentor: James Randi, a former escape artist and professional skeptic who is the subject of the Netflix documentary called “An Honest Liar.”

Notes from Chris

Episode 105

Jonathan Pritchard has multiple hustles that make up his income. While most of his side hustles evolved from his previous career as a graphic designer, in today’s episode we we zeroed in on his most intriguing business—mind reading.

Jonathan has always been fascinated by how and why people think the way they do. As a shy kid, this manifested itself by learning how to do magic tricks and juggle fire so that he could come out of his shell and interact with people through these tricks. This skill set naturally grew and evolved over the years as he performed at dorm parties, restaurants and open mic nights.

While his show kept getting better, the actual business wasn’t growing. When he was offered the chance to tour with another guy doing shows at colleges, he leapt at the chance, so he could learn more about the business side of things.

As he went, he began to notice a trend in what the audiences really responded to, so his services evolved to cater to that which helped him go from earning around $2,000/show to upwards of $3,500 and higher. By turning his show into a learning experience instead of focusing on the magic portion of it, he was able to really distinguish himself from the crowd.

Knowing what your audience wants and making sure to deliver it with as much quality as possible can really be the key to upgrading your service or product. After all, it’s more about what they want and less about what you do.

Are you searching for something that other people want?

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

SEE ALSO:

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

Chris Guillebeau

Resources

GET $625 IN FREE TRAVEL

Earn 50,000 travel rewards points (enough for 2 round-trip plane tickets or $625 in travel credit). You'll also earn 2x points on all travel and dining spend, with zero foreign transaction fees.

I use this card every day all over the world! ✈️ Learn More

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

Create your online store with Shopify using an exclusive discount for Side Hustle School listeners. For a limited time, get a free 21-day trial and a 10% discount for a whole year.

Many Side Hustle School listeners are building sites using Shopify's easy-to-learn platform. Try it free today! Learn More

Quote of the Day
"Keeping the bookings coming can be difficult. Sometimes it feels like you’re out of a job as soon as a show is over. It can be unnerving when you don’t have anything lined up for a couple months, but inevitably if you put in the work, you’ll get the results."
—Jonathan Pritchard #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Get a premium Indochino Suit for just $389!

Side Hustle School is brought to you by Indochino, the company that’s reinventing men’s fashion.

Go to Indochino.com to get any premium Indochino suit for just $389, plus free shipping, when you use promo code HUSTLE at checkout. 🤵 Get it Here

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.
Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

College Student Earns $20,000 a Month Cleaning Houses

What It’s About

A college student creates a successful cleaning service with an emphasis on customer service.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Think Maids offers simple online booking, easy cancellations and rescheduling, and the ability for clients to share special cleaning instructions. The company is also easy to contact by phone, email, or even text… and they try to respond within 3-5 minutes. This has a ton of value for customers and potential customers, and it’s great for repeat business.

Fun Fact

Christopher says the best part of this experience is having enough time to do the things that he wants to do. Since business has picked up, he has worked hard on automating and delegating as much as he can. He even took a 10-day trip to Japan in November and was happy to see that his business didn’t burn down while he was away.

Notes from Chris

Episode 87

If you’ve been following the show, you’ve probably heard me discuss the Power of Observation and how important it can be in the world of side hustles. A popular method that we’ve seen in other episodes is to look at the service you use on a regular basis and notice things that can be improved.

In today’s story, a college student recognizes major flaws in the cleaning industry and offers a more customer service-driven alternative that brings in around $20,000 a month. Oh, and he’s also able to take off and go to Japan for a week, and not have to worry about the business at all.

Cleaning companies are a substantial industry with each market offering numerous options, but many of them are unreliable and have hidden costs. Even as a student, Christopher Schwab saw a huge demand for transparent, high-quality cleaning services, and he believed he could fix many of the complaints people had about cleaning companies.

Focusing on addressing the three biggest problems with the industry—reliability, the hassle involved with booking, and lack of honesty or integrity—he created his cleaning service, Think Maids. He has now built it into a full-time job that allows him the freedom to travel and do the things he wants to do.

Your assignment: Make a list of all the businesses and industries that you think could be improved. How would you fix them?

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Think Maids: Learn more about Christopher’s customer service oriented cleaning service
  • Thumbtack:A service Christopher used that connects people to pros across multiple industries
  • Google Adwords: If you’re interested in A/B testing and experimenting with different ad styles (among other things)
  • Nextdoor: A private social network for your physical neighborhood and community

SEE ALSO:

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

Chris Guillebeau

Resources

GET $625 IN FREE TRAVEL

Earn 50,000 travel rewards points (enough for 2 round-trip plane tickets or $625 in travel credit). You'll also earn 2x points on all travel and dining spend, with zero foreign transaction fees.

I use this card every day all over the world! ✈️ Learn More

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

Create your online store with Shopify using an exclusive discount for Side Hustle School listeners. For a limited time, get a free 21-day trial and a 10% discount for a whole year.

Many Side Hustle School listeners are building sites using Shopify's easy-to-learn platform. Try it free today! Learn More

Quote of the Day
"I just graduated from university and was working on my side hustle my final semester. I grew it enough that once I graduated it shifted effortlessly to my main work now."
—Christopher Schwab #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Cook with Blue Apron!

Supporting the sponsors keeps the show free. Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by Blue Apron. 👩‍🍳

Check out this week’s menu and get your first three meals FREE, with free shipping. Get ready to say mmmmmm.
Get Yours Here

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.


Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

Chicago Psychotherapist Becomes Ceremonial Wedding Officiant

What It’s About

A Chicago psychotherapist gets a license to officiate weddings and finds a way to create a new source of income helping couples begin a new life together.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

As awesome as it is to have the additional income having a side hustle offers, there are many potential benefits beyond just money.

Jeffrey’s side hustle as a ceremonial officiant allows him to remember why it is so important to foster love and harmony at the beginning, middle and end of relationships. He noted that being a therapist in private practice can sometimes feel isolating and disconnected from a sense of community. Serving as a non-denominational, spiritual but not religious officiant has allowed him a role in the community and a sense of connection beyond the leather couch where he sees patients.

Fun Fact

A producer from the TLC reality show “Four Weddings” reached out to him for their first episode because he was the officiant for a wedding at a hip Chicago mansion. TLC wanted to include a highlight of the happy couple at the ceremony and one thing led to another.

That decision led to Jeffrey being featured on TLC several times. As his hustle, Celebrate Love Chicago!, grows and he continues to work as a psychotherapist, couples usually come to him at least once a month with a potential wedding gig.

To learn more about Jeffrey and his side hustle, check out his website and the free workbook I mentioned in today’s show!

Resources

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

Create your online store with Shopify using an exclusive discount for Side Hustle School listeners. For a limited time, get a free 21-day trial and a 10% discount for a whole year.

Many Side Hustle School listeners are building sites using Shopify's easy-to-learn platform. Try it free today! Learn More

GET YOUR FIRST 1,000 EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS

Social media is nice, but building an email list is still the single best way to get customers and clients for your hustle. It's not hard to get started—sign up for a 30-day trial and join the list-building challenge! You’ll be up and running in no time. Learn More

Quote of the Day
"As a psychotherapist who specializes in marriage counseling, I missed being part of the joyful moments in life, and my side hustle helped me satisfy this desire. It also provided me with a nice side income as well."
—Jeffrey Sumber #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Try ShipStation for 60 Days FREE!

Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by ShipStation, the #1 choice of online sellers. 📦

To get a 30-day trial AND an additional month free, click the microphone at the top of their page and enter the word HUSTLE.
Get it Here

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.
Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau