These Throat Lozenges Are On Fire!

What It’s About

Two brothers set traditional throat lozenges ablaze.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

You can go into your local supermarket right now and buy a bag of 120 store brand cough drops for $1.99. By contrast, a bag of 20 Fire Drops costs anywhere from $3.99 – 4.99. They knew they had to target health-conscious, organic consumers who were willing to pay a few bucks extra for an effective product and natural alternative. And since the best way to target those people was by going to events where they knew they’d be in attendance, they hit the farmer’s markets, organic food stores, and small locally owned businesses.

If marketing your product is proving challenging, figure out who your ideal customer is and go where they are!

Fun Fact

You normally think in terms of tablespoons and cups when you measure ingredients in the kitchen, but you’ve got to think bigger in business. Brett realized that instead of measuring his ingredients with kitchen utensils, he had to start weighing them if he wanted any manufacturer to produce Fire Drops.

Notes from Chris

Episode 901

Massachusettes native, Brett Johnson, is a huge fan of natural remedies. During the winter months, he would find himself consuming endless amounts of cough drops that were packed with medicine and various additives, all of which he thought was not the healthiest to consume.

Unfortunately, there were few alternatives out there, and throat lozenges were simply a necessity when the New England cold arrived.

This all changed one day at work. Working at a design studio, Brett expected just another normal day when a woman entered the studio with a request for help with packaging a natural throat lozenge.

But as work continued with the product, she felt that it was too time-consuming and decided to focus on other opportunities. She was moving on … but Brett thought the idea had vast potential. He was able to convince her to sell the product and business to him.

This marked the beginning of Fire Drops. The original inventor had devised a formula for the lozenges and had prepared an initial batch, but there was still a lot to be desired. Brett enlisted the help of his brother Scott, and the two of them immediately began experimenting with flavors.

Their first step was to look up every other lozenge on the market to see the ingredients that were being used. This gave them a sense of what options were out there, as well as a direction in which they could take in order to differentiate their product.

Their next step was time-consuming: Brett spent months in the kitchen trying different combinations and taking detailed notes on every aspect of the process. With factors such as ingredient proportions and cooking temperature to account for, it took several iterations for a viable product to emerge from the kitchen.

The first ten batches tasted like popcorn, and it would take countless more tries before it started tasting like candy. After sufficient tinkering, the brothers managed to come up with a product that not only tasted great but was effective against cold and flu symptoms.

With everything said and done, Brett and Scott figure that they’ve invested around $15,000 in startup capital. The money mainly went towards packaging and building up inventory. Today, Fire Drops nets around $20,000 in revenue each year, with sales slowing down in the summer months. The best part of this experience has been the opportunity for the brothers to work together and earn a real-world MBA. All of the marketing, product development, manufacturing and e-commerce skills they had to learn on the fly will be helpful in whatever project they take on next.

They’re also not resting on their throat lozenge laurels. The two brothers have approached independently owned organic stores and are now stocked in over one-hundred of them. They also realize that even though they’ve done well bootstrapping the business, they’re open to investment to help get to the next level. But for now, Brett and Scott are willing to do the things that don’t scale—an attitude that makes any bumps in the business easier to swallow.

 


  MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Fire Drops: Learn more about this hot side hustle over on Brett and Scott’s website!
  • Military-Themed Teddy Bears Help Kids Hibernate: An ad executive turned teddy bear manufacturer creates a military-grade sleep system for children, earning $100,000 in sales and making a lot of people beary happy

 

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
"The idea of ‘if we build it, they will come’ doesn’t really work with online sales and e-commerce. You’ve got to get out there and get attention."
—Brett & Scott Johnson #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Don't Do Business Without It

Side Hustle School is brought to you by American Express.

No matter what you do in business, from working nine-to-five to working five-to-nine, it’s easier when you don’t go it alone. Get the powerful backing of American Express—don't do business without it! 💳 Visit American Express

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

Chronic Illness Inspires Mobile-Friendly Yoga Biz

What It’s About

Yoga instructor takes her show on the road.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Kayla thinks that if you want to get into yoga that you need to be clear on why you want to be a yoga instructor and who you want to work with. Then decide how you want to reach “your people”—whether that be through blogging, Instagram, online/offline, etc.

Fun Fact

Yoga is a big business! There are over 52,746 teachers registered with Yoga Alliance in 2016 alone, and for every yoga teacher, there are two more enrolled in a yoga teacher training program.

Notes from Chris

Episode 828

At age twelve, Kayla Kurin was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. She got passed around from doctor to doctor, but no one knew how to help. As she grew up, she had dreams of traveling the world and starting her own business. But her illness was getting in the way.

At her lowest point, Kayla didn’t think she’d be able to graduate university or hold a normal job, and travel seemed impossible. But in the past seven years, she’s done all of those things, and more. She’s traveled to over forty countries, completed three triathlons, and started two businesses.

The two most important things that helped her get to that point were yoga and meditation.

Kayla found yoga sequences to be challenging without setting her back like other forms of exercise did. When she tried searching out Yoga and Mindfulness courses specifically geared to those living with illness, there wasn’t much out there. That’s when she decided to become a yoga teacher.

After completing her training, Kayla taught in-person yoga courses… at least at first. Knowing that yoga could be a key tool in managing a chronic illness, she wanted to share resources for people to practice yoga in a therapeutic way. She began catering her classes for people with chronic illness. The challenge was that her students, who struggled with fatigue and other health setbacks, often missed class due to these very health issues—so she also began sharing some initial resources online.

After her first year as an instructor, Kayla transitioned her full-time job to become location independent. Now working as a copywriter and social media manager (which started out as a side hustle, by the way!), she was able to take her work on the road.

He passion for teaching yoga came along with her. She moved her courses and workshops online, allowing her to reach more people, no matter where in the world they might be.

Her website, Aroga Yoga, became the hub for her resources.

While exploring the world as a digital nomad, Kayla continues to teach private classes on a weekly basis as well as leading workshops a few times a year. Another bonus of taking her yoga business on the road is that Kayla can film her course videos against new backdrops around the world.

Positive feedback from her students is its own reward, but the business also helps keep Kayla accountable to her own fitness and health goals. And she’s happy to have an extra cushion of roughly $10,000 annually on top of her primary income.

Kayla intends to keep producing more books, blog posts, and mini-courses. It’s no stretch to say that she’ll continue to keep her side hustle flexible.

 


 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Aroga Yoga: Learn more about how Kayla is helping others manage their chronic illnesses over on her 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
"Whenever I hear from a student that my classes have helped them and made their lives better, I get a huge grin stuck on my face. I also like it because it keeps me on track with my own health goals since I’m teaching and writing about yoga all the time!"
—Kayla Kurin #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Don't Do Business Without It

Side Hustle School is brought to you by American Express.

No matter what you do in business, from working nine-to-five to working five-to-nine, it’s easier when you don’t go it alone. Get the powerful backing of American Express—don't do business without it! 💳 Visit American Express

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

Professional Boxer Packs a Punch with Quality CBD Oil

What It’s About

A boxer steps out of the ring and KOs a CBD oil side hustle.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Mike warns about doing too much research. It is easy to tell yourself that learning more is helpful, but he says that’s only true to a certain extent. If you’re focusing too much on research, it can delay your product launch. And then, you’re not actually running a business. As he said, at some point, it comes time to step into the ring.

Fun Fact

Before Mike filled his extra time with Soul CBD, he acted! He got to be in a Subway commercial and act alongside Mark Wahlberg.

Notes from Chris

Episode 780
Mike Lee is no stranger to pain. Ranked #3 in the world in his weight class, this professional boxer with a 21-0 record literally gets “punched in the face” for a living. He has to deal with pain all of the time—from broken bones to a chronic soreness he’s developed throughout his years of training.

A few years ago, Mike’s relationship with pain deepened even further. He was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in his spine and other joints.

He was soon prescribed painkillers. These made him feel terrible, and he hated the thought of putting something so artificial and potentially harmful into his body. He searched for a natural solution, but couldn’t find any that packed enough of a punch to combat his symptoms.

Then, when CBD oil was taken off the U.S Anti-Doping Agency banned substances list in 2018, he rejoiced! He had heard all kinds of people talking about how CBD oil was like a miracle. Mike was even more excited that it was derived from a plant. He tried it and began seeing results right away.

Where had this been all his life?! Mike was interested in finding the highest quality CBD oil possible, so he began researching.

Through his research, he spent hundreds of hours learning about this product. That got him thinking.

All of a sudden, he knew what to do! It was time to get back in the ring—the business ring, that is. He would create a side hustle for selling CBD oil. With it just being taken off the banned substances list, he knew this was the prime time to sell this product.

He brought in his sister, Angie, as a partner, and they called it Soul CBD.

The attention that the siblings gave to the customers and the market paid off. By their third month, Soul CBD had already hit over six figures in revenue—matching their initial investment.

In the future, Mike hopes to use his boxing platform to spark an even larger audience for Soul CBD. This year, he’s training for a World Title fight. Whatever happens, we have confidence that he’ll continue to roll with the punches.


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Soul CBD: If your soul could use a little love, head on over to Mike and Angie’s website to check out their line of CBD products!

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
"Starting your own business or side hustle is a constant roller coaster. Remember to enjoy the highs and learn how to manage the lows."
—Mike Lee #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

iPhone “Progress App” Weighs in with Measurable Profits

What It’s About

A developer weighs in on phone apps.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Apps are not the gold rush that they were in 2010, but there are still plenty of lucrative opportunities available for the right concept. If you have an idea for an app, make sure that you think carefully about what value it provides—just like you would for any other business.

Fun Fact

Apple’s iPhone App store is a profit generating machine. Since launching in 2008, it has earned the company over $134 billion dollars in revenue. That money is generated from a small fraction of the 2 million apps available, most of which are completely free.

Notes from Chris

Episode 738
When Apple launched the iPhone App Store in 2008, they kicked off a modern day gold rush. Software developers everywhere submitted their apps and fortunes were made overnight. With few apps on offer at the time, people were installing almost anything. It was a glorious time where you could create something truly ridiculous and get paid for it.

But all good things must come to an end and, like the California Gold Rush of the 1800s, a few got rich and the rest died trying. Or, you know, their apps just weren’t downloaded. In just a few years, there was more competition, and it became harder for apps to stand out from the crowd.

Lewis Smith missed the Gold Rush, but he came in afterward with something heftier than those initial apps. At the time, Lewis was a programmer for Barclays Bank in the UK. He loved learning new technologies and building things. Creating an app seemed like a good way to do both.

If Lewis was going to build an app, he figured that he might as well make one for himself. To start, Lewis began looking at problems in his own life that he thought might be made easier with an app. And it didn’t take long to come up with something.

Lewis was getting married, and the wedding date was fast approaching. To get in shape for it, he’d started on the Slow Carb Diet. The diet proposes measuring different parts of your body to track your progress: variables like weight, waistline, hips, and shoulder width. Together, these give a much better indication of progress than simply weighing yourself, which can be affected by building muscle.

Lewis figured an app would make it easy to track everything in one place. A quick search of the App store revealed nothing like it existed, so it became his project. He called it The Progress App.

It took some time, but eventually, The Progress App became Lewis full-time job. Two years ago, in 2016 he was making enough to quit full-time work and make a living entirely off his app. Like weight loss itself, the progress was slow and took a lot of hard work, but in the end, it paid off.

And these days, Lewis’ app has achieved critical mass! Over the last year, Lewis has generated an average of $6,500/month from his app. The money comes in even when he’s sleeping or taking a day off. This has enabled him to travel the world as a digital nomad all the way through to 2018. In 2019 and beyond, Lewis’ aim is to help a million people lose weight through his app.

It’s easy to look at this story and think “he got in early” or “this could never work now”. But remember, Lewis didn’t launch his app until three years after the app store launch. Things were extremely competitive, even then. But Lewis found a way to stand out from the crowd. 

He built a very specific app that didn’t yet exist, for a specific group of people. And because he followed through, his progress app has completely changed his life.


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • The Progress App: If weight loss is part of your New Year’s resolutions, use Lewis’ app to help you keep track!

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
"Apps are not the gold rush that they were in 2010. If you have an idea for an app, you have to think carefully about what value it provides—just like you would for any other business."
—Lewis Smith #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

Physical Therapist Sells 57,000 “Neck Hammocks”

What It’s About

A neck hammock that takes the pain out of a “pain in the neck.”

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Steve says that the power of people and connections is one of the most undervalued assets that you can have. He even goes further by saying that the more people you put yourself in contact with and develop positive relationships with, the better because later on down the road it can pay huge dividends for you.

Fun Fact

Much like the story we featured of a guy who creates a tool to keep hair out of the drain (Ep. 657), Steve’s biggest challenge has been imitators and counterfeiters. He describes it as a systemic problem with leeches looking to profit off of someone else’s idea. As part of his education process, he’s learned about intellectual property and patents—but that only goes so far. Mostly, he tries to stay positive and keep selling his original product.

Notes from Chris

Episode 661

Steve Sudell works as a physical therapist at a clinic in Venice, California. He provides personalized and sport-focused exercises to athletes before their competition to help reduce and possibly prevent injuries associated with intense, physical activity.

His side hustle is The Neck Hammock, a portable device that attaches to any door or railing and promises to provide medical grade cervical traction.

It came about first from his own needs. As someone who grew up playing sports, Steve had dealt with neck pain over the years and there wasn’t much he could do on his own besides going to see a chiropractor or a physical therapist. Once he became a PT, he learned about cervical traction—this was a treatment that worked for him every time. He also saw it work over and over with his patients.

Still, to get this treatment you had to go to the clinic and use a $2,000 machine.

One day, he was working out and tweaked his neck again. He decided he wanted to recreate the concept of cervical traction at home—so he took a long resistance band and wrapped it around a pole. He laid down on it for ten minutes, and his neck pain was gone.

Steve knew he was on to something, but making it wasn’t simple. Steve spent the next two and a half years going from concept to product. It had to fit snugly and securely around the back of your head, yet also be comfortable. It also had to be portable. Last but not least, it had to be affordable. He wanted something that you could put in your sock drawer at home or take with you on the road.

So he made it, learning along the way. In fact, he says that’s been the greatest and most unexpected benefit of the process. He’s learned about digital marketing, design, accounting, social media, how retail sales work, and so on.

But the education isn’t the only benefit. Since launching The Neck Hammock, Steve has sold over 57,000 units at an average price of $50.

It started with a pain in the neck, it became a pain relief profit center.

 


 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • The Neck Hammock: What are you hangin’ around here for? Head on over to Steve’s website to learn more about this inventive little device!

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
"If you have a great idea, don’t sit on it. Everyone has a good idea at one point or another, but it’s the people that take action that are the ones who see any sort of success. There will always be people who will doubt you and tell you that it’s a bad idea, but you really have to listen to your gut."
—Steve Sudell #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Get Your Logo Today With Logojoy!

Side Hustle School is brought to you by Logojoy, an online tool that uses artificial intelligence to help you design a beautiful, custom logo.

Try Logojoy today and get 20% off any logo package when you visit logojoy.com/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

Beard Oil Behemoth Expands to 35 Countries

What It’s About

A Georgia transplant with an itchy problem turns $46 into six-figures … using beard oil.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Although he’s experienced some major success along the way, Ryan’s not really sure if he’d have similar results if he had started Dream Beard today. Dream Beard’s success was kind of a perfect storm—beards had really taken off in pop culture (seriously, they were on baseball and basketball players, Duck Dynasty stars, and even the hipsters took on beard culture), social media for business ventures was still relatively authentic, and the market was severely less saturated.

Fun Fact

Dream Beard began on his father-in-law’s dining room table but quickly expanded throughout his entire home. It overtook the entire dining room. Then the kitchen, followed by the living room. Eventually, his father-in-law’s home was consumed by boxes, tables and shelves and had become their shipping and receiving warehouse. But as long as his pop-in-law could sit in his comfy chair and watch his favorite television shows he wasn’t bothered by any of it!

Notes from Chris

Episode 660

Ryan Lane is the founder of Dream Beard—an e-commerce shop that sells hair, beard, and body products—and he runs it alongside his wife and fellow beard enthusiast, Brittany. Although it was a humble project that they started with the last $46 they had in their bank account in 2012, six years later, this trailblazer in the world of facial hair brings in over six figures a month in sales.

But how exactly did they turn a $46 idea into something so profitable and with a huge, cult following of bearded fans?

Well, it started with an itch. The itch heard ‘round the world.

When the 9 to 5 grind just wasn’t cutting it anymore, Ryan Lane discovered that he simply wanted more out of life than his desk job could give him. And after talking about it at length with Brittany, the two of them decided to do something a bit hairy

Despite this being the era of the Great Recession, Ryan and Brittany both quit their jobs and relocated from Ohio to Atlanta, Georgia. They wanted to be closer to family, and since neither of them had anything lined up yet, they moved in with Brittany’s dad.

They applied to hundreds of different jobs, but despite their best efforts, nothing came through. It was totally nerve-racking. For many, being unemployed and sleeping across the hall from your father-in-law might feel a bit demoralizing, but Ryan immediately got down to business—and this time, that business was one of his own.

Around this time, Ryan had what he called a “short corporate beard,” and it was itching like crazy. He tried a few products that claimed to help with that awkward, short beard growth phase, but nothing was working. They either left a funky scent that made his wife consider kicking him out of bed, or they just promised a lot without actually delivering results.

Not willing to give up his manly badge of pride, he started doing a little experimenting of his own. And these experiments led him to the wonderful world of essential oils. When he found a combination that he really liked, he started sharing it with friends who in turn shared it with their friends as well.

This sparked an idea—what if he created a product that could combat the pesky problems that come with growing a beard?

His timing really couldn’t have been better. Facial hair was in the middle of transitioning out of a “don’t mind my 5 o’clock shadow, girl—just look into my beautiful eyes” phase and moving into a more “lumber-sexual” phase. Since Ryan had already done quite a bit of research in order to look for a solution to his scratchy beard woes, he knew that essential oil blends specifically for beards didn’t really exist in the market.

So, in 2012, with that $46 in the bank and the small space provided by his father-in-law’s dining room table, something beard-ah-riffic began to take shape. He called it Dream Beard, and since Etsy seemed like a natural place to get his start, he signed up for an account.

His focus was aimed at drawing the attention and support of beard lovers everywhere, and his timing was perfect for another reason as well: it was also the rise of social media. Between leveraging the power of word of mouth and some very strategic social media posting, he ended up selling roughly 30,000 bottles of his signature beard oil concoction in the first year. And that annual bottle count has risen to roughly a million bottles sold in 2018 to beard growers in over 35 countries. Kid Rock is a fan, and so are the original bearded, sharp-dressed Texas legends themselves—ZZ Top!

His business isn’t the only thing that’s seen some serious growth—his “business beard” has reached great lengths and is now braided and down to his waist! (He once thought about trimming it, but realized that would be off-brand.)


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Dream Beard: Join the beard revolution and pick up a bottle of your own beard oil over on Ryan’s website, and while you’re at it, check out Ryan’s podcast, Life Gets Hairy too!
  • Shopify: Ryan used Shopify to setup the website for Dream Beard, and they’re offering a 21-day trial and exclusive discount for all Side Hustle School listeners!
  • ShipStation: The amazing platform that Ryan and Brittany use to help them get orders out and delivered in record speed. They’re also a partner of the show, and you can get two months free when you click on the microphone in the upper right-hand corner of the page and type in “HUSTLE”!

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
"Everything but now is a story, and we live for a good story. Social media and the internet have become nothing but noise—tell a story that cuts through that noise and resonates with your audience."
—Ryan Lane #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Don't Do Business Without It

Side Hustle School is brought to you by American Express.

No matter what you do in business, from working nine-to-five to working five-to-nine, it’s easier when you don’t go it alone. Get the powerful backing of American Express—don't do business without it! 💳 Visit American Express

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.
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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

Delaware Woman Solves Embarrassing Problem

What It’s About

A sweet smelling side hustle that keeps the streaks at bay!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

With a product as personal as Joani’s, it’s important to communicate clearly and be open to talking about something no matter how awkward it may be. Her customers love her for it, and Joani says that she has a ton of repeat business!

Fun Fact

There’s more to Boobalicious than meets the eye—Joani donates 3% of her profits to an addiction and rehabilitation center to help families give their loved ones the help they need to fight back.

Notes from Chris

Episode 651

Being a woman can be tough, and that’s never more true than when summer rolls around. Sure, it’s full of awesome things to look forward to—for example, shedding all those layers and slipping into cute bikinis and drinking rosé by the pool.

But there’s one dreaded aspect of summer that almost every female above the age of 13 is intimately acquainted with: boob sweat. Yeah, you heard me—boob sweat.

It’s the bane of female existence in the summer, and a veritable flash flood can strike within minutes when the digits on your thermometer start to soar. It often leaves the unfortunate victim looking like they’re wearing one of those smiley face shirts that were so popular in the 80’s. [Side note: although fanny packs are making a comeback, we don’t see this particular trend resurfacing anytime soon…]

If this phenomenon is new to you, you’re not alone! Although it’s a predicament for a significant percentage of the human population, it’s relatively undiscussed due to the sensitivity of the topic. To combat it, most women opt for the socially acceptable “boob wipe” method or hanging out in the frozen food section just a little bit longer than necessary. That’s because until recently, there wasn’t really another solution for it.

And that’s where Pennsylvania native, Joani DiCampli comes in.

Joani found herself in a position that most of us have found ourselves in at one point or another—laid off. After working as a project scheduler for an aircraft company following a move to Delaware, she found herself reluctantly turning to the classifieds section of her local newspaper in search of a new job.

Despite her tenacity and willingness to get back into the workforce, available full-time work in her field was limited. So, she started working part-time jobs in retail until another opportunity surfaced. And that’s when she found herself working at a boutique one especially brutal summer day.

As she was helping a customer, she became painfully aware of the fact that there were two spreading patches of sweat on the front of her shirt. Although she was a master of the boob wipe method, opportunities to sneak off to the bathroom were limited when she was on the floor, and it just wasn’t something that you could do in front of others. She felt mortified.

Despite the growing dampness of her shirt, her underarm deodorant was working like a charm—why wasn’t there a natural deodorant made specifically to combat boob sweat?

Frustrated, she turned to her co-worker and swore that she’d develop it herself if only for her. And after talking about her idea with her friends and family, she found that she wasn’t the only one looking for a solution—it was a sweaty epidemic!

Thinking she might be onto something, she asked how many of them would purchase an all-natural breast deodorant if one was available. To her surprise, a majority of them said yes.

The formula that she settled on for her Boobalicious line ended up having arrowroot powder for absorption purposes, coconut and tea tree oils to combat bacteria, vitamin E for moisturizing and softening skin, and a whole mess of other ingredients to keep “the ladies” sweat-free and smelling marvelous.

Although you’d think that this would be more of a seasonal venture for Joani, she says that she maintains customers in warmer parts of the world year-round. And thanks to the desperate masses looking for solutions to their damp shirt woes, Joani says that her business brings in $700/month in sweet smelling profits on average.

 


 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Boobalicious: Learn more about this sweet smelling, knocker loving side hustle over on Joani’s Etsy page!

 

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
"I think that if you’re honest and transparent with your customers, selling a product is relatively easy. It’s good to start with a strong product, but don’t forget to build up that trust that ensures that they come back again."
—Joani DiCampli #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

Physician Designs Plush Toys to Teach Anatomy

What It’s About

Punny plush toys that take the edge off of hospital visits.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

One thing that I thought was really brilliant on Ronak’s part was setting a hard limit on her investment and risk. The $10,000 she invested was what she felt she would be okay never recouping, and she stuck to it. It’s important to remember that success is never guaranteed and that there’s always a risk starting something up. Don’t ever feel that you have to go more all in than you’re comfortable with!

Fun Fact

Here are some fun facts about neurons! To start, there are A LOT of them—approximately 100 billion neurons make up the big smart brain of yours. They’re also even smaller than the period at the end of this sentence. But don’t let their size fool you, just one of these little guys can go as fast as 268 km/hr. Now that is impressive!

Notes from Chris

Episode 634
By day, Dr. Ronak Mehta is a physician at a Veteran Affairs Hospital in Utah. As a doctor, she’s spent a good chunk of her life helping those who need it. More recently though, she decided to get into the side hustle game and do something for herself. And the beginning of this story takes us back to her time in medical school, the better part of a decade ago.

While studying, Ronak wanted to help children understand the human body. She decided the best way to do that was to write an educational kids book. She titled it “The Extraordinary Expedition Into The Human Body.” The goal was to create a book that was similar to the old Dr. Seuss stories. The characters in the book would be walking, talking, cartoon versions of organs in the human body.

However, Ronak wasn’t an illustrator. Not by a long shot! So, for the illustrations, she turned to Upwork, a popular outsourcing website. There, she found an illustrator who was able to create the characters of heart, lung, bladder, and uterus. She decided on an ebook format for easy distribution but, alas, unlike Dr. Seuss, it wasn’t a best seller.

Still, the lackluster performance didn’t phase her. She thought of one of Dr. Seuss’ best quotes:

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself… any direction you choose”—so it was time to steer in a new direction.

The organ illustrations weren’t created in vein. Ronak had fallen in love with the cartoon organ characters. Her hope was to someday create plush toys in their likeness. She thought they could serve as a cute get well present for someone who was hospitalized or preparing for surgery.

The idea stayed with her through graduation and didn’t go away even after years of working as a physician. But it wasn’t until earlier this year that she decided to bring her characters to life. She decided to call the business, Nerdbugs.

To get things going Ronak set aside $10,000. It was a lot of money but she looked at is as an educational expense. If NerdBugs didn’t work out, then so be it. She’d still be OK, and always had her full-time job as a physician.

With the assistance of some Google Adwords and some Amazon Sponsored Ads, Ronak ended up making a sale her first day. But at the time of recording, that was just over 3 months ago! Sales have continued to trickle in and, over the past three months, she has tripled sales each month selling several hundred Nerdbugs to people all around the world.

Most sales have come from people buying them as gifts for folks in the hospital, or that are soon to head into surgery. And despite only being three months in, Ronak expects that that initial $10,000 investment will be fully returned to her within the next two months.

Once that milestone is reached, she plans to extend her line of products to include adorable plush versions of a pancreas, liver, and bladder. And she also hopes to partner with Children’s hospitals so that she can give Nerdbugs as a donation to hospitalized children.

Ronak, thanks for sharing your side hustle story with us. The first 3 months have already been successful for you, and for the future, our team was reminded of another Dr Seuss quote:

“You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So… get on your way!”

And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Nerdbugs: Urine for a real treat when you head over to Ronak’s website to check out these adorably punny plush toys!
  • Shopify: Ronak used Shopify to setup the website for Nerdbugs, and they’re offering a 21-day trial and exclusive discount for all Side Hustle School listeners!
  • Upwork, Google, Alibaba, & Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA): The four common tools that Ronak used to get Nerdbugs up off the ground and into our hearts

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
"Going into this entire endeavor I told myself, I will invest ‘X amount’ of dollars, and I need to be ok now with losing that because there is always a chance that this will not succeed. Nothing in life is a guarantee, and in the event that this doesn’t work out, it’s ok. I came to terms with not seeing that money again once I made the decision to invest it in myself."
—Ronak Mehta #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Don't Do Business Without It

Side Hustle School is brought to you by American Express.

No matter what you do in business, from working nine-to-five to working five-to-nine, it’s easier when you don’t go it alone. Get the powerful backing of American Express—don't do business without it! 💳 Visit American Express

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

Colorado Nutritionist Reworks Role to Get Paid Twice

What It’s About

A nutritionist uses her skills to create the job she wants.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Is there anything that Haley wishes she had done differently?

Well, Haley admits that she started on the low side of pricing because her closest comparison was based off other competitors, even though they didn’t have the same credentials, experience, or education that she did. Fortunately, she learned fairly quickly that she needed to raise her rate because of all the additional time she spent checking in with her clients, creating meal plans for them, among other things.

Fun Fact

The American food scene has undergone some pretty drastic changes over the past two decades. During this period, the public has seen the introduction of genetically modified crops, the mainstreaming of organic foods into America’s supermarkets, and the rise of chefs elevated to celebrity status within pop culture. With each passing year, more and more Americans are taking a harder look at the food that they eat and where it comes from, and Haley’s side hustle is the perfect way to capatlize on this burgeoning, healthy eating trend!

Notes from Chris

Episode 630

After finishing grad school, Haley Hughes thought that her master’s degree in dietetics was a one-way ticket to a job in a hospital or food service setting, and that’s about it. So she got a job in a Colorado hospital as their Registered Dietician. And she liked that job. She got to work with new people every day, and help them live a better life.

But, as much as she liked her job, after a few years working there, Haley knew there was more she could do. She wanted a chance to be supportive, hold her clients accountable, and coach them… for more than the 15 minutes at a time she got to spend with hospital patients.

So on a cold day, just a few months ago, Haley decided she was going to get her foot in the door. She went to leave her new business card at her favorite local coffee shop. The owner was in and asked Haley if she would be interested in doing a nutrition analysis for their menu items. She had a project going from day one! This analysis was both a lesson in time management and making bold moves to launch a side hustle. While it ended up taking a lot longer than she anticipated, it was the perfect first step and confidence booster she needed.

Next, she went to leave a card at a women’s boutique, and the owner asked if she would organize a shopping and 5k running race. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Haley went all in and said ‘Of course!’ Over 50 women showed up for the race.

She called her new venture RDRx Nutrition, and it took after that. She went from strength to strength, planning community events, column writing for the local newspaper, to recipe blogging and working with her own clients. She was learning, both from her clients and their experiences, that there were more ways to educate and promote health than just the traditional dietitian route. Not only that, but she was having way more fun doing it, too.

So far she’s averaging about $1,000 in additional monthly income. The money has helped her and her husband travel to Bora Bora, and dream about their next trip to Italy in a few months.

 


 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • RDRx Nutrition: Learn more about Haley and the position she’s created over on her website!

 

SEE ALSO:

  • Real Estate Consultant Fills Apartment Buildings with Original Artwork: How a woman in Seattle who works as a real estate project manager during the day started a side hustle that literally appeared in front of her. After making $12,000 from that first year-long hustle, now she’s building it into a mid-sized business that she hopes will replace her day job income
  • Accountant Starts Net-Zero Personal Finance Hustle: An accountant finds a way to bridge the gap between financial advisers and tax professionals by transferring some of the skills from his day job to his own self-employed income
  • CPA Earns Six-Figures Selling Spreadsheets to Etsy Sellers: This CPA was burned out on office work, so she turned her efforts to an Etsy business—but it wasn’t long before she was hitting the books again, just in a more creative way. Her new spreadsheets help Etsy sellers and earn a six-figure income for her

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

RELIABLE WEBHOST FOR $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 my past 5 websites. It's cheap, flexible, and you can get support 24 hours a day.

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

Quote of the Day
"My first real check was from providing nutrition analysis for my favorite coffee shop in town. It gave me confidence that I could do it!"
—Haley Hughes #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

CRAZY ENOUGH TO WORK

This week, Side Hustle School is brought to you by Crazy Enough to Work, a popular podcast and film series. 📈

When the rest of the world is still zigging, some companies know when it’s time to zag. Elizabeth Banks has teamed up with State Street Global Advisors to make a series of podcasts and films that uncover the bold moves mid-cap companies make to thrive and survive. Listen 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

Mini Foam Roller Works Out the Kinks

What It’s About

A side hustle that’s really on a roll!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Jessika brought up a rather unconventional action point for those of you looking to take your hustle full-time:

“If your plan is to take your side hustle to be bigger than just a hustle, spend some time connecting with your core values and sense of purpose.”

Fun Fact

One of the coolest things about running this side hustle for Jessika and Jade has been the feedback they’ve received from their customers. These RistRollers are being used in ways they never even thought of! From being used to decrease the pain and treatment time associated with trigger finger to rolling out scar tissue for burn victims—it’s pretty amazing what a little foam rolling can do!

Notes from Chris

Episode 584

By day, Jessika Jake is a Senior Project Manager at a digital marketing agency in San Diego. Fun fact: one of her clients is Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon, a race that I did a couple months ago. She’s had a lot of projects and side hustles in her career. I got a list from her that included at least 5 different websites offering digital services. She also tried to start a business for tourists visiting Coronado island. At the time, her daughter, Jade, was living there. That business never took off, partly because Jade took off to see the world.

Jade went to do the Semester at Sea program, which took her to several countries and on many adventures. Periodically she’d call home to report, and the news was always significant:

“I ran a half marathon in Ireland.”

“I rode a camel and slept in the desert.”

Another time she said something else:

“I have even more amazing news. I met someone with a foam roller.”

Jessika didn’t understand. How was finding someone with a foam roller more exciting than finding a camel you could ride in the desert?

But that’s just because, at the time, Jessika didn’t understand the life-changing magic of foam rollers. Jade had scoliosis, and the foam roller helped to treat her symptoms. Merely by rolling around on this magic piece of hard foam, she could feel better.

A lightbulb came on for Jessika. She needed a life-changing roller herself, but a small one … just for her wrist.

You probably know the next part: she looked around and didn’t find anything. Then, Jessika and Jade had what they called a “time-lapsed conversation” about turning this into a project.

Jessika decided to move forward, and she did so quickly. She found a manufacturer for what she called the RistRoller, and she put up a website that cost $20. Why was the RistRoller color green? Because it was one of the few available color options. There was no shopping cart on the website, and all she had was a link to her personal PayPal account.

But sometimes that’s all you need. She was off and rolling!

Jessika says that the project has been bringing in $2,000-3,000 a month, but to her, it means so much more because she found her life’s work. This side hustle is certainly on a roll, and these two are muscling their way into profits and potential.


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • RistRoller: Get your roll on—snag a RistRoller over on Jessika and Jade’s 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

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
"Obstacles will inevitably pop-up like a game of whack-a-mole, but remember that there’s always a path forward. Find it, and fight for it."
—Jessika Jake #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Create a Stunning Website With Wordpress

Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by Wordpress.com! Whether you’re looking to create a personal blog, business site, or both—you’ll make a big impact, when you build your website on WordPress.com. 💻

Get 15% off when you build your website with Wordpress.com—use promo code PODCAST when you check out.
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