Tag: Service

Meal Prep Company Cooks up Profits with Customized Orders

What It’s About

Three friends take the guesswork out of meal prep with a healthy, home delivery service.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Sandeep says that if you have an idea, you should write down a list of what you need to do to get it going and then start crossing items off of your list. And if you don’t have something figured out, don’t stress—tackle what you can and come back to the problem.

Fun Fact

Writing with pen and make a mistake? Grab a cucumber, take the peel and slowly erase away the pen writing. You’ll have a clean page in no time.

Notes from Chris

Episode 935
Sandeep Rajmandari says he had a good life in the fall of 2015. After immigrating from Nepal to the San Francisco Bay Area for college a few years earlier, Sandeep was a new graduate. He had also been hired for a job in finance that he enjoyed.

But he also had a major problem—his health was deteriorating, and he was becoming obese. The culprit? It was what he calls the Corporate American diet—lots of sugar, salt, fat, and carbs. It didn’t help that he already had a history of health troubles. As a child, he survived a near-fatal parasitic disease and was then plagued for years by periodic seizures. Then came an up-and-down battle with weight throughout his teen years.

In his first year in college, he had made some positive changes. In fact, through diet and exercise, he lost more than 40 pounds and began to feel better.

So, he was especially disappointed when his weight and health problems returned. At dinner one night, Sandeep complained to two friends, Jeni and Rachelle, about his unhealthy lifestyle and deteriorating health. He knew that meal-prepping would help him avoid making poor diet choices during the week, but he felt like he never had enough time.

Hearing his gripe, one of those friends remarked, “Imagine how many people have the same problem?”

That instant, the three friends saw both a universal problem and a potential business opportunity. Sandeep, Jeni, and Rachelle immediately started thinking about a “meal prep” side hustle.

Right there at the table, they began brainstorming. They even asked their friends on social media if anyone would be interested. The immediate feedback they received gave them even more motivation to proceed.

As they worked on the idea over the next few weeks, they sought out valuable feedback from potential clients and experts, including personal trainers, supplement store employees, and nutritionists. This outreach also helped build awareness so they could sign up many new customers for their soon to open business.

Their early research also showed them some ways to stand out. They noticed that other meal-prep companies had basic menus with limited or no customization. Sandeep and co. decided to offer a much more extensive food, selection, customizability, and shorter delivery windows.

Just one month after first discussing the idea, LoCal Foodz was open for business.

Almost from day one, the business was profitable—but Sandeep, Jeni, and Rachelle decided to keep it a side hustle and to let it organically grow to a point where its demands couldn’t be met without working on it full-time. That point came sooner than expected, after just nine months. All three partners quit their jobs to work at LoCal and that year their side hustle earned over $350,000. That’s right, year one! Revenues and profits have grown each year since.

The team expects their one-time side hustle, now in its fifth year, will have annual revenues of over $1M within the next 18 months. They’re looking to expand nationwide, cooking up healthy meals with lots of options for as many mouths as possible.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • LoCal Foodz: Learn more about this healthy, growing meal prep delivery service over on Sandeep’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

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
"Running a business is a path full of struggles, and every aspect presents a different challenge. As a business owner, you have to be willing to put on any hat and work your butt off."
—Sandeep Rajmandari #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

Cigar Subscription Box Delivers Smoking Returns

What It’s About

Monthly cigar boxes deliver smoking profits!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Michael had some great advice when we talked to him! He said, “Figure out what you want and work backward. Don’t expect to plant the seed and pick the fruit at the same time, it takes time to build processes, customer base, and profits.”

Fun Fact

Southern Cigar was the first online cigar subscription box! In its early days, Micheal’s tobacco license was addressed to his apartment which allowed for random checks by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF). Once while deep in the throes of studying for final exams, the ATF decided to pay him a visit. Apparently, Michael’s apartment was up to snuff, except for one minor detail—he was missing an “Employees Must Wash Their Hands” sign in his bathroom. Can’t argue with that—it was technically listed as his “place of business.”

Notes from Chris

Episode 934
Michael Arciola is a curious person with a great interest in learning. He double-majored in computer science and business while attending Florida State University. While in the throes of these academic pursuits, he stumbled upon an interesting observation.

Computer science students seemed to actively use their knowledge and newfound skills to build things, while the business students never seemed to exercise their skills at all. The business school seemed to be rooted in theory rather than doing.

Michael found this odd. Why wouldn’t you reinforce what you were learning by applying it to the real world?

So, he decided to put his education to the test… and build a real business. His approach would be different. This wouldn’t be “following his passion.” It stemmed from a deep curiosity to understand how the process of building a business worked. And it would be an experiment in learning.

His idea needed to meet certain criteria and be viable on its own. For months, he considered different options and possibilities.

Then, while on a visit to New Orleans during his junior year at Florida State, he was struck with a smoldering idea. He was relaxing by the hotel pool and saw a man smoking a cigar. A humidor went off in Michael’s head.

He was already familiar with the subscription box model from his brainstorming sessions, and he had an appreciation for cigars. He decided to do some research.

What he liked about the cigar niche was that it’s well known, has a loyal following, and not much has changed about cigars over the years (as opposed to software engineering, where he would eventually begin his other career).

While conducting further research, Michael observed the limited selection of cigar boxes sold by ecommerce shops. Most were low quality. None of the shops were offering unique selections categorized by flavor, size, shape, strength, origin, or manufacturer.

What if he were to launch a premium subscription box service focusing on quality cigars?

After further brainstorming, Michael pitched the idea to his roommate, a fellow cigar aficionado. They decided to go for it. Souther Cigar Company officially launched in September 2015.

Since its 2015 launch, Southern Cigar Company has reached a sustainable recurring income of $4,500 a month.

Michael has since moved on from the glory days of Florida State and currently holds a job with Google as a software engineer. He now wants to continue the steady growth achieved with Southern Cigar Company while tending to a new business venture called Formal Founder, which helps young startups verify potential business names.

It’s not just in computer science where doing is better than theory. Michael’s glad he didn’t let his idea go up in smoke.

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

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
"Figure out what you want and work backward. Don’t expect to plant the seed and pick the fruit at the same time. It takes time to build processes, a customer base, and profits."
—Michael Arciola #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

Jailhouse Medic Turns House Calls Into Healthy Profits

What It’s About

Nurse Practitioner takes his medical act on the road, picking up six-figures along the way.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Not everyone could do this … but what could you do? If you find yourself missing something—some sort of professional void like Brad was experiencing—might there be a way you could use a side hustle to fill that void? Discontent can be a powerful fuel for making changes in your life.

Fun Fact

In the last two years, Brad has seen patients in a number of interesting places. The most unique? Brad says that’s easily the human residents of an area chicken coop. He says they were good people in a bad spot in life, and he was happy that he could help them out.

Notes from Chris

Episode 929

From a young age, Boise, Idaho-based Brad Bigford liked to help people with their problems. He also enjoyed challenges. After his dream of becoming a firefighter like his dad didn’t work out, he changed focus and became a registered nurse.

Being an RN was great, but he wanted to have more autonomy and decision-making authority, so he increased his training to become a nurse practitioner. For those who don’t know, nurse practitioners are advanced-level medical professionals and can prescribe medication, diagnose illnesses, and provide primary treatment, much like physicians do.

After graduation, Brad was hired by his local sheriff’s office. He found no shortage of challenges in this day job. As the sole medical provider responsible for the healthcare needs of roughly 1,000 inmates at his local county jail, Brad encounters all varieties of medical needs. From dealing with the symptoms of opiate or alcohol withdrawal to managing chronic diseases like diabetes to wound, infections, and mental illnesses, he sees it all.

Still, he felt a void in his professional life. He says that unfortunately most of his jailhouse patients don’t leave him feeling like he’s doing a great job. Medical care can be used as a way for an inmate to get extra privileges, which changes the normal provider/client relationship. Though he still believed in the work, the sum of the parts left him feeling mentally drained.

He began to supplement his income by working with a large medical company doing insurance physicals in people’s homes. But he found that boring and wanted something different.

Each year his family and friends arrived at holiday gatherings with a list of ailments and medical questions. One year, Brad said that he was going to send them a bill for all their questions. He was half-joking … but the idea stuck. From his side hustle doing in-home physical exams, he knew that people loved the convenience of having someone come to them. Why couldn’t he do house calls for their other needs?

So, after talking with the relevant licensing boards, he applied for the necessary licenses and waited. He also applied to accept the major insurance carriers. Overall, starting up took about six months, much of it a waiting game.

Six months later, with all of the clearances in, Table Rock Mobile Medicine was born. Brad’s service, at its core, is about making house calls. The majority of his clients are women, many with young children, and his visits mean that they don’t have to drive to the clinic when their kids are sick. They also never have to worry about sitting around in a waiting room.

In the early months, business was slow, with a few happy customers each week. It was bringing in about $1,000 per month but then around fall of 2017, school resumed and suddenly business boomed as kids began to get sick.

He started seeing his business repeatedly tagged in local Facebook posts, and soon his calendar was full. To this day, more than 90% of Brad’s clients find him via word of mouth, and most schedule their own visits on the website without speaking to him until he arrives.

Brad says that house calls aren’t the most efficient business model—which is why they are virtually nonexistent in many areas. While he can’t see the 40+ daily patients that many providers in a brick and mortar location would, his house calls set Brad apart and allow him to compete and thrive. After two years, Brad’s part-time house call hustle earns more than six figures annually.

In short, the mobile health care hustle has not only produced a great second income—it’s also brought him to another population of patients that offsets the work he does at the jail.

Looking ahead, Brad is considering sharing his experiences and offering some type of consulting or tools to help other nurse practitioners set up a similar business in their area. He says that this could be a good fit for anyone else in his field looking for something different.

 

  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

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
"Stick with your vision of what you want your practice to be because everyone else will have an opinion or idea on what they think you should be doing. Obviously, listen to others advice, but stick to your ideals and goals."
—Brad Bigford #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

The Great Escape! Video Game Maker Creates Real-Life Puzzle Rooms

What It’s About

The first American escape room company… and it started as a side hustle!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

The escape room market is a little crowded now, but it’s crowded in a similar way that podcasting is crowded … a lot of people still don’t listen to podcasts, and likewise, a lot of people don’t know about escape rooms!

If this is a side hustle concept that interests you, figure out what is already out there and see what kind of added value you can bring to the table.

Fun Fact

Nate Martin has gained some notoriety having been dubbed the “Father of Escape Rooms” in a television appearance several years ago. It seems his budding business operation kicked off an entertainment revolution—it was the first ever American escape room company!

Notes from Chris

Episode 927
Nate Martin loves video games. Growing up, they were his favorite form of entertainment and played a massive role in his life. He loved games so much, he decided to learn all about them in school, earning a Bachelor of Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation and Computer Science.

This eventually led to a career at Microsoft, followed by a stint running the online services division at Electronic Arts (EA), one of the largest video game companies in the world.

While there, he worked on several well-known games—Battlefield 4, Plants vs. Zombies, and Dragon Age among others. But he wanted to have even more of an impact… and after doing some math, realizing he’d have to work until he was at least 200 years old before becoming the CEO, Nate started thinking about other ways he could make his mark.

It was while working as a senior project manager at EA that he learned about escape rooms. The concept was already quite popular in Japan, where it originated, and Europe, but nobody was really doing it in the U.S. In a typical escape room, a group of 6-10 people are locked in a themed room for an hour. To “break out,” you have to work together to solve a series of puzzles. There’s often a guide or attendant in the room who can help if you get stuck, and it can be a lot of fun to do it with people you know.

The way Nate saw it, real-life escape rooms were the direct, physical manifestation of adventure games that he’d known and loved for decades. It was the next level of gaming!

The more he and his co-founder, Lindsay Morse, got to talking about the escape room concept, the more they wanted to do it. “Someone should bring this to Seattle,” they thought. So, they decided to do just that.

Nate took a “shoot first, ask questions later” approach to getting Puzzle Break off the ground. He held a sincere belief that they should just figure it out as they went. If they succeeded, they could expand. And if they failed, they could do something else.

He and Lindsay also avoided traditional first-steps taken by startups, like market research, saying they had neither the experience nor the patience for it.

Instead, Nate drew inspiration from some of those video games he adored growing up as well as the ones he encountered in adulthood: games like Myst, The Room, and The Legend of Kyrandia. He focused on creating something centered around finding clues, solving puzzles, and joining forces with real people in real life.

And business has grown. Since launching in August 2013, Puzzle Break has gone on to boast seven-figure revenue, five locations, multiple portable experiences for corporate clients, and over a dozen experiences across the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.

When attracting customers’ attention these days, Nate said they’ve adopted a more traditional approach in the form of Google Ads. Facebook is too far removed from a purchasing decision in his sector and so he doesn’t use it.

Nate left his day job with Electronic Arts to man the helm at Puzzle Break just three months after opening its doors.

He plans to keep cranking out the maximum amount of enjoyment for the maximum amount of people. He’s got several new Puzzle Break locations and experiences in development.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Puzzle Break: Break on through to the other side—learn more about this adventurous side hustle over on Nate’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

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
"Scaling is nothing more complicated than ‘one step at a time.’ We know where we want to go. We just have to figure out the path to get there and walk it!"
—Nate Martin #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

College Ministry Leader Starts Digital Agency

What It’s About

Ministry leader builds a six-figure business helping members of his church create an online presence.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

One struggle was deciding how to value the work. He says that he doesn’t believe in set pricing packages. Instead, he spends time customizing packages with clients and then he and the team figure out how much time it will take to complete that work and pay the team fairly to decide the final price.

He also says that working with creatives and artists, who are often driven by emotions than analytical thinking, can be challenging. But Izu says that even when tempers flare around him, he tries to keep calm. In his words, “Turn on emotions when it comes to fighting for your team, turn off your emotions about everything else.”

Fun Fact

The @world_record_egg account began a campaign to crack the world record for the most-liked post on Instagram with this picture of an egg, and with over 53 million likes at the time of this episode going live, it was clearly an invitation people just couldn’t turn down.

There was a lot of speculation about who was behind the egg, and as time went on the egg began to crack. Literally, it posted pictures of itself cracking. The big reveal came during the Super Bowl when it was revealed Hulu had partnered with the egg to raise awareness around mental health. Pretty eggcelent, if you ask us.

Notes from Chris

Episode 924

24-year-old Izu Aginwa says that hustling and entrepreneurship have been in his blood almost since birth. Infusing him with a strong work ethic and culture was so important to his parents that they moved from the United States back to their native Nigeria when he was a child.

Returning to the U.S. for college, Izu saw hustling opportunities everywhere. But Izu says that, like most Nigerian children, he was expected to focus entirely on school in order to get what he calls “astronomically high grades.” So that’s what he did.

Still, during summer breaks, he was in hustle mode. One time in college, Izu traveled to Chicago for an unpaid internship at the largest public broadcasting station in America. He learned the ins and outs of social media and was also able to apply what he was learning in school. But the internship was unpaid, so Izu hustled and paid his bills each month by building websites.

Fast forward to 2017, Izu was a new college graduate and moved to Southern California for his first big post-college job as a leader in the college ministry for a large, dynamic church. The job was a perfect fit—at least for a while. He dedicated himself to the work and his ministry area grew quickly. One of the ways he did this was using the branding and social media skills that he had learned earlier. It was the perfect way to engage the college students in his target market.

Soon, the content he produced for the ministry was getting attention from entrepreneurs and artists within the church who began coming to him to ask for help with their social media. After several months of referring them to others so that he could focus on the ministry, Izu finally made time for a new side hustle. He called it Frsh (pronounced: fresh) Culture.

In the few spare hours he had each week, Izu began helping clients with their social media and branding needs. He did everything from writing Instagram posts to designing strategy and shooting video content. Soon he was earning an extra thousand dollars per month.

He says this thousand odd dollars each month showed him the potential of his project and it also turned his entrepreneurial drive into high gear. He quickly began thinking about what he really wanted to build.

About four months later, he partnered with another creative and rebranded the agency, now called Riches & Saint.

In the first four months, the new agency was generating $4,000 per month as a side hustle. When the time came to transition from his ministry job, Izu jumped at the chance and now his one-time side hustle is his primary work. Business continues to grow quickly and in less than a year, revenues are more than $15,000 per month.

Izu is excited about the future and hopes to expand to serve more celebrity clients, as well as begin a new ecommerce venture. He loves what he’s doing and credits it with giving him a safety net.

 

 

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

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
"Turn on emotions when it comes to fighting for your team, turn off your emotions when it comes to everything else."
—Izu Aginwa #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

Learning Designer Presses Play on Voiceover Gig

What It’s About

A working mom presses play on a voiceover gig and creates more freedom for herself.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Carrie says that having an excellent demo is a great way to start finding commercial work. A good one typically costs anywhere from $1,000-$2,000, but she says that it’s important to get some experience under your belt before investing money into one.

Fun Fact

Carrie and her family traveled around the United States for 9 months in a travel trailer. While this was an awesome adventure, it became difficult for Carrie to find a place quiet enough to record her voiceovers. Once, she even drove to a cemetery to record. She says that, “you may have heard a commercial on the TV or radio that was recorded from the back seat of a Durango in a cemetery in New Mexico.”

Notes from Chris

Episode 923

On the way to work one morning, Carrie Olsen decided that she was going to start listening to a new podcast. Already a lover of side hustles, Carrie was drawn to one about people who did unusual jobs—and it wasn’t ours! She pressed play on the latest episode and started listening to an interview with professional voiceover actress Alyson Steel.

Alyson was a mom, just like Carrie. But, unlike Carrie, she got to start her day by doing yoga and seeing her kids before they went to school. After that, she settled into her home recording studio for her day of work. With a newborn at home, the idea of being able to work from her house was music to Carrie’s ears.

Not only that, but Carrie also had a background in freelance podcast hosting and had narrated several courses for her day job as an eLearning Designer. Suddenly, it seemed like voiceover work wasn’t just something that she could pursue, it was something that she should.

She scored her first job about a month later. It was a 2-minute long narration for a Danish company, and she was paid $450. With extra cash in her bank account and pep in her step, Carrie kept her ear to the ground in the pursuit of more jobs.

After another small job, her third client brought Carrie a fat paycheck and a newfound sense of confidence. She was hired to record a national radio campaign for the outdoor gear store REI. This gig brought in $2,000. Not only that, but REI wanted to keep doing projects with her in the future. With the promise of more money, Carrie began to wonder how much she could make if she pursued her hustle full-time.

She began to pursue voice acting full-time only four months after she started her hustle, Carrie Olsen Voiceover. In her first year, she made almost exactly the same amount of money that she made in her old, corporate job, which was right around $45,000.

Since then, Carrie has been steadily increasing her salary. In the meantime, she designed her own course for voiceover coaching, combining both of her strengths in eLearning and in voice acting. In 2017, she broke six figures.

While Carrie has made serious (sound) waves in the voiceover industry, she already has new ideas for her business growth. She just did a few promos for Netflix and hopes to get into more promo work in the future. Carrie will also be releasing a new online course, all about marketing for voiceovers.

With the help of a side hustle, Carrie used her voice to hit all the right notes in her search for a better life.

 

  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

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 side hustle, the best part of the experience was the joy I got from it. Everyday, I was discovering more about the industry, and when I started bringing in an income from it, it didn’t even seem real. Now, the best part of the experience is feeling like I’ve been able to design my lifestyle. I don’t feel trapped at a job that keeps me from the things I love most."
—Carrie Olsen #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

BBQ Catering Hustle Smokes Out Competitors

What It’s About

A smoking side hustle helps a new family discover a different path.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Jeff and Nancy learned some valuable lessons. The first was how much food to cook. Jeff quickly learned how to estimate sales volume, as well as make guesses about what dishes would sell more than others.

The second was not to worry so much about what other BBQ caterers were doing. They tried to serve everything you could want, rather than focusing on a few key items, and that led to a lot of food waste (and killed their profit margins). They didn’t need to worry about everyone else. They just needed to do what was best for their business.

Fun Fact

The first indigenous tribes Christopher Columbus encountered on the island he named Hispaniola had developed a unique method for cooking meat over an indirect flame, created using green wood to keep the food (and wood) from burning. Reports indicate that the Spanish referred to this new style of cooking as barbacoa: the original barbecue. Read more about the history of BBQ over on The Smithsonian!

Notes from Chris

Episode 921
Jeff Flores, a credit analyst by day, was known among his friends as an all-star BBQ smoker by night. He had several years of experience and had dedicated himself to getting the perfect smoked meat. One day he was telling his wife, Nancy, about how much he loved the craft and science of it and wished he could do it professionally. That’s when a lightbulb went off in her head.

Why couldn’t he start catering his smoked meats? It seemed like a much better idea to Nancy than going into professional gambling, which Jeff had also considered.

The BBQ craze had made its way from Texas to California, where they lived, but the market wasn’t overly saturated yet with caterers. Many of their friends had casually made comments about them starting a business in the past… maybe this was the dream he could follow?

The two talked about the idea for a few weeks in August of 2018. They had two kids and a mortgage. Was it really financially responsible? But Nancy was in, and she encouraged Jeff to get moving. The market was ready, they had some money saved—it just felt right.

Work started immediately in September by looking at large catering smokers. They started off by researching Texas builders, where most custom trailer-sized smokers are from, but the prices were high. They ended up finding a few locally with more competitive prices and placed an order.

It was risky going in so quickly without tons of research, but they were determined to make it work—and now they had to.

By mid-December, Nancy and Jeff had received a business license, food service licenses, insurance, and all the other fun regulatory stuff needed to sell food. And then the smoker arrived. Their new business, The Rustic Que, was almost ready.

The holidays were just weeks away, so this gave them the final time they needed to work on their recipes, design a menu, and sign up for the January event that nearly destroyed the whole business. That’s right … it wasn’t an overnight success, and part of the problem was something that happened overnight.

The night before their big debut at the Yorba Linda Farmer’s Market, Jeff was up all night smoking his meats. At least, he was supposed to be. At one point he dozed off—exhausted from the stress of the next day’s event—and his coals went out. It’s Rule #1 in smoking meat: never let the coals go cold.

When Jeff woke up a short while later, he was mortified. This had never happened to him before. He rushed to check the meat. Thankfully, it was still safe to eat, but he had no idea what was going to happen to its flavor. He just knew it was ruined, and that meant their first event—after all that hard work—wasn’t even worth going to.

He nearly called the farmer’s market coordinator to cancel, but Nancy stopped him. They had done too much prep to let their first event go up in smoke. So they tasted the meat once it was fully cooked. It was … okay. Not as stellar as he was used to, but definitely better than he expected.

Since January, Jeff and Nancy have worked two to three events per month. Sometimes they participate in farmers markets. Other times they reach out to breweries that are hosting events but don’t have food vendors lined up. Door knocking has worked out well, especially for events that most caterers don’t think of serving at, like Crossfit competitions.

They’ve nearly made back their initial investment and are looking into a brick-and-mortar deal that could allow Jeff to go full-time in The Rustic Que. Already, their earnings have allowed them to take a vacation in Cabo that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. And If he did two to three more events each month, he’d replicate the income from his day job. Last but not least, they’ve made lots of friends, and are demonstrating to their kids how rewarding it can be to stick with something you believe in.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • The Rustic Que: Learn more about this smoking side hustle over on Jeff and Nancy’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

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
"First thing’s first, make sure this is the path you want. Then, understand your ultimate goal. The course you have to follow will sort of create itself one step at a time as long as you know where you want to end up."
—Jeff & Nancy Flores #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

Nomad Scripts “Stories that Matter” for B Corps

What It’s About

A journalism school graduate helps organizations share their brand story through a new medium.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

For anyone wanting to launch a similar side hustle, Quinn recommends using the resources in front of you before investing in equipment since gear has lots of upfront costs. And when it comes to ensuring that what you’re producing is in line with what your client is looking for, she says you should, “Ask story-driven questions so that you can create something that resonates with their target audience. Figure out what their values are and who the people are behind the company.”

Fun Fact

While at the “Stop Question Frisk” program rally, Quinn learned that she was the only journalist there. She caught some video footage and followed one of the cases into the courtroom. She created a short documentary film that ended up gaining more than 8 million online views in an age before Instagram. This was the moment that Quinn knew she was pretty good at editing and producing video footage to tell compelling stories.

Notes from Chris

Episode 916

From a young age, Oregon native, Quinn Rose Schneider, has been a visionary, storyteller, and dreamer. As a child, she would watch 60 Minutes with her parents and imagine becoming a journalist, documenting meaningful stories all over the world.

Her love for storytelling later led her to attend NYU to study journalism. While there, she navigated living in a busy, bustling city while juggling academic studies. But, midway through her degree, she decided to take a year off to wander and film her way through India.

With camera in hand, she was becoming the storyteller she always wanted to be. It may not have been on 60 Minutes, but for Quinn, it was just as exciting! She even began swapping her guerrilla video skills for room and board at various Ashrams. It was her first taste into bartering a life in exotic places.

Although she eventually headed back to New York City to finish her degree, her time in India showed her that she wanted to make a bigger impact in this world. One of her professors encouraged her to go to a rally against the “Stop Question Frisk” program which was a program that allows police to stop, question, and frisk anyone they felt was carrying a weapon or seen as a threat to others, even without any evidence—a program that research showed disproportionately targeted minorities.

Quinn made a short documentary film that ended up gaining more than 8 million online views in an age before Instagram. This was the moment that she knew she was pretty good at editing and producing video footage to tell compelling stories.

Upon graduation, she resumed traveling, sometimes freelancing by helping businesses with copywriting and email marketing. But her video production work was where her real passion lay. In Brazil, she stumbled across an opportunity on LinkedIn that led to her shooting courtside as a beach volleyball reporter during the Rio Olympics.

It was an exciting life, but as they say, “all roads lead back home,” and Quinn’s path was no different. She decided that she wanted to work for a “B Corporation”—a growing trend in business that actively works to balance purpose and profit. She continued to do her freelance work as a copywriter, but over time, her new video-focused digital content business, Story Based Brands, began to take shape.

After her first major, corporate client, Quinn was able to purchase her own video and editing equipment. She built a simple website using WordPress to highlight her work, and eventually weaned herself out of freelance work to pursue Story Based Brands full-time. Since launching July 25th, 2019, she’s worked with over a dozen clients.

While Quinn’s childhood dream of being a reporter on 60 Minutes may not have come true, her dream of being a visionary behind the lens has scripted itself into one promising story.

 

  MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Story Based Brands: Learn more about Quinn’s impactful, story based media company over on her website!
  • WordPress: Quinn used WordPress to set up her site for Story Based Brands, and here you can learn how to install your own WordPress site in 5 minutes

 

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
"Ask story-driven questions so that you can create something that resonates with their target audience. Figure out what their values are and who the people are behind the company."
—Quinn Schneider #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

A Packed Closet Leads to Secondhand Subscription Boxes

What It’s About

A professional organizer takes stock of her closet … then sells it to others.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

In addition to all of the business principles that Liz runs And We Evolve by, she also has a “happy policy” for herself. After she gets a new order or subscriber, Liz stops what she’s doing and jumps up and down to celebrate! Hustling can be exhausting and a lot of hard work, so Liz says that it is vital to celebrate those moments of success.

Fun Fact

One of Liz’s favorite things to do is assign an evening to work on a batch of boxes. She’ll pick out the clothes for six or ten boxes and then binge-listen to a podcast while steaming, folding, and packing each order. While that may sound tedious to some, it’s a cherished routine for Liz and a big part of why she does this—it’s fun!

Notes from Chris

Episode 913
Liz Funk spent her college years picking through the tiny vintage shops tucked away in little corners of New York City. She loved combing through the racks in search of hidden treasures. To this day, she lovingly looks back on her major scores, like the time when she found a beautiful black dress in the East Village for just $2 or a pair of Aldo yellow heels for $5.

But Liz lived in a small Brooklyn apartment, and that meant that when it came to her closet space, the struggle was >u>real. One day as she was staring into that closet, she realized that she had a lot of clothes she just didn’t wear anymore (and of course, she wanted to buy more!).

This got her thinking. She knew that she wasn’t the only woman struggling with this problem. There were piles of clothes just laying dormant in closets across the country, and Liz wished that there was a better way to get them from Woman A to Woman B. Although she loved sifting through consignment shops, she knew that a lot of people didn’t.

Plus, so many vintage shops were becoming selective about the clothes they would take. Even GoodWill, a place known for taking just about anything, only sells about 20% of the textiles they receive. The other 80% is sold to recycling companies, which turns the garments into carpet padding or house insulation.

So for a while, Liz shoved her big ideas for secondhand clothing into the back of her closet. But, she still loved shopping until she dropped for vintage clothing, so that’s what she kept doing. Soon, she had a huge inventory full of amazing pieces, even in sizes that didn’t fit! She started giving her treasures away to friends. As Liz says, it became her “odd love language.”

The frequent gifting led her to start working on an online store, where she could upload pictures of the pieces she found … and then sell them for a higher rate than she bought them. She called it And We Evolve.

To her delight, she started making a small amount of money each month from reselling the clothes. But Liz wasn’t ready to hang up her hat—or list it for sale—just yet. She knew she could make it even bigger and better.

Sometimes, side hustles aren’t always about building a business bigger and bigger. In Liz’s case, And We Evolve provided a way to make a little extra money every month from something that she’s passionate about.

Each month she keeps around $500 to use for whatever she wants and reinvests another $400-$1000 back into the business. This extra income provides added support to her day to day life, all while having the added bonus of being something that contributes to a cause that she’s passionate about: reducing the negative effects of textile production.

In the future, Liz hopes to continue ironing out her business so she can provide the most interesting and affordable secondhand fashion business she can … all without running herself ragged.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • And We Evolve: Learn more about this secondhand subscription box service over on Liz’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

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
"It’s so fulfilling to actually do the thing you’ve been saying you want to do—so just start! Even when it’s challenging—and it will be challenging—you learn so much."
—Liz Funk #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

Longtime Friends Cook Tasty Food for Pop-Up Events

What It’s About

Two friends serve up a side hustle sharing their food and culture with others.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Ralph and Marco recommend saying “yes” to as many opportunities as you can so that you can learn and adjust as you go. When they accepted their first catering job of 50 people, they were terrified. They had never done anything like that before, but they wanted to learn and knew the only way to do that was to jump in and trust the process.

Fun Fact

Studies have shown that humans recall memories more easily and clearly when they are attached to a physical sensation as well as an emotional experience. From the sounds of war to the feeling of first touching snow, when we use our five physical senses we create stronger memories.

Food has the ability to activate multiple senses—smell, sight, and of course taste—to help us remember some of life’s most meaningful and magical moments, whether large or small.

Notes from Chris

Episode 907
Ralph Hsiao and Andrew Marco have been friends for many years. After hitting it off in college, they became roommates and coworkers at a digital media production company in Los Angeles. When they weren’t working, they’d find themselves in the kitchen cooking up various dishes to serve around the table. Friends would come over to enjoy potlucks with various dishes like burgers, pasta, tacos, and more.

Neither Ralph nor Marco were trained chefs; they were just two normal guys who enjoyed sharing food and good conversation with friends.

A few months after hosting potlucks, they took a trip to Italy for a friend’s wedding. It was on that trip that their eyes and stomachs were opened.

While enjoying Italian food, they realized how fresh everything was and how much locals and foreigners alike enjoyed indulging in Italian heritage. It gave them the inspiration to take their potluck dinners to the next level. What if they could tap into their own Filipino and Taiwanese heritage and explore more vibrant flavors to share with others?

They immediately began to cook up new ideas and brainstorm ways to enhance the potlucks. This led them to a new concept for pop-up dinners focused on Filipino and Taiwanese dishes with an LA twist. Los Angeles has a mixture of lots of different cultures and flavors and they wanted their pop-up dinners to be the same. While brainstorming around the table they also found the inspiration for their name, rctngl. As Marco and Ralph mention on their website:

“A rectangle (rctngl) is the shape of most dining tables. To us, tables represent connection. Far more than a flat surface upon which to eat, the table can be the heartbeat of a family. It’s a place to gather, talk and to reconnect.”

And thus their idea began to bake. When they started their pop-up dinners, they kept the concept small and invited a few family and friends. They wanted to gain confidence in their amateur cooking skills and get more experience in trying various cuisines. They charged a small price to cover the cost of food and equipment. As time went by, their pop-ups expanded from friends and family to friends of friends and beyond. More and more people wanted a taste of what Ralph and Marco had to offer.

When strangers began attending their dinners, they knew they were onto something. Their confidence was growing so they felt more comfortable charging more for each experience.

As their confidence and menu prices began to rise, they were able to buy better equipment to support their growing business. For pop-up dinner pricing, they typically charge $75 to $100 for a tasting menu and around $45 for a kamayan event. Catering events are based on time of the event and cost per person.

Since going full-time with their side hustle, Ralph and Marco have expanded their pop-up dinners to include several day feasts and catering events. Last month they hosted a 3-day sold out event which fed about 60 people, and they catered their first wedding for more than 100 people.

With expansion in the recipe, they have now rented a space in a commercial kitchen and began offering delivery services, with the goal of earning enough money to invest in their own brick and mortar restaurant. These two friends are on the right track for grilling a profitable business.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • rctngl: Learn more about the success behind this delicious side hustle over on Ralph and Marco’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

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
"We discovered the power of community early in. When we put forth our best as authentically as possible, people resonate with that. So, as you’re building your business, be open, be honest, and above all, be authentic!"
—Ralph Hsiao & Andrew Marco #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