Tag: Unique Ideas

Minnesotan Opens Private Campground in Her Backyard

What It’s About

A chocolatier discovers a side hustle in her own backyard.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Robyn’s experience can be summed up in four words—use what you have. Take stock of the things and skills that you possess, and you’ll find that there’s a lot you can do. And if utilizing your backyard as a campground is at the front of your mind, just make sure to check that you don’t run afoul of any laws or regulations!

Fun Fact

Platforms like Airbnb and Hipcamp make payment and marketing easy—all you have to do is take pictures and create a listing and everything else will be taken care for you. It’s not just for renting out traditional homes either; Airbnb allows you to host experiences created by you. As Robyn says, you don’t have to do all the heavy lifting by yourself.

Notes from Chris

Episode 668

Robyn Dochterman wasn’t expecting to come up with a new idea for a side hustle. But while listening to 70s music on a normal day, inspiration struck. James Brown sang that “You’ve got to use what you’ve got to get what you want,” and this was just the line for her situation.

At the time, Robyn needed some money. Her puppy had broken his leg keeping the world safe from an evil mop at doggie daycare. The surgery he needed was expensive and she didn’t want that sitting on a credit card costing her interest.

James Brown’s words told her that the answer was sitting right in her backyard.

The chocolate shop she owned kept her exceptionally busy in Fall and Winter, but sales slowed down with the summer heat. Robyn and her partner Deidre owned 5 acres of land near the St. Croix River in Minnesota. This land was just two miles away from a state park, which was almost always full of campers. It hit her then that this was an opportunity she could take advantage of.

The campgrounds near the state park were always full and there were no inexpensive motels nearby. What was stopping her from hosting her own private campground?

This was her chance.

Robyn didn’t come up with a completely novel idea, but the manner in which she executed her plan is perhaps one of the biggest reasons she has been successful. She made use of her well-located and spacious land, turning it into a private campground. But Robyn also knew that this wasn’t enough to build a business on and she needed to build a unique selling proposition for the St. Croix Valley Sweet Spot to take off.

Of course, Robyn knows that the nature of camping meant that revenue would vary greatly by season. During the summer months, she has been able to average $800 a month in extra income. She also began selling firewood as a side, side hustle.

Moving forward, Robyn is planning to turn an unused chicken coop into a micro-tiny house that she’s calling “The Roost”. She’s pitched camp on her idea and is doubling down to ensure that she can create the best experience for adventurous travelers. Her advice—and that of the singer James Brown—is to “always use what you have.”

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

SEE ALSO:

 

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

GET $625 IN FREE TRAVEL

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

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

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

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

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

Quote of the Day
"I’d urge anyone to think through what they have already available and how they could monetize it."
—Robyn Dochterman #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.


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To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

“Productivity Nannies” Dig Concentration Caves for Modern Workers

What It’s About

Three friends nanny workers needing to unplug and focus.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

If you’re struggling on making progress with your own side hustle, you could also make your own Caveday—or even a Cave Morning or Afternoon to work without distraction.

You don’t have to check your phone every 10 minutes. The Pomodoro method can be really helpful in forcing you to move forward on something you need to do but keep resisting. I use a version of it myself with an app called Be Focused.

Fun Fact

Jake recommends defining co-founder roles as early as possible. It doesn’t help for everyone to do everything and for every decision to need everyone making it. Playing to people’s strengths is a key factor in maintaining harmonious roles…something Jake and his friends are practicing every day.

Notes from Chris

Episode 644

Have you ever been caught in the loop of checking your messages, then Facebook, then Instagram, then back to Facebook to see what you missed in the past 30 seconds? And you think to yourself… since you’re already on your phone, you might as well check another platform, too, even though you haven’t used it in months?

It’s a cycle of distraction that keeps you from doing your work efficiently and productively. And it was a problem that Jake Kahana, a freelance graphic and user experience designer from New York City and two of his friends knew a little too well.

They all had interesting projects in the works. They were working on things they were passionate and excited about, but they were also getting desperate. None of them seemed to be able to finish anything they started. It’s not because they didn’t love what they were doing—they just all seemed to be too distracted to make enough progress to get it over the finish line.

One of the friends felt like they could all be more successful at finishing something, anything if they could just shut away somewhere. A magical place without phones, notifications, apps, or someone knocking at the door with a question that had a Google-able answer. A cave, almost—just not as dark.

So, the three friends decided to make a cave for a day. They got together at 9 am, holed up in Jake’s apartment, put all of their phones in a basket by the door (so they wouldn’t be tempted), set up a series of Pomodoro timers that would serve as ‘sprints,’ and settled in.

By the end of the day, they had all made more progress on their individual projects in one day than they had in months. Pretty soon, they were doing this every weekend and adding in more friends as they showed interest.

It was when enough other people wanted to join, and they started to run out of space, that they realized that not only were they not alone in their search for increased productivity… but that there could people out there who would pay for a Caveday of their own to help them be more efficient.

Never one to shy away from unconventional ideas, Jake got to work and set up their first public Caveday for January 15, 2017. They teamed up with a local co-working space, put up some flyers, made some Facebook ads, told their friends, and hoped for the best. Within a week, they had sold out all 60 spots for their first event at a price of $40 each. This price included two meals, snacks, coffee, and a handful of work-related services like access to the space.

A few events later, Jake and his two friends had a legitimate side hustle helping people get away from their distraction-filled life to focus on what they really want to create.

Jake and his friends now bring in around $1,400 a month in profit. Although they started with an individual, pay-per-event model, they’ve since shifted into a membership model. They have chapters in New York and LA, and have also incorporated remote days that allow users to meet on Zoom (a video conferencing platform) for a three hour, “deep work” intensive on Fridays and Sundays.

They’re currently training 3 new Cave Guides in New York City so they can test outgrowing their offering in new ways. From there, assuming it works, they plan on creating a program where they can train other hosts in other cities. And then they can take over the world… but first, they’re going back in the cave.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Caveday: Learn more about this highly focused side hustle over on their website!
  • Zoom: The video communication platform that this trio used with their clients
  • Be Focused: If you’re having trouble focusing, give this app a try—it will help you find some focus

 

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
"We started Caveday because we realized that no one ever taught us how to actually work. We all have different and dysfunctional relationships with technology, and we needed to be trained in how to use (and not use) that technology to serve all of the projects and work we had going on. We created a side hustle to solve our own problem, and it worked!"
—Jake Kahana #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

German DJ Turns Up Profits with Magic Marriage Mixes

What It’s About

A German DJ lays down beats and picks up a check for an extra $1,000/month.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Tobias said something interesting when we were talking with him: “While it often makes sense to listen to your customers, sometimes they don’t even know what they want until you give it to them.”

Wise words indeed!

Fun Fact

One of Tobias’s old side hustles was selling “mix DVDs.” Yes, you heard that right. It was like a mixtape but all videos.

Notes from Chris

Episode 642

As a teenager growing up in Germany, Tobias Laemmle used to listen to a radio show called “Battle of the DJs.” Every Friday night they had a contest between three mixes from three different DJs and listeners could call in to vote for their favorite one. Finally, Tobias decided that he didn’t just want to be a listener. It was time for him to make his own killer playlist.

However, at the age of 17, he had no equipment or money to buy much equipment. But… he did have a double cassette tape deck at home. [For our young listeners: the double cassette tape deck was invented by the Egyptians, last used in the Middle Ages before these other things called CDs came out.]

So, for a few months, Tobias worked and worked to create a mix using this ancient technology. When it was finally finished, he sent it into the “Battle of the DJs.” Not only was he accepted onto the show… but he won! He was elated.

Three years later, he was in university. It was there that his DJ skills developed even further. He also began to get paid, building playlists and spinning tracks to make some extra cash so he could pay for school.

He then kept DJ’ing after graduating, while working a day job as a software architect and doing some freelance coding for another side gig. After a while, Tobias had been DJ’ing for over a decade and was well known in the industry. He had 14,000 followers on social media, many of whom were aspiring DJs. So one day, he decided to ask them what their number one problem as a DJ was.

Almost every single one of them said that it was getting booked for gigs. So, ever the self-starter, Tobias made an online course about booking more gigs … and it was wildly successful, to the point where Tobias is now a multi-millionaire!

Just kidding—it totally flopped. Like absolutely, completely flopped.

Tobias was shaken. For his next attempt, he decided to simplify. What was the easiest thing he could offer that people would value?

Around this time, he noticed that almost all of his friends who were getting married asked him for his wedding playlists to get their wedding DJ inspired. What if he were to start selling those playlists? He could make a little something for himself while making one of the most important days of a person’s life that much more magical.

But there was a problem. Selling playlists was a big issue in the DJ community… and not in a good way. Playlists THEMSELVES were controversial—many people thought that real DJs didn’t need one. To sell them would surely put Tobias under fire, and likely decrease his popularity in the community.

He knew he was on to something when he found a third way. A lot of DJs wanted to know how to get people moving at weddings. Some had trouble recovering the party vibe after a slow song and others didn’t know how to get both the bachelors and grandma on the dance floor. Tobias’s playlist served as inspiration.

Because he did something a little different and paid attention to what people were actually purchasing—rather than what they said they’d buy—he’s now rolling in an extra $1,000 a month.

This side hustle had zero start-up costs. He already had many playlists, twenty years of experience, and a website to sell them on. Once he grouped enough of them together, he could just let it sell… over and over.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • DJ TOBANDER: If today’s episode left you grooving to the music, learn more about Tobias and his side hustle over on his website!

 

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

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
"While it often makes sense to listen to your customers, sometimes they don’t even know what they want until you give it to them."
—Tobias Laemmie #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

Canadian Mom Rolls Out Supportive Side Hustle

What It’s About

How an accident can lead to opportunity!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Adrianna had something really great to say to anyone looking to follow in her footsteps:

“Find a niche product to rent out that has the following characteristics: expensive for the end user to own but cheap to rent, relatively simple functionality (maintenance and service is straightforward and can be done at home by someone with limited mechanical abilities), users only need it temporarily, can be handled by one person and fits into even a small vehicle.”

Fun Fact

Mobility devices have been used in some capacity for centuries. For example, Phillip II, a 6th century Spanish King, was reported to have used a type of wheelchair.

The first mobility scooter was invented in 1968 by a plumber in Michigan who wanted to help a family member with Multiple Sclerosis.

Notes from Chris

Episode 636

Surgery can be a transformative experience. We come out differently—either physically or emotionally—once we, or someone we love, has been under the knife and sewn back up again. Adrianna Coleman, a full-time mom from Canada, found herself driving home with a life-changing side hustle in the trunk of her car.

After intensive surgery, Adrianna’s husband was unable to bear any weight on his foot. Even the slightest strain resulted in soaring pain which made crutches impractical and even a little dangerous. So, he opted to try something new.

He ordered what’s known as a knee walker. If you’ve never seen one, it’s basically a scooter where you put your weight on the knee of the injured leg and push with the other. It has handlebars, brakes, and padding to make it much more comfortable and practical than crutches.

While attending lots of different appointments, check-ups, or even just the grocery store, Adrianna and her husband would find themselves talking about the knee walker to other patients. Entire waiting rooms of people would want to know where they’d found the knee walker, how much they cost and how they could get their knees on one too.

This got them thinking about the potential for a business. There was a large market of people who had no idea about these knee walkers or how to access them, why not create a service for them?

Adrianna set herself a budget of around $3,000, and she named her idea Recovery Rentals. She wanted to create a strong internet presence and look professional from the outset, but she also didn’t want to lose a lot of money if it didn’t work out.

Adrianna admits going into doctor’s offices was scary at first. But she overcame the fear through belief in her product. She knew it would help patients—after all, she’d seen it first hand—and it would be worse for everyone if she didn’t share her idea. Many of the receptionists agreed and let her leave her materials.

Two weeks after her knee walkers arrived, Adrianna had her first order online. Then, two days later, the next two came in. She was already fully booked with her first three units of inventory rented! So, using her side hustle savvy, Adrianna invested the money into more stock so she could take more orders.

As Recovery Rentals has grown, so has Adrianna’s relationship with local doctors. Doctors love having an alternative to crutches to recommend, and these referrals have become the number one source of income for the business. Because, who doesn’t do what their doctor tells them, right?

Recovery Rental’s profits have grown every year since its inception. In 2015, they earned $24,000 which has grown to $56,000 in 2017—not bad at all for a side hustle that only takes her 10 hours/week to maintain!

Looking to the future, Adrianna wants to double down on the franchise side of the business and help take Recovery Rentals all over North America. She wants to help immobile patients cruise to recovery without using those complicated crutches.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Recovery Rentals: Head on over to Adrianna’s website to learn about the side hustle that helps others ditch the crutches!

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
"Find a niche product to rent out that has the following characteristics: expensive for the end user to own but cheap to rent, relatively simple functionality (maintenance and service is straightforward), users only need it temporarily, and it can be handled by one person and fits into even a small vehicle."
—Adrianna Coleman #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

Salesman’s Spicy Side Hustle Serves Up Serious Sales

What It’s About

A tasty side hustle that serves up the heat!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

But, if you were to approach larger chains, Charlie says patience is key. Some retailers can take five to six months to approve your product, even for small batches. Be sure to keep in touch throughout the process and don’t let yourself be forgotten. Even a quick phone call can be enough to ensure the process is chugging along.

Fun Fact

Since Charlie didn’t have any retailers starting out, he offered to deliver his hot sauce to anyone that ordered it online locally. A few weeks in, he mailed a bottle of his sauce to a local news anchor who is known for wearing bowties on every Tuesday’s broadcast. In his letter to him, Charlie wrote, “Hey John, I launched Hot Charlie’s a few weeks ago, and it’s the first bowtie friendly hot sauce” (For note here: Charlie’s label is a cartoon version of himself with a bowtie on) Well, his producer emailed him back, and he landed a spot on the local news!

Notes from Chris

Episode 626

St. Louis, Missouri Salesman Charlie Backer was getting ready to host friends for his Super Bowl party. Like any good host, he had a wide array of snacks and nibbles for his guests but wanted to add something special and unique to the table. So, while the 49’ers and Ravens were warming up on the field, Charlie began to heat things up in the kitchen.

He put together a simple recipe for a hot sauce using fresh ingredients, like peppers, vinegar, and garlic that he’d picked up at the supermarket. After a few tries, he felt he’d landed on a recipe which had more kick than the punter for the Ravens that night, but didn’t lose out on flavor.

Charlie served it up to his friends … and they loved it! It was early days, but he could feel people were really warming to his hot new recipe.

Over the course of the next few years, Charlie worked hard on his hot sauce. He’d tinker with the ingredients and flavors and cooking times to try and get it just right. Then, he’d share bottles of it with friends and family. He even gave it a name, Hot Charlie’s and had a sticker created to put on the bottle.

Then, in 2017, Charlie felt like he’d finally cracked the hot sauce code.

One of his friends took a bottle home to try and, the next morning, that friend was on the phone imploring Charlie to start selling the hot sauce. They weren’t just complementary, they downright told him he’d be crazy not to sell it.

Charlie was a salesman at heart but he’d never thought of pitching his sauce to anyone. It was just something he did. But, he also wasn’t going to miss an opportunity to earn a little extra cash if he could, especially if people were asking to buy it. So, he thought, give the people what they want!

Retailers have been a large source of Hot Charlie’s profits and the sauce is now sold in over 70 retailers across three states. Which has led to the sales of thousands of bottles.

Looking to the future, Charlie is going all-in on his hot sauce side hustle. He lost his job and decided it was his opportunity to focus on Hot Charlie’s full time. He’s fired up: the goal is to expand into more retailers and take Hot Charlie’s nationwide!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Hot Charlie’s: Head on over to Charlie’s website to learn more about this hot side 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

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
"Write a list of your goals, share your dreams with those closest to you, and don’t be afraid of rejection and negativity."
—Charlie Backer #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

Outsource Date Night With This Sexy Side Hustle

What It’s About

Two women take the guesswork out of love.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

In a partnership, it’s important to have clearly defined responsibilities and tasks to ensure that your commitment to the business and to one another is met. I liked the idea of the “weekly accountability task sheets so that they each know what tasks they need to accomplish for their side hustle.”

Fun Fact

It takes less than four minutes to decide whether you have romantic feelings for someone, and that decision is based mostly on body language. Your next first date impression boils down to a 55% emphasis on body language, 38% on tone of voice, and only 7% on what the person is actually saying. Goes to show that actions speak louder than words!

Notes from Chris

Episode 623

There are friends, and then there are friends who will go the extra mile for you. Trineca McCleod, a social worker from Florida, wanted to go the extra mile for her best friend, Ta’Veca Collins. The two friends have known each other for decades. But it wasn’t until Ta’Veca’s wedding night that they accidentally stumbled upon the idea to turn their love of love into a side hustle success.

To do something special for the matrimonial couple, Trineca and other bridesmaids snuck off and decorated their honeymoon suite with candles and rose petals artfully scattered throughout the room. A ‘Honeymoon Survival Kit’ and other “love items” were placed throughout the suite. It was romantic, tasteful, and, surprisingly, the beginning of a business.

After Ta’Veca’s magical honeymoon night, the two best friends began to plan and execute numerous romantic rendezvous for their significant others, family, and friends. They called it Romance On The Go, and they spent a few weeks testing their date nights with people they knew would give them honest feedback … before launching just in time for Valentine’s Day. That way, they knew they’d have at least a few paying customers.

But they had more than a few. Within the first month, they had dozens of people wanting romantic date nights for their loved one. According to Trineca, they “were shocked that so many people were interested in purchasing our romance packages. We couldn’t believe that an idea we had on a honeymoon night could’ve sparked this.”

Trineca and Ta’Veca are bringing in anywhere from $1,000-$5,000/month depending on the time of year. Their busiest seasons are around Valentine’s Day (naturally—this year, they brought in $2,000 that week), the wedding season, and other holidays like Christmas and New Year’s.

Romance On The Go is dependent on one of the main tenets of any successful relationship… good communication. The two friends credit their business, and friendship, to staying organized and always being in communication about meetings, vendors, and planning. Ta’Veca said that they conduct the majority of their business after their children have gone to bed and maintain constant communication through phone calls and texts during the week.

They also use weekly accountability task sheets so that they each know what tasks they need to accomplish. Beyond that, they admit that they couldn’t keep their side hustle going without a healthy dose of patience. They knew that they were ready to deal with other people’s visions and personalities and guide the clients who say “do whatever.”

Romance planning is now available … at least if you live in South Florida. It’s a little love, a little hustle, and a unique idea to bring busy couples closer.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Romance On The Go: Learn more about this sexy side hustle over on Ta’Veca and Trineca’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

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
"Make sure you’re starting a side hustle for the right reasons because success doesn’t happen overnight. And if you’re going into a service-based side hustle, be ready to deal with people’s visions and personalities and guide those who say ‘do whatever.’"
—Ta’Veca Collins #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

Swipe Some Inspiration From This Sticky Side Hustle

What It’s About

A side hustle success story that won’t easily wipe away.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

When we were talking to Caylee, she said something that really stood out to me: “Had I forced things along the way, I’m not sure I’d be where I am with it. I didn’t put pressure on it to sustain me, and that’s allowed it to grow in different ways.”

There’s definitely a benefit in starting something as a side hustle because you don’t need it to sustain you in any way, but finding time to dedicate to it can be a bit of a struggle. Do you feel guilty about not having enough time to work on your side hustle?

Fun Fact

You may be asking yourself, why did the whiteboard become such a huge success when we already had blackboards? The answer is “convenience.” Blackboards were hard to wipe clean and turned whitish after a little use. You had to wet-clean them frequently to keep the writing clear. In fact, the earlier versions of whiteboards also needed to be wiped with a wet cloth. It was for this reason that despite being invented as far back as the late 1950s, whiteboards did not become very popular until after the invention of dry erasable marker, aka whiteboard marker, in 1975.

Notes from Chris

Episode 614

Caylee Betts, an NYC-based product design manager at Buzzfeed, knows a thing or two about time management. She balances her day job with her blossoming side hustle, along with a penchant for photography, taking design commissions, and another side project that saw her build an app that connects recreational soccer players. Oh, and she mentors junior designers, too.

It seems we can thank one of her many side projects for being the catalyst for the latest dose of side hustle inspiration. She stumbled upon the idea almost by accident while designing restaurant menus from her design shop.

The restaurant asked Caylee to help them design a laminated menu because they wanted to cut down on the damage to their paper menus. Once the project was over, the rest of the laminated samples were still in Caylee’s office and she had an urge to write on them. She bought markers on Amazon and started using them for note-taking, illustrations, and to-do lists. And every time another designer saw her unofficial prototype in action, they asked about it.

When Caylee and her husband had some downtime after moving to New York from Seattle in 2016, she decided to see if she could earn any money from her lamination project. It took her about a year to go from prototype to sellable product. Most manufacturers she approached weren’t interested in working with her, and the core material was also unexpectedly expensive. Caylee invested $600 into her first production run, at a cost of $4-5 per sheet.

She described it as a reusable, durable, synthetic paper made for creative, productive people. They’re designed to be used with wet-erase pens, allowing your work to stay put until rinsed with water. They’re the perfect companion in the home and in the office, and they’re called Swipies.

After launching her online shop, sales weren’t gangbusters, but it didn’t take long for a series of orders to start trickling in. That trickle became a flow, and now, 12 months later her monthly sales hovered between $700 and $800. She had a lot of revenue spikes, including a $10,000 month after she ran ads on a popular design podcast. That led to custom partnerships with companies that ranged from $1,000 to $5,000.

Her first partnership was with Moz, an inbound marketing service. Airbnb was her next partnership, and, more than anything, served as a sign that with consistent effort comes consistent sales.

By the sounds of it, she might not have to go back to the drawing board for new ideas anytime soon. Or if she did, she could just erase what she wrote and start over.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Swipies: Make it easier to convey your ideas to others—learn more about Swipies over on Caylee’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

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
"What’s been great for me is I made something for myself that I love. I used a much less refined version of Swipies for about 3 years before productionizing the product. I think people should focus on the problems in their own lives, and if they can find a unique solution, they should naturally follow the path and see where it goes."
—Caylee Betts #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

Hungover Accountant Starts “Morning After” Party Cleanup Service

What It’s About

A cleaning service that takes the headache out of the hangover.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Find a niche market and develop a business strategy that is new and will be remembered. Make sure you have developed an easy to use website and can capture your audience’s attention straight away with a clear message of what you do, who you are and why. Finding the right staff is also key as they are the face of your business. This is one of the reasons we haven’t grown as fast as we could have. Finally, make sure you commit 100%.

Fun Fact

The cleaning industry is worth around $4 billion annually to the Australian economy. That huge amount of money means there are over 62,000 people employed as contract cleaners. With so much money and job opportunities out there it’s no wonder that there are literally thousands of cleaning companies across the nation. By picking a niche market James was able to stand out from the crowd and carve out a nice little side business for himself.

Notes from Chris

Episode 605

Drinking too much on a night out certainly has its consequences. You’ll likely wake up the next morning with a ton of regret and a wicked hangover to match. All most people want to do in that situation is lie in bed and wait for the storm to pass.

However, today’s side hustler thinks a little differently. Meet James Hookway, a full-time chartered accountant from Perth in Western Australia. For James, it was while hungover after a Christmas party in 2014 that he came up with a unique business idea.

He and his wife had thrown the party and the next morning, they lay in bed, dreading the inevitable after party cleanup. While procrastinating about when to start the job, they began talking about how great it would be if there was a service that would clean up after you big party and maybe even bring you breakfast in bed.

After having a good laugh about it, they dragged themselves out of bed, had a big breakfast, and got to removing all traces of the night before. But the idea stuck with James and, like a fine wine, it actually got better with age.

Fast forward to July, six months later, and the concept still excited him. He decided to do some research and realized that, although there were a lot of cleaning companies out there, none of them were marketed specifically at the after party/hangover crowd—which can be a large market in Australia. They were all fairly generic, boring companies with terrible branding.

Figuring there might be something there, James decided to test the concept. To keep things simple he created a Facebook page describing the proposed service and shared it with his friends and family. The name for the page almost wrote itself. He called it Hangover Helpers!

Perhaps it was the perfect name, the concept itself, or maybe the right person just so happened to share the page. Whatever the cause, what followed was one of the craziest weeks of James’ life!

He was contacted for interviews on TV shows, radio stations and by journalists from major publications all over the country. They loved the novel concept and wanted to talk to the creator of such a unique idea. He had achieved national exposure in less than two weeks. That’s something most larger companies are never able to do despite expensive and time-consuming campaigns.

With all that free marketing, it was inevitable their first customers would come on faster than a headache after too many gin and tonics. And that’s exactly what happened.

Their first booking came that very week. James had no cleaning equipment, so he had to buy some to get started. He picked up basic cleaning products and a Ghostbuster-style vacuum cleaner as well as some food supplies for the breakfast.

It was a hell of a party to start the business on! The house was a total mess, but that didn’t phase James too much. It meant he was able to get some great before and after photos to showcase the type of work he was capable of. After the cleaning was done and the party hosts had enjoyed their breakfast burritos, James knew this could be a viable side business.

Just under a year after their successful launch of the Facebook group. Over the next 12 months, the revenue from the side hustle doubled and hit $30,000. Not bad at all for a weekend cleaning gig outside of a full-time job!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Hangover Helpers: Take the headache out of party throwing—head on over to James’ website to learn more about this niche cleaning service!

 

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
"Find a niche market and develop a business strategy that is new and will be remembered. Make sure you have developed an easy to use website and can capture your audience’s attention straight away with a clear message of what you do, who you are, and why."
—James Hookway #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

Ohio State Students Make Big Moves Storing Items

What It’s About

A rideshare-esque storage solution service.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Running this side hustle helped Brandon to learn a valuable lesson: everything breaks at one point or another. They had to come to terms with the fact that not everything was going to be perfect all the time. But each day it gets better, and he thinks that it’s definitely taught them patience and (perhaps more importantly) the ability to step back and not freak out about small issues.

Fun Fact

The average American moves about 11.7 times in their life, with most of those moves happening between May and September. Planning your next move? Re-use those cardboard boxes! They’ll last for three uses, or 25% of your lifetime moves.

Notes from Chris

Episode 588

In 1967, Ringo Starr sang the classic line “I get by with a little help from my friends.” That adage is never more true than when it comes to moving! As any college student, past or present, knows, moving is an annual and time-honored tradition. So is the clear-out of empty bottles and the seasonal “where-will-I-put-all-this-stuff-until-next-semester” challenge.

While Mike Gargasz and Brandon Gotlieb were able to solve their annual storage crisis, they had lots of friends at Ohio State University who struggle. And what better way to help your friends get by than to start a side hustle dedicated to it?

Brandon, a finance student, and Mike, an engineering student, knew that there had to be a better solution than “hope and pray something works out” when it comes to finding willing family members or friends to store furniture and other items during summer holidays… or any other occasion people have to move.

They pitched the idea of NXTSTOR as a peer-to-peer marketplace that would help connect people with extra space in their home or garage to rent it out to people who have things they need to store. It was a simple process that would allow users to register as a host, list how much space they have available to rent out, and are paid around $1 per rented square foot.

Users upload images of their space and Brandon and Mike speak with the hosts during the in-depth sign-up process. This helps them get an idea of who is trustworthy. Usually, the owner’s insurance covers the contents, but Brandon and Mike are also working to provide an extra set of insurance for the renters which they say should launch fairly soon.

Brandon and Mike’s side hustle is only about a few months old, so they’ve been heavily focused on adding hosts and expanding their network. They’ve used everything from Facebook ads, printed flyers, and they’ve even sponsored a theatre troupe. Results are still waiting to be seen from that last one…

One small move for friends could be a giant leap for… the storage industry as Brandon and Mike look to scale their side hustle and continue their push into new states and grow NXTSTOR, one host at a time. It helps that they’re still friends and roommates, and can weather any storms as they come up. And next time they’re moving, they’ll know exactly where to store their stuff!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • NXTSTOR: Make some space in your schedule to head over to Brandon and Mike’s website to learn more!

 

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 knew that storing things could be risky, so we helped 30 people move their items to make sure we understood how the process worked. It really helped us learn the inner workings of our side hustle and made it easier to sell to those who might be on the fence."
—Mike Gargasz #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

Super Fan Scores Big in the Football Community

What It’s About

A side hustle that brings sports fans together.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Rhett had some great advice for someone looking to start a side hustle: 1) learn how to work with less than what you think you need, 2) expect everyone to tell you why it won’t work, and 3) have the fortitude to move on and achieve your goals.

Fun Fact

During the 2011 Super Bowl, Rhett and his team were about to be let into the locker room of the Packers right before the game started, but someone caught on that they weren’t actually members of the media. Better luck next time, Rhett!

Notes from Chris

Episode 573

Rhett Grametbauer can’t remember a day in his life without sports. As a child, he decorated his room with Sports Illustrated covers. He had an NFL lunchbox. He even wore his Dallas Cowboys jersey for school pictures, especially when the dress code was “formal wear.”

So, when a sponsorship sales person from his favorite football team called him later in life, he was thrilled. Rhett was working for the Texas Department of Transportation as a marketing manager at the time, and the Dallas Cowboys were interested in getting him more involved.

From then on, Rhett was invited to attend games, cheerleading parties, and other events. It was there that he expanded his network. He got to give Mark Cuban a fist bump and explain how to throw out the first pitch at a World Series game to the famous Cowboys quarterback, Roger Staubach.

The more Rhett was involved in the sports world, the more he was reminded of a problem he had discovered years before. He realized that there was no simple service to help fans in faraway cities watch their hometown team play. Fans could either buy an expensive TV subscription or hope that they happened to pick the one bar in town showing the game for their team. Rhett knew there could be a better way of watching dislocated teams… so he took a shot at creating his own community, Foam Finger Nation.

Members of Foam Finger Nation can simply log-in and find the closest location to where their team is being viewed. They can also create an alumni group and invite other fans to watch parties. For now, it’s free—but it won’t always be. After the next football season, Rhett is planning a redesign along with a transition to operating the site as a paid membership service.

Foam Finger Nation is growing into the umbrella brand for everything Rhett wants to do. For example, he began and completed a quest to visit every NFL stadium in just 16 weeks, while driving a 1967 VW Bus from town to town. That project turned into a book he sells on Amazon called 25,000 Miles to Glory.

Then the people from NFL Films came calling. They were interested in an interview he’d done with their co-founder, who had died in the year since Rhett had interviewed him. Rhett used the chance to talk with them about 25,000 Miles to Glory (film version), and they helped get the film version off the ground.

He now earns royalties of at least $500/month from that project, in addition to sales from the book on Amazon. He’s currently raising money from his day job to pay for the next film he wants to make.

This is definitely a side hustle in the works, but there are a lot of ways that Rhett can take this to the next level. If you have some ideas that Rhett can add to his playbook for Foam Finger Nation, record a voice clip (or put together a simple email) and send it to podcast@sidehustleschool.com. We’d love to share your thoughts and ideas on the show!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Foam Finger Nation: Learn more about the community Rhett is building over on his website!

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

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

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

GET YOUR FIRST 1,000 EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS

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

Quote of the Day
"I would advise anyone starting a side hustle to 1) learn how to work with less than what they think they need, 2) expect everyone to tell them why it won’t work, and 3) have the fortitude to move on and achieve their dreams."
—Rhett Grametbrauer #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