Real stories, every day
You need a side hustle
A side hustle isn't just nice, it's necessary.
From the archive
Ep. 80 Handmade Candles South Carolina Man Learns to Make Candles by Watching YouTube A chance discovery in a menswear store becomes a handmade candle company. Hear the story 
Ep. 95 Handmade Leather Wallets Craftsman Creates $350,000 Hustle from Handcrafted Leather Products A day-job craft grows into a multiple six-figure leather goods business. Hear the story 
Ep. 221 Monogrammed Scarves TV Producer Sells Monogrammed Scarves; Earns $1,000 Riding Subway A personalized scarf project grows from subway sales into a bigger brand. Hear the story 
Ep. 319 Podcast Production From Landscaper to Podcast Producer Earning $4k/Month A podcast obsession becomes a location-independent production business. Hear the story 
Ep. 367 Walmart Reselling Accountant Earns $233,751 Reselling Walmart Finds Clearance finds from big-box stores become a six-figure resale system. Hear the story 
Ep. 394 Swoveralls Fashion Buyer Turns Sweatpants Plus Overalls Into Swoveralls A quirky comfort product turns into an apparel business with a loyal following. Hear the story 
Ep. 401 Troll Cakes Bakery Sends Internet Trolls a Cake-Shaped Dose of Irony A comedic bakery turns rude internet comments into a mail-order cake business. Hear the story 
Ep. 436 Yardgrams Yard Sign Hustle Finds Profit in Outdoor Messages Big, playful outdoor messages become a local events business. Hear the story 
Ep. 1212 Voiceover Work Choreographer Turns Performance Skill Into Voiceover Work A creative performance background opens the door to paid recording gigs. Hear the story 
Ep. 1751 Vintage Camper Rentals Nomadic Couple Starts Vintage Camper Rental Biz A camper-rental experiment grows into a travel-and-hospitality business. Hear the story 
Ep. 2963 Urban Photo Safaris London Photographer Leads Urban Photo Safaris A photographer turns hidden city corners into weekend photo tours. Hear the story 
Ep. 3000 PocketMonkey Tool Tiny Wallet Tool Sells 500,000 Units A flat multi-tool grows into a product company with a 17-person team. Hear the story 
Ep. 3056 Mini-Blind Repair Tool Architect Creates Mini-Blind Repair Tool A practical repair kit earns an extra $15,000 a year for its inventor. Hear the story 
Ep. 3289 Rent the Chicken Rent the Chicken! An Egg-Cellent Idea Clucks Into Cash A Pennsylvania couple turns backyard hens into a rental business. Hear the story 
Ep. 3340 Cape Whoopies Proud Mainer Brings Whoopie Pies to the World A home-baking hobby grows into a $25,000/month business. Hear the story 
Ep. 3303 Denver Food Tours Food Tour Guide Chomps Down on $100,000 Profit A cooking instructor builds a Denver food-tour company. Hear the story 
Ep. 1167 Military Teddy Bears Military-Themed Teddy Bears Help Kids Hibernate A plush product gives military families a bedtime routine for deployment nights. Hear the story 
Ep. 3365 Citizenship Tutorials Immigration Tutorials Help Viewers Prepare for Citizenship YouTube lessons help immigrants study for the U.S. citizenship test. Hear the story 
Whether you love your day job or are trying to make a big change, a side hustle can help you build a foundation of financial freedom and a backup plan.
When you have more than one source of income, you’re no longer dependent on a single employer. You’ll have much greater opportunity. You’ll learn new skills. Oh, and you’ll also have … more money.
When you have more than one paycheck arriving every month, you feel better about yourself. You look to the future differently, and you consider a wider set of options as you make decisions.
It’s also fun. Starting a side hustle is like “playing entrepreneurially” without making a huge commitment. The stakes are low and the potential is high.
You need a hustle. So how do you start one?
It all starts with learning to think differently, and then taking action on your ideas. Here’s how you do it:
- Listen to a few stories. The show is free, short, and published every morning. Start with a few episodes and notice how people use the skills, assets, and problems already around them.
- Get the books. For a step-by-step path from idea to income in 27 days, start with Side Hustle. For more examples and prompts, pick up 100 Side Hustles.
- Look for patterns. Good ideas usually solve a specific problem for a specific person. Pay attention to what people already had before they started: a skill, a tool, a local insight, or a useful obsession.
- Choose one small test. Don’t build the whole thing at once. Make the smallest version someone can say yes to, put it in front of them, and learn from what happens.
I started Side Hustle School with a clear mission in mind. My commitment to you is that if you take this process seriously and make it your priority, I’ll do everything I can to help you succeed.
It’s not a fantasy. There’s a hustle waiting for you. Are you in?
Yours in the revolution,
Chris Guillebeau
About Chris Guillebeau
Chris Guillebeau is the New York Times bestselling author of The $100 Startup, The Art of Non-Conformity, and other books. During a lifetime of self-employment, he visited every country in the world (193 in total) before his 35th birthday. Every year in Austin, Texas he hosts NeuroDiversion, a celebration of unique minds.
His latest book, Time Anxiety, is about the illusion of urgency and the fear of running out of time.
Connect with Chris on LinkedIn, Instagram, on his blog, or your choice of worldwide airline lounges.
Other Projects
The Art of Non-Conformity
You don’t have to live your life the way others expect. My original blog, with articles published at least twice a week since 2008 and continuing through eternity.
NeuroDiversion
Annual Austin conference for neurodivergent entrepreneurs. A gathering for those who think differently, build differently, and are changing the world.
A Year of Mental Health
A year-long journey through mental health stories, practices, and resources for building resilience — one day at a time.
Time Anxiety
A book about the illusion of urgency — and a better way to live. Not everything that feels urgent actually is. Reclaim your time and do more of what matters.
Born for This
It’s not just what kind of work you do, it’s how you do it. Find the work you were born to do and win the career lottery. If you don’t have your dream job, read this book.
The Happiness of Pursuit
My New York Times bestselling book about quests (including mine!) is now available in paperback. Warning: once you go down the road of adventure, you don’t always know where you’ll end up.
The $100 Startup
The original bestseller, with more than 400,000 copies sold worldwide. You don’t need an 80-page business plan or a business degree. Fire your boss and create a new future.
Say Hello
We're in this together! Let me know if you have a question or comment.