Side Hustle Hero

Today's guest could not envision herself continuing to live and work full-time in Belgium. Instead, she's crafted a life in Cusco, Peru involving no less than 6 part-time hustles.

The most lucrative one for Maya Lombarts is her role as a virtual assistant (VA). It's her #1 because in addition to excelling at it, she doubled down on an often overlooked, but potential goldmine of a source for clients.

In this episode, Maya shares tips and tricks for challenging your assumptions of what you can and should charge clients, who to ask for advice, how to explore the potential business opportunities in your areas of passion, and of course, ways to get paid more as a VA.

She might even inspire you to ask yourself, are you living exactly where you want to live?

Be sure to catch the end of episode takeaways where I'll challenge you about the choices you've been making, how I became aware of unconscious, false beliefs guiding my decision-making, and how we can become open to expanded possibilities that lead to wiser choices.

What You'll Hear:

02:48 No full-time job: A lifestyle choice?

06:40 From "I can't," to "how can I make this work"

06:50 "What if there is a way?"

07:15 Six distinct side hustles, including professional singer

09:33 Online memberships as an income source

11:27 Embracing diverse roles

11:55 Selling tours as a hustle and leveraging Couchsurfing

14:27 Most lucrative of the 6 hustles: VA

17:12 Typical hourly rates for a VA

18:35 Opting to get direct VA customers, less reliance on VA platforms

19:35 Strategy when marketing through the platforms

25:15 Maya's typical weekly "schedule"

28:15 A Peruvian perspective on committing to future social engagements

28:47 A mix of the cultures is best

29:35 Our way is just one way…not necessarily the only way or the best way

30:29 Cusco, Peru - altitude is 3,400 metres (11,155 feet)

34:01 Uncovering business opportunities in your areas of passion

40:33 How a recommendation can garner you better rates

40:46 Strategies for getting paid more as a VA

43:45 Maya's best tip for taking action

Takeaways:

44:58 Shift from "I can't" to "How I Can!"

45:45 Uncovering a negative belief that was guiding decision-making

47:47 Doing things habitually "because that's just what we do"

49:11 Have a productive brainstorming session this week to pull back the "horse blinkers"

Connect With Maya:

https://mayalombarts.com/ https://www.instagram.com/mayalombarts/

Connect with Joan:

• Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/joanposivy/

• Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/posivy/

• Joan's Main Site

https://www.joanposivy.com/

• Email

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https://www.joanposivy.com/be-our-guest.html

You may not aspire to be a mentalist like today's guest David Jaison, but you'll benefit from what he shares about self promotion, customization for clients, applying online skills to live performances, and learning from his presentation disasters.

After you hear this episode, maybe you will be inspired to start a side hustle as a performing mentalist.

Be sure to catch the end-of-episode takeaway to discover how to strengthen your intuition, which should be your constant traveling companion in life providing you amazing, timely, profitable guidance.

What You'll Hear:

02:42 Knowledge and skills David draws upon to perform as a mentalist

04:54 The value of intuition

06:02 Can anyone train to be a mentalist?

08:36 Why Brian's first major presentation was an "epic failure" and lessons learned

11:55 The value of a mix and mingle before your presentation

13:20 What happens behind the scenes in preparing for a show

16:45 Examples of routines in his show

18:54 Carving out time for a side hustle during a very full time job as a director of logistics

21:44 You may not be getting jobs because you're not charging enough!

23:30 Rethinking an interactive live show to….zoom

24:50 The first online show was "horrible" - more lessons learned!

26:35 A priceless resource - an industry Facebook group focused on zoom performing

28:30 The benefit of offering your services to nonprofits

30:25 Remember that bartering can be a great alternative to paying cash

31:46 A strategic move to a convention and tradeshow-rich city

32:40 Marketing by offering demos, and getting on event-planning/gig websites

35:12 Two indicators showing you it's time to jump full time into your side hustle

Takeaway:

36:50 The power of your intuition - one of your 6 mental faculties

38:50 An exercise to develop your intuition

David's Website:

https://www.davidjaison.com/

Connect with Joan:

• Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/joanposivy/

• Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/posivy/

• Joan's Main Site

https://www.joanposivy.com/

• Email

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https://www.joanposivy.com/be-our-guest.html

In this episode, you'll learn no-cost DIY tips for polishing your brand, making your website more "hospitable" to potential clients, and boosting client conversion.

Sierra Janisse is a bona fide side hustle hero as she was teaching middle school full time when she started a hobby, which turned into a side hustle, but after 2 years when the income from that began to exceed her teaching income, it was time to re-evaluate.

Her side hustle has now become her full time, six figure company.

Sierra Janisse is a brand, website, and funnel designer.

In our conversation she also talks not only about her wins - but also her mistakes, how to leverage your website through 5 ways to boost client conversion (that DON'T require hiring a designer), actionable tips for email marketing and growing your list in the "age of inbox overwhelm," and clear guidance on where to start the process!

What you'll hear:

05:09 "Elementor," a long-time favourite

06:24 Balancing full-time teaching with a growing part-time side hustle

07:37 The decision to leave teaching

08:18 The mistake Sierra made that cost her money

08:45 Offering free services to build your portfolio is fine….to a point

09:45 How to raise your rates

11:20 First hires - accountant and lawyer

13:16 The importance of clear, thorough contracts

14:40 What "holistic" branding is about

15:45 How to do your own "brand audit"

18:35 Overcoming decision fatigue

19:20 5 ways to boost client conversion…that don't require hiring a designer!!!

19:50 Your website should be making you money

20:06 What is your website goal (yes, you need to have one!)

21:15 Have a call to action - and the best place to put it

22:08 Client/Website hospitality - how not to be annoying

23:20 When and how to use popups on your website

25:39 How and why to use the "3-step marketing method" on your website

27:15 Consider the traffic sources for your website

29:35 Breaking through email overwhelm - building your email list

31:10 What not to do in your emails

31:40 What (and how) to adjust if people are unsubscribing to your list

33:12 The value of storytelling in your emails…and guidance on how to do it

34:50 Where do I start??? It's not on improving your weaknesses

36:30 How to inspire yourself to take action on your big side hustle dream

Takeaway

38:30 Life is happening….now - not when the goal is achieved

39:13 The secret sauce of life

How to Connect with Sierra:

https://www.sierralindesign.com/

https://www.instagram.com/sierralindesign/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/sierralindesign

Connect with Joan:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Joan's Main Site
• Email

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This is a tried-and-true side hustle!

Get up early. Walk around the outside of commercial buildings picking up trash before your day job. Get paid.

What started out as a side hustle for today's guest, Brian Winch has grown to a mature business with gross earnings consistently over $600,000 per year. He still gets up early to walk around buildings and pick up litter, but he scaled the business by picking up more contracts and employing subcontractors.

There are so many things I love about this business; it's very low cost entry point ($100 for tools), ability to get paid for going for a walk ($30-$50/hr), the simplicity of the business model, and if you choose to, it's totally scalable!

When Brian isn't out picking up litter, he's at HQ (a room in his home) from where he runs the business and teaches others to set up and thrive in their own lot cleaning business.

Today's end of episode takeaway is inspired by an add-on service that Brian provides his clients. Apply the idea behind it to elevate your offering and wow your clients!

What You'll Hear:

02:50 A second generation side hustle

05:23 Brian's first entrepreneurial attempt at the age of 5

07:09 Earning over $100,000 doing the business himself

07:20 Started scaling and bringing in subcontractors

09:30 Why not franchise?

11:00 Providing free reporting - a very valuable add-on service

13:10 Teaching others the lot cleaning business

17:40 Tips on getting started in the business, under $100 for the tools

19:13 Consider the tax benefits of running your own business

22:10 A positive approach to sales

23:00 Sizes and types of buildings you're most likely to gain contracts

25:15 Frequency of servicing the contract

28:30 Is the lot cleaning business for you?

35:00 Brian's best tip for taking action!

Takeaway:

35:44 How will you apply Brian's added service idea?

Connect with Brian and Clean Lots:

https://cleanlots.com/

Connect with Joan:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Joan's Main Site
• Email

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Out of the four gigs she juggled, freelance writing became the clear financial winner for today's guest. It's what now pays for Ruksana Hussain's desired lifestyle.

She's a pro at making connections, landing writing jobs, and learning from her mistakes.

You'll hear unique and easy ways to connect with potential clients at conferences and networking events, what social media platforms are the most productive for freelancers, and how to grow your subscriber list - her Traveler and Tourist online magazine boasts just under 30,000 subscribers. If you've ever thought about becoming a travel writer as a side hustle, you'll definitely want to listen to her response when I ask her to pull back the curtain on what it's really like doing that gig!

What You'll Hear

02:35 Acquiring multiple hustles to bring in income, out of necessity

05:43 Burnout hits

09:03 Lessons (costly ones!) learned for the next business

10:24 Leveraging volunteering contacts

12:08 The need for being more selective in choosing clients to work with

12:30 Ask for advice!

13:49 Being more strategic to ensure payment

15:25 Freedom to travel is not available for everyone in all countries

17:30 Proof of concept for travel and lifestyle online magazine

19:54 Chooses to self-fund to market research the magazine

21:03 A grant may be available to you!

22:19 Choosing something other than the typical business model for an online magazine

26:25 How to make networking events work for you

27:16 Offer to help at the event! Here's why.

28:36 Ask to be connected to a longer-term member

30:15 Best platforms to help grow your freelance business

34:00 Reach out to others in your industry, rather than recreate the wheel

34:27 The need and benefit of connecting with others

35:37 The reality of being a travel writer

39:00 Who pays for all the travel expenses

41:00 Way out of Ruksana's comfort zone - Onsens, Japanese public baths

44:00 One of the greatest benefits of travel

Takeaways:

45:05 Reach out to someone who is getting the results you want to achieve

46:02 Include these questions when you're talking to an expert

Connect with Ruksana:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruksanahussain/

https://twitter.com/ruksanawrites

https://www.instagram.com/ruksanah/

http://www.ruksanawrites.com/

http://www.travelerandtourist.com/

Connect with Joan:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Joan's Main Site
• Email

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Shelley Verlaan was a career accountant, until one day a friend suggested they get together and make soap. That one session did it - Shelley was hooked.

She dove into R&D, started creating her own line of soap, and sold them at markets for a few years until Covid restrictions shut that down. What did she do? She went full-in and opened a brick and mortar store.

Sales have blown past projections.

In this episode, you'll hear how a business plan has been a key component of her success with Soapolallie Soapworks (and how it can accelerate your business too!)

It's refreshing to discover how the concept of making choices in her business so that everyone can survive and thrive, is what guides her decision-making.

Be sure to catch all the valuable no-cost and low-cost marketing tips and reminders sprinkled throughout our conversation, and enjoy the end-of-episode takeaways where I focus on how and why to treat your side hustle NOW as the big, bold, beautiful success you envision it to one day be.

What You'll Hear:

04:16 The first soap-making session 05:18 600 bars of soap - now what? 06:06 Selling at markets 10:00 Covid restriction gives birth to the idea of opening a store 12:38 Customers experience a calming effect by being in the store 14:22 In-depth business plan - a necessity 15:20 Grants, and supports, are often available - take advantage!!! 21:49 Business to Business Love, one way Shelley highlights local businesses 23:23 Everyone needs to survive and thrive 24:30 Failure is part of the soap-making process 25:20 Product line has expanded greatly since moving into the store 26:44 Who is your buyer? 28:00 Develop your email and client list vs just relying on social media 28:52 The naming of Soapolallie Soapworks 31:33 Shelley's special source of inspiration 33:58 Choose a side hustle you're passionate about Takeaways 34:25 The need and importance of a business plan 35:40 How to treat your side hustle as a big, bold, beautiful success now!

Connect with Shelley:

Soapolallie Soapworks

Her videographer:

Brand Stories

Connect with Joan:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Joan's Main Site
• Email

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Have you ever thought of getting involved in a trade as a side hustle? With the current shortage of employees, now might be a great time to discover whether this could be your path!

Today's guest was a salesperson until one day, her employer decided not to pay her the commissions she was owed. She was forced to make a choice, and that choice was to quit.

Fast forward 16 years. Tenille Landy has been working as an employee of painting companies. But then a few years ago, she started doing her own painting jobs after hours as a side hustle. After so much work started coming her way, she decided it was time to convert her side hustle into her own full-time work.

While her expertise is in painting, what she shares applies across many industries, and to life in general. I bet even the principle of how she prices her painting jobs, will apply to aspects of your side hustle!

The end-of-episode takeaways include what can happen when you make a decision - not a wish - but a true decision and commitment to take action and, the importance of the 5 people you spend the most time with.

What You'll Hear:

02:45 Not getting paid commission led to a work change

06:50 Being a women in the trades

07:39 Pretending to be a man to get a job

09:11 Exploring multiple opportunities in the industry

12:02 Being asked to lower her standards

14:14 Choosing to be the "boutique painter"

15:44 How Tenille prices her jobs

19:33 Being self employed is worth the trade off

26:00 Friends gave her the courage to establish her own business

27:45 Everyone experiences self doubt at times

28:00 Change what you're telling yourself, in order to improve your results

29:50 Using podcasts for self-improvement

31:45 Beware of becoming complacent

2 Key Takeaways:

34:10 The power of making the decision to act

35:08 Being around negative people will have a negative impact on you

34:40 The importance of being surrounded by positive people

36:00 The connection between your thoughts and the things showing up in your life

Joan's Online Course:

Turn Your Thoughts Into Wanted Things

And her book:

The Way Success Works: How To Decide, Believe, & Begin to Live Your Best Life

Connect with Joan:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Joan's Main Site
• Email

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A fun way to grow your influence, your audience, and customer base is by being a podcast guest. But how do you do that? And how do you find the right podcasts? Then once you're booked, what do you need to do to be a success?

Today's guest has the answers.

Andrew Allemann started a podcast as an offshoot of his trade publication. Not only has it proven itself with over 400 episodes, but it spawned an idea for a service that connects podcast hosts with people wanting to be interviewed! That service, PodcastGuests, has grown to over 38,000 subscribers, adding solid revenue to Andrew's business.

You'll also hear about MVP - minimum viable product, and how to use this concept to minimize losses and double-down on promising side hustle winners.

In today's end-of-episode takeaways, I focus in on how to get the best results when you're a podcast guest, and you'll hear about a super-efficient, yet under-used free tool (yup, it's free) that puts you in touch with great publicity opportunities.

What You'll Hear:

03:10 Domain Name Wire: trade publication for the domain name industry with 10,000+ posts

04:35 Birth of a podcast

07:03 Out of necessity - podcastguests.com was born

09:48 The jump to building up the platform to enable paid subscriptions

10:36 Key contacts made at an industry conference

11:20 MVP - minimum viable product

13:00 Andrew has had businesses not work out

16:08 The value and benefits of being a guest on podcasts

17:13 Why you might want to start your own podcast…and reasons why you shouldn't

20:44 How to sell and how not to sell if you're a guest

25:52 How to get booked more often

27:48 Resource for new guests: podcastguests.com/guide

29:12 Best ways to monetize your podcast

30:30 A lot of podcasts don't make it to 10 episodes!

31:15 Discoverability is not good in podcasts, resulting in typically a slow-build

32:00 Best way to grow your listenership

36:33 Figure out the minimum product you can get out there to test, then ACT!

Key Takeaways:

38:05 Focus on content - not selling, when you're being interviewed

38:45 google.com/alerts, a free way to be notified of news in your industry…for pitching stories to the media, it's a handy idea-generator

How to find the resources:

Connecting podcasters and guests,

podcastguests.com

How to be a podcast guest,

podcastguests.com/guide

Connect with Joan:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Joan's Main Site
• Email

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My guest today has deep reservoirs of courage. He'll say "yes" to new challenges and then scramble to figure out a way to deliver. Like when he said yes to opening for Paul McCartney's son. His band was hired for the gig, but there was one problem…at the time, he didn't actually have a band. It was just him! But that didn't stop Patrick McWilliams. He's a full-time contractor and tradesperson, and his side hustle is performing as a musician, stand-up comedian, and DJ.

Regardless of your industry's side hustle,you'll be inspired by Patrick's "just say yes" spirit and perseverance.

Check out the end of episode takeaways where I drill down on being "authentic" and saying "yes"... yes to new opportunities, to adventure, to your best life.

What You'll Hear:

04:05 The early days

08:06 Creating his first (one man) band

09:48 Just saying "yes"

11:11 LA, Vancouver, an agent, then….covid!

11:45 Being ripped off by agents

14:30 Learn the lessons now when it's cheaper

15:56 Stand-up comedy added as a new side hustle

18:50 How a double-date left his kitchen cupboards a lot less full

25:05 Construction biz grows but there's time for side hustles

26:04 Juggling music, stand-up, and DJ

27:27 "I'm just going to say yes to things first…"

30:00 Forced to do creative writing…a blessing in disguise

31:23 Your best path to success? Keep the end goal in mind

33:44 Great lesson learned in a bar - no one can do it like you!

37:30 If you're authentic in what you do, you'll never consider it work

Takeaways

38:35 No one can deliver the product and/or service that you do

39:48 Be yourself, but be your very best self

40:30 If your intuition/gut is prompting you to say yes…then SAY YES!

40:39 Either you'll have a "success" or a "learning experience"

How To Connect With Patrick McWilliams:

• Instagram
• Tiktok
• Facebook

Connect with Joan:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Joan's Main Site
• Email

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This episode is all about helping you set yourself up to receive greater wealth and prosperity.

You'll hear a featured session from my 12-part video course, Turn Your Thoughts Into Wanted Things, which is all about the inner game of wealth. If you haven't yet been enjoying the abundance you seek, you'll definitely want to check out this episode.

It's very likely your inner wealth programming that keeps tripping you up. You'll hear how to identify your mental money stumbling blocks, and how to build a prosperity consciousness to support the financial success you seek.

Here's to your financial freedom!

What You'll Hear:

02:39 "98% of adults reaching 30 years of age will not substantially alter their income pattern (adjusting for inflation) for the remainder of their life. Only 2% will experience gains."

02:56 Will more money solve the problem? Nope. Here's why

04:02 Improving your results…your "orange tree"

06:14 You can "grow" into anything you choose

07:50 Thoughts - Feelings - Actions - Results, it's all hooked up

08:20 Your external results are merely a reflection of your internal reality

08:35 Do you have a poverty or a prosperity consciousness?

09:02 Here's how you developed your outlook on finances, money, and wealth

09:51 Sources of our programming

10:20 Why we have the money beliefs that we do

11:15 This is what's driving your financial decisions today

14:49 How to re-write and install your new prosperity program

15:02 How to discover your beliefs about money and rich people

16:03 More money amplifies who you already are

Joan's Online Course:

Turn Youth Thoughts Into Wanted Things

Connect with Joan:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Joan's Main Site
• Email

Be on the show!

• Be Our Guest