Side Hustle Hero

The side hustle that started with buying books for $1 and selling them at a big markup on eBay, morphed into a $5 million dollar brand on Amazon.

This happened through the skill and resilience of today's guest, Annalisa DeMarta. She recently discovered that while there are 2.7 million sellers on Amazon, her company Ridgeline Insights is in the top 0.0005% of Amazon sellers. If anybody understands selling on Amazon, it's Annalisa.

In our interview, Annalisa reveals what it really takes to be a successful seller on Amazon. She shares the sweet spot of how long you should give your product listing a chance, what are the most important aspects you need to pay attention to, and so much more.

It was difficult to choose which takeaways I'd feature at the end because not only does she share many gems for successful selling on Amazon, but the philosophy behind her advice applies to the majority of side hustle businesses. But I settled on these 3 things; why and when to jump into a new venture even if there's the possibility of failure, how to improve your cash flow situation, and how to reframe the feeling of depriving yourself when you're making those smarter cash flow choices.

You'll definitely want to check out this episode!

What You'll Hear:

03:30 Buying books for $1, selling them for $5, $10, $25…

06:16 A lightbulb moment: Shifting to a scalable and dependable model

07:33 BIG lesson learned: Minding cash flow

08:45 From just the two of them, to 25 employees

10:05 If we don't try this, we'll regret it

11:20 Set yourself up for success by being fiscally conservative in your spending

11:56 A shopping trip provides the seed for a winning business idea

14:00 So many things could have gone wrong - The first shipment of boots from China

15:05 Built Lone Cone to a $5 million brand

18:00 Where to start if you want to import products

21:45 Amazon aggregator picks up Lone Cone

24:14 Ridgeline Insights, an Amazon channel management company

26:55 3 Most common ways to sell on Amazon and pros & cons: arbitrage (a great way to learn Amazon), private labeling/black labeling, contract manufacturing

30:35 Incorrect assumptions people make about selling on Amazon

32:40 What it takes to do Amazon well!

33:58 Just like MSI's (multiple sources of income), diversification of assets is smart

35:01 A lowball offer - nothing lost if they say "no"

35:56 What it REALLY takes to be successful selling on Amazon

39:00 The sweet spot for long you should give a SKU a chance before you give up

43:50 Fear of failure - get over it because you will fail

44:20 Risk a little, learn a lot

45:20 From side hustle to multi-millionaire…you can too!

Key Takeaways:

46:00 Don't play the "what-if" game

47:04 Work towards the first tier of financial success - having your base expenses covered

48:00 You're not losing, you're trading for a future payoff

49:00 Act on what's in your control

How to connect with Annalisa & Ridgeline Insights:

• Ridgeline Insights website
• LinkedIn: Annalisa
• Tiktok:Annalisa

Connect with Joan:

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

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It started as a little side hustle idea…create a souvenir cookbook for friends and guests at a ski hill. But little did Shelley Adams know this single cookbook would snowball into the bestselling series, "Whitewater Cooks." The 6 books have now sold over 280,000 copies.

If you're not already a foodie, there's a pretty good chance you will be by the end of this episode.

Partway through her cookbook journey, she decided to create a line of sauces, yet she knew nothing about bottling, labeling, or distribution, but she used a highly effective strategy that each of us can apply, to any industry.

Catch today's end-of-episode takeaways to learn how to apply that strategy, and you'll also discover what the real purpose is, of having goals. And spoiler alert, it's not to get stuff!

What You'll Hear:

03:49 From catering on location, to local ski hill food

04:24 Transforming a ski hill's cafeteria

07:12 Buying a ski hill!

08:04 A "scary amount of money" to buy Whitewater.

09:03 The idea for the first cookbook

10:35 The print order for the first book.

11:30 Being pushed for book #2

14:44 Shelley's book distributor now has a side hustle!

15:31 What it takes and the timeline from cookbook idea, to print

18:15 Biggest challenges - both physical and mental

19:40 Start where you can start

20:45 The food you see in the photos is all edible!

21:56 Juggling two kids, a ski resort, and a cookbook

22:50 10,000 book sales needed to break even

23:33 Learning what it takes to bottle sauces and asking for help

26:02 What's next for Shelley Adams & Whitewater Cooks

28:04 Her fav cookbook in the series

29:15 What she loves most about cooking and food

30:45 Best tip for overcoming fear and self-doubt? Keep it simple and chunk it down

2 Key Takeaways:

32:54 Begin with the research

33:41 A powerful question: "Can you help me get started?"

34:08 2 questions you'll want to ask

34:55 The real purpose of having a goal

How To Find Shelley Adams & Whitewater Cooks:

• Whitewater Cooks Website
• Instagram

Connect with Joan:

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

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Whatever your side hustle, chances are it could benefit from having sponsors - people paying you, supporting you, in what you're producing.

That's only one reason why you'll want to catch this episode. Today's guest is going to help you with that, and he's both engaging and entertaining. After all, Todd Hancock was an on-air radio personality at a rock station for 14 years in a major market. Today he is a full-time Radio Arts & Entertainment instructor, and his side hustle is the Toddcast Podcast.

He talks about how he calculates what to charge a sponsor, his motivation for making the podcast a success, why he doesn't have a problem with asking sponsors for support, and his brush with death involving a speeding train.

What's in today's Wrap-Up? Tips to help you muster up the courage to charge for what you're worth - whether that's for a product, a service, or pitching a prospective sponsor. It's a challenge for a lot of creatives, so you're not alone!

What You'll Hear:

02:37 The push to start a podcast

05:15 After the first sponsor signed, it can snowball

07:42 Multiple guests per episode = multiple sponsors per episode

10:20 Weekly time commitment for the podcast

10:50 Heavy on the social media to get the word out

12:01 From full-time job @BCIT to part-time side hustle

14:32 It was the podcast that landed him the full-time job, not his 20 years in radio!

16:13 Who to reach out to your first sponsors

16:44 You can receive product in lieu of money from sponsors

17:40 How Todd calculates what to charge a sponsor

19:20 The motivation for monetizing

23:19 The need to ensure your sponsors know how much exposure you're giving them

25:31 Why he continues to juggle both full-time work and his podcast side hustle

29:58 Todd's best tip to take action on your side hustle

Key Takeaway

30:52 What to do if you're hesitant to charge what you're worth

31:12 Your offering is truly unique

32:38 Incorporate the "post-it note technique" for yourself

32:03 Begin to create your VR folder today

Where to find Todd:

• Website
• Toddcast Podcast
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Facebook

Connect with Joan:

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

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Ever wonder what it takes to be a successful content creator?

Today's guest knows! Biohacker Brittany Ford was working with clients one-on-one as a nutritionist until she realized that increasingly it was her skill as a content creator that people were reaching out to her for and in this episode, you'll get an insider's look behind the scenes.

Also, you'll hear how she's making "deep work" a priority, and it's something that we all need to integrate to grow our side hustles. One of the end-of-episode takeaways I share is a highly effective tool called the "Friday Box" that you'll want to employ when facing a pressing problem that is keeping you from focusing on your business. There's also a nice little (and often needed) reminder about the difference between "urgent" vs "important" tasks and how to take back control.

What You'll Hear:

05:34 One way to force a change - move to a different country!

07:35 Several health-related side hustle offerings come together

09:01 The wisdom of having an income source to support the growth of your side hustle

15:02 The need to create space for "deep work"

16:50 Multitasking and deep work don't mix

20:09 Definition of Biohacking: Holistic self-care for optimal health…everything that makes you, you!

23:42 The work involved in content creation

25:00 Hours of work for a 30-second video

25:55 Influencer affiliate work, UGC (user-generated content)

26:54 Understand the profits being made from your content 29:16 Narrowing the niche

30:01 Raw milk, plant medicine, and ancestral nutrition

32:27 The sooner you take action, the better!

2 Key Takeaways:

33:49 The difference between "urgent" and "important"

34:10 How to set up your environment for a successful "deep work" session

35:25 Take back control of your activities

35:54 The Friday Box - a highly effective strategy for moving forward when you're needing to deal with BIG problems

36:48 Take back control!

How to Find Brittany Ford:

• Website Biohacking Brittany
• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok

Connect with Joan:

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

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Today's guest has been dubbed, the Queen of Side Hustle. It's no wonder…she's been a beekeeper for 7 years, a cheese monger for 11 years, and she's sprinkled in a lot of other side hustles along the way.

Whether or not you've ever thought about beekeeping as a side hustle, Nicole Buergers' journey is sure to inspire! While laughing a lot through this episode, we unpack lessons that apply to every industry. Nicole is authentic, passionate, open, and uplifting.

Be sure to catch my wrap-up at the end where I drill down on imposter syndrome (you're not alone) and, why you need to question where you're spending your time.

Did I mention that early in her beekeeping venture, Nicole endured over 50 bee stings to the face in a single bee incident? I can't imagine. Yet she kept going. You're sure to "bee" inspired by today's guest, Nicole Buergers.

Full show notes available here:

https://www.sidehustlehero.com/9-inspiring-beekeepers-hard-won-wisdom/

Where to find Nicole & Bee2Bee

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter

Let's Connect

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

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While managing a full-time career as a professional magician, entertainer, and working the fairs, Will Roya started his side hustle selling items on eBay, and magic tricks off his own website. Business was good! But things really took off when he launched and focused on, playingcarddecks.com

Seriously, who better to sell playing cards than a magician, right?? Will's story provides pragmatic, thoughtful, and lucrative $$$ advice on how to build a successful side hustle. Home base for Will is Las Vegas Nevada, where today he owns the office and warehouse that allows him to offer customers over 2500 unique products (mostly playing cards, of course.)

It was interesting to learn the real reason behind his interest in backing over 350 Kickstarter projects.

Be sure to catch the "Takeaways" at the end where I'll tell you the quickest and most efficient way to immerse yourself in a new industry, and how to make the idea of earning $1M per year…look small!

What You'll Hear:

02:20 The playing card community & the Kickstarter influence

04:20 The beginning of Will's career as a magician

07:17 The 2008 recession caused Will to change his hustle

08:55 Selling in person, online, wholesale, retail? Depends on the product

09:22 When it's okay for a magician to reveal how the trick works

12:06 Success with proof of concept - playingcarddecks.com

12:58 First major test - Black Friday sales

13:45 Inventory - The more you have, the more you'll sell

14:55 Will's superpower!

15:45 The value of being a backer in Kickstarter projects

16:28 The Pip Box Club, a subscription service

17:28 A new product may require you reach out to a different market

18:09 Pandemic sales

18:33 Staffing….includes family!

20:58 Have the end goal in mind. Break down the $1 million.

21:48 Will's goal achievement map

22:25 Where to spend your time? Take a look at what gives you the best ROI.

23:26 Keep the focus on your golden goose

2 Key Takeaways

24:11 One of the quickest ways to learn about an industry

25:03 The benefit of having the end goal in mind

25:03 Making $1 million look small-er

25:41 Linking your big vision to your daily tasks

26:06 A brilliant definition of "discipline"

How To Find Will Roya:

• Play Card Decks website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Youtube

Let's Connect

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

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Starting or scaling your side hustle can be a stressful experience, right?

So it's a good thing that Corporate Stress Coach and wellness educator Nicole Porter is today's guest. In addition to her knowledge of stress, and what it does to our body and mind, she understands it from the perspective of someone who has started, grown, and successfully scaled a side hustle.

She shares with us what she did right that enabled her to work 100+ hours when she needed to, and what she did very wrong that added undue stress to her body.

Nicole also shares some guidance on what to do about credit cards and lines of credit if you're thinking about leaving your "9-5."

She reveals that there are 10, count 'em, 10! unhealthy habits that most people do every day that add "Hidden Stress" to the body and brain. These contribute to weight gain, fatigue, anxiety, sugar cravings, sleep issues…and that's just the shortlist.

Be sure to catch the wrap-up at the end of the show, for a highlight of 3 key takeaways, one of which I guarantee is a factor in your stress level, and I'll give you a tip that'll help you instantly improve how you feel, the next time you feel stressed.

What You'll Hear:

02:48 Learning how to sell thickens your skin

04:20 Leap and the net will appear

06:40 The first one through the wall always gets bloodied

08:40 Healthy brands didn't have the budget

10:17 Leaving the corporate job

11:11 … but not until you establish your credit resources

14:13 How you'll know you've made the right decision

14:40 Don't be afraid to laser focus on your niche market

17:12 Selling her home to move forward was a…no brainer?

19:18 There are "hidden" stressors we put on the body every day

20:00 The consequences of stress on the body

20:54 Stress and perception

21:39 Dehydration starts…in the brain!!!

23:30 Why Nicole was able to work 100+ hours per week

24: 00 What you're consuming may be draining your energy

25:25 Major mistake Nicole made when growing her side hustle

27:35 Lack of sleep and the negative effect on your body

28:29 A skill you CAN learn to lower stress

31:35 Experiencing doubt is absolutely normal

34:42 The eggnog story

3 Key Takeaways

39:08 Sometimes, done is better than perfect

39:55 What to do if you're a perfectionist

40:00 Hearing "no" is just part of the process

40:35 The role of perception in your mental and emotional stress

42:26 What to do next time you're feeling stressed

How to Find Nicole

• Nicole Porter Wellness website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn

Where the eggnog money went to:

• Backpack Buddies

Let's Connect

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

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Are you thinking about making your side hustle your full-time work? If so, when's the best time? Today's guest has some words of wisdom to share.

Len Pierre is Coast Salish from Katzie First Nation and is an educator, consultant, TEDx Speaker, social activist, and traditional knowledge keeper.

Often times we choose a side hustle because we are striving for an additional source of income, or we know that our current full-time work is just not what we want to do for the long term. But in the case of Len, I truly believe that what began for him as a side hustle, is actually blossoming to be his life's work.

I met Len by way of one of my side hustles!

After nurturing his side hustle for a year and a half, he quit his secure, government pension, full-time job, in order to grow his business. That's gutsy! Now leading a team of 15 people, he scrambles to keep up with demand. He's got a lot of knowledge to share about what it takes to create a successful side hustle and when and if to make it your full-time work.

Be sure to catch the wrap up at the end of the show, where I drill down on 2 key takeaways from what Len shares. One will inspire you to reach out for advice, and the other will cause you see the distortion behind the feeling that you get when you think you can't do something that you really want to achieve.

What You'll Hear:

03:30 Len describes his Indigenous leadership, innovation, & transformation consulting group

04:16 A pivotal moment - A tsunami of clients

06:20 Len's first side hustle attempt

09:28 A short prayer before going on stage (Note to Listener: Do your version of this before your next presentation)

11:09 First side hustle fell through the cracks

13:11 Someone found his side hustle website!!!

14:22 How the pandemic helped grow Len's side hustle

15:03 What it means to Indigenize

17:55 Giving up a pension and government-funded 9-5 job

18:58 The experience of finally quitting your 9-5

21:41 The moment Len made the decision to quit his corporate job

24:33 How a moment in my story and Len's are so aligned

26:50 Keeping up with demand, the most important element of growing his business!

27:25 The decision to start hiring and the business grows

29:06 An online course is a way for more people to receive your services (Note to Listener: Can what you do be taught in an online course?)

31:06 When to take action? Listen to your gut

32:06 Build your network with like-minded, like-hearted people

2 Key Takeaways

33:04 Build your network. The first step? ASK! Here's how to start

33:37 A life-changing realization…get this!!!!

34:24 Are your beliefs the truth? Nope. Not necessarily

34:30 The wisdom of Len's grandmother

35:54 Why you experience self-doubt

How to find Len Pierre:

• Len Pierre Consulting website
• Instagram
• Facebook

Connect With Joan:

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

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From selling fresh flowers on the side of the road, to pop-up Christmas Tree lots, to selling Phantom of the Opera jewelry at country markets, my side hustle journey has been diverse, to say the least. Today I answer the question, "Hey Joan, what's your side hustle story?"

In today's episode, I share with you some of those stories, lessons learned, and a key action I've taken for every side hustle and business success I've achieved. Actually, it's more than just a key…it's vital to success.

What You'll Hear:

01:56 Sell Christmas trees? Really?

03:58 The end of the tree side hustle

04:49 A life-changing perspective you've got to hear!

05:50 My first BIG goal

06:55 You have no idea of the depth of your potential

07:11 Who NOT to share your dreams with

08:40 Opportunities out West…or not?

09:49 The "Deli" side hustle

11:21 There is a creative process we can follow to achieve any result

13:40 Connecting with what you need

15:30 Launching a new concept

16:48 A key to every major success I've achieved

18:00 Turn your thoughts into Wanted things!

Online Course:

Turn Your Thoughts Into WANTED Things

Let's Connect

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

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Wouldn't you love to wake up each morning with a joyful hunger and passion for your work? Today's Side Hustle Hero has found a way.

Lauren Eckhardt was really good at her day job in human resources and was being promoted up through the ranks, but she knew her heart was elsewhere. She had tried a number of side hustles that didn't bring her the success AND fulfillment she sought. It took a "triple meltdown moment" in her kitchen, and a bout of covid to cause her to break through the chains of her old habit patterns which freed her to express her true gifts and finally start her dream side hustle. You'll hear that it took her less than a year to see her company grow from 0 to 6-figures.

Her company Burning Soul Collective turns clients' life stories into powerful books that spark change.

Be sure to catch the wrap-up at the end of the show, where I drill down on 2 key takeaways from what Lauren shares. Both have to do with you checking in on the congruence between what you're saying and what you're doing. Aligning those may be just what you need to jump to the level of success you know you can achieve.

What You'll Hear:

02:29 Great reasons to start a side hustle!

03:20 Trying 5 different side hustles

04:31 Wanting success AND fulfillment

06:00 Being discouraged to follow what lights her up!

07:00 The consequence of not following your dream

07:42 The importance of your "why"

07:55 What it takes to change behaviour and why it's so difficult

10:09 The importance of leading by example

11:17 Lauren's life-changing triple meltdown moment

12:41 The one thing you can control

14:20 Can you actually get paid doing something you love???

15:25 Her Covid silver lining

18:01 What happened the following week after making the decision to pursue her dream

25:50 Are we even going to survive this?

27:30 Wait until your company can afford to hire, or jump in anyway?

28:45 Hire contractors or employees?

31:26 Reaching the point where you can't imagine doing anything else

32:06 Lauren's #1 tip to help you take action

33:38 It took her months to go public with the news she started her company

34:58 Screw the fears!

35:19 The ripple effect of your decisions

37:30 When you make the decision and act to start your side hustle, you really don't appreciate how great your life can get

2 Key Takeaways:

37:57 We need to walk our talk. Actions do speak louder than words

39:00 Are you telling yourself a story?

39:41 Once a decision is made, the universe conspires to make it happen

How To Find Lauren Eckhardt:

• Website - Burning Soul Collective
• Instagram
• Facebook

Let's Connect

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

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