This week in the guest chair, Symone' Austin shares her powerful journey from being laid off to building a thriving YouTube platform.

After recording and posting her layoff conversation, her video went viral and became the turning point in her entrepreneurial journey. In this episode, she breaks down how she built multiple income streams through YouTube ad revenue, brand partnerships, digital products, virtual assistant work, and strategic financial decisions like bringing on a roommate.

If you’ve been navigating uncertainty, considering content creation, or wondering how to turn a setback into leverage, this episode will show you how.

00:00 – Recording the layoff conversation that changed everything

04:30 – Growing from 10K to 60K+ subscribers in one year

08:20 – Making $5,900 in one month from YouTube ad revenue

13:00 – Cutting expenses and surviving without touching savings

18:10 – Turning skills into income: photography, digital products, VA work

24:00 – Why personal finance has one of the highest CPMs on YouTube

29:00 – Replacing a corporate salary through content creation

35:00 – The reality of working 7 days a week as a full-time creator

38:00 – Getting a roommate as a financial reset strategy

43:00 – Navigating job offers after deciding to go all-in

Life and Numbers YouTube Channel

Read Successful Failure by KevOnStage

Watch Symone's YouTube video "I Got Laid Off From My 6 Figure Tech Job"

Save the Date: Start the Podcast That Builds Your Exit Plan (Friday, March 13)

Watch this episode on YouTube and listen on all podcast platforms:

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/side-hustle-pro/id1126021323
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13qDj08lBR4ymzGhXIKy8t
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/sidehustlepro

If you’re ready to build a podcast that becomes your exit plan, attend my next live class: Start the Podcast That Builds Your Exit Plan

Save your seat here: https://sidehustlepro.lpages.co/your-first-1000-downloads/

YouTube: Life and Numbers: https://www.youtube.com/lifeandnumbers

Instagram: @lifeandnumbers: http://instagram.com/lifeandnumbers

Side Hustle Pro – @sidehustlepro

#SideHustlePro

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Side Hustle Pro, I’m sharing how I’m structuring my year through 12-week sprints,  focusing on my health, my money, and elevating my Podcast Moguls program. 

I open up about navigating motherhood, sleep deprivation, and mindset work while still executing on big goals. Most importantly, I reflect on how my podcast has been the one constant through every season becoming my bridge out of corporate and my foundation for long-term leverage.

00:00: Why I use 12-week sprints

02:15: Rebuilding my health after six years

06:30: Accountability and investing in myself

14:00: Emotional spending and financial clarity

18:45: Auditing my business finances

21:30: Updating Podcast Moguls

25:00: Managing mindset during execution

28:00: Why my podcast became my bridge out of corporate

31:00: Building leverage and long-term positioning

Podcast Moguls: Start the Podcast That Builds Your Exit Plan

Watch this episode on YouTube and listen on all podcast platforms:

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/side-hustle-pro/id1126021323
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13qDj08lBR4ymzGhXIKy8t
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/sidehustlepro

If you’re ready to build a podcast that becomes your exit plan, attend my next live class: Start the Podcast That Builds Your Exit Plan

Save your seat here: 

Side Hustle Pro – @sidehustlepro

#SideHustlePro

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this solo episode, I’m sharing five real, practical ways to generate income during your in-between season. If you’re asking yourself, “I got laid off… now what? This episode will give you grounded, actionable steps to move forward and even some side hustle ideas!

00:00 – If you’ve been laid off, you are not alone

02:30 – Why invisibility is the real danger during unemployment

04:05 – Using content creation as a visibility tool

07:20 – Turning alumni and professional networks into income

09:10 – Short-term projects using skills you already have

13:10 – Becoming a LifeOps consultant

16:50 – Short-term rental support as seasonal leverage

19:30 – Creating a premium career support retreat experience

21:40 – Why you should always keep side hustling

23:30 – How my unemployment season planted the seed for Side Hustle Pro

Podcast Moguls: Start the Podcast That Builds Your Exit Plan

Watch this episode on YouTube and listen on all podcast platforms:

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/side-hustle-pro/id1126021323
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13qDj08lBR4ymzGhXIKy8t
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/sidehustlepro

If you’re ready to build a podcast that becomes your exit plan, attend my next live class: Start the Podcast That Builds Your Exit Plan

Save your seat here.

Side Hustle Pro – @sidehustlepro

#SideHustlePro

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Side Hustle Pro is officially 500 episodes deep, and in this milestone episode, I’m taking time to reflect on what this journey has really taught me.

I share the biggest lessons I’ve learned about consistency, networking, monetization, and why the podcast itself was never the end goal, the platform was. I also talk about what I wish I knew when I started, how podcasting helped me grow as a speaker and business owner, and why playing the long game has paid off in ways I never could have planned.

If you’re thinking about starting a podcast, growing a side hustle, or building something meaningful over time, this episode is a reminder that you don’t have to rush, you just have to keep going.

Highlights Include

• 00:00 – Welcome to the 500th episode of Side Hustle Pro
• 02:10 – Starting with what I had and recording from home
• 04:30 – Why trying to predict the end can stop you from starting
• 06:45 – Why the podcast was never the point, the platform was
• 09:30 – How podcasting transformed my network
• 12:50 – Keeping costs low and thinking like a business owner
• 16:30 – The power of consistency and playing the long game
• 18:45 – How podcasting improved my confidence as a speaker
• 21:00 – Giving myself grace through different seasons of life
• 24:45 – Final lessons I’d tell my earlier self

• Podcast Moguls Group Coaching Program: https://sidehustlepro.co/podcastmoguls
• Start the Podcast That Builds Your Exit Plan: https://sidehustlepro.lpages.co/your-first-1000-downloads/
• Side Hustle Pro Website: https://sidehustlepro.co/

Watch this episode on YouTube and listen on all podcast platforms:

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/side-hustle-pro/id1126021323
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13qDj08lBR4ymzGhXIKy8t
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/sidehustlepro

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You do not need a million dollars to change your life, you need your first $1,000.

In this solo episode, I’m breaking down why the first $1K is such a pivotal milestone for side hustlers and how it shifts everything from theory to proof. I walk you through the exact decisions and actions that turn preparation into income without overbuilding, overthinking, or waiting until things feel perfect.

If you’ve been stuck planning, tweaking, or doubting yourself, this episode will help you move forward with clarity, confidence, and momentum.

In This Episode, I Share:

• Why the first $1,000 changes everything mentally and strategically
• How to choose a simple offer you can confidently deliver right now
• How to identify who your offer is really for and why frustration matters
• Why clarity, consistency, and conversations matter more than perfection

Highlights Include:

• 00:00 – Why you don’t need a million dollars to change your life — you need your first $1,000
• 01:35 – How your mindset shifts after you make your first $1K and why proof matters more than theory
• 02:31 – What actually counts as an offer and why your first one should be useful, not fancy
• 03:52 – Why starting with what you’re already confident in is the fastest way to get paid
• 05:16 – How to decide who your offer is really for and why specificity matters
• 07:27 – The difference between a painkiller and a vitamin offer (and why frustration drives sales)
• 08:55 – How to package your offer simply without a website, logo, or brand
• 11:22 – Why offering your service is the most important step people delay
• 12:48 – How confidence and customer focus directly impact whether you make your first $1K
• 14:04 – Why you don’t need a massive audience — just real conversations and feedback
• 15:37 – How to use feedback as information instead of taking it personally
• 17:47 – Why overbuilding and “perfecting” keeps side hustlers stuck
• 19:21 – Breaking down the math behind $1,000 so it feels achievable
• 20:45 – Why fewer clients at a higher price can reduce burnout
• 21:34 – Why most people earn their first $1K from conversations, not content
• 22:19 – How I made my first $1,000 and what actually worked
• 26:03 – When to start building your email list and why simple free resources convert better
• 28:54 – How to use a 12-week sprint to stay focused on your first $1K
• 29:38 – What to do when your first offer feels slow or doesn’t land immediately
• 31:08 – What changes after you hit your first $1,000 — and the mistake to avoid next
• 31:49 – Final action steps to start building your first $1K offer

• Side Hustle Pro Website: https://sidehustlepro.co/

Watch this episode on YouTube and listen on all podcast platforms:

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/side-hustle-pro/id1126021323
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13qDj08lBR4ymzGhXIKy8t
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/sidehustlepro

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this solo episode, I’m breaking down how to start your side hustle without quitting your job or putting your paycheck at risk. I’m sharing what I’ve learned from building Side Hustle Pro from two very different places: one, when I was unemployed with plenty of time but no stability, and two, when I was working full-time at NPR with stability but limited time.

What I’ve learned is this: there is no “perfect” situation for side hustling. What matters is how you build, not whether you quit your job first.

I’m walking you through my five rules for side hustling the Side Hustle Pro way, plus a bonus rule to help you decide when you’re actually ready to leave your job on purpose, with a plan, and on your own terms.

If you’ve been feeling the pull to build something but don’t want to move out of panic or pressure, this episode will help you build quietly, strategically, and stress-free.

In This Episode, I Share:

• Why keeping your job can actually give you leverage and clarity as you build
• The mindset shift that turns your paycheck into startup capital
• How to choose a side hustle that fits your real life, energy, and capacity
• How to decide in advance what “ready to leave” really looks like backed by numbers and a plan

00:00 Introduction to Side Hustling

01:00 The Importance of Stability

02:24 Five Rules for Side Hustle Success

04:39 Rule 1: Keep Your Day Job

06:26 Rule 2: Choose a Suitable Side Hustle

08:53 Rule 3: Set Non-Negotiable Time Boundaries

12:37 Rule 4: Build Basic First

17:11 Rule 5: Protect Your Job While You Build

20:48 Bonus Rule: Decide What 'Ready to Leave' Means

24:01 Conclusion and Next Steps

• Side Hustle Pro Website: https://sidehustlepro.co/
• Goal Getter Action Plan: https://side-hustle-pro.teachable.com/p/goal-getter-action-plan

Watch this episode on YouTube and listen on all podcast platforms:

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/side-hustle-pro/id1126021323
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13qDj08lBR4ymzGhXIKy8t
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/sidehustlepro

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Side Hustle Pro, I break down seven side hustles you can start this month that have real income potential. This episode is all about building leverage through problem-solving businesses that can grow from side hustle to full-time income.

In This Episode, I Share:

• Why your side hustle should be treated as leverage and a real business, not a hobby or just extra money
• The two rules I want you to follow before choosing a side hustle: don’t try everything at once, and focus on solving real problems
• Seven proven, service-based side hustle ideas — from home operations and career pivots to podcast booking and fractional COO work
• How to move from idea to action by getting your first client through simple, focused next steps

00:00 Why your side hustle should be treated as leverage, not a hobby

02:10 The two rules to follow before choosing a side hustle

04:30 How to stop collecting ideas and start building a real business

06:30 Side Hustle #1: The local “fix-it” project manager (home ops manager)

10:15 Side Hustle #2: Career Pivot Studio for job seekers and career switchers

14:45 Side Hustle #3: Podcast guest booking agency for founders and experts

18:50 Side Hustle #4: Compliance, privacy, and admin cleanup for small businesses

22:30 Side Hustle #5: Elder care concierge for busy adult children

26:30 Side Hustle #6: Micro-business events producer for pop-ups and workshops

30:00 Side Hustle #7: Fractional COO and operations command center builder

35:20 How to pick one side hustle and take action this week

38:10 Simple next steps to land your first client

• Side Hustle Pro Website: https://sidehustlepro.co/

Watch this episode on YouTube and listen on all podcast platforms:

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/side-hustle-pro/id1126021323
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13qDj08lBR4ymzGhXIKy8t
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/sidehustlepro

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this solo episode, I’m sharing the exact 12 week sprint system that completely changed how I set and complete my goals.

Instead of giving myself an entire year to “figure it out,” I learned that shrinking the timeline created clarity, urgency, and momentum. I walk you through how I choose my goals, break them down into manageable weekly actions, and build in a recalculation rule that allows for real life instead of an idealized version of it.

If you have ever started the year motivated only to feel your goals quietly drift away by February, this episode gives you a simple and realistic framework you can start using right now.

In This Episode, I Share:

• Why yearly goal setting gives side hustlers too much room to procrastinate and how 12 week sprints create clarity and momentum
• How I choose just three goals per sprint with one clear focus per month
• The simple way I break monthly goals into realistic weekly tasks that actually get done
• Why daily five minute reviews and one weekly self accountability day keep my goals from drifting
• The recalculation rule that helps me keep going when life gets messy without guilt or quitting

00:00 Why annual goals do not work for busy side hustlers

02:50 How 12 week sprints eliminate procrastination

05:55 The rule of only three goals with one focus per month

10:20 Why writing my goals down is non negotiable

12:40 How I break goals into simple weekly tasks

14:45 The recalculation rule that keeps me moving forward

17:00 Choosing a weekly self accountability day

21:00 Your 12 week sprint challenge

• Goalgetter Action Plan: https://sidehustlepro.co/goalgetter
• Side Hustle Pro Website: https://sidehustlepro.co/

Watch this episode on YouTube and listen on all podcast platforms:

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/side-hustle-pro/id1126021323
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13qDj08lBR4ymzGhXIKy8t
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/sidehustlepro

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re changing it up and I’m sitting in the guest chair. In this special “podcast swap” episode of Side Hustle Pro, I’m sharing an interview from the podcast To Tell You The Truth with host and Podcast Moguls student Brittany Sharpton. We dive into the concept of self-imposed barriers and how they can prevent entrepreneurs, especially Black women, from realizing their full potential. 

In this episode I share:

• My journey to reclaiming my power in spaces where Black women aren’t usually empowered- and why I’m constantly reminding myself that I’m that girl
• Steps to take to combat the fear and negative self-talk that often creep in
• What feeds my soul and the lessons I’m learning every day- even as a seasoned entrepreneur 
• Insights from my Podcast Moguls course and how I’ve seen Brittany grow after being a student 

Highlights Include:

00:00 Intro

03:30 From corporate to entrepreneur 

09:55 The importance of having a side hustle 

11:45 Overcoming biases

17:30 How to show up as a working mom

22:00 Getting your mojo back 

27:15 Overcoming the limitations of the patriarchy

37:04 Tips to feed your soul

41:15 Beating fear and imposter syndrome

Check out episode 495 of Side Hustle Pro podcast out now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

Links mentioned in this episode

• Brittany’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/britthappenshq/ 
• To Tell You The Truth Pod: https://www.instagram.com/totellyouthetruthpod/ 
• Nicaila’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidehustlepro/ 
• How To Make Money Podcasting Course: https://sidehustlepro.lpages.co/your-first-1000-downloads/ 
• Management Leadership For Tomorrow: https://mlt.org/ 
• Mel Robbins Podcast, Let Go of Negative Thoughts: https://www.melrobbins.com/podcasts/episode-198 
• Jen Sincero’s Book: https://jensincero.com/ 
• Walk Through Fire: https://www.amazon.com/Walk-Through-Fire-Memoir-Triumph-ebook/dp/B0BXM51HXN 
• Get Good With Money: https://getgoodwithmoney.com/ 

Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rss

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week in the guest chair we have Tricia Lee, powerhouse real estate broker, star of Netflix’s Owning Manhattan, and founder and leader of the highly talented Tricia Lee Team at Serhant. 

Tricia sold over $200M in her solo career before joining Serhant and simultaneously joining forces with her partner, Jeffrey St. Arromand. Through the power of partnership, authenticity, and personal branding, Tricia has become a household name in real estate and media.

In this episode, Tricia shares:

• How she successfully managed the pivot from beauty to real estate and television 
• Why she makes it a point to share her journey while also marketing her business
• How content creation has helped her close real estate deals
• How she has stayed true to herself and blocked out opinions, jobs, and people who don’t align with her goals
• And so much more!

Highlights Include:

00:00 Intro 

03:14 Discovering identity

13:00 Navigating real estate

16:50 Polish Bar success

23:08 Transferring skills from previous industries

34:19 Navigating real estate and running a business

40:48 Building confidence through successful selling

50:00 Personal branding through authenticity 

1:00:00 Power of partnership

1:11:00 Tips for entrepreneurs 

Check out episode 494 of Side Hustle Pro podcast out now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

Links mentioned in this episode

• Tricia’s Website: https://serhant.com/agents/tricia-lee-riley 
• Tricia’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovetricialee/?hl=en 
• Team Tricia Lee: https://serhant.com/agents/tricia-lee-riley 
• Bed-Stuy Restoration: https://www.restorationplaza.org/ 

Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rss

Join our Facebook Community

If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/facebook

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