Side Hustle School

Side Hustle School

By Chris Guillebeau
Download on the App Store

Side Hustle School episodes

  • First $1,000: “Hyperfluent” Language Service Translates Into Profit
    What It’s About
    A language consultant prices multiple services smartly and crosses the first $1,000 milestone faster than expected.

    Notes from Chris
    Episode 3341

    Today’s episode is part of a feature we call ‘Your First $1,000.’ As you might surmise from the title, this is all about how someone made their first $1,000.

    How did they get to that point? Not their first $100,000—that’s cool, but it would probably be a long story.

    But what about their first $1,000—how did they make that happen, what did it feel like, and what did they learn?

    Let’s hear today’s story. I’ll be back at the end to wrap us up. 

     

     

    SEE ALSO:

    • Military Spouse Starts Subscription Box Mission:When an HR Director’s husband is away on military deployment, she uses the alone time to march toward a subscription box.
    • Think Inside the Subscription Box:Looking for more community, a North Carolina web agency owner starts a subscription box for female entrepreneurs. It’s supposed to be a referral tool for her agency, but it ends up becoming a full-time business of its own.
    • Nature-Loving Neighbors Create Kids Subscription Box: When two couples can’t figure out how to get their kids outdoors and away from electronics in the winter, a personal challenge blossoms into an unbeLEAFable side hustle.
    • Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

      Yours in the revolution,

      <img class="alignnone wp-image-1825" src="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter-300x140.png" alt="cg-sig-newsletter" width="176" height="82" srcset="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter-300x140.png 300w, https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter.png 450w" sizes="(max-width: 176px) 100vw, 176px">

      Resources
      WEB HOSTING @ $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 many websites. It's cheap, flexible, and offers support 24-7.

      Get your own hosting plan for just $2.49 a month!

      Learn More

      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

      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
      <img class="aligncenter wp-image-1272 size-full" src="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ChrisGuillebeauSideHustleSchoolFull-1.jpg" width="1076" height="251">
      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!

      Follow

      Facebook,Instagram,Twitter

      Email

      Say Hi

      From your favorite airport

      To infinity and beyond,

      Chris Guillebeau
      9 min
    • Proud Mainer Brings Whoopie Pies to the World
      What It’s About
      A nearly empty nest turns into a full oven as a home baker scales a Maine classic into a nationwide dessert business.

      Notes from Chris
      Episode 3340

      In today’s story…

      For many years, Marcia Wiggins was a stay at home mom with two young kids and a pilot for a husband. In the little spare time she had, she taught aerobics at the local gym.

      But as life progressed, things changed for Marcia. Both her kids had grown up and moved away to college, her husband was often away and there’s only so many gym classes someone can go to. She had a lot more time on her hands.

      This new found free time stirred something in Marcia, and she was inspired to pick up an old hobby. She began baking delicious treats for friends. More specifically, she started baking Maine Whoopie Pies: a delicious single serve treat of a dollop of cream pressed between two small cakes.

      Marcia was always trying to improve on the traditional recipe and create new flavors. As a consequence, her Whoopie Pies were a huge hit. She was constantly receiving requests to bake more. Many of her friends wanted to buy some as gifts for THEIR friends.

      It was the latter point that got Marcia’s mind baking. The Whoopies were already a great hobby, but perhaps should could transition them into a new side hustle.

      Just like that, fresh out of the oven came her new venture, Cape Whoopies. Her mission was to share the most delicious Maine Whoopie Pies made with the highest quality ingredients with people all over the country.

      From day one, Marcia knew that shipping posed a problem. How would she keep the pies looking great and tasting fresh during postage? They would also need to tolerate both hot and cold conditions in transit.

      To try and solve this problem, Marcia contacted a packaging expert. Together, they devised a test to ship sample pies across the country to see if they remained intact. The expert recommended the type of packaging required to ship the pies safely.

      To receive the tests, Marcia enlisted the help of friends who lived in both cold and hot climates. In return, they’d receive free Cape Whoopie Pies. She placed the pies inside their packages ready for shipping. The consultant provided special thermostats to track the temperature along the way.

      The result? Cape Whoopie Pies arrived as if freshly made! Marcia now knew she could successfully sell these across the country and ship them in the mail, without compromising quality.

      Next, she needed an online presence so that people could order. She decided to create an online store using Shopify.

      Marcia enlisted the help of a local designer to put her site live. Once up and running, she took high quality pictures of her Whoopies, and added several plugins to entice website visitors to buy… and then to gently upsell them.

      At first, sales trickled in here and there, mostly from existing customers. In a short time though, they ramped up. It wasn’t long until Marcia was making Whoopies on a daily basis. This became difficult because she was still baking in her home kitchen. A change had to be made.

      She decided to buy some commercial grade equipment and bake in her basement, to keep up with demand. In time, the business grew further and that led to Marcia moving Cape Whoopies to a shared kitchen space. It was similar to a shared office space but for chefs and bakers. It was here that she settled into a groove, and the baking continued.

      A couple of years in, Marcia was generating a few thousand dollars a month in revenue. That year, she was contacted directly by Amazon to list her Whoopies on their site. She jumped at the chance, and once again, demand increased.

      Marcia was pushing the amenities of the shared kitchen to the max. For the fourth time, something had to give!

      As luck would have it, a solution was about to present itself. She met a coffee roaster while working out of the shared space. They were both growing fast and, as a consequence, were looking to move to a larger space. Together, they decided to rent a storefront, roasting coffee in the front, and baking delicious whoopie Pies in the back. At more than 5,000 square feet, the space symbolized how much Cape Whoopies planned to grow.

      It was the beginning of a match made in heaven, and the next phase of Cape Whoopies could start baking. And like baking a cake, profits began to rise.

      The launch of the brick and mortar location caused quite a stir. The grand opening occurred in May 2018, but for months beforehand Marcia was warming up her existing customers to excite them for the launch. She built up hype on social media and in the local press.

      The pie had been cast, and all this work resulted in a huge crowd on opening day. The lineup was around the corner and hundreds of customers were exposed to Cape Whoopies for the very first time.

      This new exposure led to huge sales, which, believe it or not, haven’t slowed down since. The brick and mortar store, which was never expected to be the main source of income, now makes up nearly 50% of total sales. The remainder of the sales are generated through the Cape Whoopies website as well as Amazon.com and Goldbely.com, an Etsy-like marketplace for designer foods.

      That spike means that, in the last year alone Cape Whoopies have doubled their sales volume. They’ve kept up with the rise in demand of pies by tracking what is in highest demand and supplying more of that product.

      The business continues to flourish. Marcia bringing in $25,000/month, with a profit margin of around 50%. She’s also gone from scooping and baking all the cakes herself, to having her husband help out, to now having a team of five working together to bring Cape Whoopies Pies to the world.

      Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

       

       

      SEE ALSO:

      • Catholic Designer Creates Stylish Apparel Line: What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but not sell any t-shirts? This designer cast his bread upon the waters and ended up with a profitable fashion line.
      • Seattle Couple Creates New “Income LiveStream”: When a married couple runs into logistical problems at their wedding, it leads to an innovative service that other engaged couples need during the pandemic.
      • Role-Playing Pastor Rolls The Dice On $2800/Month Hustle: Listener success story! This Presbyterian minister turns to his lifelong interest in role-playing games to set up a sustainable second income source.
      • Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

        Yours in the revolution,

        <img class="alignnone wp-image-1825" src="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter-300x140.png" alt="cg-sig-newsletter" width="176" height="82" srcset="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter-300x140.png 300w, https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter.png 450w" sizes="(max-width: 176px) 100vw, 176px">

        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

        Sponsors & Gratitude
        Learn More With Skillshare!

        Supporting the sponsors keeps the show free. Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by Skillshare. 📷

        Skillshare is giving Side Hustle School listeners 2 months of unlimited access—for $0.99! Join the 2 million students learning everything from street photography to SEO on Skillshare today!

        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
        <img class="aligncenter wp-image-1272 size-full" src="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ChrisGuillebeauSideHustleSchoolFull-1.jpg" width="1076" height="251">
        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!

        Follow

        Facebook,Instagram,Twitter

        Email

        Say Hi

        From your favorite airport

        To infinity and beyond,

        Chris Guillebeau
        7 min
      • Q&A: “What kind of review platform would be best for online learning?”
        What It’s About
        How do you build trust for a brand-new review site?

        Notes from Chris
        Episode 3339

        What kind of review platform would be best for online learning?

        Today’s caller has applied her skills her observation to notice a simple fact: tons of people are doing online learning of all kinds these days, but it can also be overwhelming.

        She wants to create a review website or platform. What might be a logical, feasible path to pursue?

        “Lately I’ve even been listening while watching my two little boys. Anyway, my side hustle idea is a review website for online art and design courses. I found some generic reviews of the online learning platforms, but no web sites focused on my niche with all of the people stuck at home and doing online training. I think this idea can be very successful. I also think I’m the right person to build it because I have a background in graphic and web design along with some freelance writing experience.

        My question is what kind of review web site would be best? I could easily create a review, blog and WordPress. But I don’t want to be the sole reviewer forever. Maybe a year at most. I envision it having an aggregate review system because that seems more practical, but it’s also more daunting for me to create than a blog review site. How would I find people and convince them to leave reviews in my nothing site? Or is it possible to do a hybrid of the two? Or am I overthinking it? Thanks. And I look forward to your answer.”

        Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

         

         

        SEE ALSO:

        • Catholic Designer Creates Stylish Apparel Line: What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but not sell any t-shirts? This designer cast his bread upon the waters and ended up with a profitable fashion line.
        • Seattle Couple Creates New “Income LiveStream”: When a married couple runs into logistical problems at their wedding, it leads to an innovative service that other engaged couples need during the pandemic.
        • Role-Playing Pastor Rolls The Dice On $2800/Month Hustle: Listener success story! This Presbyterian minister turns to his lifelong interest in role-playing games to set up a sustainable second income source.
        • Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

          Yours in the revolution,

          <img class="alignnone wp-image-1825" src="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter-300x140.png" alt="cg-sig-newsletter" width="176" height="82" srcset="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter-300x140.png 300w, https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter.png 450w" sizes="(max-width: 176px) 100vw, 176px">

          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

          Sponsors & Gratitude
          Learn More With Skillshare!

          Supporting the sponsors keeps the show free. Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by Skillshare. 📷

          Skillshare is giving Side Hustle School listeners 2 months of unlimited access—for $0.99! Join the 2 million students learning everything from street photography to SEO on Skillshare today!

          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
          <img class="aligncenter wp-image-1272 size-full" src="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ChrisGuillebeauSideHustleSchoolFull-1.jpg" width="1076" height="251">
          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!

          Follow

          Facebook,Instagram,Twitter

          Email

          Say Hi

          From your favorite airport

          To infinity and beyond,

          Chris Guillebeau
          9 min
        • Failure Friday: “They just weren’t interested in what we were selling…”
          What It’s About
          When a wedding livestream business tried to pivot during Covid, the tech worked—but the market didn’t care.

          Notes from Chris
          Episode 3338

          I believe we can learn as much from failure as we can from success, if not more. It’s with this principle in mind that I offer you a weekly segment called Failure Friday: a collection of short stories all about mistakes, missteps, disasters, and of course, failure. 

          Just like our Throwback Thursday segment, you’ll hear directly from side hustlers who have struggled to get something off the ground. They’ll tell you a short story of something that went very wrong.

          The stories will vary, but often it starts with an idea, what they thought would happen and what really happened—and of course, what they learned.

           

           

          SEE ALSO:

          • Marketer Creates Six-Figure Subscription Box Success: He looked for a simple solution for a client, and didn’t find one—so he spent the next year building it.
          • Comic Book Curator Creates Custom Crate Subscription: A Sacramento-based comic and collectibles owner sparks an interest in reading with a monthly comic book subscription box service.
          • A Packed Closet Leads to Secondhand Subscription Boxes: A professional organizer finds a way to stitch her passion for thrift shopping into profits.
          • Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

            Yours in the revolution,

            <img class="alignnone wp-image-1825" src="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter-300x140.png" alt="cg-sig-newsletter" width="176" height="82" srcset="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter-300x140.png 300w, https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter.png 450w" sizes="(max-width: 176px) 100vw, 176px">

            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

            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
            <img class="aligncenter wp-image-1272 size-full" src="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ChrisGuillebeauSideHustleSchoolFull-1.jpg" width="1076" height="251">
            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!

            Follow

            Facebook,Instagram,Twitter

            Email

            Say Hi

            From your favorite airport

            To infinity and beyond,

            Chris Guillebeau
            9 min
          • TBT: The Mushroom Kingdom of North Carolina
            What It’s About
            A backyard mushroom project grows into a $20,000-a-month business with tinctures, cultures, and merch.

            Notes from Chris
            Episode 3337
            Welcome to Throwback Thursday / “Where are they now?” where we take an in-depth look at someone who’s story has evolved considerably since we first featured them.

            Last week, we heard from a former attorney and White House aide who starts a service helping businesses with podcasts. It’s grown into a 7-figure operation!

            Today, in our latest feature, we’re focusing on the Phenomenal Fungi business from Asheville, North Carolina.

            We featured the founder Dave Eberhardt long ago in Ep. 1003: “Fun Guy” Becomes Spore-Adic Mushroom Farmer.

            What’s happened since? Let’s hear directly from them. I’ll be back at the end to wrap us up.

            Listen to today’s episode to hear more…

             

             

             

            SEE ALSO:

            • Raver Turns LED-Powered Gloves Into Bright Future: When a raver-turned-salesperson falls in love with an underground art form, he turns it into a successful side business.
            • Bright Idea Leads Chicago Woman to Million-Dollar Hustle: A Chicago-based plastic recycling sales rep overcomes her fears and doubts to transform her love for DIY lamp shades and $10 in supplies into a multi-million dollar business.
            • 3D Printing Brings Cosplay Into 21st Century: With a 3D printer and sense of imagination, a California natural gas industry worker takes superhero DIY cosplay to a whole new level.
            • Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

              Yours in the revolution,

              <img class="alignnone wp-image-1825" src="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter-300x140.png" alt="cg-sig-newsletter" width="176" height="82" srcset="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter-300x140.png 300w, https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter.png 450w" sizes="(max-width: 176px) 100vw, 176px">

              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

              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
              <img class="aligncenter wp-image-1272 size-full" src="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ChrisGuillebeauSideHustleSchoolFull-1.jpg" width="1076" height="251">
              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!

              Follow

              Facebook,Instagram,Twitter

              Email

              Say Hi

              From your favorite airport

              To infinity and beyond,

              Chris Guillebeau
              7 min
            • Q&A: “Is there a way to trade plane tickets for profit?”
              What It’s About
              Can unused plane tickets ever become an asset instead of a sunk cost?

              Notes from Chris
              Episode 3336

              You know how when you book a plane ticket, you have to provide your personal information? You might think, well, that’s for security, right? Well—maybe some of it is, but a lot of it is to make more money for airlines.

              Until 1996, there was no ID check with boarding passes. The requirement came to be when President Clinton wanted something to announce after the crash of TWA flight 800.

              This brings us to today’s listener question: is there a way to trade plane tickets for profit? Our caller has a creative idea, but also some sky-high problems to solve.

              “When you fly in the U.S., the TSA checks your ID with your boarding pass so that no one else can fly with your ticket. But after the security check, you put your ID away and don’t need it to board. A couple of years ago I was in Australia and noticed that there’s no ID check at all to get through security there, at least on domestic flights. You scan your boarding pass and put your bags through the x-ray machine, but there’s no identity verification. So is it possible to have some kind of side hustle that puts people’s unused plane tickets to good use? The airlines must be making a lot of money on them, since they don’t allow you to change the name on a ticket after a reservation has been made.”

              Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

               

               

              SEE ALSO:

              • Catholic Designer Creates Stylish Apparel Line: What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but not sell any t-shirts? This designer cast his bread upon the waters and ended up with a profitable fashion line.
              • Seattle Couple Creates New “Income LiveStream”: When a married couple runs into logistical problems at their wedding, it leads to an innovative service that other engaged couples need during the pandemic.
              • Role-Playing Pastor Rolls The Dice On $2800/Month Hustle: Listener success story! This Presbyterian minister turns to his lifelong interest in role-playing games to set up a sustainable second income source.
              • Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

                Yours in the revolution,

                <img class="alignnone wp-image-1825" src="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter-300x140.png" alt="cg-sig-newsletter" width="176" height="82" srcset="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter-300x140.png 300w, https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter.png 450w" sizes="(max-width: 176px) 100vw, 176px">

                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

                Sponsors & Gratitude
                Learn More With Skillshare!

                Supporting the sponsors keeps the show free. Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by Skillshare. 📷

                Skillshare is giving Side Hustle School listeners 2 months of unlimited access—for $0.99! Join the 2 million students learning everything from street photography to SEO on Skillshare today!

                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
                <img class="aligncenter wp-image-1272 size-full" src="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ChrisGuillebeauSideHustleSchoolFull-1.jpg" width="1076" height="251">
                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!

                Follow

                Facebook,Instagram,Twitter

                Email

                Say Hi

                From your favorite airport

                To infinity and beyond,

                Chris Guillebeau
                6 min
              • Q&A: “What separates small earners from big ones?”
                What It’s About
                Not all side hustles are meant to scale—but the ones that do tend to share a few quiet advantages.

                Notes from Chris
                Episode 3335

                Every Side Hustle School story features someone who earns at least $500 a month apart from their day job. But some people earn a lot more, earning six or even seven figures from their side hustle. A listener wants to know: what separates small earners from big ones?

                First of all, let’s acknowledge that people have different goals. Not everyone says, “I want to earn $200,000 a year from my side hustle.” Almost always, the work required to create something like that is going to be a lot more than someone earning $6-12,000 extra a year.

                “Hi Chris, this is Kate and I’ve been listening for a while, and I’ve noticed that you feature stories with a wide range of results, including some that make a small amount of money, and some that end up being a really big moneymaker.

                With so many episodes in the archives, my question is: have you noticed anything that separates the big wins from the small? Is it just a matter of choosing a project that has the ability to scale, or is it something related to the fundamental approach? What are the skills someone needs to go big? Thanks Chris for sharing your thoughts about this.”

                Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

                 

                 

                SEE ALSO:

                • Catholic Designer Creates Stylish Apparel Line: What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but not sell any t-shirts? This designer cast his bread upon the waters and ended up with a profitable fashion line.
                • Seattle Couple Creates New “Income LiveStream”: When a married couple runs into logistical problems at their wedding, it leads to an innovative service that other engaged couples need during the pandemic.
                • Role-Playing Pastor Rolls The Dice On $2800/Month Hustle: Listener success story! This Presbyterian minister turns to his lifelong interest in role-playing games to set up a sustainable second income source.
                • Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

                  Yours in the revolution,

                  <img class="alignnone wp-image-1825" src="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter-300x140.png" alt="cg-sig-newsletter" width="176" height="82" srcset="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter-300x140.png 300w, https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter.png 450w" sizes="(max-width: 176px) 100vw, 176px">

                  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

                  Sponsors & Gratitude
                  Learn More With Skillshare!

                  Supporting the sponsors keeps the show free. Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by Skillshare. 📷

                  Skillshare is giving Side Hustle School listeners 2 months of unlimited access—for $0.99! Join the 2 million students learning everything from street photography to SEO on Skillshare today!

                  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
                  <img class="aligncenter wp-image-1272 size-full" src="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ChrisGuillebeauSideHustleSchoolFull-1.jpg" width="1076" height="251">
                  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!

                  Follow

                  Facebook,Instagram,Twitter

                  Email

                  Say Hi

                  From your favorite airport

                  To infinity and beyond,

                  Chris Guillebeau
                  8 min
                • First $1,000: “I started by setting up a booth at the farmer’s market…”
                  What It’s About
                  A farmers market booth, a few custom blends, and a surprise path to real income.

                  Notes from Chris
                  Episode 3334

                  Today’s episode is part of a feature we call ‘Your First $1,000.’ As you might surmise from the title, this is all about how someone made their first $1,000.

                  How did they get to that point? Not their first $100,000—that’s cool, but it would probably be a long story.

                  But what about their first $1,000—how did they make that happen, what did it feel like, and what did they learn?

                  Let’s hear today’s story. I’ll be back at the end to wrap us up. 

                   

                   

                  SEE ALSO:

                  • Military Spouse Starts Subscription Box Mission:When an HR Director’s husband is away on military deployment, she uses the alone time to march toward a subscription box.
                  • Think Inside the Subscription Box:Looking for more community, a North Carolina web agency owner starts a subscription box for female entrepreneurs. It’s supposed to be a referral tool for her agency, but it ends up becoming a full-time business of its own.
                  • Nature-Loving Neighbors Create Kids Subscription Box: When two couples can’t figure out how to get their kids outdoors and away from electronics in the winter, a personal challenge blossoms into an unbeLEAFable side hustle.
                  • Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

                    Yours in the revolution,

                    <img class="alignnone wp-image-1825" src="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter-300x140.png" alt="cg-sig-newsletter" width="176" height="82" srcset="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter-300x140.png 300w, https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter.png 450w" sizes="(max-width: 176px) 100vw, 176px">

                    Resources
                    WEB HOSTING @ $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 many websites. It's cheap, flexible, and offers support 24-7.

                    Get your own hosting plan for just $2.49 a month!

                    Learn More

                    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

                    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
                    <img class="aligncenter wp-image-1272 size-full" src="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ChrisGuillebeauSideHustleSchoolFull-1.jpg" width="1076" height="251">
                    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!

                    Follow

                    Facebook,Instagram,Twitter

                    Email

                    Say Hi

                    From your favorite airport

                    To infinity and beyond,

                    Chris Guillebeau
                    7 min
                  • Game of Cones: Two Women Make Architecturally-Inspired Ice Cream
                    What It’s About
                    Two architects turn a design-school jab into ice cream sandwiches that debut at Coachella and scale into a multimillion-dollar brand.

                    Notes from Chris
                    Episode 3333

                    In today’s story…

                    …two women make architecturally-inspired ice cream after one of them is insulted by her UC Berkeley design professor. This ice cream goes on to debut at Coachella, causing a minor sensation, and years later is now a multi-million dollar business.

                    Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

                     

                     

                    SEE ALSO:

                    • Catholic Designer Creates Stylish Apparel Line: What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but not sell any t-shirts? This designer cast his bread upon the waters and ended up with a profitable fashion line.
                    • Seattle Couple Creates New “Income LiveStream”: When a married couple runs into logistical problems at their wedding, it leads to an innovative service that other engaged couples need during the pandemic.
                    • Role-Playing Pastor Rolls The Dice On $2800/Month Hustle: Listener success story! This Presbyterian minister turns to his lifelong interest in role-playing games to set up a sustainable second income source.
                    • Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

                      Yours in the revolution,

                      <img class="alignnone wp-image-1825" src="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter-300x140.png" alt="cg-sig-newsletter" width="176" height="82" srcset="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter-300x140.png 300w, https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter.png 450w" sizes="(max-width: 176px) 100vw, 176px">

                      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

                      Sponsors & Gratitude
                      Learn More With Skillshare!

                      Supporting the sponsors keeps the show free. Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by Skillshare. 📷

                      Skillshare is giving Side Hustle School listeners 2 months of unlimited access—for $0.99! Join the 2 million students learning everything from street photography to SEO on Skillshare today!

                      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
                      <img class="aligncenter wp-image-1272 size-full" src="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ChrisGuillebeauSideHustleSchoolFull-1.jpg" width="1076" height="251">
                      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!

                      Follow

                      Facebook,Instagram,Twitter

                      Email

                      Say Hi

                      From your favorite airport

                      To infinity and beyond,

                      Chris Guillebeau
                      8 min
                    • Q&A: “How to sell a reusable fork…”
                      What It’s About
                      How do you find the right buyers for a small eco-friendly product before you can scale production?

                      Notes from Chris
                      Episode 3332

                      Today’s caller has made a foldable tote bag attached to a set of eating utensils. How will she find her ideal customers?

                      By the way, what do I mean by ideal customer? I wrote about this in the SIDE HUSTLE book on day 8: “Have imaginary coffee with your ideal customer.” The short version is that somewhere out there, there’s a single person who is best suited to your offer—not a huge “target market,” but a single person who represents many other potential buyers.

                      In this episode: understanding the customer for this product, and some ideas on how to find them.

                      “I invented an eco-friendly product called Fork in the Rose. It is a foldable tote bag attached to a set of eating utensils. It replaces disposable bags and eating utensils.

                      Most initial reactions have been positive and I have sold some sets but I am not a great salesperson. I posted pictures online but I haven’t gotten a good response yet. I sell them for $12. My cost because I can only buy a small amount of supplies is around $4. I have been trying to find someone at Alibaba.com to make them but I haven’t found them yet.”

                      Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

                       

                       

                      SEE ALSO:

                      • Catholic Designer Creates Stylish Apparel Line: What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but not sell any t-shirts? This designer cast his bread upon the waters and ended up with a profitable fashion line.
                      • Seattle Couple Creates New “Income LiveStream”: When a married couple runs into logistical problems at their wedding, it leads to an innovative service that other engaged couples need during the pandemic.
                      • Role-Playing Pastor Rolls The Dice On $2800/Month Hustle: Listener success story! This Presbyterian minister turns to his lifelong interest in role-playing games to set up a sustainable second income source.
                      • Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

                        Yours in the revolution,

                        <img class="alignnone wp-image-1825" src="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter-300x140.png" alt="cg-sig-newsletter" width="176" height="82" srcset="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter-300x140.png 300w, https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CG-Sig-Newsletter.png 450w" sizes="(max-width: 176px) 100vw, 176px">

                        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

                        Sponsors & Gratitude
                        Learn More With Skillshare!

                        Supporting the sponsors keeps the show free. Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by Skillshare. 📷

                        Skillshare is giving Side Hustle School listeners 2 months of unlimited access—for $0.99! Join the 2 million students learning everything from street photography to SEO on Skillshare today!

                        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
                        <img class="aligncenter wp-image-1272 size-full" src="https://sidehustleschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ChrisGuillebeauSideHustleSchoolFull-1.jpg" width="1076" height="251">
                        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!

                        Follow

                        Facebook,Instagram,Twitter

                        Email

                        Say Hi

                        From your favorite airport

                        To infinity and beyond,

                        Chris Guillebeau
                        8 min

                      About Side Hustle School

                      From the publisher's feed

                      A daily show for everyone who works a regular job and wants to start an income-earning project on the side. In each episode, listeners will hear a different story of someone who's started a side…