Side Hustle School

Welcome to Throwback Thursday, where we take an in-depth look at someone who’s story has evolved considerably since we first featured them.

Last week, we heard how a side hustler built a trustworthy supplement guide from one TikTok video, turning it into a $40,000 affiliate business.

Today, in our latest feature, we’ll hear how a creative project for a friend in recovery became a business, eventually leading to a partnership with a Washington, DC nonprofit.

Listen to today’s episode to hear more…

SEE ALSO:

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">

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!

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.

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! 💳

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.

Facebook,Instagram,Twitter

[email protected]

From your favorite airport

To infinity and beyond,

In today’s story…

… a chef who sets out to reinvent the humble apron, growing it to a multi-million-dollar company while still working in restaurants at night

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

SEE ALSO:

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">

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! ✈️

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!

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!

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.

Facebook,Instagram,Twitter

[email protected]

From your favorite airport

To infinity and beyond,

Nothing feels more real than seeing your future company in gorgeous typefaces and colors—but glossy branding can also mask the fact that no buyer has tasted, touched, or tested the item you plan to sell. The question isn’t “brand vs. product,” it’s sequence: what bits of branding genuinely speed up validation, and what parts can wait until purchase orders loom?

“I’m developing a pet-care line but haven’t finalized a single product. Meanwhile, I keep sketching logos and choosing color palettes because I enjoy the creative side. Friends tell me branding is pointless until the product exists; others say a polished brand attracts early followers and retailers. At what point does investing in a logo and visual identity help, and when is it just an excuse to delay product validation? I want to avoid wasting effort but also look credible when I do launch.”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

SEE ALSO:

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">

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! ✈️

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!

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!

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.

Facebook,Instagram,Twitter

[email protected]

From your favorite airport

To infinity and beyond,

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:

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">

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!

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! ✈️

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! 💳

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.

Facebook,Instagram,Twitter

[email protected]

From your favorite airport

To infinity and beyond,

It’s Weekend Workshop, and it’s new!

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

SEE ALSO:

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">

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! ✈️

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!

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!

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.

Facebook,Instagram,Twitter

[email protected]

From your favorite airport

To infinity and beyond,

Plenty of makers hit the same wall: sales level off, you tweak photos, you test ads, nothing budges. Then a glossy Instagram ad offers “one-on-one coaching to six figures” for the exact amount that would restock your entire inventory.

How do you judge if that fee buys real strategy or just cheerleading? We’ll build a down-to-earth checklist—no buzzwords—so you can say yes (or no) with confidence

“I need a quick reality check. I’ve been juggling my Etsy jewelry biz out here in Ft. Worth, Texas. Revenue’s been stuck around $3.5K a month for nearly a year, and now a ‘scale-to-six-figures’ coach I follow is pitching a $4,000 program. That’s basically my profit for an entire quarter. How do I know if a coach like that is an investment or just an expensive pep talk? Is there a benchmark—sales plateau, free-time deficit, whatever—that says, ‘Yep, now coaching makes sense’?”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

SEE ALSO:

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">

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! ✈️

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!

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!

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.

Facebook,Instagram,Twitter

[email protected]

From your favorite airport

To infinity and beyond,

Carbon offsets are supposed to balance out emissions—think funding a rainforest project to “cancel” the CO₂ from your flight. Buyers get a feel-good badge, but scandals keep surfacing about credits that never deliver the promised impact.

Early 2023 reporting by The Guardian and others revealed that many rainforest-protection offsets—used by airlines and coffee chains alike—were wildly over-credited or even worthless. Big corporations responded by hiring six-figure audit firms. Small brands and solo creators can’t afford that, yet they still tout “carbon-neutral” products on Instagram.

Today, a caller sees the credibility gap: offer a quick, affordable check that validates a customer’s offsets before critics (or regulators) call them out. Let’s see if that service can be both helpful and profitable without burying Mateo in paperwork.

“During my sustainability-management master’s, I learned a lot about carbon accounting. I’ve noticed eco-conscious people and companies brag about ‘offsetting’ their flights or packaging, but no one checks whether their credits are legitimate. I’m wondering if there’s a market for a small, third-party verification service—basically auditing an individual’s or small brand’s carbon offsets and issuing a simple validation report they can share online. Would anyone pay a few hundred dollars for that peace of mind, or do only large corporations buy certification? And how would I scope the work so I’m not drowning in paperwork for a tiny fee?”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

SEE ALSO:

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">

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! ✈️

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!

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!

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.

Facebook,Instagram,Twitter

[email protected]

From your favorite airport

To infinity and beyond,

Welcome to Throwback Thursday, where we take an in-depth look at someone who’s story has evolved considerably since we first featured them.

Last week, we heard how a side project built over a single weekend turned into a surprisingly steady income stream—thanks to a janky but useful Chrome extension with 5,000 loyal users.

Today, in our latest feature, we’ll hear how a side hustler built a trustworthy supplement guide from one TikTok video, turning it into a $40,000 affiliate business.

Listen to today’s episode to hear more…

SEE ALSO:

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">

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!

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.

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! 💳

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.

Facebook,Instagram,Twitter

[email protected]

From your favorite airport

To infinity and beyond,

In today’s story…

… Many people who are differently sized or particularly tall or short feel ignored by the fashion world.

In Melbourne, Australia one woman was fed up with the inability of finding clothes that fit her 6’3” frame. You’ll never guess what she decides to do… okay, she decides to address the problem and start her own eCommerce shop specializing in clothes for tall women around the world. Her store reaches tall heights and she has high ambitions.

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

SEE ALSO:

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">

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! ✈️

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!

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!

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.

Facebook,Instagram,Twitter

[email protected]

From your favorite airport

To infinity and beyond,

Manufacturing is unforgiving: pay up front, hope for buyers later. Content-driven “audience first” gurus preach patience—but bikes don’t fix themselves on hype alone. Jonah’s toolkit might be brilliant, yet without proof of demand he risks a garage full of metal. Today we’ll craft a lean hybrid: build just enough audience to fund preorders, prove demand before big spend, and scale both simultaneously.

“I’ve designed a compact bike-repair toolkit that I believe is a game-changer. I know some people say I need a big audience before launching, but building content for months with zero revenue feels risky. On the other hand, if I manufacture without demand, I could end up with a garage full of unsold kits. I need some help! Which approach wins for a physical product: audience first, product first, or some hybrid—and how do I decide based on limited budget and time?”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

SEE ALSO:

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">

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! ✈️

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!

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!

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.

Facebook,Instagram,Twitter

[email protected]

From your favorite airport

To infinity and beyond,