Side Hustle School

Today’s question comes from Ben, who has a gift for guiding people through personal and professional exits. He’s not trying to be a life coach or therapist—he’s thinking of this as a practical, structured service: helping people quit with intention, shut down a business cleanly, or end something without burning bridges.

The question is: is that something people would pay for? Or is it too niche—or too emotional—to monetize?

“My name is Daniel, and I work full-time in a corporate job and recently started a side hustle offering digital marketing services to small local businesses. It’s going well, but here’s my dilemma—I really don’t want my employer to find out, at least not yet. I’m not doing anything shady, but I’d prefer to keep things separate for now. So I’m thinking about using a different last name or even a full pseudonym for my business. Is that okay? Are there any legal or ethical issues I should be aware of, or is this actually more common than people admit?”

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,

That’s the dream behind something called vibe coding, a term being used to describe a new style of software creation: not manual, syntax-heavy programming, but natural language conversations with AI that generate the code for you.

Today’s question comes from Jordan in Flagstaff, who wants to know whether this trend is real—and whether you can actually build a sustainable project, product, or side hustle this way.

“I’ve been hearing a lot lately about something called vibe coding—where you basically use AI to build apps or websites just by describing what you want, without needing to manually write lines of code. It sounds almost too good to be true, especially for people like me who have ideas but no real technical background. My question is: how real is this? Could someone actually build a legit side hustle or product using vibe coding tools, or is it more hype than reality right now?”

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 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 how one college student flipped used furniture from Facebook Marketplace—and paid off half their tuition bill without ever taking out a loan.

Today, in our latest feature, we’ll hear how one side hustler built a passionate following by making “snakeskin” wallets—without using a single animal product, just upcycled materials and a clever story.

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…

… two baseball players who advanced a bit further than me—one of them was actually drafted by a MLB team—and then they create a subscription service for baseball bats that now serves thousands of customers, mostly kids and their families, all across the country. This side hustle has grown to earning up to $50k/month.

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 question comes from Nina in Tallahassee. She’s a confident home cook who loves to improvise in the kitchen and wants to teach others how to do the same. Instead of posting traditional recipes, she’s considering a video channel built around instinctive, no-measuring cooking. But will anyone actually follow a food creator who refuses to give them exact instructions?

Let’s explore what’s possible when your niche is teaching people to cook without rules—and how it can be more marketable than you might expect.

“I’m a home cook, and one thing I’ve realized is that I hate following recipes. I almost never measure, and I love teaching people how to improvise in the kitchen instead of obsessing over exact steps. I’ve been thinking about starting a cooking channel—YouTube, maybe TikTok—where I just teach techniques, instincts, and confidence, not strict recipes. But I’m not sure if this is too niche, or if people will even take it seriously without measurements and ingredient lists. Can this kind of no-recipe concept be turned into something profitable, or is it just a personal quirk?”

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,

That’s the challenge Naomi from St. Paul is dealing with. She runs a one-woman skincare brand and wants to grow—but without overcommitting to inventory she can’t afford or store.

In today’s episode, we’re looking at practical strategies for managing stock when you’re small, nimble, and not ready to operate like a big brand. How do you plan just enough, without getting stuck in the “feast or famine” cycle?

“I run a small side hustle selling handmade skincare products—mostly body scrubs and lip balms. I make everything myself, and while sales have been growing, I’m struggling with inventory. Sometimes I make too much and it sits around for weeks. Other times, I sell out faster than expected and can’t keep up with demand. Since I have limited space and a tight budget, I don’t want to overstock, but I also hate turning customers away. What’s the right amount of inventory to keep on hand when you’re still growing—and how do I find that balance?”

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,

Not everyone wants their boss—or their neighbors—knowing what they do outside of work hours. And in today’s episode, we hear from Daniel in Jacksonville, who’s launched a promising side hustle but wants to keep it separate from his day job.

His solution? Using a different last name in his marketing materials. The goal isn’t deception—it’s privacy. But is that allowed? Is it ethical? And more importantly, could it backfire?

Let’s talk about what’s really at stake when you operate under a pseudonym, and how to protect both your business and your boundaries.

“My name is Daniel, and I work full-time in a corporate job and recently started a side hustle offering digital marketing services to small local businesses. It’s going well, but here’s my dilemma—I really don’t want my employer to find out, at least not yet. I’m not doing anything shady, but I’d prefer to keep things separate for now. So I’m thinking about using a different last name or even a full pseudonym for my business. Is that okay? Are there any legal or ethical issues I should be aware of, or is this actually more common than people admit?”

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 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 how one side hustler learned to repair broken guitar pedals using YouTube tutorials—and built a profitable business fixing, modifying, and reselling vintage gear.

Today, in our latest feature, we’ll hear how one college student flipped used furniture from Facebook Marketplace—and paid off half their tuition bill without ever taking out a loan.

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,