The Got Side Hustle Show

Mystery Shopping is probably the biggest side hustle you never thought was legit.  

It’s TOTALLY legit.

I’ve been doing mystery shopping since 2013 and my main reason behind starting up with this was - you guessed it - money money money.  In this case, I needed money BADLY.  My hubby had been very sick for some time and I could not take any more payday loans.  Yes - sometimes a side hustle does come out of desperation.  But I stuck with this one because I actually enjoy it AND it’s a good way to make some extra money doing something that you likely had to do already.

I got started doing Mystery Shopping with cell phone audits - I would line up 8 to 10 of them in a weekend.  Let me tell you, I learned SO much about mobile phones...when my hubby and I were looking at upgrades, I would always take him along on some phone audits so we could make informed decisions.  I soon discovered that I could basically get my grocery shopping reimbursed with a few shops here and there.  So I have stuck with this and have made close to $5000 over the years.  And this is only doing 4-5 shops a month on average.  

Some of my favorite agencies include Trend Source and ISS Shopping.  But there are dozens and dozens of agencies.  A quick google search will get you moving along.  

Give it a try!  But stay out of my territory - LOL - I’ve got dibs!!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - podcasters RULE.  To say “some of my best friends are podcasters” is not an attempt to just embrace podcasters.  It’s so freaking true!  And today I chatted with a podcasting dude who I felt like I could talk to FOREVER.

Today we are talking to Matt Franklin from the Rogue Retirement Lounge and man does this guy have some awesome stories.  Never mind his kick-ass appearance on Shark Tank back in the day, Matt is a serial entrepreneur, an inventor, and a fellow Gen X’er with some truly delightful stories and he’s full o’knowledge, so I know you’re going to love this episode.

Matt Franklin is a serial entrepreneur from Portland, OR. He’s run a one-man video production company since 2006 and on the side, he’s a part-time product developer. His most successful product landed him on Shark Tank in Season 4.

Since his Shark Tank appearance, he’s spoken with hundreds of entrepreneurs of all experience levels as they try to launch new products and businesses. In doing so, one thing he discovered is that self-employed people and gig workers are terrible about retirement planning and investing. There are a number of reasons, but being behind on retirement preparation seems to be a universal problem among entrepreneurs.

Upon realizing that he too, was unprepared for his golden years, Matt became obsessed with retirement investing, while at the same time running his businesses. He completely overhauled his investment strategy, and by getting out of the stock market and into cash-flowing investments like rental houses and apartment syndications, he was able to shave ten years off his working life. Now enjoying “pre-tirement,” Matt is hosting a podcast called the Rogue Retirement Lounge. His mission is to help entrepreneurs and self-employed people develop retirement strategies so that they won’t have to work into their seventies.

As you may already know, my FAVORITE interviews happen when I learn something myself that will help support my business, and this week's episode is no exception.  As someone who is totally concerned with time management and productivity, the idea of creating courses to help support others in their drive to create side hustles is a no-brainer for me. 

Enter this week's guest, Gemma Bonham-Carter.  Gemma gives us a quick once-over on all things course creation!  So whether you already have a side hustle but want to create a course OR you have decided that the "Creator" is your Side Hustle Personality and you want to build your business around courses, this show will totally be your jam!

Gemma Bonham-Carter is an online course strategist and digital marketer who has helped over 6,000 entrepreneurs launch and scale their businesses.

With her two signature programs, Course Creator School and The Passive Project, Gemma coaches clients on how to monetize their ideas using online courses and digital products. She helps her clients build scalable, sustainable digital businesses with a long-term vision and effective strategies that work throughout industries - from entrepreneurship, the arts, nutrition, health and wellness, parenting, and more!

When she's not creating a new resource or giving live training inside of her student communities, you'll find her chasing after her two young kids, tackling her next real estate investment property, or watching Queer Eye.

 

 

free class - https://learn.gemmabonhamcarter.com/class/

pricing guide - http://gemmabonhamcarter.com/guide

It’s time for another Planner Review on Got Side Hustle and I’m wrapping up Q3 with The Clever Fox Planner.  I’ve enjoyed this planner very much and think that the goal setting facets are truly amazing.   So lots to share today about how much this planner has helped me.  I gave it a 9 out of 10 points!

Now - moving forward to the fall - I’m looking forward to getting as many of you in the Smart Side Hustle Society as humanly possible because we’re going to start having LIVE Masterclasses during the monthly group calls.  The masterclasses will be recorded and posted to the membership but the chance to see them LIVE will be rocking awesome.  CLICK HERE to get enrolled because I have a killer discount just for GSH listeners!

HEY listeners!  I want to hear from you and learn a little more about you!  CLICK HERE to fill out my Listener Survey and be entered for a chance to win $100 from Amazon!!!  There are more than 20 prizes available!!!!

Are you a member of the Got Side Hustle community?  CLICK HERE to request access and I’ll be so excited to let you in!

So:  in light of the big Stroke Clinic that my swim team hosted a couple weeks ago, I wanted to do an episode on the joy and frustration of running a business (or in my case, a Side Hustle) with your significant other.  If you are a married or partnered person then you can probably feel me just a bit here - because I have always said that people who claim they don’t fight with their spouses/significant others are full of crap.  LOL.

Much of this episode is a bit of a catharsis for me, but all of the experience I share is coming from the heart.  I love working with my husband on the swim team, but it’s hard work.  Just like marriage.  So in many ways, we have two marriages:  our life together and the business.  As much as I say to my day job colleagues, “never start a business with your husband,” I am truly joking because I love him and I love the work we do together.  

Thank you for being part of the Got Side Hustle listening community.  Do you have topics you’d like to see discussed on the show?  Send me an email at [email protected]

HEY listeners!  I want to hear from you and learn a little more about you!  CLICK HERE to fill out my Listener Survey and be entered for a chance to win $100 from Amazon!!!  There are more than 20 prizes available!!!!

OH, but I do live this creative accounting lady, Heather Zeitzwolfe of the “Get the Balance Right” podcast.  Another Pod Pal I met from Adam Schaeuble’s bi-monthly Zoom Parties, Heather and I share a love of podcasting and crazy, creative hair colors.  I really enjoyed talking to her and I know you will love this interview.

In her own words, “I'm a creative, empathic nerd who enjoys numbers. I help my clients understand their finances so that they can make empowered decisions in their business. My approach is the non-judgmental and shame-free approach. Through my coaching, I offer my clients accountability, support, and honest feedback.

I'm not your Dad's accountant (Unless your dad's accountant has funky colored hair, transforms tofu into delicious desserts, and geeks out on writing sketch comedy)! I'm here to get down and dirty in your numbers. I want you to understand your financials so that you can take your business to the next level. I work with creative small business owners helping them get a handle on their cash flow, increase their profitability, and forecast the future. But it's not all about profit, I help clients with a holistic approach to business that focuses on people, the planet, and purpose. I believe as business owners it is our duty to make choices on how it will impact our planet and society. Want to join me in this (peaceful) revolution?

I'm a total geek who loves creating spreadsheets, watching cult movies, and in my past life, I must have been a drag queen. l am passionate about learning, growing, and challenging myself, and helping my clients do the same. I get really excited about data, organizing processes, and exploring new technology. But...I also like to get super crazy on the dance floor and bust a move. My passions include cooking amazing plant-based foods, standing up for animal rights (this includes humans), and hosting my podcast.”

Learn more about Heather at https://www.zeitzwolfeaccounting.com/

HEY listeners!  I want to hear from you and learn a little more about you!  CLICK HERE to fill out my Listener Survey and be entered for a chance to win $100 from Amazon!!!  There are more than 20 prizes available!!!!

If you haven’t started your Side Hustle yet and are stumped because you don’t know what KIND of business to start, I’ve got your back with today’s episode.

You can also pick up my FREE Quiz, “Which Side Hustle is Best for Me?” and figure out which of these four would be the ideal direction for you as you start your first side hustle.  The quiz is fun and easy - once you get your results you can download the accompanying workbook and listen along to today’s episode to get started! 

HEY listeners!  I want to hear from you and learn a little more about you!  CLICK HERE to fill out my Listener Survey and be entered for a chance to win $100 from Amazon!!!  There are more than 20 prizes available!!!!

Okay - I LOVE learning new things, and in this episode, I learn a LOT.  If you’ve ever thought about freelancing - especially the kind of freelancing that is not FREE for you, LOL - then this is the episode for you!

This lady, Aly Goulet, is a master of the online freelancing world.  We talk about systems, business tools,  marketing methods, and the importance of having a portfolio.  And if rejection is tough for you...well, let’s just wait to see what Aly has to say.

Aly Goulet is a full-time freelance copywriter for B2B SaaS and IT companies. Now, she's also passionate about building tools and resources to help creatives start and scale their own freelance business. Most recently, Aly collaborated with a team of developers to create Genius Portfolio for WordPress.  You can find her Genius Portfolio in a free and paid version.

WHO wants to win $100 from Amazon?  I knew it!  CLICK HERE to fill out my updated survey so I can learn more about YOU and how I can help you.  The Grand Prize is that $100 Gift Card from Amazon...one runner-up will get a $50 gift card from Amazon, and 25 lucky listeners will be $5 gift cards from Starbucks.  WOO HOO!!!!

 

This week I just wanted to throw in a shorter little episode to talk about the differences between a Second Job and a Side Hustle.  I came to this realization a while ago but it didn’t really click to me until I was preparing my webinar, “How to Run Your Side Hustle in Less Than One Hour a Day.”  Because there really is a HUGE difference and it’s not just one of mindset.

 

This is a quick and short show - so I’m just gonna leave it at that!  ENJOY!

Are you still struggling to find the time to work on that side hustle?  Do you have one free hour a day to dedicate to it?  Then you need to check out my free webinar, “how to run your side hustle in one hour a day!”

Let me just tell you from the beginning that I did not want to interview Fabe from the get-go.  I had such a bug in my butt about “serial entrepreneurs” coming on my show and telling the audience why they need to quit their 9 to 5.  Not on this show.  But Fabe broke through my bias to explain to me why his message would benefit you guys.  And DANG - he blew it out of the water.  

Fabe and I share the same brain in so many ways - and I loved this conversation from start to finish.  I think you’re going to LOVE his message and his VICE method.  

From college drop-out to a multiple profitable business owner, Fabe knows all too well the saying "starting from the bottom.”  If you’re like Fabe, not handed a silver spoon, you know that it doesn't matter because your success has nothing to do with your current situation but everything to do with your passion, focus and your desire to grow. 

Fabe’s mission is to help side hustlers with a passion and a desire for a better life like you, to grow and scale their side hustles by tackling burnout, procrastination, and fears by implementing systems that work. Because having a profitable side hustle means a better quality of life for our family, friends, and community.

Check out his community and programs HERE.