Right now many of us are facing financial hardship. We are struggling to make it until the end of the month and are facing the possibility of a job loss or a cut in hours. This can make budgeting and paying the bills seem like an herculean task. Finances can keep us from getting a restful night’s sleep and steal the joy we would otherwise experience in our lives. In these situations side hustles can come to the rescue and provide us with greater peace of mind.
So what is a side hustle? A side hustle is a source of income outside your typical 9 to 5 or hourly position. Side hustles may be in the home or outside the home. Side hustles and additional income streams can come in many different shapes and sizes and don’t equal sketchy “make thousands from home” ads you might see around your community or online. With side hustles if it seems like too good to be true it probably is. The good news is there are many legitimate ways to build up a side hustle which could become a contract or longer term gig. Finding a good side hustle comes down to asking the right questions.
First what do you have to offer? Everyone has something that could offer others and get paid to share. You might be able to share physical items such as an extra room you could put on Airbnb, items you could sell online, or a vehicle which you could use as an uber driver. You might be able to share creative items such as art or music or dance with others. You might be able to share your skills such as doing freelance work, teaching a class, or creating a paid webinar which you can share with others. The bonus to sharing skills in particular is you are keeping those skills fresh and may be able to turn them into another career or full time job at some point. To effectively build a side hustle without creating debt, it is important to take the time to have a firm grasp on what you are bringing to the table and your own worth.
Once you know what you have to offer the next step is marketing yourself. While some of us hear marketing ourselves and start to get an anxiety attack, marketing yourself does not have to be big and scary. Marking yourself and what you can offer includes researching what others are getting for similar work so you know what to charge and being able to explain how what you offer fills the need of someone else in a better way than other options out there. This also includes thinking about who you know who might want to use what you can offer or who can hook you up with others who could. For example if you have time and are great at teaching kids art what parents do you know who might pay you to teach their kids. If you are working on a side hustle it is important to remember it means you are going to have to hustle.
Yes you can be your own boss and an entrepreneur. Yes you can bring in much needed income if your work situation has changed. Yes you can find a side hustle which meets your needs and allows you greater financial independence. Side hustles do not have to be scary. Creating a successful side hustle is not impossible. Once you know what things, experiences, or skills you can offer and how to market yourself the sky’s the limit. Remember if others are willing to pay you that means they need your service and find value in what you have to offer. Side hustles are a great way to grow in our self confidence and our ability to respond to whatever life throws our way.
