A side hustle is something you start when you have a full-time job. It’s also how most businesses start. You often come up with the idea while you’re working in your full-time job and are daydreaming about doing something else – something you’re more excited about that either keeps you up at night (in a good way) or launches you out of bed in the morning.
Starting a business can be pretty risky, so a lot of people like to start things off as a side hustle because it feels safer to have the security and the income of your job while you’re building your business. Plus it gives you time to work out the kinks and slowly make more money until your business takes off.
Why start a side hustle?
Sometimes we put a lot of pressure on our jobs to fill us up in every single way. There’s a part of ourselves that we want to express that isn’t a natural part of our day-time job, so we use it as an outlet. People say they do it to be more creative, to work on something they can call their own. And sometimes it’s just their way of giving back to their community.
Having a side hustle is great, because it provides you with a place to get creative, somewhere to focus on your true passions and what really energizes you. After all, if you feel called to something and you’re not doing anything about it, you’ll always envy the people doing what you wish you had the courage to do.
We all long to live an inspired and purpose driven life - Howard Thurman said it best when he said: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." So, trust in what you’re drawn towards.
Tips for how to stay sane while starting your side-hustle:
As side hustlers, your hope is to eventually launch yourself from your full time gig into your entrepreneurial ventures, which of course can be scary but also very exciting and rewarding, so here are some tips to stay sane while starting your side-hustle:
1) Be Patient
A lot of us tend to get frustrated when things aren't moving as fast as we'd hoped. So it's important to remember to be patient with the process, especially if you have a full-time job that's also keeping you busy. So pace yourself and be realistic about how much time you can allocate to this new project.
Starting a business is never as glamorous as we think it's going to be and it can take quite some time before it’s thriving. There’s a big learning curve and we tend to underestimate all the work that goes into it. There’s a lot of trial and error because you’re figuring a lot out on your own. Doing it slowly on the side (and thus in a less risky way) can be a really good way to start for a lot of people.
2) Be Grateful
You can’t be mentally absent in your full-time job while you’re focusing on your side-hustle. You still need to give your full-time job your main focus. After all, it’s important for you to remember that you’re relying on your full-time job as your bread and butter. Be grateful for your job because it gives you the chance to pursue this entrepreneurial venture without the stress and worry to make ends meet.
3) Be Efficient
People often express the concern of burning out with having a full time job and starting a side-hustle. You’d think that this would be a major cause for burn out, but it actually helps you maintain balance. It also helps sustain healthy boundaries which allow you to become more productive in your full time job. Plus, when you’re investing your time in something that you're excited about, it energizes you. It doesn’t feel so much like work; it’s more like a passion project that can eventually turn into your future career if you’re committed enough.
So for those of you who are thinking about starting something on the side, but are afraid, remember that it's normal -- and even expected -- to feel this way. It starts off with a few action steps, some consistency and perseverance, and before you know it you’ve started something of your own.
After all, there’s no harm in trying something out - it could be the start of something great.
As always thanks for stopping by and reading.
With love,
Natalie