Whenever I hear the word hustle, I automatically think of Pitbull’s lyric in Usher’s DJ Got Us Falling in Love. You know the one. “I’m a hustler baby, but that you knew. And tonight it’s just me and you.” Pitbull is referring to a different type of hustle in this instance, but being a hustler is still being a hustler. A hustler goes after what she wants. A hustler is not deterred. Being a hustler is what made you successful in your career. And being a hustler is what offers you the opportunity of a side hustle.
Your years of working helped you develop skills that, while maybe not unique, give you an edge to do different things, try different things. Things that have always held an interest for you. And as a side hustle, you have an opportunity to not just explore and discover, but maybe make a little bit of money at the same time.
A side hustle can look like just about anything. While in college, a friend of mine started baking. She realized that mothers, especially those of freshmen, were always looking for someone who could make the baked goods for a care package. With her free time, she was able to make all her spending and traveling money each semester.
But where do you start? How do you come up with a side hustle? Easy. Think about the skills you have. Are they in finance? Computers? Marketing? Next, think about what you like to do. Take a look at your hobbies and see if there is a way to pair your interests with your skills. A couple of words of warning, however. If you decide to base your side hustle on one of your hobbies, be sure that it doesn’t take the enjoyment out of the hobby. Also, I wouldn’t suggest basing your side hustle on something you’re not very good at. For instance, if you’re not a good cook, baking probably isn’t a good side hustle for you.
In addition to the extra money you may make, there are a lot of other positives to having a side hustle. For one, even though you know that your purpose in life isn’t your job, it can give you a sense of accomplishment. A sense of working toward something and making it a success. Second, it can help to keep you mind occupied and sharp. Just like anything in life, you’re not going to go into a new venture without a clearly laid out plan. And you’re doing something that you enjoy, keeping your mind from focusing on what you’re not doing.
So what will your next adventure be?
