Side Hustle City: My Adventures (and Misadventures!)
Diving Headfirst into the Side Hustle Pool
Okay, so let’s be real. The whole “side hustle” thing? It feels like everyone and their grandma is doing it these days. And honestly? I got caught up in the hype. I was seeing all these success stories online – people quitting their 9-to-5s to run Etsy shops or become freelance photographers, raking in the dough. It looked so…easy. Spoiler alert: it’s not. Not even close. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
I remember the exact moment I decided to jump in. I was scrolling through Instagram (dangerous, I know) and saw an ad for a dropshipping course. The guy in the video was standing in front of a Lamborghini, talking about how he made six figures in six months. I thought, “Hey, I could use a Lamborghini!” Okay, maybe not a Lambo, but you get the idea. I needed a little extra cash, and the idea of being my own boss, setting my own hours… it was incredibly appealing.
I didn’t do nearly enough research, though. I signed up for the course, plunked down a few hundred bucks (ugh, still regretting that one), and started watching the videos. It all sounded so simple in theory. Find a trending product, create a Shopify store, run some Facebook ads, and BOOM – profits! If only it were that easy, right?
My First Side Hustle Fail: Dropshipping Debacle
So, I followed the course instructions to a T. I spent hours researching products, agonizing over font choices for my Shopify store, and meticulously crafting Facebook ad copy. I even convinced myself that I was a marketing genius. The product I chose? Phone cases with quirky designs. I figured everyone has a phone, right? Solid logic, or so I thought.
I launched my store with high hopes. I remember staying up all night refreshing the Shopify dashboard, waiting for the orders to roll in. And…nothing. Crickets. A few pity clicks from friends, but no actual sales. I tweaked the ads, changed the product descriptions, even offered a discount code. Still nothing.
After a week of this, I was starting to get discouraged. I was spending money on ads, but not making a single sale. I felt like I was throwing money into a black hole. Looking back, my biggest mistake was probably not understanding my target audience. I was just trying to sell to everyone, which is a surefire way to sell to no one. Another thing? I didn’t account for shipping times. Turns out, people don’t want to wait three weeks for a phone case from China, even if it *does* have a picture of a llama wearing sunglasses. Who knew? Ugh, what a mess. Lesson learned: dropshipping might look easy on Instagram, but it’s a lot harder than it seems.
Trying Again: Freelance Writing to the Rescue?
Okay, so dropshipping was a bust. I was feeling pretty discouraged, but I wasn’t ready to give up on the side hustle dream just yet. I just needed to find something that was a better fit for my skills. Which, honestly, at the time, I wasn’t entirely sure what those were.
Then it hit me: writing. I’ve always enjoyed writing, even if it’s just rambling in a journal. I figured, hey, someone’s gotta write all those blog posts and website copy out there, right? Maybe I could get paid to do that. So I started looking into freelance writing. I spent a couple of days researching different platforms and figuring out how much to charge. I honestly had no idea what I was doing, I was totally winging it.
I signed up for a few freelance platforms, like Upwork and Fiverr. I spent hours crafting my profile, highlighting my (very limited) experience, and writing sample articles. I felt like I was applying for a real job, which, I guess, in a way, I was. The thing is, competition on these platforms is fierce. There are tons of writers from all over the world willing to work for very little money. I was starting to wonder if I’d ever get a gig.
My First Freelance Gig: Success (Sort Of)
Then, one day, I got a message. Someone wanted to hire me to write a blog post about…wait for it…pet grooming. Seriously? Pet grooming? I knew absolutely nothing about pet grooming. But hey, a gig’s a gig, right? I figured I could do some research and fake it till I make it.
I accepted the offer, feeling a mix of excitement and sheer terror. I spent the next few hours Googling everything I could find about pet grooming. I learned about different types of brushes, the proper way to trim a dog’s nails, and the importance of anal gland expression (yes, really). It was fascinating and slightly disgusting all at the same time. I mean, who even knew that was a thing?
I wrote the blog post, submitted it to the client, and waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, I got a response. The client said the post was “okay,” but needed a lot of revisions. Ugh. Back to the drawing board. I spent another few hours rewriting and editing the post, trying to incorporate the client’s feedback. Finally, I resubmitted it. This time, the client was happy. I got paid! It wasn’t much – maybe $50 – but it was enough to validate my decision to try freelance writing. Okay, maybe I could actually make this work.
The Ups and Downs of the Freelance Life
Freelance writing has been a rollercoaster, honestly. Some months, I’m swamped with work and making decent money. Other months, it’s a struggle to find even a single client. I’ve learned a lot along the way, though. I’ve learned how to write about topics I know nothing about (thank you, Google!), how to negotiate rates (still working on that one), and how to deal with difficult clients (there have been a few).
One of the biggest challenges is managing my time. It’s so easy to get distracted when you’re working from home. The temptation to binge-watch Netflix or scroll through social media is always there. I’ve had to learn to be disciplined and set boundaries for myself. I try to stick to a regular schedule, even on days when I don’t have a lot of work. It helps me stay focused and productive.
Another challenge is dealing with the uncertainty of income. When you’re a freelancer, you don’t have a guaranteed paycheck every two weeks. Income can fluctuate wildly, which can be stressful. I’ve learned to save money during the good months to cover expenses during the lean months. It’s all about budgeting and planning ahead. Was I the only one confused by this? Maybe.
Side Hustle Takeaways: What I’ve Learned
So, what have I learned from my side hustle adventures (and misadventures)? First of all, it’s not as easy as it looks on Instagram. Those overnight success stories are the exception, not the rule. It takes hard work, dedication, and a willingness to learn and adapt.
Second, it’s important to choose a side hustle that you’re actually passionate about. If you’re not interested in what you’re doing, you’re going to burn out quickly. I learned that the hard way with dropshipping. I just wasn’t passionate about selling phone cases. Freelance writing, on the other hand, is something I genuinely enjoy.
Third, don’t be afraid to fail. Failure is part of the process. Everyone makes mistakes. The key is to learn from those mistakes and keep moving forward. I made plenty of mistakes with dropshipping, but I learned from them and applied those lessons to my freelance writing career.
Finally, be patient. It takes time to build a successful side hustle. Don’t expect to get rich overnight. Focus on providing value to your customers or clients, and the money will eventually follow. I am still working towards building something sustainable!
What’s Next? The Side Hustle Continues…
So, where do I go from here? I’m not entirely sure, to be honest. I’m still working on my freelance writing business, but I’m also exploring other potential side hustles. I’ve been thinking about starting a blog (ironic, right?) or maybe even creating an online course. Who even knows what’s next?
The side hustle world is constantly evolving, and there are always new opportunities to explore. The key is to stay curious, be willing to experiment, and never give up on your dreams.
If you’re as curious as I was, you might want to dig into online course platforms. They’re quite a rabbit hole but can be pretty interesting.
The side hustle journey has been a wild ride, full of ups and downs, successes and failures. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s taught me so much about myself, about business, and about the importance of perseverance. And who knows, maybe one day I’ll be the one standing in front of a Lamborghini, telling everyone how I made six figures in six months. Okay, probably not. But a girl can dream, right? The main point is to enjoy the process and learn as you go. It’s kind of like a game, but with real money on the line. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll stumble upon something amazing. And if you do, let me know! I’m always looking for the next adventure.
