My Side Hustle Journey: Lessons Learned (and Mistakes Made!)
The Allure of the Side Hustle: Why I Jumped In
Okay, so let’s be real. Who *isn’t* thinking about a side hustle these days? It feels like everyone’s got something going on the side, from selling handmade jewelry on Etsy to driving for Uber after their 9-to-5. And honestly, the FOMO was getting real. I mean, seeing everyone else supposedly raking in extra cash while I was just… existing? Yeah, I needed a piece of that pie. Plus, bills, you know? They never stop coming.
The thing that really pushed me over the edge was seeing a friend from college post about how much she was making selling digital planners on Etsy. Digital planners! I didn’t even know that was a thing! But she was clearly killing it, and I started thinking, “Hey, I’m pretty creative. Maybe I could do that too.” So, fuelled by envy and the vague promise of financial freedom, I dove headfirst into the world of side hustles. What could possibly go wrong? (Spoiler alert: a lot.) I think most people start thinking about this stuff when they feel like they’re running out of options.
It was less a well-thought-out plan and more of a “throw spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks” approach. I explored everything from freelance writing (which I quickly realized I wasn’t very good at) to trying to become a social media influencer (cringe). Let’s just say my foray into the influencer world was short-lived and involved a lot of awkward selfies and forced enthusiasm. Ugh, just thinking about it makes me want to hide under a rock.
My First Side Hustle Fail: The Great Online Tutoring Disaster
So, I figured, I’m pretty good at explaining things, right? I aced most of my classes in college, so I thought I could definitely handle tutoring high school students online. I signed up for one of those online tutoring platforms, created a profile, and waited for the students to come flooding in. Crickets. For days. Seriously, I checked my email every five minutes, convinced that any second now, I’d be swamped with requests.
Finally, I got one! A student needed help with algebra. Algebra! I hadn’t touched algebra in years. I was frantically refreshing my memory using Khan Academy right before the session. The session itself was a disaster. The kid was clearly bored, I was stumbling over formulas, and the internet connection kept cutting out. It was like a perfect storm of awkwardness and incompetence.
After what felt like an eternity (but was probably only an hour), the session was over. I was exhausted, embarrassed, and pretty sure I had just traumatized a teenager. I earned a grand total of $15, which, after the platform took its cut, was barely enough to buy a decent coffee. Safe to say, that was the end of my online tutoring career. The $15 wasn’t even worth the stress, honestly. It really made me question what I was doing. Was I even cut out for this side hustle thing? I almost gave up right then and there.
Finding My Niche: The World of Virtual Assistance
After the tutoring debacle, I was seriously discouraged. I almost threw in the towel and resigned myself to a life of side-hustle-less existence. But then, a friend suggested I look into virtual assistance. Apparently, there’s a huge demand for people who can handle administrative tasks, social media management, and other online odds and ends for busy entrepreneurs and small business owners.
The funny thing is, I had been doing a lot of that kind of stuff for free for friends and family for years! I’m pretty organized, good at multitasking, and surprisingly tech-savvy (for a certain definition of “tech-savvy,” anyway). So, I created a profile on a freelance platform (this time, I did a little more research beforehand), highlighted my skills, and started applying for jobs. And guess what? I actually started getting responses!
My first client was a small business owner who needed help managing her social media accounts. I created content calendars, scheduled posts, and interacted with her followers. It was actually kind of fun! And the best part? I was getting paid for it! It wasn’t a ton of money at first, but it was enough to give me a sense of accomplishment and motivate me to keep going. I was finally getting somewhere.
The Unexpected Challenges of Being a Virtual Assistant
Now, don’t get me wrong. Being a virtual assistant isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. There are definitely challenges. For one thing, it can be hard to set boundaries. Clients often expect you to be available 24/7, and it can be tempting to answer emails and messages at all hours of the night. I learned the hard way that this is a recipe for burnout.
Then there’s the whole issue of pricing. Figuring out how much to charge for your services can be tricky. You don’t want to undersell yourself, but you also don’t want to price yourself out of the market. I spent way too long researching what other VAs were charging and agonizing over my rates. In the end, I decided to start low and gradually increase my prices as I gained more experience and built up my portfolio. I was so unsure of my value, and that lack of confidence probably cost me money in the beginning.
Also, sometimes clients just… disappear. You’ll be working on a project, everything seems fine, and then BAM! Radio silence. They stop responding to your emails, they don’t pay your invoices, and you’re left wondering what you did wrong. It’s frustrating and disheartening. I had this happen to me once, and honestly, I was so bummed out. It really made me question whether I was doing a good job.
My Biggest Side Hustle Mistake: Selling Too Soon (and Too Cheap!)
Okay, so this isn’t directly related to virtual assistance, but it’s another side hustle blunder I need to share. A few years back, I got into creating and selling printables on Etsy. You know, things like calendars, checklists, and inspirational quote posters. I designed a few that I thought were pretty good, uploaded them to my shop, and waited for the sales to roll in.
At first, nothing happened. I was starting to get discouraged, but then, out of the blue, one of my printables went viral on Pinterest! Suddenly, I was getting tons of traffic to my shop, and the orders were pouring in. I was so excited! But here’s where I messed up. In my excitement, I priced my printables way too low. Like, ridiculously low. I was so afraid of scaring people away with high prices that I basically gave them away. I was working my tail off fulfilling orders, but I wasn’t making much money.
Then, a few months later, the Pinterest traffic died down, and the sales dried up. I was left with a bunch of unsold printables and a feeling of regret. I should have raised my prices when I had the chance! I learned a valuable lesson: don’t be afraid to charge what you’re worth. And also, don’t rely on viral traffic to sustain your business. Who even knows what will go viral next? I think I sold a planner for like, $2. Seriously, what was I thinking?
If you’re as curious as I was about pricing strategies, you might want to dig into resources specifically about value-based pricing. It’s something I wish I’d looked at way earlier.
The Side Hustle Mindset: Embracing the Grind
So, what have I learned from my side hustle journey? Well, for one thing, it’s not always easy. There will be setbacks, disappointments, and moments when you want to give up. But it’s also incredibly rewarding. There’s something about building something from scratch and seeing it succeed that’s really fulfilling. I mean, that feeling of finally getting a new client or making a sale? It’s the best.
I’ve also learned that it’s important to be patient and persistent. Success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, effort, and a willingness to learn from your mistakes. And speaking of mistakes, don’t be afraid to make them! They’re just opportunities to learn and grow. I still have so much to learn, but I’m excited to see where this journey takes me.
Most importantly, find something you actually enjoy doing. If you’re not passionate about your side hustle, it’s going to feel like a chore. And who wants another chore in their life? I know I don’t. Find something that excites you, challenges you, and makes you want to get out of bed in the morning (or, you know, stay up late at night working on it). That’s the key to side hustle success, in my humble opinion.
Is the Side Hustle Life Right for You?
That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? Honestly, I don’t know. It depends on your personality, your goals, and your willingness to put in the work. But I will say this: if you’re looking for a way to earn extra income, pursue your passions, and learn new skills, then a side hustle might be worth exploring. Just be prepared for the ups and downs, the challenges and the triumphs, and the occasional online tutoring disaster.
And if you do decide to jump in, remember to be kind to yourself. It’s okay to make mistakes. It’s okay to ask for help. And it’s okay to take a break when you need it. The side hustle life is a marathon, not a sprint. And who knows? Maybe you’ll even end up turning your side hustle into your full-time gig. That’s the dream, right? I’m still working towards it. Maybe one day I’ll actually get those digital planners going! I need to look into it more.
For now, I’m happy with my virtual assistant work. It’s challenging, rewarding, and it allows me to use my skills in a way that helps other people. Plus, it gives me the flexibility to work from home and set my own hours. What more could I ask for? Well, maybe a few more clients and a slightly higher hourly rate. But hey, Rome wasn’t built in a day, right? What about you? Ever thought about trying a side hustle?
