It was 7 a.m. on a chaotic morning in the early days of the pandemic. I was trying to join her Zoom call with 30 of her 10th graders and trying to motivate myself. I had to get excited about writing and convince my students to turn on their cameras while convincing a kindergartner hiding under a desk to participate in virtual learning. After a few hours of teaching, I was able to do what I really wanted to do: write. I no longer loved teaching and wanted better pay and the flexibility a teacher deserves.
But let's back up. At age 18, thanks to my top high school journalism teacher, I got an internship at a local newspaper and wrote my first reporting story for the local newspaper. american idolFor teens – style contest. I paid $15 and was very happy. My grandparents posted my first clip on a bulletin board, and I went to the movies with my friends. A side job was born.
I graduated from college during the recession of 2008, when newsrooms were dismantling and print media was under fire. So I went back to graduate school to become a teacher. It was a safe, fulfilling and recession-proof career route. For the next 10 years, I taught high school English and journalism, so writing remained a side hustle. But after that uncomfortable pandemic moment, I remembered what I knew. As much as I loved teaching, it was time to make the jump.
How to turn a side hustle into a high-paying career
I'm always open to making money. The reason is very specific. Few people think that writers can succeed financially in creative fields (unless they're the author of a best-selling book). But those people are completely wrong, I've come to know it and I want others to know the truth too. So I'd like to share that in my first month as a freelance writer, I only made $500 for a few articles. I continued with my day job until things improved. Three years later, my writing business is earning him $250,000 a year part-time, 5 hours a day. This was the type of math I originally wondered about, but through experience I learned that it's not only doable, but fun.
A side hustle doesn't have to mean career burnout, as long as it has its limits. And it's a great option for carrier cushioning. By turning my side hustle into my main source of income, I am able to provide for the future of my five children, support my own aspirations for a creative career, and provide flexible part-time work. And I teach others to do the same. If elevating your side hustle, freelance work, temp work, or consulting work is on your career vision board, here's what I learned.
Find and Become a Mentor
We've all heard the adage that we have to be as strong as the women (and other women) around us, and that we end up reaching back to grab the other person's hand. . This is what was done for me and I have done it for others. The first step to turning your side hustle into a full-time job is to find people who are doing it and learn from them. Sometimes this looks like paying someone for advice, and sometimes it looks like having a conversation over coffee. Attend events, hang out together, and network in the same circles. And career advice shouldn't come from one of her. Different people have different strengths and what they need to teach. You probably have something to offer others as well. Becoming a mentor may seem like another thing to do, but it can be a source of great fulfillment.
Niche down or not?
The general advice when it comes to side hustles is to “niche” and be very specific with your goals. Niching down means specializing in a particular field and being clear about which niche in the market you want to fill and how. I'm the complete opposite of a jack of all trades. Maybe your side hustle is making soap, but your specialty might be making organic soaps or children's products.
This works in many cases. For others, it is not necessary. For example, I have colleagues who are only experts in certain fields, such as politics, diplomacy, or pop culture, and they are very good at those fields. In my case, I needed 4-5 specializations to be creative and prevent boredom. That's why I don't just deal with his one topic, but write about education, health, work, parenting, e-commerce and several other things. Make your own rules and stick to what's fun and profitable for you.
make a great statement
What is the purpose of your business? You've created a successful side hustle and future full-time job, but what exactly do you or your brand offer? Some In a few simple sentences, provide a roadmap for yourself or your business so potential customers or clients (in my case, editors) know what to expect.
Build your online presence
A clear and helpful online portfolio or LinkedIn bio is essential for your side hustle. From there, a strong presence that showcases your best work is essential. How, where, and what is done varies by industry, but anyone should be able to go to both places and see what's going on. Don't get caught up in making it perfect the first time. Get started and add a little bit each day, week, or month. New freelancers I talk to are sometimes hesitant to start reaching out to clients because their portfolio isn't perfect yet. But ironically, the more success you have, the better your portfolio will be. Let's begin.
take a leap
If your side hustle income approaches or matches your full-time income, you need to consider what you stand to lose by not taking the leap. There is a limit to your growth even if you do both, so it may be time to consider quitting your day job. This is often the difficult part for people. To take the leap, I needed to think seriously about intentional business planning and goal setting, and take concrete steps to achieve them.
One of the biggest problems with transitioning from a full-time job to a side hustle is that there can be some delay in getting enough work. Work doesn't just happen. So I prepared for the big switch by making the most of my nights and weekends to build my client base. You can work on inflating your savings account or creating a sinking fund with enough reserve funds to make the jump. For me, the right time was when my day job was taking away money and opportunities from my side hustle.
Don't overthink bookkeeping
If you're doing DIY bookkeeping for the first time, don't be fancy and think carefully. You don't need to have a complicated software program for invoicing or project management (although there are many useful software programs worth looking into). Instead, keep a detailed spreadsheet of your projects, costs, income, and expenses. Work with a qualified accountant who knows how to help freelancers ensure they collect their taxes. The rest can be leveled up later.
Start telling everyone you know
Even in the digital age, I see clients chatting outside boutique fitting rooms during weekend shopping, waiting over lattes at coffee shops, and discussing career plans with restaurant servers. . Open your mouth and chat with everyone you can. Ask them what they do, or incorporate what you do into the conversation. The rest often simply flows from there to the new network connection. Similarly, post about your side hustle on social media and be specific about how people can work with you. They don't know what they don't know, so please tell them.
know your worth
Some people are surprised to learn that I almost always negotiate rates and terms for new projects and new clients. Knowing your worth (and protecting it) is an important money tip. It may feel cocky at first, but it's mission-oriented and should permeate your decisions throughout the day. Just tell impostor syndrome to stand aside.
One of the challenges of side hustles (and full-time jobs) is knowing how much to charge. The first step is to ask everyone in your industry or level about their rates. Next, decide on a pricing model (hourly or project-based fixed rate). From there, you need to decide on a salary or wage that will allow you to make a sustainable and solid living, assuming that you will continue to grow once your position is established.
Also consider taxes, health insurance, subscriptions, other freelance expenses such as office space and contractors, savings, and vacation time. Figure out what you need to bring home each month or week to get everything done, divide that by the number of hours you want to work, and that's your hourly rate.
Turning your side hustle into your full-time job can be daunting and disorienting. But it's worth taking steps every day to make it happen. Your future self will thank you.
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